Computational Performance Assessment of Damaged RC Members with Fractured Stirrups

Abstract

The mechanical effect of fractured web reinforcement on structural safety was experimentally investigated by intentionally avoiding hooks or anchorage devices at the extreme ends of stirrups, which were replicas of web steel damaged by corrosion or alkali-aggregate reaction of concrete. Significant reduction in shear capacity was experimentally found without yielding of web reinforcement when the web steel anchorage was incomplete. A marked difference in failure crack patterns was also observed compared with the sound RC specimen. Longitudinal cracks were ultimately formed along the main reinforcement where the unprocessed edges of the stirrups lie. Non-linear finite element analysis was employed to investigate and simulate failure processes and static capacity. The bond deterioration zone of the web reinforcement was computationally assumed to be ten times the diameter of steel bars from the cut-off trimming of steel bars. This simple assumption in nonlinear computation was verified to be acceptable for performance assessment of damaged reinforced concrete with fractured stirrups.