scope:

Preface

The new Appendix A of AC1 3 18-2002 on strut-and-tie models provides an excellent tool for the design of structural concrete where sectional design procedures for flexure and shear do not apply. This is the case in discontinuity regions (D-regions), which if not properly detailed, may exhibit structural damage or even brittle failure. This special publication presents examples for the use of strut-and-tie models following Appendix A of AC1 3 18-2002 for designing D-regions such as corbels, deep beams with and without openings, dapped beam ends, beams with indirect supports, anchorage zones of prestressed members, shear walls with openings, bridge pier tables, and pile caps.

The contributions and the examples were prepared by members of ACI Subcommittee 445-A Shear and Torsion: Strut-and-Tie Models and were presented at two sessions at the ACI Fail Convention in Phoenix, October 27 - November 1,2002, Co-sponsored by the technical committee ACI-ASCE Committee 445: Shear and Torsion and ACISubcommittee 318E: Shear and Torsion. The papers of this special publication were reviewed in accordance with American Concrete Institute policies. The cooperation of the authors in the preparation of the manuscripts and their revision considering comments by reviewers is greatly appreciated.

In addition, the efforts of the reviewers and of the ACI Headquarters staff, especially Mr. Todd Watson, Manager of Technical Documents, are appreciated.

The editor also acknowledges the efforts of deveral individuals at ILEK, University of Stuttgart, including Elfriede Schnee, Ali Daghigni, Hussein Coskun, and Angela Siller for their assistance in producing the document.

The editor finally wishes to thank Cathy French, Chair of ACI-ASCE Committee 445, and Jim Wight, former Chair of AC1 Subcommittee 318E, for their continuous support of the work of AC1 Subcommittee 445-A and of this special publication.