BEHAVIOR OF RC MEMBERS SUBJECTED TO SHEAR

WITH BACKGROUND TO PROVISIONS OF THE NEW

EDITION OF ECP 203

By

Ahmed Abd Elmoniem Saleh Bayome

A Thesis Submitted to the

Faculty of Engineering at Cairo University
in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE
in
Structural Engineering

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, CAIRO UNIVERSITY

GIZA, EGYPT
2018
BEHAVIOR OF RC MEMBERS SUBJECTED TO SHEAR
WITH BACKGROUND TO PROVISIONS OF THE NEW
EDITION OF ECP 203

By

Ahmad Abd Elmoniem Saleh Bayome

A Thesis Submitted to the

Faculty of Engineering at Cairo University
in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE
in
Structural Engineering

Under the Supervision of

Prof. Dr. Mashhour Ghoniem Prof. Dr. Osman Ramadan

………………………………. ……………………………….

Professor of Concrete Structures Professor of Structural Engineering

Structural Engineering Department Structural Engineering Department Faculty
Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University of Engineering, Cairo University

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, CAIRO UNIVERSITY

GIZA, EGYPT
2018
BEHAVIOR OF RC MEMBERS SUBJECTED TO SHEAR
WITH BACKGROUND TO PROVISIONS OF THE NEW
EDITION OF ECP 203

By
Ahmad Abd Elmoniem Saleh Bayome

A Thesis Submitted to the

Faculty of Engineering at Cairo University
in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE
in
Structural Engineering

Approved by the
Examining Committee

____________________________
Prof. Dr. Mashhour Ghoniem, Thesis Main Advisor

____________________________
Prof. Dr. Osman Ramadan, Advisor

____________________________
Prof. Dr. Mohamed Talaat Mostafa, Internal Examiner

____________________________
Prof. Dr. Ahmed Mousa, External Examiner
(Helwan University)

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, CAIRO UNIVERSITY

GIZA, EGYPT
2018
Engineer: Ahmed Abd Elmoniem Saleh Bayome
Date of Birth: 28/6/1990
Nationality: Egyptian
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 01062964175
Address: 13 Adam st. El Tawan, El Haram, El Giza
Registration Date: 1/10/2013
Awarding Date: 2018
Degree: Master of Science
Department: Structural Engineering

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Mashhour Ghoniem Ahmed

Prof. Dr. Osman Mohamed Osman Ramadan
Examiners:
Porf. Mashhour Ghoniem Ahmed (Thesis Main Advisor)
Porf. Osman Mohamed Osman Ramadan ( Advisor )
Prof. Mohamed Talaat Mostafa (Internal Examiner)
Prof. Ahmed Mousa Abd El Rahman (External Examiner)
(Helwan University)

Title of Thesis:
BEHAVIOR OF RC MEMBERS SUBJECTED TO SHEAR WITH BACKGROUND
TO PROVISIONS OF THE NEW EDITION OF ECP 203

Key Words:
Shear strength; Concrete contribution; Design for shear; Shear walls; Dynamic loads

Summary:

The objectives of this thesis are to present the background and evaluate the
modifications to the shear design procedure that have been implemented in the new
ECP 203 code for members subjected to static and dynamic loads (cyclic). These
modifications would overcome realized difficulties with using current ECP 203 design
code. The procedure and implied basis for the new ECP 203 shear design approach are
examined and their accurses are assessed using the results of numerous experimental
database. The study discusses the shear behavior of reinforced concrete shear walls and
moment resisting frames under cyclic loads with particular interest in the behavior of
plastic hinge region. An important modification of the new ECP 203 is its utilization of
the concrete contribution to shear strength inside plastic hinge region, where sufficient
compressive stresses exist. The new ECP 203 shear design provisions included: (1) The
shear strength provided by uncracked concrete is modified to (0.16 fcu / c ); (2) After
Cracking, concrete shear strength is reduced to 75% of its uncracked value (0.12 fcu / c

); (3) The concrete contribution to shear strength is modified to be (0.16 fcu / c ) in the
critical region of shear walls and moment resisting frames when the axial compression
force is greater than or equal to (0.1 Ag. fcu). The knowledge gained in this study
explains the merits of these modifications for the new ECP 203 code.
 Acknowledgments

Thanks to merciful lord for all the countless gifts you have offered me, and strength to
complete this work.

I would like to express my deepest thanks to Prof. Mashhour Ghoniem, for suggesting
the topic of this thesis, and his kind supervision. It is a great honour to work under his
supervision.

It is a great pleasure to acknowledge my deepest thanks and gratitude to Prof.

Osman Ramadan, for his encouragement, creative and comprehensive advice during the
entire period of the study, and for his kind endless help.

Also, I would like to express my thanks to my examiners Prof. Ahmed Mousa and Prof.
Talaat Mostafa, for their help and kind advice.

I would like to express my extreme sincere gratitude to my fiancée Dr. Amina Hassan, for
her encouragement and support.

I am grateful to my family specially my father, for their support, love, and wishes that
gave me the courage to achieve my goals.

I
 Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.….………………………………………………….………....... I
TABLE OF CONTENTS……………………………………………………………......... II
LIST OF TABLES…….…………………………………………………….…..………. V
LIST OF FIGURES…...………………..……………………………………………….. VI

NOMENCLATURE………………………………………………………….……….... VIII

ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………….……………. X

CHAPTER 1 : INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………..……….. 1

1.1. GENERAL ........................................................................................................ 1
1.2. PROPLEM STATEMENT..................................................................................... 2
1.3. OBJECTIVES .................................................................................................... 2
1.4. THESIS ORGANIZATION .................................................................................. 2
CHAPTER 2 : BEHAVIOR OF REINFORCED CONCRETE BEAMS SUBJECT TO SHEARING
FORCE ……………………………………..…………………..…….……………….….5
2.1. GENERAL ........................................................................................................ 5
2.2. MECHANISMS OF SHEAR TRANSFER IN REINFORCED CONCRETE BEAMS ........ 5
2.2.1. SHEAR STRESSES IN UNCRACKED CONCRETE ................................................... 6
2.2.2. INTERFACE SHEAR TRANSFER “AGGREGATE INTERLOCK” ............................... 6
2.2.3. DOWEL ACTION OF THE LONGITUDINAL REINFORCEMENT ............................... 8
2.2.4. RESIDUAL TENSILE STRESSES ACROSS CRACKS ................................................ 8
2.3. SHEAR STRENGTH OF NORMAL STRENGTH CONCRETE BEAMS ...................... 8
2.3.1. EFFECT OF CONCRETE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH .............................................. 8
2.3.2. EFFECT OF SHEAR SPAN TO DEPTH RATIO ......................................................... 9
2.3.3. EFFECT OF MAIN LONGITUDINAL STEEL ......................................................... 10
2.3.4. EFFECT OF WEB REINFORCEMENT RATIO ........................................................ 10
2.4. SHEAR STRENGTH OF HIGH STRENGTH CONCRETE BEAMS .......................... 10
2.4.1. EFFECT OF CONCRETE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH ............................................ 10
2.4.2. EFFECT OF SHEAR SPAN TO DEPTH RATIO ....................................................... 11
2.4.3. EFFECT OF MAIN LONGITUDINAL STEEL ......................................................... 11
2.4.4. EFFECT OF WEB REINFORCEMENT RATIO ........................................................ 12
2.5. REINFORCED CONC. BEAMS SUBJECTED TO SHEAR AND AXIAL FORCE …... 13
2.6. TREATMENT OF SHEAR IN SHALLOW AND DEEP BEAMS ............................... 14
2.6.1. SHALLOW BEAMS ............................................................................................ 14
2.6.1.1. MODES OF FAILURE .......................................................................................................... 14
2.6.1.2. TRUSS MODEL DESIGN METHOD ..................................................................................... 15
2.6.1.3. QC-QS APPROACH (SECTIONAL ANALYSIS) ................................................................... 17
2.6.2. DEEP BEAMS ........................................................................................................................ 18
2.6.2.1. MODES OF FAILURE .......................................................................................................... 18
2.6.2.2. STRUT-AND-TIE DESIGN METHOD ................................................................................... 18

II
CHAPTER 3: DESIGN FOR SHEAR ACCORDING TO DIFFERENT CODES …….….………21
3.1. GENERAL ...................................................................................................... 21
3.2. CRITICAL SECTION ....................................................................................... 21
3.3. AMERICAN CODE (ACI 318-2011) ............................................................... 22
3.4. CANADIAN STANDARD (CSA A23.3-2004) .................................................. 24
3.5. NEW ZEALAND STANDARD (NZS3101-2006) .............................................. 26
3.6. EGYPTIAN CODE (ECP 203-2007) ................................................................ 28
3.7. INDIAN STANDARD (IS456-2000) ................................................................. 30
3.8. BRITISH STANDARD (BS 8110-1997) ........................................................... 33
3.9. EUROCODE (EN1992- 2004)......................................................................... 35
3.10. COMPARISON BETWEEN DESIGN CODES' REQUIREMENTS .............................. 37
3.10.1. COMPARISON BETWEEN DIFFERENT DESIGN APPROACHES ....................... 37
3.10.2. EFFECT OF AXIAL FORCE IN DIFFERENT DESIGN CODES .............................. 39

CHAPTER 4 : SHEAR BEHAVIOUR OF RC MEMBERS SUBJECTED TO CYCLIC

LOADS ......……………………………………………………………………………..……………...43

4.1. GENERAL ...................................................................................................... 43

4.2. SHEAR STRENGTH OF RC MEMBERS UNDER CYCLIC LOADS .......................... 44
4.3. WALLS .......................................................................................................... 46
4.3.1. GENERAL REGION (outside plastic hinge region) ......................................... 46
4.3.2. CRITICAL REGION (inside plastic hinge region) ........................................... 47
4.3.3. DESIGN PROCEDURE OF DIFFERENT STANDARDS .................................... 51
4.4. DUCTILE MOMENT RESISTING FRAMES .......................................................... 56
4.4.1. BEAM IN CRITICAL REGION (SPECIAL MOMENT FRAMES) ...................................... 56
4.4.2. COLUMN IN CRITICAL REGION (SPECIAL MOMENT FRAMES) ................................ 61

CHAPTER 5: NEW PROVISIONS IN ECP 203-2017………………….…………..…. 69

5.1. GENERAL ...................................................................................................... 69
5.2. CONCRETE CONTRIBUTION TO STATIC SHEAR STRENGTH .............................. 69
5.2.1. ULTIMATE SHEAR STRENGTH ................................................................................... 69
5.2.2. SHEAR STRENGTH PROVIDED BY UNCRACKED CONCRETE .................... 70
5.2.3. SHEAR STRENGTH PROVIDED BY CRACKED CONCRETE ......................... 70
5.2.4. SHEAR STRENGTH PROVIDED BY SHEAR REINFORCEMENT ................... 71
5.2.5. NUMERICAL EXAMPLE ………………. ...................................................... 71
5.2.6. THEORITICAL PREDICTION OF SHEAR STRENGTH VERSUS TEST RESULTS…..74
5.3. SHEAR WALLS AND MOMENT RESISTING FRAMES .......................................... 82
5.3.1. SHEAR STRENGTH PROVIDED BY CONCRETE ............................................................. 82
5.3.2. SHEAR STRENGTH PROVIDED BY SHEAR REINFORCEMENT ................................... 82
5.3.3. DESIGN FOR SHEAR BY ECP 203 NEW AND CURRENT VERSIONS – NUMIICAL EXAMPLE …82

III
CHAPTER 6 : EVALUATION OF SHEAR STRENGTH PREDICTION BY VARIOUS CODES OF
PRACTICE …………….……………………………………………….………..…...… 87

6.1. GENERAL ...................................................................................................... 87

6.2. SHEAR STRENGTH OF BEAMS WITHOUT WEB REINFORCEMENT ...................... 87
6.2.1. CODES PREDICTIONS ......................................................................................................... 87
6.2.2. FACTORS AFFECTING BEHAVIOR OF BEAMS WITHOUT STIRRUPS ........................ 87
6.2.2.1. EFFECT OF CONCRETE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH ON SHEAR STRENGTH .................... 87
6.2.2.2. EFFECT OF LONGITUDINAL REINFORCEMENT ON SHEAR STRENGTH .......................... 93
6.2.2.3. EFFECT OF SHEAR SPAN-TO-DEPTH RATIO ON SHEAR STRENGTH ............................... 95
6.3. SHEAR STRENGTH OF BEAMS WITH STIRRUPS ................................................ 99
6.3.1. CODES PREDICTIONS ......................................................................................................... 99
6.3.2. FACTORS AFFECTING BEHAVIOR OF BEAMS WITH STIRRUPS................................ 99
6.3.2.1. EFFECT OF TRANSVERSE REINFORCEMENT ON SHEAR STRENGTH .............................. 99
6.4. EFFECT OF AXIAL FORCE ON SHEAR STRENGTH .......................................... 103
6.5. EVALUATION OF VARIOUS CODES .............................................................. 105
6.6. NEW ECP 203 DESIGN PROVISIONS ............................................................. 107
6.7. SHEAR STRENGTH OF RC WALLS IN CRITICAL REGION ................................. 108
6.7.1. CODE ESTIMATE VERSUS EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS.............................................. 108
6.7.2. NUMERICAL EXAMPLE .......................................................................................... 111
6.7.2.1. EFFECT OF CONC. COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH ON SHEAR STRENGTH .................... 113
6.7.2.2. EFFECT OF CROSS SECTION AREA ON SHEAR STRENGTH ................................... 114
6.7.2.3. EFFECT OF AXIAL COMPRESSION FORCE ON SHEAR STRENGTH ......................... 115

CHAPTER 7 : CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDITIONS ………………....………...... 117

7.1. SUMMARY .................................................................................................. 117
7.2. CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................ 117
7.2.1. SHORTCOMINGS OF SHEAR DESIGN IN ECP 203-07 ...................................... 117
7.2.2. MODIFICATIONS ON SHEAR DESIGN PRESENTED IN NEW ECP 203 ............... 118
7.2.3. DIFFERENCES IN SHEAR DESIGN BY VARIOUS CODES ................................... 118
7.3. RECOMMENDITIONS FOR FUTURE WORK ..................................................... 119
REFERENCES………………………………………………………...………...…….. 121
APPENDIX I: CODES COMPARISONS FOR CONCRETE CONTRIBUTION IN SHEAR
…………………………………………………………...……..………….………… I-1
APPENDIX II: CODES COMPARISONS FOR MEMBERS WITH STIRRUPS …………………... II-1
APPENDIX III: CODES COMPARISONS FOR MEMBERS SUBJECTED TO SHEAR AND
AXIAL FORCES…..………………….………….....………………………..……..... III-1

IV
 List of Tables

Table 3.1: Maximum shear stresses .............................................................................. 31

Table 3.2: Grade of concrete ......................................................................................... 31
Table 3.3: Design shear strength provided by concrete ................................................ 31
Table 3.4: Shear strength provided by shear reinforcement ......................................... 34
Table 3.5: Comparison between design standards ........................................................ 37
Table 3.6: Shear strength design according to ECP 203-07 and international codes ... 39
Table 3.7: Shear strength for members subjected to axial force ................................... 40
Table 4.1: Comparison between design standards for shear strength of RC walls in
critical region ................................................................................................................ 54
Table 4.2: Comparison between design standards for shear strength of RC beams in
critical region ................................................................................................................ 60
Table 4.3: Comparison between design standards for shear strength of RC columns in
critical region ................................................................................................................ 67
Table 5.1: Shear strength design according to ECP 203-07 and ECP203-17 ............... 72
Table 6.1: The ultimate shear strength of 36 RC beams according to ECP 203-07..... 102
Table 6.2: Code estimate for reinforced concrete members ....................................... 106
Table 6.3: Comparison of experimental and codes predictions of shear walls ........... 109
Table 6.4: Code estimates for reinforced concrete members ...................................... 110
Table 6.5: Comparison of shear strength of shear walls according to different standards ... 112
Table I: Comparison of experimental and codes predictions of beams without stirrups ...... I-1
Table II: Comparison of experimental and codes predictions of beams with stirrups .II-1
Table III: Comparison of experimental and codes predictions for beams subjected to shear and
axial forces .......................................................................................................................................... III-1

V
 List of Figures

Figure 2.1: Internal forces in a cracked beam without stirrups....................................... 6

Figure 2.2: Aggregate interlock; Left-(Rough cracks); Right-(smooth cracks) ............. 7
Figure 2.3: Crack passing through the concrete around the aggregates ......................... 9
Figure 2.4: Influence of concrete strength on shear capacity ......................................... 9
Figure 2.5: The effect of shear span to depth ratio on nominal shear stress ................ 12
Figure 2.6: Effect of concrete strength on shear strength of beams with stirrups ....... 13
Figure 2.7: Effect of shear span to depth ratio on shear strength ................................. 13
Figure 2.8: Effect of longitudinal steel ratio on shear strength ..................................... 15
Figure 2.9: Formation of diagonal tension cracks ........................................................ 15
Figure 2.10: Shear compression failure ....................................................................... 15
Figure 2.11: True shear failure...................................................................................... 16
Figure 2.12: Parallel chord truss model ....................................................................... 17
Figure 2.13: Truss analogy for beam subjected to shear .............................................. 17
Figure 2.14: Internal forces in a cracked beam with stirrups ........................................ 18
Figure 2.15: The shortest possible path in a deep beam ............................................... 19
Figure 2.16: Strut-and-tie model for deep beam .......................................................... 20
Figure 2.17: Critical section for shear in deep beam ................................................... 19
Figure 3.1: Critical section for shear in shallow beam ................................................. 21
Figure 3.2: Critical section for shear in shallow beam according to ECP 203 ............. 22
Figure 3.3: Shear strength of RC beams with shear reinforcement .............................. 22
Figure 3.4: Transverse reinforcement of concrete beam .............................................. 24
Figure 3.5: Shear strength of RC beams with shear reinforcement in ECP 203 ........... 28
Figure 3.6: Reinforced concrete beam subjected to concentrated load ........................ 38
Figure 3.7: Reinforced concrete beam subjected to axial forces .................................. 42
Figure 4.1: Mechanisms of shear transfer in plastic hinges .......................................... 44
Figure 4.2: State of failure of column near fixed end ................................................... 45
Figure 4.3: Intersecting shear flexure cracks of RC column ........................................ 46
Figure 4.4: Length of plastic hinge region on shear wall ............................................. 47
Figure 4.5: Relation between concrete coefficient and hw/lw ratios for shear walls under
cyclic loads.................................................................................................................... 48
Figure 4.6: Effect of cumulate displacement ductility on concrete strength ............... 50
Figure 4.7: Reversing and unidirectional plastic hinges in beams................................ 57
Figure 4.8: Design shear forces for flexural members of special moment frames ....... 59
Figure 4.9: Vertical cracks of RC column .................................................................... 63
Figure 4.10: Development of cracks pattern of RC column ......................................... 63
Figure 4.11: Design shear forces for members subjected to bending and axial load of
special moment frames ................................................................................................. 66
Figure 5.1: Shear strength of RC beams with shear reinforcement in ECP 203 ........... 69
Figure 5.2: Reinforced concrete beam subjected to concentrated load ........................ 72
Figure 5.3: Effect of concrete compressive strength on shear capacity for test data [14],
for the current and new ECP 203 codes ........................................................................ 75
Figure 5.4: Effect of concrete compressive strength on shear capacity for test data [21],
for the current and new ECP 203 codes ........................................................................ 76
Figure 5.5: Effect of longitudinal steel on shear strength for test data [14], and for the
current and new ECP 203 codes ................................................................................... 77

VI
Figure 5.6: Effect of shear span-to-depth ratio on shear strength for test data [4], and for
the current and new ECP 203 codes ............................................................................. 78
Figure 5.7: Effect of shear span-to-depth ratio on shear strength for test data [15], and
for the current and new ECP 203 codes ........................................................................ 79
Figure 5.8: Effect of transverse reinforcement on shear capacity for test data [22], and
for the current and new ECP 203 codes ........................................................................ 80
Figure 5.9: Effect of transverse reinforcement on shear capacity for test data [22], and
for the current and new ECP 203 codes ........................................................................ 81
Figure 5.10: Structural wall cross section fig. ex. 6.7.2 ............................................... 83
Figure 5.11:Effect of concrete compressive strength on shear strength provided by shear
reinforcement ................................................................................................................ 83
Figure 5.12: Effect of cross section area of concrete on shear strength provided by shear
reinforcement ............................................................................................................... 84
Figure 5.13: Effect of axial compression force on shear strength provided by shear
reinforcement ................................................................................................................ 85
Figure 6.1: Effect of concrete compressive strength on shear capacity for test data [14]
and various codes .......................................................................................................... 89
Figure 6.2: Effect of concrete compressive strength on shear capacity for test data [21]
and various codes .......................................................................................................... 90
Figure 6.3: Effect of concrete compressive strength on shear capacity for test data [21]
and various codes .......................................................................................................... 91
Figure 6.4: Effect of concrete compressive strength on shear capacity for test data [21]
and various codes .......................................................................................................... 92
Figure 6.5: Effect of concrete compressive strength on shear capacity for test data [22]
and various codes .......................................................................................................... 93
Figure 6.6: Effect of longitudinal steel on shear strength for test data [14] and various
codes ............................................................................................................................. 95
Figure 6.7: Effect of shear span-to-depth ratio on shear strength for test data [4] and
various codes ................................................................................................................. 97
Figure 6.8: Effect of shear span-to-depth ratio on shear strength for test data [15] and
various codes ................................................................................................................. 98
Figure 6.9: Effect of transverse reinforcement on shear capacity for test data [22] and
various codes ............................................................................................................... 100
Figure 6.10: Effect of transverse reinforcement on shear capacity for test data [22] and
various codes ............................................................................................................... 101
Figure 6.11: Effect of shear reinforcement on shear capacity according to ECP 203-07
code ............................................................................................................................ 103
Figure 6.12: Effect of axial force on shear strength ................................................... 104
Figure 6.13: Codes estimate for RC members without shear reinforcement .............. 108
Figure 6.14: Structural wall cross section fig. ex. 6.7.2.............................................. 111
Figure 6.15: Effect of concrete compressive strength on shear strength provided by shear
reinforcement .............................................................................................................. 113
Figure 6.16: Effect of cross section area of concrete on shear strength provided by shear
reinforcement .............................................................................................................. 114
Figure 6.17: Effect of axial compression force on shear strength provided by shear
reinforcement ............................................................................................................. 115

VII
 Nomenclature

The terms in this list are used in the thesis

a shear span, mm;

ag specified nominal maximum size of coarse aggregate, mm;
a/d shear span to depth ratio;
Ad shape factor;
Ag area gross of the section, mm;
As area of steel reinforcement, mm2;
Ast area of shear reinforcement, mm2;
Ast min minimum area of steel reinforcement, mm2;
b width of beam cross section, mm;
d effective depth of beam cross section, mm;
fc’ cylinder compressive strength of concrete, N/mm2 ;
fy yield strength of steel, N/mm2;
fcu cube compressive strength of concrete, N/mm2;
hw wall height, m;
Kn factor allows for the influence of the axial
load;
Ka factor depends on maximum aggregate size;
Lw wall length, m;
Pu applied load, N;
Ro ductility-related force modification factor;
Rd over strength-related force modification factor;
s spacing between stirrups, mm;
sz crack spacing parameter dependent on crack control characteristics of
longitudinal reinforcement, mm;
sze the equivalent value of sz that allows for influence of aggregate size,
mm;
T tie force, N;
qcu shear stress provided by the concrete, N/mm2;
qn nominal shear strength, N/mm2;
qsu shear stress provided by the stirrups, N/mm2;
qu ultimate shear strength, N/mm2;
qu,max maximum ultimate shear strength, N/mm2;
Q total shear force, N;
Qa shear contribution due to aggregate interlock, N;
Qc shear contribution due to concrete, N;
Qcz shear stresses in uncracked concrete, N;
Qd shear contribution due to dowel action, N;

VIII
Qn nominal shear force, N;
Qs shear contribution due to web reinforcement (stirrups), N;
Qr shear contribution due to Residual tensile stresses, N;
Nu axial tension force applying on the member, N;

β factor accounting for shear resistance of cracked concrete;

c strength reduction factor of concrete;
s strength reduction factor of shear reinforcement;
ρ longitudinal main steel reinforcement ratio (As / b d);
ρv web reinforcement ratio (Ast / s b);
ρv fyv web reinforcement index, N/mm2;
c a coefficient which accounts for the effect of axial compression forces;
t a coefficient which accounts for the effect of axial tension forces;
x longitudinal strain at mid-depth of the member due to factored loads
(positive when tensile);
λ modification factor reflecting the reduced mechanical properties of
lightweight concrete, all relative to normal weight concrete of the same
compressive strength;
Φ strength reduction factor;
Φc strength reduction factor of concrete;
Φs strength reduction factor of non-prestressed reinforcing bars;
µst shear reinforcement ratio;
M cumulate displacement ductility;
Θ angle of inclination of diagonal compressive stress;
θid wall or coupling beam inelastic rotational demand;

IX
 Abstract

The goal of this thesis is to evaluate the modifications of the shear design approach
that will be implemented in the new ECP 203 code. These modifications are made to
modify the shear design provisions in the current ECP 203 code for members subjected to
static and cyclic loads.

First, the factors that have influence on the mechanism of shear transfer and the
ultimate shear strength are explored. Then, different shear design approaches of reinforced
concrete members subject to shear are reviewed. Finally, the new ECP 203 shear design
approach is evaluated using shear strength prediction of various codes of practice and
numerous experimental results.

The study discusses the shear behavior of reinforced concrete shear walls and moment
resisting frames under cyclic loads with particular interest in the behavior of plastic hinge
region. An important modification of the new ECP 203 is its utilization of the concrete
contribution to shear strength inside plastic hinge region, when sufficient compressive
stresses exist.