Master of Science / Department of Civil Engineering / Asadollah Esmaeily / The shear and combined shear and torsion provisions of the AASHTO LRFD (2008) Bridge Design Specifications, as well as simplified AASHTO procedure for prestressed and non-prestressed reinforced concrete members were investigated and compared to their equivalent ACI 318-08 provisions. Response-2000, an analytical tool developed based on the Modified Compression Field Theory (MCFT), was first validated against the existing experimental data and then used to generate the required data for cases where no experimental data was available. Several normal and prestressed beams, either simply supported or continuous were used to evaluate the AASHTO and ACI shear design provisions In addition, the AASHTO LRFD provisions for combined shear and torsion were investigated and their accuracy was validated against the available experimental data. These provisions were also compared to their equivalent ACI code requirements. The latest design procedures in both codes propose exact shear-torsion interaction equations that can directly be compared to the experimental results by considering all ϕ factors as one. In this comprehensive study, different over-reinforced, moderately-reinforced, and under-reinforced sections with high-strength and normal-strength concrete for both solid and hollow sections were analyzed. The main objectives of this study were to: • Evaluate the shear and the shear-torsion procedures proposed by AASHTO LRFD (2008) and ACI 318-08 • Validate the code procedures against the experimental results by mapping the experimental points on the code-based exact interaction diagrams • Develop a MathCAD program as a design tool for sections subjected to shear or combined shear and torsion

Shear strength of precast/prestressed hollow-core (PHC) slabs subjected to concentrated or line loads, especially near supports, may be critical and usually is the governing criteria in the design. This study presents the second phase of a research program, undergoing at the University of Manitoba, to calibrate the shear equations in the Canadian code for predicting the shear capacity of PHC slabs. This phase includes both experimental and numerical investigations using a finite element analysis (FEA) software package. The length of bearing, void shape and size, level of prestressing and shear span-to-depth ratio were investigated. The experimental results were compared to the predictions of the Canadian, American and European codes. It was concluded that the Canadian code is unduly conservative. However, the special European code for PHC slabs resulted in better and more consistent predictions. The FEA suggested that the adequate prestressing reinforcement ratio to obtain highest shear capacity ranges between 0.7% and 1.1%.

Shear strength of precast/prestressed hollow-core (PHC) slabs subjected to concentrated or line loads, especially near supports, may be critical and usually is the governing criteria in the design. This study presents the second phase of a research program, undergoing at the University of Manitoba, to calibrate the shear equations in the Canadian code for predicting the shear capacity of PHC slabs. This phase includes both experimental and numerical investigations using a finite element analysis (FEA) software package. The length of bearing, void shape and size, level of prestressing and shear span-to-depth ratio were investigated. The experimental results were compared to the predictions of the Canadian, American and European codes. It was concluded that the Canadian code is unduly conservative. However, the special European code for PHC slabs resulted in better and more consistent predictions. The FEA suggested that the adequate prestressing reinforcement ratio to obtain highest shear capacity ranges between 0.7% and 1.1%.

This work deals with the analysis of reinforced concrete structures according to the currently valid standard EN 1992-1-1 (EC 2) compared with the analysis according to the American standard ACI 318-08. Static solution includes an assessment of slab in local supports, calculation of columns and footings according to 1st critical state for both standards. The slab is also assessed according to the 2st critical state according to EC 2.