Book Description

The objectives of this investigation were to study the strength and behavior of slowly (statically) loaded reinforced concrete slab-column connections and to determine the effect of rapid (dynamic) loading on the strength and behavior by comparison with the static test results. Nineteen full-scale models of a connection and adjoining slab area, consisting of a simply supported slab 84 or 94 inches square and 6-1/2 inches thick loaded concentrically on a 10- or 20-inch-square stub column at the center of the slab, were tested. The main variables were the amounts of reinforcement in the slab (p = 0.75 and 1.50 percent), the column size, and the loading speed. Eight specimens were loaded to failure statically, two were subjected to a very rapidly applied load of short duration, and nine were loaded to failure by a rapidly applied load with a rise time chosen to represent the conditions in a blast-loaded structure. The static test results are compared with 12 shear strength prediction methods. Differences between the mechanism of shear failure in slabs and beams are examined. (Author).