CONCRETE SHEAR STRENGTH: ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE. DISCUSSION AND CLOSURE

A discussion of an earlier paper with the aforementioned title by A.K. Tureyen and R.J. Frosch, published in this journal (Volume 100, Number 5, September/October 2003), is provided. The discussers commend the authors for their research dealing with simplified modeling of the shear behavior of reinforced concrete members without stirrups. With the experiments they conducted on slender beams reinforced with steel as well as fiber-reinforced polymer longitudinal bars, the authors have further confirmed the key role of the size of the depth of the compression zone on the shear strength of beams. However, the discussers have some serious concerns with the authors' method for modeling the shear strength of such members considering only shear cracking of the flexural compression of the beam, and also with other concepts in their presented analysis. In closure, the authors respond to the points of contention raised by the discussers.