Diagonal tension, reinforced concrete

It is important to note material such as those plastics or wood that are weak in either tension or compression will also be basically weak in shear. For example, concrete is weak in shear because of its lack of strength in tension. Reinforced bars in the concrete are incorporated to prevent diagonal tension cracking and strengthen concrete beams. Similar action occurs with RPs using fiber filament structures. 

Diagonal Tension. The allowable shear stress, v (psi), on a concrete section without shear reinforcement is ... 

The primary failure mechanisms encountered in reinforced concrete buildings arc flexure, diagonal tension, and direct shear. Of these three mechanisms,. flexure is preferred under blast loading because an extended plastic response is provider prior to failure. To assure a ductile response, sections are designed so that the flexural capacity is less than the capacity of non-ductile mechanisms. 

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