An Advanced Formulation for Rehabilitating Shear Strength in Deep Beams with Shear Openings through Integration of Varied Steel Configurations for Utility Provisions

In the contemporary urban landscape, rapid technological advancements necessitate adaptations in industrial and residential structures to accommodate new utilities such as ducts, pipes, and passages. This study focuses on formulating a design methodology and aid for recovering shear capacity losses resulting from openings in existing solid deep beams. A novel design approach involves the implementation of steel elementary configurations around the openings in deep beams, enhancing their shear resistance. The study employs a systematic investigation, integrating simulation through the ABAQUS program, to assess the effectiveness of the proposed steel configurations in restoring shear capacity. The research explores three distinct steel configurations, emphasizing the synergy between concrete and steel materials. Concrete Damage Plasticity models, incorporated within ABAQUS, enable detailed quasi-static analysis to unravel the intricate behaviour of deep beams subjected to shear openings and strengthened with proposed steel formations. Specifically, a deep beam model featuring a combination of a full-length steel plate welded with a steel cylinder around the opening (EDSBPD) exhibited full capacity restoration, achieving an efficiency of 1.0064 compared to solid deep beams. Leveraging ABAQUS simulations and adhering to ACI 318-14 specifications, a parametric study was conducted to investigate the EDSBPD for design assistance. This study led to the development of a dimensionless equation that calculates the shear strength of deep beams, accounting for the impact of the thickness-to-width ratio of the steel configuration around the opening. This equation provides a valuable tool for incorporating openings into solid deep beams without compromising shear strength.