8th fib PhD Symposium in Kgs.

Lyngby, Denmark

June 20 23, 2010

Increase of load bearing capacity of reinforced concrete

installation slabs by shear reinforcement
CHRISTIAN ALBRECHT
Institute of concrete structures and structural engineering, Technical University Kaiserslautern
Paul-Ehrlich-Strae Gebude 14, D-67663 Kaiserslautern
c.albrecht@rhrk.uni-kl.de
Abstract
Reinforced concrete slabs with integrated service ducts are frequently used in structural
engineering. The ducts used for electrical installations or for liquid- and air-containing
channels are normally integrated in a structure in a circular or a rectangular form.
The shear force load bearing capacity of reinforced concrete installation slabs without
shear force reinforcement was already analysed at the Technical University of Kaiserslautern.
It was found that the reduction of the shear force bearing capacity caused by large service
sections or by several smaller sections is quite substantial. In theses cases, a shear force
reinforcement could be required.
The aim of the current research project is the development of a reliable calculation concept
for installation slabs which allows the realization of innovative building-technical concepts
without stability reductions or unnecessarily high costs of reinforcement.

1. Introduction
Reinforced concrete slabs with integrated service ducts are frequently used in structural
engineering. The ducts used for electrical installations or for liquid- and air-containing
channels are normally integrated in a structure in a circular or a rectangular form.
The shear force load-bearing capacity of reinforced concrete installation slabs without
shear force reinforcement was already analysed at the Technical University of Kaiserslautern
by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jrgen Schnell and Dipl.-Ing. Catherina Thiele . It was found that the
reduction of the shear force bearing capacity caused by large service sections or by several
smaller sections is quite substantial [2], [3], [4]. In these cases, a shear force reinforcement
could be required. Without a shear force reinforcement, the reduced shear force bearing
capacity can be calculated in the following way [1].

0,15
1/ 3
VRd ,ct ,o = k o
1 (100 l f ck ) 0,12 cd bw d
c

with:

cd > 0 for tensile stresses, compressive stresses should be disregarded

ko

reducing factor for openings (see Figure 1)

fck

in N/mm

(1)

8th fib PhD Symposium in Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark

June 20 23, 2010

Figure 1: reducing factor for the openings

The aim of the project was to reinforce these slabs with the help of local shear force
reinforcement. So far no design rules, which allow a structurally safe and economical
calculation, have been developed to reinforce weakened cross sections with the help of local
shear force reinforcement.

2. First tests with shear force reinforcement

At the Technical University of Kaiserslautern, seven tests with local shear force reinforcement
have been undertaken. The tests have pointed out that it is possible to increase the shear force
capacity of weakened cross sections with the help of local shear force reinforcement. All slaps
(Figure 2) collapsed at the regular side without openings. This was also confirmed by FE
analyses (Figure 3).

Figure 2: First tests

Figure 3: FE analyses of the first tests

8th fib PhD Symposium in Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark

June 20 23, 2010

3. Further testing
An further testing plan was developed to analyse the behaviour of weakened cross sections
with local shear force reinforcement.
Single spanned reinforced concrete slabs with geometrically different kinds of openings
are analysed by experiments as well as by parametric studies with finite element analysis.
Single openings as well as groups of openings, with circular and rectangular form, are
analysed. For the shear force reinforcement, conventional reinforcement and shear rails are
used. Whereby, the different kinds of anchorage are tested.

Figure 4: different configurations of tests

test
V-R-1
V-R-2
V-R-3
V-R-4
V-E-1
V-E-2
V-E-3
V-E-4
V-E-5
V-G-1
V-G-2
V-G-3

opening

typ of reinforcement

circular
d = 0,5d

rectangular
hxl = 0,5d x 0,75d

group
3 x circular

reference test
one row of shear rails
one row of shear rails
one row of shear rails
reference test
one row of shear rails
two rows of shear rails
conventional reinforcement
one row of shear rails
with a concrete flat channel
reference test
three rows of shear rails
two rows of shear rails

Figure 5: overview of the advanced testing plan

Figure 6: cross section of a detailed sample

shear concentration
factor s
--1,00
0,75
0,50
--1,00
1,00
1,00
1,00
--0,75
0,75

8th fib PhD Symposium in Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark

June 20 23, 2010

Figure 7: longitudinal section of a detailed sample

4. Test results of the research project

The improvement of the shear force bearing capacity can be illustrated by the tests V-R-1 and
V-R-2. The increase of the ultimate load between the reference test without shear force
reinforcement V-R-1 with an ultimate load of 92 kN to the test V-R-2 with an ultimate load of
152 kN is 65%.
Fu=92kN

Figure 8: test V-R-1

Fu=152kN

Figure 9: test V-R-2

The test results will be shown at the fib PhD Symposium in Denmark. They will show how
much the shear force capacity of weakened cross sections can be increased with the help of
local shear force reinforcement.

References
[1]DAfStb Heft 525: Erluterungen zu DIN 1045-1. Berlin Beuth Verlag, 3. Entwurf - 2.
berarbeitete Auflage 2010.
[2]Schnell, J. and Thiele, C. Anwendungsgrenzen fr Luftkanle in Stahlbetonplatten ohne
Querkraftbewehrung, Abschlussbericht DBV-Vorhaben 250 und 259. 2006.
[3]Schnell, J. and Thiele, C. Querkrafttragfhigkeit von Stahlbetondecken mit integrierten
Leitungsfhrungen, Abschlussbericht Bauforschung T 3135 2007. 2007.
[4]Schnell, J. and Thiele, C. Querkrafttragfhigkeit von Stahlbetondecken mit integrierten
Leitungsfhrungen, Bauingenieur 82, Heft 4. 2007, 185-192.