Explicit calculation method for shear bearing capacity of RC beam with rectangular section based on the FASTM

The traditional fixed-angle softened truss model (FASTM) procedure to compute the shear capacity of RC beams requires multiple iterations. The present paper analyzes the mechanical behaviours under the critical state of shear capacity of 367 RC simply supported beams with rectangular sections. Some significant regressions have been captured in the statistical analysis of these 367 beams. A straightforward method to calculate the shear capacity of RC beams with rectangular section is proposed by introducing an additional regression relation into FASTM. The calculation results corresponding to this explicit calculation method are in good agreement with the test values and traditional FASTM.