A GENERAL SHEAR DESIGN METHOD. DISCUSSIONS AND CLOSURE

Two discussions of a paper with the aformentioned title by Collins, Mitchell, Adebar, and Vecchio, published in the journal (January-February 1996), are presented. In the first discussion, Bazant states that in addressing the size effect in the shear failure of reinforced concrete beams, the authors neglect to consider the consequences of fracture mechanics of concrete. Bazant states that the authors' analysis of shear failure does not provide a realistic model for the size effect. In the second discussion, Rangan suggests that the authors may be disappointed that the American Concrete Institute (ACI) Code has not adopted their shear design method. Rangan believes the authors' design method was not adopted because of a number of difficulties with the method, which Rangan discusses. Discussions are followed by closure from the authors.