Experimental Evaluation of Strut-and-Tie Model Applied to Deep Beam with Opening

Where geometric discontinuities exist in structural concrete members, current code documents provide little direction for design. The design of these unusual members can be better understood by using the strut-and-tie model. Combinations of two distinctly different strut-and-tie models were used to design four deep beams each with a geometric discontinuity in the form of a large opening. This paper describes the performance of four physical models that were constructed based on these varied designs. The deep beams were simply supported and tested using a point load. Each of the four beams resisted considerably more than the factored design load. This successful test series reveals the power, versatility, reliability, and predictability of the strut-and-tie modeling technique.