Influence of coarse aggregate on shear resistance of self-consolidating concrete beams

Self-consolidating concrete is characterized by its high flowability, which can be achieved with the addition of superplasticizer and the reduction of the amount and size of coarse aggregates in the concrete mix. This high flowability allows the concrete to properly fill the formwork without any mechanical vibration. The reduction in volume and particle size of the coarse aggregates may result in lower shear strength of beams due to a reduced aggregate interlock. Therefore, an experimental investigation was conducted to evaluate the influence of the reduction in the volume fraction and the nominal size of coarse aggregate on concrete shear strength of self-consolidating beams. Six concrete mixes were produced, four self-consolidating and two conventionally vibrated. A total of 18 beams, with flexural reinforcement but without shear reinforcement were cast. These beams were tested under a four-point loading condition. Their failure modes, cracking patterns and shear resistances were evaluated. The obtained shear resistances were compared to the theoretical values given by the ACI-318 and EC-2 codes. The results demonstrated a lower shear resistance of self-consolidating concrete beams, caused mainly due to the reduced aggregate size.