Shear in Reinforced Concrete Beam-Column Joints

• Three general areas:

– Beam shear
typ.
– Interface shear
– Joint shear

Interior Joint Beam, Column, and Joint Shear

typ.
lc

lb
hb

top half half beam

of joint
lb/2

moments, shears, axial internal stress resultants

loads acting on joint acting on joint

Stress Flow and Cracking in Joints Strength of Various Corner Joints

These data are for

opening moment.

knee exterior interior

 Model for unreinforced joint Model for unreinforced joint

Nilson, ASCE Str. J., June 1976

Strength of Exterior Joints Tee Joints

Nilson, ASCE Str. J., June 1976

Strength of Strength of Interior and Exterior Joints

Interior and
Exterior Joints
(Beres et al., NCEER 92-024).

(Beres et al., NCEER 92-024).

 Bridge Tee Joints Models for Reinforced Joints
Truss Model - Assumes perfect bond of rebar in joint and
assumes all forces are transmitted to the joint by longitudinal
reinforcement.
A B A B Mb2
Mb2 Vb2
Vb2
Pb Pb

Vb1
Vb1
Mb1 Mb1
C D C D

Pc Pc
Vc Vc

Mc Mc

In two tests, joint failure at

nominal principal tension stresses
of 5.2 roots f’c and 5.4 roots f’c,
Lowes, ACI Str. J., July 1999 psi

Model for Reinforced Joints Strength of Various Reinforced Joints

Diagonal Strut Model - Assumes no bond of rebar in joint. Force Data are from cyclic load
is applied as a compression force in concrete on opposite side of tests of interior joints with
joint. transverse reinforcement
subjected to cyclic loads
simulating earthquake
effects (Otani, ACI SP
123).

Strength of Various Reinforced Joints Anchorage

Data are from cyclic load
tests of interior joints with
transverse reinforcement
subjected to cyclic loads
simulating earthquake
effects (Otani, ACI SP
123).
idealized

rebar

actual
 Anchorage ACI Joint Design Procedures
• Experimental observations show that joint strength
is fairly independent of transverse reinforcement if
minimum amounts are provided. This is the basis
for US approaches.
• Committee 352-2001 and 318-2002are different in
their details, but follow same general approach.
• Basic steps:
– Classify joints according to demands and geometry.
– Define joint demands
– Define joint capacity
– Provide joint confinement
– Provide reinforcement development
– Provide adequate strength in columns

ACI Committee 352 Design Define Joint Demands

• Classify the joint
– Type:
• Type 2 = sustained strength under inelastic
deformation reversals
• Type 1 = Other
– Geometry: Gravity
Note: To count as
confinement for a) Interior b) Exterior c) Corner
classification as an interior A.1 A.2 A.3
or exterior joint, the beam
framing into a face must
cover at least three-quarters
of the column width. d) Roof e) Roof f) Roof
Seismic
Interior B.1 Exterior B.2 Corner B.3

Define Joint Demands (cont’d) Beam Effective Width

For conventional design, the forces in the beams and
the columns are from the building analysis. For Interior
seismic design, the beams are assumed to develop Connections – Use
their plastic moment strengths, defining the joint ACI effective width
demands. to determine the
w width of slab rebar
that contributes to
flexural strength
Exterior
Connections – Use
lnb a yield line to
determine effective
width.

Beam Section
 Joint Demands (cont’d) Joint Shear Strength
Vu = φVn = γ f c' b j h ; φ = 0.85
Values of γ
Classification interior exterior corner
/type
cont. column. 20 (24) 15 (20) 12 (15)
Type 2 (1)
R oof 15 (20) 12 (15) 8 (12)
Type 2 (1)

Joint Confinement Joint Confinement and Hook Development

For Type 2 joints, continue the confinement in the column ends through the joint.
Exception: for interior joints a reduction is permitted.

Reinforcement Development Column Strength Requirement

For Type 2 joints, straight bars should have not less than 20 bar
diameters through the joint. For hooked bars, provide required
hook length ldh.
For Type 2 connections, the column strength must exceed the beam
strength so that:
• the column distributed reinforcement can serve as vertical joint
reinforcement
• the column will not fail before the beam.

Beam Strength:

Column Strength:
 Model for Reinforced Joints
Strut and Tie - Allows designer flexibility in load path. One
approach is to assign all forces in longitudinal reinforcement to a
truss mechanism, and all compression in the flexural compression
zone to a single strut.