Punching Shear of Reinforced Concrete Slabs with Large Vertical Holes.

This paper describes experimental studies dealing with the punching of reinforced concrete slabs with large holes in the column head regions. A total of 24 full-scale models (thickness of the slabs - 200 mm) with various configurations of holes were axially and also eccentrically loaded to failure by punching force. The influence of hole layout, shear reinforcement and load eccentricity on deflections, strains in reinforcement, and load connections is also presented. This method was established on the basis of observations of the failure mechanism made during the tests. The calculation method described was found to be in good agreement with test results for interior, edge, and corner connections, with or without holes, subjected to axial and eccentric loads.