Chapter 4: Shear Reinforcement (Stirrups)

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Reference Guide: Shear Reinforcement (Stirrups)

Given: Beam section dimensions (b, d, and h), main reinforcing steel, and f
c
, f
y
.

Find: Determine the required shear reinforcement (stirrups).

Solution

1. Determine the shear values due to the factored loads based on clear span.
For non-prestressed members, sections located less than a distance d from the face of
support are designed for V
u
(also designated as V
u
*) computed at a distance d.
ACI Code (Section 11.1.3.1)

Action: Draw the factored shear (V
u
) diagram.

2. Determine if stirrups are required. ACI Code (Section 11.4.6.1)
Shear reinforcement is required where V
u
> V
c
for flexural members.
where
V
u
= the design shear force, determined from factored loads
= strength-reduction factor for shear
= 0.75
V
c
= nominal shear strength provided by concrete = 2 f
c
b
w
d [ACI Eq. (11-3)]
= 1.0 for normal-weight concrete
f
c
= concrete compressive strength (psi)
b
w
= width of the web for T-beams (inches)
= b, the beam width for rectangular beams (inches)
d = effective depth of the beam section
Note: When determining the shear strength V
c
of reinforced or prestressed concrete beams
and concrete joist construction, the value of f
c
is limited to 100 psi unless minimum web
reinforcement is provided. (This requires f
c
to be 10,000 psi or greater, so not a concern for
the purposes of this course.)

Actions:
1) Calculate V
c
and V
c
.
2) Compare V
c
to V
u
.

3. If stirrups are required, determine the portion of the span over which stirrups are needed.
Stirrups are required where V
u
> V
c
.
A minimum area of shear reinforcement must be provided where V
c
< V
u
V
c
.
Shear reinforcement, as required by strength, must be provided where V
u
> V
c
.
a. Minimum shear reinforcement (i.e. maximum spacing) is required where
V
c
< V
u
V
c
.

Chapter 4: Shear Reinforcement (Stirrups)

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The ACI Code requires a minimum area of shear reinforcement in all reinforced concrete
flexural members where V
u
exceeds V
c
, except as follows.
In slabs and footings.
In concrete joist construction (as defined by the ACI Code, Section 8.13).
In beams with a total depth of not greater than 10, or 2 times the flange thickness, or
one-half the width of the web, whichever is greater.

Actions:
1) Draw the horizontal V
u
* line on the shear diagram.
V
u
* is the value on the shear diagram at a distance d from the face of the support.
2) Mark the location where V
u
= V
c
and note the value of V
c
on the shear diagram.
3) Mark the location where V
u
= V
c
and note the value of V
c
on the shear diagram.

4. On the V
u
diagram, determine the area representing the required shear strength that must be
provided by the shear reinforcement, that is, required V
s
.
The required V
s
is the area between the V
c
line, the V
u
* line, and the sloping V
u
line on the
V
u
diagram.
Generally, an equation to determine the required V
s
may be written as follows:
Required V
s
= maximum V
u
- V
c
mx
where
m = slope of the shear diagram
= intensity of the distributed load (i.e. w
u
)
x = the distance measured from the face of the left support
V
u
= shear force at the face of the support.

Actions:
1) Cross-hatch the area between the V
c
line, the V
u
* line, and the sloping V
u
line as the required
V
s
on the V
u
diagram.
2) Develop the equation required V
s

= maximum V
u
- V
c
mx

5. Select the size of the stirrup and determine the spacing that is required at the critical section (i.e.
the point on the beam located a distance d from the face of the support) based on the required
V
s
*.
Assume a
#
3 stirrup (A
v
= 0.22 in
2
).
Stirrup spacing should be no closer than 4.
- If the minimum spacing calculated is less than 4 using a
#
3 stirrup, then try using a
#
4
stirrup (A
v
= 0.40 in
2
).
Sections located between the face of the support and a distance d from the face of the support
are designed for the same V
u
as that at the critical section (i.e. V
u
*).
The stirrup spacing that is determined in this step is the minimum spacing for the stirrups in
the portion of the beam where the actual V
u
V
u
* (This is the section of the beam between the
face of the support and the critical section.)

Chapter 4: Shear Reinforcement (Stirrups)

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Stirrup spacing should be constant from the critical section back to the face of the support and
based on the spacing requirements determined at the critical section.
Required s* = A
v
f
yt
d/required V
s
*
= A
v
f
yt
d/(V
u
* - V
c
)
where
s* = spacing of the shear reinforcement in the region where V
u
V
u
*.
= strength-reduction factor for shear
= 0.75
A
v
= area of shear reinforcement
= 2A
s

s = center-to-center spacing of shear reinforcement in a direction parallel to the
longitudinal reinforcement (inch)
f
yt
= yield strength of shear reinforcement steel (psi)
d = effective depth
Required V
s
* = V
u
* - V
c
(calculated at the critical section)

Action: Determine the spacing s* based on the equation shown above.

6. Determine the ACI Code maximum spacing requirements for minimum shear reinforcement in the
region where V
c
< V
u
V
c
.
If V
s
< 4 f
c
b
w
d, the maximum spacing for vertical stirrups must not exceed d/2 or 24,
whichever is smaller. ACI Code (Section 11.4.5.1)
If V
s
> 4 f
c
b
w
d, the maximum spacing for vertical stirrups must not exceed d/4 or 12,
whichever is smaller. ACI Code (Section 11.4.5.3)
The value of V
s
must not exceed 8 f
c
b
w
d no matter the amount of web reinforcement.
ACI Code (Section 11.4.7.9)
where
V
s
= the required nominal shear strength provided by shear reinforcement
= V
s
* = (V
u
* - V
c
)/

Actions:
1) Calculate 4 f
c
b
w
d
2) Calculate V
s
* = V
u
* - V
c
.
3) Calculate V
s
* = V
s
*/.
4) Compare V
s
* with 4 f
c
b
w
d.
5) Determine the maximum spacing.
a) If V
s
* < 4 f
c
b
w
d, then the maximum stirrup spacing is d/2 or 24, whichever is smaller.
b) If V
s
* > 4 f
c
b
w
d, then the maximum stirrup spacing is d/4 or 12, whichever is smaller.
c) Calculate s
max
= (A
v
f
yt
)/(0.75 f
c
b
w
) [ACI Eq. (11-13)]
d) Calculate s
max
= (A
v
f
yt
)/(50 b
w
) [ACI Eq. (11-13)]

The maximum spacing is the smallest of the calculated values.

Chapter 4: Shear Reinforcement (Stirrups)

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where
A
v
= total cross-sectional area of the web reinforcement within a distance s.
= 2A
s
for single-loop stirrups
A
s
= the cross sectional area of the stirrup bar (in
2
)
b
w
= web width
= b for rectangular sections (inch)
s
max
= maximum center-to-center spacing of shear reinforcement in a direction parallel to
the longitudinal reinforcement (inch)
f
yt
= yield strength of web reinforcement steel (psi)
Note: When f
c
4444 psi, the minimum area of shear reinforcement is controlled by 50 b
w
s/f
yt
.
6) Calculate 8 f
c
b
w
d and compare with V
s
*.
a) The concrete strength f
c
or the beam dimensions b
w
and/or d must be increased if V
s
*
exceeds 8 f
c
b
w
d.

7. Determine the spacing requirements based on the shear strength that is furnished by the shear
reinforcing.
For the balance of the span (i.e. the portion of the beam where V
c
< V
u
< V
u
*), the stirrup
spacing depends on the shear strength that must be provided by the stirrups (i.e. the required
V
s
), or by the maximum spacing limitations determined above.
The formula to determine the required spacing uses the expression for required V
s
that was
developed in Step 4.
Required s = A
v
f
yt
d/required V
s

= A
v
f
yt
d/(maximum V
u
- V
c
mx)
A plot (such as that shown in Figure 4-8, p. 134 of the textbook) may be developed for the
required spacing at various distances from the face of the support by solving for s at various
values of x (i.e. locations along the beam).
- For plotting purposes, the required spacing is arbitrarily found at 1-foot intervals beyond
the critical section until the required spacing exceeds the maximum spacing.
Develop a table to establish a final spacing pattern.
- The table that was developed for Example 4-3 is shown below, using the following equation.
Required s = A
v
f
yt
d/(maximum V
u
- V
c
mx)
= 0.75(0.22)(60.0)(25)/(77.1 11.5x)
= 247.5/(77.1 11.5x)
Spacing
(inches)
Theoretical
stopping point
(from FOS)
Length
required to
cover (inch)
Number of
spaces to use
Actual length
covered
(inches)
Actual
stopping
point (inches
from FOS)
2 - - 1 2 2
4 2.4 = 29 27 7 28 30
5 4.9 = 59 29 6 30 60
12 8.35 = 101 41 4 48 108

Chapter 4: Shear Reinforcement (Stirrups)

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As an alternative, the theoretical stopping points for various spacings may be determined based on
the formula by solving for x at various values of spacing s.
Spacing values (s) should be made to no less than 1-inch increments.
Spacing values (s) should be no greater than the maximum spacing determined above.
Develop a table showing s and corresponding x values.
- The table that was developed for Example 4-3 is shown below, using the following formula.
Required s = A
v
f
yt
d/(maximum V
u
- V
c
mx)
= 0.75(0.22)(60.0)(25)/(77.1 11.5x)
= 247.5/(77.1 11.5x)
x = (1/11.5)(77.1 247.5/s)
s 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
x
1.32 =
16
2.40 =
29
3.11 =
37
3.63 =
44
4.01 =
48
4.31 =
52
4.55 =
55
4.75 =
57
4.91 =
59
Develop a table to establish the final spacing pattern.
- A sample table is shown on the previous page.

Actions:
1) Develop a plot of stirrup spacing vs. location along the member.
2) Develop a table to establish a final spacing pattern.
Alternatively,
1) Develop a table showing s and corresponding x values.
2) Develop a table to establish a final spacing pattern.

8. Sketch the stirrup pattern.
The first stirrup should be placed at a maximum distance of s*/2 from the face of the support.
(A distance of 2 is commonly used.)
Stirrups may be provided across the full length of the member. This is common practice and
conservative.
No more than two or three different spacings should be used within a pattern.
- Example of a two spacing pattern: Use the minimum spacing to the point where the
maximum spacing may be used.
- Example of a three spacing pattern: Use the minimum spacing to the point where the
spacing can be increased by 1 or 2; continue using the wider spacing to the point where the
maximum spacing may be used.
The stirrup pattern is generally symmetrical with respect to the centerline of the span.

Action: Sketch the final stirrup pattern.