Civil Engineering and Architecture Vol. 12(3), pp. 1490 - 1498
DOI: 10.13189/cea.2024.120317
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Width of Strut in Strut-and-Tie Model

Panjehpour ^*
Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University Fort Wayne, USA

ABSTRACT

The theory of truss analogy has undergone significant changes over time and eventually turned to the strut-and-tie model (STM) method. The elements of STM, which are strut, tie, and node, play a significant role in the design and analysis of Discontinuity-region (D-region). Each element requires assigning particular dimensions in STM to yield accurate analysis results. STM has been modified in many aspects in prior research, but the determination of the width of the strut has yet to be further explored and researched. This research aims to evaluate the determination of the width of the strut in RC deep beams by going through effective compressive stress of the strut produced by statics point load. In other words, the effect of the width of the strut on the failure load of RC deep beams is the main objective. Hence, the failure of the elements of STM, which are strut, tie, and node, is considered, and particularly, a comparison is drawn between the tie and the strut to detect which one fails earlier and controls the failure of RC deep beam when changing the width of the strut. The width of the strut varies within a range according to the prior experimental investigations, and this range is used in this research with six width increments. The research is confined to analyzing D-regions in RC deep beams of ordinary concrete subjected to a three-point bending test configuration. The control of failure of RC beams is seen to swing from the strut to the tie when the width of the strut is at the fourth width incremental. This indicates that the sequence of failure of elements of STM swings from one to another, depending on the width of the strut. It is recommended to use both STM and Finite Element Method (FEM) verified with prior experimental results to identify a correct load trajectory and strut dimensions. Classifying deep beams into four groups according to their shear span-to-effective depth ratio in the range of zero to two is crucial for the identification of the width of the strut, as the spread of compressive stresses over the length of the strut significantly changes depending on this ratio.

KEYWORDS
D-region, Strut-And-Tie, Deep Beam, Reinforced Concrete, Strut Efficiency Factor

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Panjehpour , "Width of Strut in Strut-and-Tie Model," Civil Engineering and Architecture, Vol. 12, No. 3, pp. 1490 - 1498, 2024. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2024.120317.

(b). APA Format:
Panjehpour (2024). Width of Strut in Strut-and-Tie Model. Civil Engineering and Architecture, 12(3), 1490 - 1498. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2024.120317.