Assessment of Punching Shear Design Models for FRP-RC Slab–Column Connections

Several empirical models have been introduced during the last two decades to estimate the punching capacity of two-way slabs reinforced with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcement. In this study, the applicability of these models on FRP-reinforced concrete (RC) slab-column interior and edge connections subjected to gravity loads is assessed. The models are also calibrated against experiments conducted previously by the authors on FRP-RC edge connections subjected to reversed-cyclic lateral loads. Test results of 68 interior and 25 edge specimens, 6 of which were tested under reversed-cyclic lateral loads, were used to evaluate the available models. Based on the analysis, a universal model capable of accurately predicting the capacity of both interior and edge specimens subjected to gravity or cyclic loads is proposed. The proposed model provided a mean test-to-predicted strength of 1.01 ± 0.14 and 1.01 ± 0.09 for interior and edge specimens, respectively. Furthermore, a design model is proposed to estimate gravity shear limits for FRP-RC connections without shear reinforcement and subjected to cyclic load.