Publication Title
International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
Document Type
Article
Abstract/Description
The presence of large web openings in reinforced concrete (RC) deep beams often disrupts the natural load-transfer mechanism, leading to severe reductions in shear strength and premature failure. This study introduces a novel hybrid strengthening system incorporating strain-hardening cementitious composite (SHCC) bricks, stainless-steel and galvanized-steel sheets, and near-surface-mounted (NSM) steel reinforcements to restore and enhance the shear performance of RC deep beams with large openings. A comprehensive experimental program was conducted on sixteen beams under concentrated loading to evaluate the influence of different infill and strengthening configurations on load capacity, stiffness, ductility, and energy absorption. The results revealed that the inclusion of SHCC bricks significantly improved the continuity of the compression strut, while the combination with NSM reinforcement and external SHCC layers provided the highest strength and ductility gains. Compared with the control beam, the most effective hybrid configuration achieved over a 110% increase in ultimate load and more than tripled the absorbed energy. To complement the experimental investigation, a detailed finite element (FE) model was developed in ABAQUS using the concrete damaged plasticity (CDP) and Drucker–Prager material models to simulate nonlinear behavior. The validated model accurately reproduced cracking, stiffness degradation, and ultimate capacity, with experimental-to-numerical ratios approaching unity. A subsequent parametric analysis confirmed the critical influence of SHCC compressive strength and reinforcement ratio on the structural response. The findings demonstrate the potential of SHCC-based hybrid systems as sustainable, durable, and efficient solutions for retrofitting and upgrading RC members with web openings in modern building and infrastructure applications.
Department
Engineering and Technology
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40069‑026‑00918‑0
Volume
20
Issue
1
ISSN
2234-1315
Date
2026
Citation Information
Badr el-din, Ahmed; Ghalla, Mohamed; Elsamak, Galal; and El-Zohairy, Ayman, "Performance of SHCC Brick Infill and NSM Reinforcement Systems for Strengthening RC Deep Beams with Large Openings" (2026). Faculty Publications. 256.
https://lair.etamu.edu/cose-faculty-publications/256
