ACI STRUCTURAL JOURNAL

TECHNICAL PAPER

Title no. 109-S59

Design of Thick Concrete Plates Using Strut-and-Tie Model

by E. Rizk, H. Marzouk, and R. Tiller
A strut-and-tie model is developed to model the punching shear
behavior of thick concrete plates. This model provides a quick and
simple approach to punching shear behavior. It is applicable to both
normal- and high-strength concrete under symmetric and nonsymmetric loading with and without shear reinforcement. The strutand-tie model for symmetric punching consists of a bottle-shaped
compressive zone in the upper section of the slab depth, leading to
a rectangular-stress compressive zone in the lower section depth.
An equation based on failure criteria for the strut-and-tie method
is used to model the behavior in the lower compressive stress zone.
Another strut-and-tie model is also developed to rationally model
nonsymmetric punching shear behavior due to unbalanced moment
transfer and symmetric punching behavior of concrete slabs
with shear reinforcement. The results of the strut-and-tie models
for symmetric and nonsymmetric loading with and without shear
reinforcement were compared to experimental test results performed
and published by others. The results of the strut-and-tie models
showed excellent agreement with available test results.
Keywords: punching and bottle-shaped strut; shear reinforcement; size
effect; splitting bond stress; strut-and-tie model; thick plates.

INTRODUCTION
Conventional design methods for concrete plates consider
potential punching failures in the vicinity of concentrated
loads. Nominal shear stresses at well-defined critical sections
are limited to guard against such failure modes. According
to this method, the nominal shear stress due to gravity load
is determined at an assumed vertical critical section around
the column. The shear stress should be limited to a nominal
shear strength that is usually assumed to be a function of
concrete strength and geometric parameters. Although such
a method lacks physical reality, it is simple and leads to
reasonable estimates if properly formulated.
The current research presents a rational and simple strutand-tie model to evaluate the ultimate punching shear
capacity of both normal- and high-strength concrete slabs
subjected to symmetric and nonsymmetric loading. The basis
of this model was developed earlier by the rational classical
model developed by Kinnunen and Nylander.1 Slabs with
shear reinforcement were also considered under symmetric
loading. The strut-and-tie models were compared to experimental test results reported in the literature and were verified
using different design codes equations.
RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE
Rational models and design formulas for punching shear are
based on the results of experimental tests performed mostly
on thin slabs. The few available tests performed on thick slabs
exhibit a notable size effect. As a consequence, there is a need
for a rational model that correctly describes and accounts for
size effect. This paper presents rational yet simple practical
strut-and-tie models to evaluate punching shear capacity of
thick concrete plates. The proposed models account for the
size effect factor. The proposed models were verified using
experimental test results available from the literature.
ACI Structural Journal/September-October 2012

Fig. 1High radial compression stress failure mechanism.

PREVIOUS RESEARCH
A strut-and-tie model was recommended by Tiller2 to
evaluate the punching shear capacity of concrete slabs. The
model provides a quick and simple approach to evaluate the
punching shear capacity of concrete slabs. It is also applicable to both normal- and high-strength concrete under
symmetric and nonsymmetric loading with and without shear
reinforcement. Marzouk et al.3 proposed an enhanced strutand-tie model to evaluate the minimum shear reinforcement
required to prevent brittle shear failure of thick concrete
plates in the vicinity of concentrated loads. The proposed
model has been used to evaluate the punching shear capacity
of thick plates. The strut-and-tie model for symmetric
punching consists of a bottle-shaped strut in the tension
zone of the plate, leading to a rectangular-shape strut in
the compressive zone. Inclined shear cracking develops in
the bottle-shaped strut prior to failure in the compressive
zone. Cracking in the bottle-shaped strut is related to the
splitting tensile strength of the concrete. Ultimate punching
failure occurs in the rectangular-stress zone by a high radial
compressive stress failure (Fig. 1). An equation based on
failure criteria for the simple strut-and-tie model is used
to evaluate the ultimate punching capacity of thick plates.
The plates thickness could be considered as the boundary
between thin and thick plates. Plates with 250 mm (10 in.)
thickness and greater could be considered as thick plates.
Another variable that has a significant effect on the shear
strength of concrete plates is the shear span-depth ratio (a/d).
According to Hallgren,4 slender slabs are those slabs with
an a/d of more than 3 to 4. This ratio could be used to distinguish between thin and thick plates.
ACI Structural Journal, V. 109, No. 5, September-October 2012.
MS No. S-2010-374 received November 28, 2010, and reviewed under Institute
publication policies. Copyright 2012, American Concrete Institute. All rights
reserved, including the making of copies unless permission is obtained from the
copyright proprietors. Pertinent discussion including authors closure, if any, will be
published in the July-August 2013 ACI Structural Journal if the discussion is received
by March 1, 2013.

677

E. Rizk is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. Johns,

NL, Canada, and is an Assistant Lecturer at Menoufia University, Shibin El Kom,
Egypt. He received his BSc and MSc from Menoufia University in 1999 and 2005,
respectively, and his PhD from Memorial University in 2010. His research interests
include cracking of offshore structures and shear strength of two-way slabs.
ACI member H. Marzouk is the Chair of the Civil Engineering Department at Ryerson
University, Toronto, ON, Canada. He received his BSc from Cairo University, Giza,
Egypt, and his MSc and PhD from the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK,
Canada. He is a member of ACI Committees 209, Creep and Shrinkage in Concrete,
and 213, Lightweight Aggregate and Concrete. His research interests include structural and material properties of high-strength concrete, lightweight high strength,
creep, fracture mechanics, and finite element analysis.
R. Tiller is President and CEO of Tiller Engineering Inc., a professional structural
engineering consulting firm based in St. Johns, NL, Canada. He received his BEng
and MEng from Memorial University of Newfoundland. His research interests include
practical, simplified structural analysis methods.

( )

0.3

(2b)
lch = 105.1 fc
(in.)
Zhou et al.8 developed a simple equation, based on curve
fitting, as follows

lch = 3.84 fc + 580 (mm)

(3a)

lch = 0.00104 fc + 22.83 (in.)

(3b)

Muttoni and Schwartz assumed that the shear strength

of concrete slabs is reduced by the presence of a critical
shear crack that propagates through the slab into an inclined
compression strut carrying the shear force to the column. The
current research presents a continuation to research done by
Marzouk et al.3 The presented work contains general strutand-tie models that could be applied to predict the ultimate
punching capacity of thick plates with and without shear
reinforcement under symmetric and nonsymmetric loading.
Size effect
For design engineers, the size effect is a compelling
reason for using fracture mechanics. The size of the fracture
process zone is represented by a material property called the
characteristic length, lch. It expresses the fracture properties of the concrete, such as the modulus of elasticity Ec;
fracture energy Gf; and tensile strength fct, where fct is the
direct tensile strength of concrete as determined by the direct
tension test6 or any other fracture mechanics test

lch =

Ec G f

(1)

fct 2

where Gf is defined as the amount of energy required to cause

one unit area of a crack, so that it can be obtained as the area
under the load-crack width curve. It should be noted that
the characteristic length can be calculated using Eq. (1). A
higher value of lch reflects that the material is less brittle and
a smaller value means that the material is more brittle.
Empirical equations to predict characteristic length
To obtain the value of characteristic length lch, the modulus
of elasticity of concrete Ec, fracture energy Gf, and concrete
tensile strength fct, should be measured experimentally. In
the absence of experimental data reported in the original
papers, however, accepted empirical equations were used
to predict the characteristic length using the compressive
strength of the concrete as given by Eq. (2) and (3). Several
researchers have proposed empirical code-like equations to
predict the characteristic length using only the compressive
strength of the concrete. Two of such equations are those of
Hilsdorf and Brameshuber7 and Zhou et al.8
Hilsdorf and Brameshuber7 proposed the following formula

( )

lch = 600 fc
678

0.3

(mm)

(2a)

Hence, the results of those investigations suggest that

the characteristic length could be based on the concrete
compressive strength. Equation (3) was used in this paper.
STRUT-AND-TIE MODEL FOR PUNCHING SHEAR
OF CONCRETE SLABS
Bottle-shaped strut
Figure 1 shows the general punching shear behavior of a
uniformly loaded slab supported by a circular column. The
applied uniform load can be replaced by an equivalent load
Peq. The inclined shear crack that develops from the top
surface at an angle and forming the critical section is shown.
Punching of the slab occurs when the concrete in the ultimate failure zone fails by a high concrete compression stress.
For normal-strength concrete, the angle of inclination is
experimentally determined to be between 26 and 30 degrees,
whereas for high-strength concrete, the angle varies
between 32 and 38 degrees as determined through experimental testing by Marzouk and Hussein.9 Hegger et
al.10 found that the observed angle of the failure cone is
approximately 45 degrees in all tested footings. This failure
angle seems to be steeper than that for a flat slab. Hallgren et
al.11 found that the shear crack propagated from the plane of
the flexural reinforcement to the slab-column root was at an
angle of approximately 50 to 60 degrees, measured between
the shear crack and the horizontal plane. This is a considerably steeper angle than the shear crack angles observed in
punching shear tests of more slender slabs.
Figure 2 shows the stress fields in the slab due to
symmetric punching shear. The crack zone is made up of a
bottle-shaped compression field in which the splitting tensile
strength of the concrete perpendicular to this field controls
cracking. The ultimate failure zone is a rectangular-shaped
compression field. From these stress fields, a refined strutand-tie model is developed, as indicated in Fig. 3.
The bottom node represents the bearing at the column
head. The top node represents the physical surface failure
crack and also represents the stress concentration at the
crack perimeter. The bottle-shaped strut could be assumed
to exit at the slab-column connection based on the shape
of punching shear cracks that develop in the vicinity of the
slab-column connection at a load level less than the ultimate
punching shear load. Narrow plate-like rectangles represent
the stress field near the column.
ACI Structural Journal/September-October 2012

Shear cracking, crack zone

A refined strut-and-tie model can be developed in the
upper zone of the proposed model (Fig. 3). Two compression struts radiate at dispersion angles of approximately 2:1
(as proposed by Schlaich and Weischede12) from the angle
of inclination . The compression forces are held together
by two perpendicular tensile forces in the concrete. Cracking
occurs when the stress in these tensile zones equals or exceeds
the splitting tensile strength of the concrete fsp,t, given by
the CEB-FIP 199013 model code. The punching shear cracks
started to develop in the crack form at a load level less than
the ultimate punching shear load. The punching shear crack
load can be established by equating and solving the inclined
truss shown and comparing the tension force to the fsp,t of
the concrete.

Fig. 2Stress fields generated in slab-column connection

after cracking.

Punching failure mechanism, ultimate failure zone

Punching shear failure occurs when the concrete in
compression in a rectangular stress field near the column
fails by a high radial compressive stress. The variable Pult
denotes the corresponding ultimate punching shear capacity.
The basis of this approach has been successfully developed by the rational model developed by Kinnunen and
Nylander.1 This approach is used as the basis in the proposed
strut-and-tie model to determine the ultimate punching
capacity of a slab under symmetric loading.
High radial compression stress failure mechanism
The rectangular stress compression zone in the vicinity of
a circular column is shown in Fig. 1. The column force Pult
is transferred to the slab via inclined radial forces that must
pass under the root of the shear crack. The crack is assumed
to have propagated down to the neutral axis at flexure in
the radial direction. The radial compressed concrete strut
is assumed to form an imaginary conical shell strut with
constant thickness at an angle inclination of /2. Punching
shear failure is assumed to occur when the stress in the
conical shell strut reaches the value of the crushing strength
of cracked concrete fcu and can be determined in accordance
with CSA-A23.3-0414 as follows

fcu =

fc
0.85 fc
0.8 + 170 1

(4)

where e1 is the principal tensile strain in cracked concrete

due to factored loads; e1 = es + (es + 0.002)cot2qs; qs is the
smallest angle between the strut and the adjoining ties; and
es is the tensile strain in the tie inclined at qs to the strut.
The Canadian Code equation (Eq. (4)) considers the strain
compatibility of the struts and the strain softening of diagonally cracked concrete. The refined strut-and-tie model of
Fig. 3 shows the complete force fields developed due to
symmetric punching. Equilibrium equations can be developed in the vertical direction, horizontal direction, and due
to the moment developed due to the individual forces acting
at their respective distances from the column face. The equation for equilibrium in the vertical direction determines Pult,
the ultimate punching shear load. The ultimate punching load
Pult can be determined from the maximum concrete stress fcu
acting on the thickness of the conical shell strut. This can
be expressed as the total compression force CT around the
periphery of the circular column and is equal to the bearing
ACI Structural Journal/September-October 2012

Fig. 3Refined strut-and-tie model for symmetric punching

of concrete slab.
area of the conical shell strut periphery multiplied by the
maximum concrete strength allowed in the strut. The variable CT is the periphery bearing area times concrete strength,
or CT = (perimeter of cone times thickness of strut face)
concrete strength, where

2y

Perimeter of cone = D +

tan

(5)

y sin / 2
sin

(6)

Thickness of strut face =

Concrete strength = fcu as per Eq. (4).

CT =

Pult

2 y y sin / 2
= D +
fcu

sin / 2
tan sin

(7)

Introducing the term (lch/d)0.33 to account for the size

effect, Eq. (7) can be written as follows
679


CT =

Pult

2 y y sin / 2
0.33
(8)
= D+
fcu (lch / d )
sin / 2
tan sin

yield stress. For such slabs, the researchers15 assumed that

the depth of the compression zone of the shear-critical
section at punching ys is equal to the depth of the compression zone at flexure yf under the condition of local yielding
of the reinforcementthat is

Solving for Pult

y = ys = y f

2 y y sin / 2

Pult = D +
fcu (lch / d )0.33 sin / 2 (9)

tan sin

where y is the depth of the compression zone; l is the

inclined length of the crack zone (length of strut) calculated
using Eq. (10); y1 is the distance from the neutral axis to the
center of the lower tensile force calculated using Eq. (11);
and D is the diameter of the column. (A square column can
be replaced in the equation by an equivalent circular column
with the same perimeterthat is, D = 4C/)

l=

dy
sin

(10)

y1 =

l sin
6

(11)

Depth of compression zone

The ability to determine the depth of the compression
zone accurately at failure is the key to any satisfactory theory
for ultimate strength. The height of the compression stress
zone y is determined based on the position of the neutral
axis (NA) in a reinforced concrete flexural member under
elastic conditions. There is a strong moment-shear interaction influencing both the NA depth and the failure mode
of the slab. Based on a simplified method proposed by
Theodorakopoulos and Swamy,15 the NA depth for an ordinary reinforced concrete slab in the elasto-plastic stage has
been suggested to be calculated using the harmonic mean
given by

y=

2 ys y f
ys + y f

(12)

where ys is the depth of the compression zone of the shearcritical section at punching; and yf is equal to the depth of the
compression zone at flexure.
Depth of shear-critical section
Theodorakopoulos and Swamy15 found that for test slabs,
which showed yielding of reinforcement in the vicinity of
the column before punching, the quantity fcu/rfy varied from
5.0 to 9.0, with the majority of values varied between 6.0 and
8.0, where fcu is the cube concrete strength and fy is the steel
680

(13)

If the average value of the quantity fcu/rfy is assumed equal

to 7.0, it could be easily shown that yf = 0.25d, which implies
that the value of the shear-critical section is equal to 0.25d as
well (Eq. (13)). Hence, the value of the shear-critical section
could be assumed to be equal to

(14)

ys = 0.25d

It should be noted that, after considering the separate

action of the two critical sections (shear- and moment-critical sections), it is only the depth yf that is influenced by
any variation in concrete properties, steel amount, and steel
properties, whereas the depth ys is unaffected.
Depth of flexural critical section
The computation of the NA depth of the flexural critical
section yf is based on the classical procedure for flexure used
for normal-density concrete, except that the steel strainhardening effect is recognized. For simplification, the NA
depth of the flexural critical section yf could be calculated
as follows

yf =

k1 = 0.67

0.8f y
k1 fc

fc
cu A o / 3
, o =
cu
3680

(15)

(16)

where is the flexural reinforcement ratio; ecu is the ultimate

concrete strain; eo is the concrete strain at the level of the end
of the rectangular concrete stress block; k1 is a factor that
denotes the equivalent rectangular compressive stress block
parameter given by BS 8110-9716; and fy is the steel yield
strength. The coefficient A = 1 for normal-density concrete.
STRUT-AND-TIE MODEL FOR SLABS WITH
SHEAR REINFORCEMENT
The proposed strut-and-tie model for concrete slabs
with punching shear reinforcement consists of decentered fan-shaped compression struts oriented at angles =
25 to 65 degrees.17 Therefore, shear reinforcement is effective for a distance 2d from the face of the column. The shear
reinforcement bars act as vertical tension ties in the model.
The top tension tie (flexural reinforcing mesh) effectively
ACI Structural Journal/September-October 2012

anchors the horizontal component of the fanned struts. Nodal

zones are developed at the intersection of the struts and ties.
The strut-and-tie model is solved by calculating Pult, the
equivalent force resulting from the load on the slab. The
true strut-and-tie model for this situation extends around
the periphery of the column in a three-dimensional (3-D)
cone shape. However, it is proposed for simplicity to solve
the strut-and-tie model in a two-dimensional (2-D) manner.
Therefore, Pult is based on a contributing effective width to
each row of punching shear reinforcement.
The proposed strut-and-tie model is shown in Fig. 4(a).
This is the sum of two models. One model uses a direct
compression strut running from the load to the support. This
conical-shape strut carries a shear Vc. It should be noted that
the actual profile of the compression strut is not a straight
line, but instead it tends to take a parabolic arch profile; for
simplicity, the compression strut will be assumed to take a
straight pass. The second model uses the shear reinforcement as vertical tension members and has compression fans
under the load and over the support. The vertical force in
each shear reinforcement row is computed assuming that the
shear reinforcement has yielded. The vertical force component in each of the small compression struts must be equal
to the yield strength of its shear reinforcement for the joint
to be in equilibrium.
The compression struts radiating from the load point
intersect the shear reinforcement at the level of the centroid
of the flexural steel because a change in the force in the flexural steel is required to equilibrate the horizontal component of the force in the compression strut. The force in the
flexural steel is increased at each vertical tie by the horizontal component of the compression diagonal intersecting
at that point.
The ultimate punching load Pult can be determined from
the maximum concrete strength fcu acting on the thickness of the conical shell strut. This can be expressed as the
total reduced compression force Vc around the periphery of
the circular column and is equal to the bearing area of the
conical shell strut periphery multiplied by the maximum
concrete strength allowed in the strut plus the contribution
of the yielded shear reinforcement Vs.

Pult = 0.75Vc + Vs

2 y y sin( / 2)

Pult = 0.75 D +

tan sin

(17)

(18)

fcu (lch / d )0.33 sin( / 2) + 0.9 Av f ywd ,ef cos

where Av fywd,ef cos is the total force in the transverse
shear reinforcement inside an assumed failure plane. The
constant (0.75) is a reduction factor to account for the
reduced punching shear stress for slabs with shear reinforcement.17 The failure plane is assumed to be inclined at an
angle to the slab axis and the stirrups inclined at a right
angle to the slab axis (Fig. 4). The effective design strength
of the punching shear reinforcement fywd,ef is calculated
according to the EC218 provisions as follows
ACI Structural Journal/September-October 2012

Fig. 4Strut-and-tie model idealization for slabs with shear

reinforcement: (a) equivalent compressive fields; (b) force
carried by concrete Vc; and (c) force carried by shear reinforcement Vs.

f ywd ,ef = 250 + 0.25d

fy
1.15

(19)

NONSYMMETRIC PUNCHING SHEAR OF

CONCRETE SLABS
Lateral loads and unbalanced gravity loads cause transfer
of moments between the slab system and supporting
columns in slabs without beams along the column line; the
transfer of the moment from the slab to the column requires
special consideration. North American design codes specify
that a portion, Mfb, of the total unbalanced moment, Mf, be
considered as transferred to the columns by flexure; and
681

the balance, Mfv, through shear and torsion, as given by the

following equations

M fb = f M f

M fv = 1 f M f

f y
Mrb = f y bt d 2 1

1.7 f
c

(20)

(21)

where is the ratio of tension slab reinforcement within

the effective transfer width; fy is the yield strength of slab
reinforcement; bt is the effective transfer width (C + 1.5h on
each side of the column); d is the slab effective depth; and fc
is the compressive strength of concrete.

f =
1+

2 b1
3 b2

(22)

Mrv = v M o

where Mfb is the portion of the moment transferred by flexure;

Mfv is the portion of the moment transferred by shear; Mf is
the total unbalanced moment transferred to columns; and
b1 and b2 are the widths of the critical section for shear,
measured in the direction of the span for which moments are
being determined, and transverse to it, respectively.
For square and circular columns, gf = 0.6. Based on test
results and experience, the width of the slab considered
effective in resisting the moment Mfb is taken as the width
between lines at a distance 1.5h on either sides of the column
or column capital. Hence, this strip should have adequate
flexural reinforcement to resist this moment. The section
considered for moment transfer by eccentricity of shear
stress is at a distance d/2 from the periphery of the column
or column capital. The shear stresses are introduced because
the moment transfer must be added to the shear stresses due
to the vertical support reaction.
Strut-and-tie approach: concrete slabs
The strut-and-tie model developed previously to model
symmetric loading situations is used in conjunction with
an interaction equation to describe nonsymmetric punching
shear behavior due to moment transfer. The interaction
equation approach has been used in the past by Siao19 and
Broms.20 The proposed interaction equation is given by the
following equation

(23)

where P is the applied shear force; Pult is the ultimate

punching shear failure load as determined by Eq. (9) or (18);
e is the eccentricity of the applied shear force; Mult is the
ultimate moment resistance of the slab = moment resistance
due to flexure; Mrb + moment resistance due to shear stress
acting at the critical section Mrv; and Mrb is the moment
resistance of the slab due to flexure given by the following
expression, assuming that all flexural reinforcements within
the effective transfer width reached yield
682

(25)

where

v = 1

P
Pe
+
1.0
Pult Mult

(24)

1
2 b1
1+
3 b2

(26)

gv = 0.4 for a square column.

Mo =

vc J1
1
0.5 (C1 + d ) v

(27)

where vc is the shear strength (stress) of concrete.

Mult = ( Mrb + Mrv )

(28)

The eccentricity e can be determined by dividing the

applied moment by the shearing force; J1 is a property of
the critical shear section analogous to the polar moment
of inertia; and C1 is the dimension of the column side in
the direction of the span. A comparison of the strut-andtie model and the interaction approach to experimental test
results performed by others and different codes of practice
are given in the following section.
PROPOSED STRUT-AND-TIE MODEL VERSUS
DIFFERENT DESIGN CODE PREDICTIONS
The following sections summarize comparisons of the
predictions obtained using the strut-and-tie models developed in the previous sections for the punching resistance
shear of concrete slabs and the predictions obtained using
different design equations. These predictions are compared
to published test results of experimental work conducted and
reported by different researchers in past literature.
Symmetric punching shear of concrete slabs
A total of 244 experimental data on interior slab-column
connections subjected to symmetrical punching were
collected and reviewed. All specimens were reinforced
concrete slab-column connections without drop panels,
ACI Structural Journal/September-October 2012

column capitals, or any type of shear reinforcement. Specimens cast with lightweight concrete were excluded. The
collected experimental results are available in the literature
and were conducted by different researchers.1,4,9,17,21-39 The
concrete compressive strength fc for the analyzed database
ranges from 13 to 120 MPa (1885 to 17,400 psi) and the
ratio of tension reinforcement ranges from 0.25 to 5%,
while the slab effective depth d ranges from 35 to 500 mm
(1.4 to 20 in.).
Table 1 provides the mean value (the ratio of VTest/VSTM),
the standard deviation, and the coefficient of variation of the
strength ratio obtained by a strut-and-tie model (Eq. (9)). The
mean of VTest/VSTM is 1.00, and the coefficient of variation of
23% for the analyzed data is still better than the North American codes. These coefficients of variation are fairly small
in spite of the simplicity of the equation. The mean value
provided by BS 8110-9716 is near unity, whereas the mean
value provided by CEB-FIP 199013 is 0.95. This means that the
estimated values are close to experimental values. The coefficients of variation in BS 8110-9716 and CEB-FIP 199013 are
small13%. The coefficient of variation of ACI 318-0840 is
Table 1Analytical results
Equation

Mean

Standard
deviation

Coefficient of
variation, %

VTest/VACI 318-08

1.03

0.28

27

VTest/VBS 8110-97

1.02

0.13

13

VTest/VCEB-FIP-90

0.95

0.13

13

VTest/VSTM

1.00

0.23

23

27%, which implies that the precision of the equation is not

satisfactory. In some cases, ACI 318-0840 underestimates the
punching shear values by more than 50% and, in other cases,
the ACI 318-0840 equation overestimated the punching shear
capacity by more than 50%.
The predictions for the ACI 318-08,40 BS 8110-97,16
CEB-FIP 1990,13 and proposed strut-and-tie model versus test
results is shown in Fig. 5. The figure implies that the values
calculated by the ACI 318-0840 equation are higher than the
tested values and are scattered. The proposed rational simplified equation based on the strut-and-tie model has a considerably small coefficient of variation, and most engineers can
easily apply this equation to the design of slabs.
Nonsymmetric punching shear of concrete slabs
Table 2 summarizes the predictions of the proposed interaction equation approach developed for this situation of
nonsymmetric punching shear compared with published
test results conducted and reported by others. The strutand-tie model (Eq. (9)) in conjunction with the interaction
equation approach yields excellent results when compared
to the available test results. The mean of VTest/VSTM is 1.09,
and the coefficient of variation is 13% when compared
to 15 reported test results. The strut-and-tie model approach
was, as per the symmetric loading situation, comparable
to test results over the full range of concrete strengths and
reinforcing ratios indicated.
The results, in summary, indicate that the strut-and-tie
model, in conjunction with the interaction equation, rationally describes the punching behavior of a slab under the
application of a load at an eccentricity.

Fig. 5VTest versus Veq obtained from different code equations: (a) ACI 318-08; (b) BS 811097; (c) CEB-FIP 90; and (d) STM Eq. (10). (Note: 1 kN = 0.2248 kips.)
ACI Structural Journal/September-October 2012

683

Table 2Strut-and-tie model for nonsymmetric punching shear: comparison with published test results
Authors

Moe22

Ghali and Elgabry41

Marzouk et al.42

Hawkins et al.43

Slab No.

d, mm

C, mm

, %

fc, MPa

fy, MPa

e, mm

Mult, kN.m

PTest, kN

PTest/PSTM

M2A

114

305

1.50

15.5

481

185

110

213

1.10

M7

114

254

1.34

25.0

328

61

75

311

1.08

M6

114

254

1.34

26.5

328

168

76

239

1.15

M8

114

254

1.91

24.6

328

437

97

150

1.03

M10

114

254

1.91

21.1

328

307

94

178

1.07

SM1.5

122

305

2.00

39.9

476

1031

198

129

0.88

SM1.0

122

305

1.33

33.4

476

988

136

129

1.17

NNHS1.0

125

250

1.00

36.2

460

550

100

130

0.99

NHHS1.0

125

250

1.00

35.3

460

550

100

135

1.04

6AH

133

305

0.60

31.3

472

584

98

169

1.35

9.6AH

133

305

0.96

30.7

415

584

116

187

1.34

14AH

133

305

1.40

30.3

420

584

143

205

1.27

6AL

133

305

0.60

22.7

472

130

92

244

1.05

9.6AL

133

305

0.96

28.9

415

130

115

257

0.87

14AL

133

305

1.40

27.0

420

130

139

319

0.99

Notes: 1 MPa = 145 psi; 1 kN = 0.2248 kips; 1 mm = 0.0394 in.; 1 kN.m = 8851 in.-lb.

Table 3Strut-and-tie model for slabs with shear reinforcement: comparison with published test results
Authors
Van Der Voet et al.44

Marzouk and Jiang17

Birkle and Dilger37

Slab No.

fc, MPa

fy, MPa

C, mm

d, mm

Shear reinforcement type

PSTM, kN

PTest, kN

PTest/PSTM

MV2

29.5

331

250

113

T-headed

560

602

1.08

MV4

31.3

344

250

113

T-headed

594

588

0.99

MV5

36.5

339

250

113

T-headed

672

592

0.88

HS22

60.0

450

250

120

T-headed

576

605

1.05

HS23

60.0

450

250

120

T-headed

576

590

1.02

27.7

488

250

124

Stud rail

925

634

0.69

36.1

488

250

124

Stud rail

795

574

0.72

35.0

531

300

190

Stud rail

1058

1050

0.99

36.1

531

300

190

Stud rail

1058

1091

1.03

11

30.0

524

350

260

Stud rail

1625

1620

1.00

12

33.8

524

350

260

Stud rail

1409

1520

1.08

Notes: 1 MPa = 145 psi; 1 kN = 0.2248 kips; 1 mm = 0.0394 in.

Punching shear of concrete slabs with punching

shear reinforcement
Table 3 summarizes the results of the proposed strut-andtie model compared to experimental test results conducted
and reported by others. The test results used are for either
shear stud rails or T-headed shear studs because these are
considered to be the only practical shear reinforcement
types to be used in concrete slab construction. For the
limited test results examined, the ultimate punching shear
capacity as calculated by the strut-and-tie model shows
close agreement with test results. The mean of VTest/VSTM is
0.96, and the coefficient of variation is 14% when compared
to 11 reported test results.
In summary, the strut-and-tie model for punching shear
behavior of slabs with shear reinforcement is a rational
model based on the actual slab-reinforcement behavior. It
is an effective and practical means of analyzing slabs with
shear reinforcement.
684

CONCLUSIONS
The phenomenon of punching shear behavior of
concrete slabs of various compressive strengths can be
adequately modeled using a strut-and-tie model.
For symmetric loading situations, the punching shear
behavior can be modeled using a strut-and-tie model.
The ultimate punching slab capacity can be predicted
using elastic theory equations based on the classic
Kinnunen and Nylander1 plate theory rational model
and concrete failure criteria, and is adjusted to account
for size effect.
The proposed strut-and-tie models for punching shear
compare quite well with experimental test results. For
symmetric punching using the proposed model, the
overall average theory/test ratio is 1.00 with a coefficient of variation of 23% when compared to 244 experimental test results. This gives strong support to the
ability of the theory to explain the structural behavior of
concrete slabs. Therefore, it can be concluded that the
ACI Structural Journal/September-October 2012

model appears to be equally valid for high- and normalstrength thick and thin concrete slabs.
For nonsymmetric loading situations, the strut-andtie model developed to describe symmetric punching
is used in conjunction with an interaction equation to
model the punching behavior.
A strut-and-tie model consisting of fan-shaped compression struts held in place by tension ties can be used to
describe the situation where shear reinforcement is present.
The work done in this investigation could be expanded
to include other punching shear situations in slabs.
These include exterior column situations in building
construction, different types of slab systems such as
hat slabs with drop panels, punching shear for offshore
concrete structures, and punching shear related to dropping objects on concrete slabs.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are grateful to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research
Council of Canada (NSERC) for providing the funds for this project.

a
bef
bmin
C
CT
D
d
fc
fck
fct
fctm
fcu
fsp,t
fy
fywd,ef
h
k1
l
lch
Peq
Pult
s
t
Vc
VSTM
VTest
Vu
y
yf
ys
y1
e1
cu
o
f
v

s

NOTATION

= shear span
= effective width of bottle-shaped strut
= width of bearing area
= side length of square column
= total compression force acting on thickness of conical shell strut
around periphery of circular column
= diameter of column
= effective depth of slab
= uniaxial compressive strength of concrete (cylinder strength)
= characteristic compressive strength of concrete in MPa
= tensile stress in concrete
= mean value of concrete tensile strength at time that crack forms
= 
limiting compressive stress in concrete strut or cube
concrete strength
= splitting bond stress
= yield stress of steel
= effective design strength of punching shear reinforcement
= slab height
= maximum concrete stress-block parameter
= length of strut from face-to-face of nodes
= characteristic length
= equivalent load
= 
denotes corresponding ultimate punching shear capacity
failure mechanism
= spacing between peripheral lines of vertical members
= thickness of strut
= nominal shear strength provided by concrete
= predicted punching load estimated by strut-and-tie model
= test punching failure load
= ultimate punching shear
= depth of flexural compression zone in slab (depth of neutral plane)
= depth of compression zone of flexural critical section
= depth of compression zone of shear-critical section
= distance from NA to center of lower tensile force
= principal tensile strain in cracked concrete due to factored loads
= ultimate concrete strain
= concrete strain at level of end of rectangular concrete stress block
= factor used to determine unbalanced moment transferred by
flexure at slab-column connections
= factor used to determine unbalanced moment transferred by
eccentricity of shear at slab-column connections
= angle of inclination of normal to crack to x reinforcement
= smallest angle between strut and adjoining ties
= flexural reinforcement ratio

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