Reducing discrepancy between deep beam and sectional shear-strength predictions

The objective of this study is to reduce the discrepancy between strut-and-tie modeling and sectional shear strength predictions at an a/d near 2. To accomplish this objective, the authors compiled and analyzed a database of 905 deep beam shear tests; 868 were gathered from the past literature and 37 were tested by the authors as part of a recent experimental investigation. Based on the results of the investigation and an analysis of the database, the authors identify the contributing causes of the discrepancy and recommend improvements to current shear provisions. The strut-and-tie model (STM) procedure proposed by the authors in a separate paper provides a uniform level of conservatism at the transition region between deep beam and ACI 318-11 sectional shear provisions.