International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering (IJRTE)

ISSN: 2277-3878, Volume-7, Issue-6C2, April 2019

Development of Shear Strength Expression

for Rc Corbels using Strut-and-Tie Model
Katari Durga Bhavani, J.D.Chaitanaya Kumar, M.L. Sai Ranga Rao

Abstract: Corbels are sections that project from the essences of

columns and are used widely in precast concrete construction to
support primary beams and girders. On account of the
predominance of precast concrete, the design of corbels has
become increasingly important. In this paper, a simple analytical
expression is proposed for predicting the shear strength of
reinforced concrete corbels using “Strut-and-Tie” Model. The
proposed expression is compared with some of the existing
expressions and ACI 318-14 code. The 178 corbels specimen’s
experimental data has been collected from the literature and find
out the unknown parameters. The proposed model accounted for Figure 1: Typical shear failure in corbel
compressive strength of concrete, shear span -to-depth ratio,
breadth and effective depth. The results indicate that proposed
expression as one the best fitting expression to predict the shear
A strut-and-tie (STM) model visualizes a truss-like
strength of RC corbels. system in the structure and transmits forces from loading
Index terms: Strut-and-Tie Model, Shear Span-to-depth ratio, points to the supports. Strut resistscompressive force applied
Shear strength, Corbels. on the member. They are primarily made of concrete or a
combination of concrete and compression reinforcement.
INTRODUCTION Tiesare tensile members in the strut-and-tie model. They are
Reinforced concrete (RC) corbel is a structural member, madeof a combination of reinforcement and concrete.
Corbel is a short-hunched cantilever used to support the However, the members like deep beams, corbels, beam-
reinforced concrete precast beams.Usually,shear span-to- column joints and shear walls are designed with STM,
depth ratio (a/d) of corbel is lesser than or equal to one. It Development of shear strength expression is needed for the
makes the corbel behave in a two-dimensional manner. following reasons:first, to limit the cracks under service
Corbels are primarily designed to resist vertical loads and loads and second, to limit the concrete contribution.
horizontal forces owing to restrained shrinkage, thermal Further, existing limiting expressions do not explicitly
deformation, and creep of the supported. Corbels cast consider the effect of tension reinforcement ratio, shear
monolithically with the column element (or) wall element. span-to-depth ratio and size effect. Therefore, in this paper,
Corbels are commonly termed as a discontinuity region an empirical expression is developed by considering the
(D-region), where “plane section remainsplane” assumption influencing phenomena and factors.
is not valid. Different design procedure shall be adopted for
regions with discontinuity in the structural member, such as
areas, zone of load application (or) areas with a sudden
change in the geometrical dimensions such as brackets and
portal frames. Corbels are designed mainly to provide for
the vertical reaction Vu at the end of the supported beam,
and sometimes they must also resist a horizontal force N uc
transmitted from the reinforced beam due to restrained
shrinkage, creep, or temperature change. In general,strut-
and-tie model of a structure is an effective tool for the
analysis and design of concrete members especially for D-
regions. Figure 2: Strut and tie model for internal force

RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE
Revised Manuscript Received on April 09, 2019. This paper reported a basic scientific expression proposed
K. Durga Bhavani, P. G. Student, Structural Engineering, Department for predicting the shear strength of reinforced concrete
of Civil Engineering, Koneru Lakshmaiah Educational Foundation, Green
Fields, Guntur District, Vaddeswaram, Andhra Pradesh, India.
corbels using “Strut-and-Tie” Method. The proposed
J.D. Chaitanaya Kumar, Assistant Professor, Structural Engineering, expression is compared with some of the existing
Department of Civil Engineering, Koneru Lakshmaiah Educational Expressions and ACI 318-14 code. The 178 corbels
Foundation, Green Fields, Guntur District, Vaddeswaram, Andhra Pradesh,
India.
M.L. Sai Ranga Rao, Assistant Professor, Structural Engineering,
Department of Civil Engineering, Koneru Lakshmaiah Educational
Foundation, Green Fields, Guntur District, Vaddeswaram, Andhra Pradesh.
India.

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 International Conference on Advances in Civil Engineering (ICACE-2019) | 21-23 March 2019 |
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specimen’s experimental data has been collected from the Where ϕ = 0.75.
literature and find out the unknown
B. RUSSO EXPRESSION
parameters.Experimental database of 178 samples is
collected from the literature to validate the limiting To predict the shear strength of corbels by means of
expressions. Besides, the effect of tensionreinforcement single accurate expression to keep away time consuming
ratio, shear span-to-depth ratio and size effect was computing procedures. The main commitment was derived
incorporated. The proposed model is safe, economic and from a limiting shear expression, while the second
consistent. commitment was derived from the equilibrium of the strut-
and-tie mechanism in presence of stirrups.
EXPERIMENTAL DATA & RESULTS The ultimate shear strength of corbel Eq. (2)
The important parameters which are controlling the shear 𝑣𝑢 = 0.5(𝑘. 𝜒. 𝑓𝑐′ . 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 + 0.65. 𝜌ℎ . 𝑓𝑦ℎ. 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃) (2)
strength of corbels, based on previous research work are Where k= is acquired from the classical bending theory of
given below: reinforced concrete (RC) beams with tensile reinforcement
a= shear span, i.e. distance from column face to only.
resultantofvertical load, mm
b=width of corbel, mm. 𝑘 = √(𝑛. 𝜌𝑓 )² + (2. 𝑛. 𝜌𝑓 )-( 𝑛. 𝜌𝑓 )
d = effective depth of corbelmeasured at column face,
mm n = the ratio of the elastic moduli of steel and concrete
fc’=Compressive strength of concrete, MPa
𝐸𝑠
𝜌 = reinforcement ratio at column face, 𝑛=
𝐸𝑐
𝐴𝑣 + 𝐴 𝑠
𝜌= 𝜌𝑓 = flexural reinforcement ratio
𝑏𝑑
𝐴𝑠 −𝐴𝑛
𝑣𝑢 = nominal shear stress atultimate strength, kN 𝜌𝑓 =
𝑏.𝑑

𝑉𝑢 𝑁𝑢
𝑣𝑢 = 𝐴𝑛 =
𝑏𝑑 𝑓𝑦𝑠
𝑉𝑢 = vertical load at ultimatestrength, i.e. shear at ultimate 𝑓𝑦𝑠 =yielding strength of the main reinforcement.
strength, kN 𝑓𝑦ℎ = yielding strength of the stirrups.
∅= capacity reduction factor
𝜌ℎ = the stirrups ratio at column-corbel interface
𝐴𝑠 = area of tension reinforcement(mm2) 𝐴
𝐴𝑣 = total area of horizontalclosed stirrups (mm2) 𝜌𝑓 = ℎ
𝑏.𝑑
a = shear spanfrom concentrated load to face of column 𝜃=is the angle between compressed concrete strut and the
as = depth of diagonal strut vertical direction.
D = compression force at diagonal strut (negative for 𝑎 𝑘²
compression) −1 + √( )² + 0.22(1 − )
𝑑 4
𝜃 = 2. arctan [ ]
𝐸𝑐 = elastic modulus of concrete 𝑎
−
𝑘
𝑑 2
𝐸𝑠 = elastic modulus of steel bar
𝐹ℎ = tension force in horizontal tie (positive for tension) 3
𝑓𝑐′ 𝑓𝑐′ 𝑓𝑐′
𝐹𝑦ℎ = yielding force of horizontal tie 𝜒 = [0.74 ( ) − 1.28( )² + 0.22( ) + 0.87
105 105 105
h = direction of horizontal hoop
H = overall thickness of corbel C. SIAO EXPRESSION
j,k = coefficients The ultimate shear capacity of corbel Eq. (3) may be
Nc = tensile force applied at top of and corbel acting calculated as follows:
simultaneously with 𝑉𝑐𝑣 (positive for tension) 𝑣𝑢 = 1.8. 𝑓𝑡 . 𝑏. 𝑑 (3)
Where 𝑓𝑡 = is the allowable tensile strength of tension tie
EXISTING EXPRESSIONS
in refined compression strut.
A. ACI 318-2014
𝑓𝑡 = 7√𝑓𝑐′ (1 + n )𝜌ℎ sin2 𝛳 + 𝜌𝑣 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝛳
For critical members which is at maximum shear strength
that is designed derived from Eq.1 given by ACI 318-14. 𝑓𝑦 = is the steel yield strength.
The product of reduction factor and previous code eq which n =is ratio of the elastic moduli of steel and concrete,
is designed results in obtaining actual equation more 𝐸𝑠
conservative. By using compressive strength of concrete and 𝑛=
𝐸𝑐
the cross-sectional area of corbels the maximum shear
strength design can be calculated. A limit has been 𝜌ℎ , 𝜌𝑣 = steel reinforcement ratio of horizontal and
developed in order to decrease the crackingwithin service vertical bars, respectively
loads and to protect the corbels against diagonal θ =is the angle of compression strut to tension tie.
compression failure.
(𝐴𝐶𝐼 318−11,14)
𝑉𝑛 = ∅ 0.83 √𝑓𝑐 ′ 𝑏𝑑 (1)

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 International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering (IJRTE)
ISSN: 2277-3878, Volume-7, Issue-6C2, April 2019

Figure 3. Experimental/Predicted Shear Strength (VuTEST/VuPRE) vs. shear span-to-depth ratio (a/d)

Figure 4. Experimental/Predicted Shear Strength vs. compressive strength of concrete

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Figure 5. Experimental/Predicted Shear Strength vs. effective depth

Figure 6. Experimental (VuTEST)vs. predicted shear strength (VnPRE)

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 International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering (IJRTE)
ISSN: 2277-3878, Volume-7, Issue-6C2, April 2019

between 0.8 and 1.1. The coefficient of variation of

MODIFIED MAXIMUM SHEAR STRENGTH proposed model is 40%, which can be reduced further by
The influence of shear span-to-depthratio and percentage modifying the coefficients.
tension reinforcement, the generic equation from ACI 318-
14 is mentioned below. CONCLUSION
,
𝑓𝑐 𝑎1 𝜌𝑎2 𝑏𝑑 𝑎3
The proposed equation is more conservative than that of
𝑉𝑛𝑃𝑅𝑂 = 𝑎 (4) the existing models suggested by ACI codes. Also, the effect
( )𝑎4
𝑑
of tension reinforcement ratio, shear span-to-depth ratio and
To determine the coefficients, namely, a1, a2, a3, and a4, size-effect were incorporated. The mean and coefficient of
(𝑉𝑛 / (𝑏𝑑𝑓’𝑐 )are plotted with (a/d) ratio, fc’, b and d. From variation of strength ratio of proposed model are 1.24 and
the literature the best-fit curve of (𝑉𝑛 / (𝑏𝑑𝑓’𝑐 )vs. (a/d) is 0.40, respectively.From the comparison it has
𝑎 −1.0 beenconcluded that the proposed model is safe, economical
( ) , and the trend decreases exponentially. Therefore,
𝑑
and consistent.
𝑎 𝑎4 𝑎
( ) is replaced by term (log10 [𝐴 + ])𝐵 , where A and B
𝑑 𝑑
are the empirical constants. Next, to consider the size effect, ACKNOWLEDGMENT
(𝑉𝑛 / (𝑏𝑑𝑓’𝑐 ) is plotted with depth, and the best-fit curve is The authors would like to acknowledge Dr. Sanjay Deori
identified as d(-0.25). Based on trial and error method Scientist at CSIR-North East Institute of Science and
parameters like a1, a2, a3, and a4 are determined.By Technology for his support and encouragement during the
substituting all the constants in equation (4) below equation research.
is developed.
1 3 3 REFERENCES
𝑓𝑐, 2 𝜌2 b𝑑 4
𝑉𝑛𝑃𝑅𝑂 = 𝑎
3 (5) 1. ACI committee 318-14, “Building Code Requirements for
(log10 [1.0+ ])2
𝑑 Structural Concrete,”American Concrete Institute, Farmington
𝑎 Hill, Michigan 2014.
Where ( ) <1.0 2. Campione, G.,”Performance of steel fibrous reinforced
𝑑
concrete corbels subjected to vertical and horizontal
EFFECTS OF INFLUENCING PARAMETERS loads”. Journal of structural engineering, Vol. 135Issue 5,
2009,pp.519-529.
A. EFFECT OF SHEAR SPAN-TO-DEPTH RATIO 3. Concrete Institute, Farmington Hill, Michigan. Fattuhi,
N.I.,“Column-load effect on reinforced concrete corbels”.
As per the provisions of RUSSO Expression, Siao
Journal of Structural Engineering, Vol. 116, Issue 1, 1990,
Expression and ACI 318-14, the shear span-to-depth ratio pp. 188-197.
decreases whenthere is an increase in the shear strength of 4. Fattuhi, N.I., “Strength of SFRC corbels subjected to vertical
𝑎
corbel. In the case of proposed model, the effect of ratio load”. Journal of Structural Engineering, Vol. 116, Issue 3,
𝑑
𝑎 1990, pp.701-718.
has been considered with a consistent term. The term ‘ ’ 5. Fattuhi, N.I., “Strength of FRC corbels in flexure,” Journal of
𝑑
ratio is expressed in logarithmic form in order to minimize Structural Engineering, Vol. 120, Issue 2, 1994, pp.360-377.
the errors. 6. Hwang, S.J., Lu, W.Y. and Lee, H.J.,"Shear strength
prediction for reinforced concrete corbels,”Structural Journal,
B. EFFECT OF COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH ON CORBEL Vol. 97, Issue 4, 2000,pp.543-552.
7. IS 456:2000, “Indian Standard Plain and Reinforced Concrete
The compressive strength of corbel as per the proposed
Code of Practice,” Fourth Revision, Bureau of Indian
equation is greater when compared with RUSSO Standards.
Expression, Siao Expression and ACI 318-14 Codes. The 8. Khosravikia, F., Kim, H.S., Yi, Y., Wilson, H., Yousefpour,
low strength of concrete corbels scatter was more when H., Hrynyk, T. and Bayrak, O.,“Experimental and Numerical
compared to the medium strength of concrete corbels. Assessment of Corbels Designed Based on Strut-and-Tie
Irrespective of compressive strength of concrete, the Provisions,” Journal of Structural Engineering, Vol. 144,
Issue 9, 2018, pp.401-813.
proposed model predicts the capacity uniformly.
9. Kriz, L.B. and Raths, C.H.,“Connections in Precast Concrete
C. EFFECT OF DEPTH ON CORBEL Structures: Strength of Corbels,” 1965.
10. Kurtoglu, A.E., Gulsan, M.E., Abdi, H.A., Kamil, M.A. and
The depth of corbel varies in between 200mm and Cevik, A., “Fiber reinforced concrete corbels: Modeling shear
600mm. Size effect is accounted for in the proposed strength via symbolic regression,”Computers and
expression by adopting suitable power term ‘d’. concrete, Vol. 20, Issue 1, 2017, pp.65-75.
Consequently, prediction of the proposed model varies 11. Sayed ShoebIliyas, D.A. and Kakade, D.N., “The Behavior of
uniformly with depth of corbel. Reinforced Concrete Corbels with Steel Fibers and Shear
Strength Prediction”.
12. Yong, Y.K. and Balaguru, P., “Behavior of reinforced high-
COMPARISON OF PROPOSED MODEL strength-concrete corbels,” Journal of Structural
WITH EXISTING MODELS Engineering, Vol. 120, Issue 4, 1994, pp.1182-1201.
The proposed equation is relatively safe when compared
to ACI318-14, For the RUSSO Expression, Siao Expression
and ACI 318-14, standard deviation values are 0.44,0.38 and
0.45, respectively, the proposed equation standard deviation
is 0.50, which is merely equal to ACI codes, whereas the
mean of strength ratio is 1.24, while mean of ACI codes are

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AUTHORS PROFILE
K. Durga Bhavani is doing his Master of
Technology in Structural Engineering at
Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation
Vaddeswaram, Guntur district, Andhra
Pradesh, India.

J.D. Chaitanaya Kumar is working as

Assistant Professor in Department of Civil
Engineering at Koneru Lakshmaiah
Education Foundation, Vaddeswaram, Guntur
district, Andhra Pradesh, India. He is pursuing Doctorate
from JNTU Anantapur, M. Tech Gold Medalist in Structural
Engineering from GVP College of Engineering (A), and
Bachelor Degree in Civil Engineering from SRK Institute of
Technology. He published more than 20 Journals in Scopous
Index and peer reviewed journals. He is having 4-years of
teaching experience in India and 2- Years of teaching
Experience in Ethiopia His research area is precast concrete
and light weight concrete. He is life member in Indian
Concrete Institute (ICI), Pre-Engineered Structures Society
of India (PSI).

M. L. Sai Ranga Rao is working as

Assistant Professor in Department of Civil
Engineering at Koneru Lakshmaiah
Education Foundation, Vaddeswaram,
Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, India. He is M. Tech from
Structural Engineering from JNTU Kakinada, and
bachelor’s
Author-3 degree in civil engineering from K L University.
He Photo
published 3 papers in Scopous Index journal. He is
having 2-years of teaching experience. His research area is
concrete.

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