The shear strength of uniformly loaded beams without web reinforcement

This paper describes an iterative method of calculating the failure load of uniformly loaded reinforced concrete rectangular beams without shear reinforcement. Use is made of basic equations, derived in an earlier paper. By utilizing the “distortion energy principle”, it has been possible for the first time to predict the section of failure mathematically, and so also the inclination of the shear crack. In developing a failure criterion for the concrete of the compression zone, due weight has been given to the vertical stresses due to loading. The calculated results show fairly good agreement with experimental evidence.