Experimental investigation of the collapse of renforced concrete curved beams

Abstract

Synopsis The applicability of methods of plastic analysis to reinforced concrete curved beams is investigated and the results of experiments on seven straight and eight curved beams are presented. The straight beams were tested under different combinations of bending, torsion and shear, and the results are used to determine the intersection points of two yield surfaces (proposed in an earlier investigation) with the bending, torsion and shear axes and to check the validity of the surfaces. Of the curved beams tested, four were reinforced identically but were tested under different end conditions. In the other four, both the transverse reinforcement and the end conditions were varied so as to study changes in the mode of failure and the ultimate load. Comparison of the test results with the results predicted by the plastic analysis shows good agreement.