A Review of the Shear Design Provisions of ACI Code and Eurocode for Self-Compacting Concrete, Recycled Aggregate Concrete, and Geopolymer Concrete Beams

Shear failure in RC beams can lead to sudden and catastrophic collapse, posing significant risks to the occupants and the structure itself. The computation of the shear capacity of reinforced concrete beams is essential to ensure structural safety and stability. Proper shear strength calculations guide the design and reinforcement requirements, ensuring the beam can safely carry the expected loads. The present study aims to investigate the applicability of the shear design provisions of ACI 318-14, ACI 318-19, and EN 1992-1-1:2004 for self-compacting concrete (SCC), recycled aggregate concrete (RAC), and geopolymer concrete (GPC) reinforced concrete slender beams. For this purpose, a database of 411 slender reinforced concrete beams (150-SCC, 200-RAC, and 61-GPC) was compiled from 62 studies published between 2001 and 2023. Statistical analysis was performed to ascertain the accuracy of various design codes for the evaluation of the shear capacity of reinforced concrete beams cast with SCC, RAC, and GPC beams. The theoretical shear capacities and strength ratios (S/R) were calculated for each member using the provisions of ACI 318-14, ACI 318-19, and EN 1992-1-1:2004. The average (S/R), standard deviations, and coefficient of variance (COV) were also calculated for each code. For SCC, RAC, and GPC beams without shear reinforcement, the average S/R was found to be maximum for EN 1992-1-1:2004, followed by ACI 319-19 and ACI 318-14. The average S/R for ACI 318-14 and ACI 318-19 was found to be similar and higher than the average S/R yielded by EN 1992-1-1:2004 for beams with shear reinforcement. The consistency in the prediction of shear capacity was better for ACI 318-19, with an average COV of 16% for SCC and RAC beams and 29% for GPC beams without shear reinforcement. Overall, the performance of ACI 318-19 was found to be better than the other two codes, with a maximum number of conservative results. Finally, the failure modes of RC beams cast with SCC, RAC, and GPC are discussed. The failure modes in terms of crack initiation and propagation for SCC, RAC, and GPC beams were found to be identical to conventional concrete beams.