Finite-element analyses (FEA) of reinforced concrete slab-column connections with shear reinforcement are presented and discussed. Ultimate loads and crack patterns are shown and compared to the experimental findings. The damaged plasticity model in ABAQUS, previously calibrated and validated on tested slabs without shear reinforcement, is adopted to properly simulate the behavior of slab-column connections with shear reinforcement. Four interior slab-column specimens were tested under vertical loading applied through the column. One slab specimen was without shear reinforcement, while the other three differed in the amount of the shear bolts. The objective of this paper is to propose a novel numerical modeling strategy for simulating and analyzing shear reinforced slabs with shear bolts. For that purpose, in the numerical analyses, four different approaches for modeling the shear bolt are introduced and described. Discussion and comparison on the predicted failure loads from the design codes and ...

The present work reports the test results of seven full-scale reinforced concrete slab-column edge connections strengthened against punching shear using different methods. In this study, three slabs contained openings in the vicinity of the column, and the other four were without openings. The dimensions of the slabs were 1,540×1,020×120 mm with square columns (250×250 mm). The openings in the specimens were square (150×150 mm) with the sides parallel to the sides of the column. The slabs were reinforced with an average reinforcement ratio of 0.75%. Except for the two reference slabs, two different strengthening techniques were considered. Technique I applies externally bonded fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) flexible sheets on the slab around the column in two schemes with one or two layers of FRP sheets glued to the tension face or both tension and compression faces of the slab. Both glass and carbon FRP sheets were considered. Technique II applies externally bonded FRP sheets using either the first or se...

Shear testing of glass fiber–reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars can be considered for material specifications, quality control, quality assurance, and structural design purposes. ASTM and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) specify the testing apparatus and the procedure to test fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) matrix composites, in which the principal variables are the size (diameter) and type of the FRP bars. This study develops a device to test GFRP bars in shear based on both ASTM and CSA standards. The paper provides information about the significance of shear testing of GFRP bars and the potential outcomes of this type of test. For that purpose, different types of GFRP bars (straight and bent) provided by two different suppliers are studied. Two test series are considered. The first examines straight and bent bars from two different companies, and tests two different diameters of the GFRP bars. The straight bars are tested with and without their outer coating (provided by the companies) and the bent bars are tested in their straight portion. The same bars are tested in shear after being in an alkaline solution (pH 13) for 5 months (150 days) at 60°C. The second test series considers GFRP bars of various diameters (original GFRP bars are shaved). The main objective of this work is to propose a shear testing protocol for GFRP bars of various diameters by reducing the number of cutting blades of the shear testing device. Finally, the failure modes and the significance of stiffness are discussed.