Behavioral Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Deep Beams under Dynamic Loading with Varying Strain Rates Using the Strut-and-Tie Model Framework

Salehi, Parsa; Aghayari, Reza; Fazelikelareh, Mohammadreza

doi:10.22059/ceij.2025.398909.2350

Behavioral Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Deep Beams under Dynamic Loading with Varying Strain Rates Using the Strut-and-Tie Model Framework

Articles in Press

Authors

¹ M.Sc. Graduate, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

² Associate Professor., Faculty of Civil Engineering of Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.

³ Ph.D. Student of Structural Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

10.22059/ceij.2025.398909.2350

Abstract

The structural behavior of beams is central to concrete structural engineering. Deep beams have a higher height-to-span ratio than conventional beams and therefore behave differently, which makes traditional analysis and design methods inapplicable. Specialized approaches are required for effective analysis and design. One widely used technique is the strut-and-tie model (STM), which provides a reliable framework for understanding deep-beam behavior. In this study, the behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) deep beams under static and dynamic two-point loading was investigated using the finite element method (FEM) in ABAQUS within the STM framework. The analysis covered dynamic strain rates associated with vehicle-induced effects, from quasi-static to high-rate conditions. The study compared numerical results with shear capacities from a simplified STM-based formulation for static loading previously proposed by the author. Building on this method and incorporating the dynamic amplification factor (D₁, defined as the ratio of dynamic to static shear capacity), an approximate equation was developed to predict the concrete strength reduction factor for deep beams under dynamic two-point loading. The equation achieved approximately 99% accuracy and provides a practical basis for designing deep beams under dynamic loads.

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