Experimental and nonlinear finite element analysis of shear behaviour of reinforced concrete beams

This paper presents an experimental investigation and nonlinear finite element analysis (NLFEA), using the numerical tool ANSYS©, carried out on shear diagonal cracking effect behaviour of reinforced-concrete (RC) beams made normal strength concrete (NSC) high-strength (HSC), with without transverse reinforcement. Beams were tested four-point bending, by means digital image correlation (DIC). In setup, zone was digitised a high-resolution camera to assess deformation in compression measure crack widths. The results show that reinforcement does efficiently control width, increases capacity beams, shifts mode failure from flexure, significantly improves ductility ultimate state particularly when HSC, given better quality bond developed steel values obtained experimentally compared corresponding empirical available literature. Furthermore, detailed 3D (FEA) used predict load–deflection response, load, deflection, maximum widths cracks patterns RC beams. disparity between is ranging −11.08 +0.6%, −2.02 −0.52% −13.27 −1.01% for load mid-span respectively. While ratio predicted width ranged 0.95 1.06. Also, good agreement achieved. Consequently, FEA model able response accuracy.