Background to the fib Model Code 2010 shear provisions (part I)

This paper examines the evidence for the one-way shear model developed for the fib Model Code for Concrete Structures 2010 and provides examples of its application. For the design and analysis for shear, for members with and without shear reinforcement, the fib Model Code 2010 procedures have been developed from physical-mechanical models that are based on observed behaviour at the meso-scale level; they represent a significant advance over previous standardized empirical methods. In addition, an approach referred to as "level of approximation" (LoA) is incorporated where advanced models are simplified in a consistent and conservative way such that the designer can select the effort needed to justify their design. To illustrate the practical use of the models and the LoA approach, two examples are presented. The first is a deck slab of a cut-and-cover tunnel where design and possible refinements are discussed for a given configuration. The second is a prestressed concrete bridge girder, which is considered for the cases of design and for the analysis of an existing structure.