| This thesis describes the reconstruction of 12 beams originally built and tested by Bresler and Scordelis 40 years ago. The geometric and material properties of the reconstructed beams were nominally identical to the original ones. The comparisons of experimental results of the two series were satisfactory, in spite of some difference in flexure and transverse reinforcement ratios in some beams.; The experimental results were compared with results from analytical modelling of the beams using a non-linear finite element program, VecTor2, based on the Modified Compression Field Theory (MCFT) and the Disturbed Stress Field Model (DSFM). Analysis parameters included crack width limit check, residual tension, and minimum shear reinforcement. Three different sets of models (i.e. MCFT-1, MCFT-2 and DSFM) were utilized to predict the response of beams. These models predicted the behaviour of the specimens reasonably well. Among them, DSFM produced the best ultimate strength and the deformation at ultimate load. Also, DSFM gave superior analytical results for the beams with no shear reinforcement compared to MCFT-1 and MCFT-2. |
