Investigation of dowel shear in RC beams using photogrammetry

Three beams were fabricated and tested to investigate the contribution of dowel action to the shear capacity of rectangular concrete beams with shear reinforcement. The tests involved the use of photogrammetry to measure accurately the movement of the concrete, and consequently the movement of the flexural reinforcing, as shear cracking developed. This information was used in a non-linear stiffness model to determine the percentage contribution of dowel action to the shear capacity of the beams. The results showed that dowel action significantly contributed to the shear capacity of the beams.