Experimental analysis of concrete elements under partial area strip loading

Abstract

Stresses for concrete elements under partial area strip loading are limited to 1.1-times the concrete compressive strength. In case of particularly small load application areas like at wall supports or segmental tunnel lining longitudinal joints this limitation may be governing the design. Additional load increases due to steel reinforcement confinement are not taken into account. This contribution presents various experimental series on large-scale reinforced concrete specimens conducted at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Ruhr University Bochum (RUB). It is shown that splitting reinforcements with stiff anchorage (e.g. welded ladders) show distinct load-bearing capacity increases. Moreover, disregarding the demand for geometric affinity of load application and distribution areas facilitates a more precise estimation of load increase factors. Based upon the experiments and supplemental data from literature, practical design approaches are derived. They distinguish between high- and low-deformation capabilities of the rebar anchorage and—to the most extent—allow pronouncedly increased contact pressures compared to current design approaches.