Experimental and numerical study of the flexural capacity of reinforced concrete Vierendeel beams.

Summary: A reinforced concrete vierendeel beam (RCVB) is an open‐web structure formed by connecting the top and bottom chords through block‐shaped shear keys. In this study, the static load test was applied to understand the failure state and reinforcement ratios relationship with bending capacity of RCVBs. The results reveal that numbers of horizontal cracks appeared in the chord‐key node area of the bending‐shear section. The deflection development of specimens experienced elastic, elastic–plastic, and plastic stages. The failure of the beam was controlled by the deflection and the ultimate load increased with the reinforcement ratio. A combined model for calculating the bending capacity of the top chords under eccentric compression and the bottom chords under axial tension is proposed. With the measured strains the loading coefficient of the beams are 1.15–1.20. According to the Chinese code, the continuous loading after the longitudinal reinforcement of the bottom chord yielding can make the top chord concrete reach the ultimate compressive strain, and the loading coefficient of the beams are 1.1–1.2. Therefore, the proposed model and formulas can effectively calculate the flexural bearing capacity of RCVBs. The finite element analysis results further indicate that the proposed calculation model and algorithm are appropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]