Performance analysis of metal straps used as transverse reinforcement in reinforced concrete beams

Metal straps can be used as a substitute for steel stirrups in reinforced concrete (RC) beams. In this work, five RC beams (100 mm wide, 200 mm high and 1200 mm long) were fabricated and subjected to four-point load testing. Two control beams were fabricated – one without stirrups and one with steel stirrups spaced at half the effective depth of the beam. The other three beams incorporated varying quantities of metal straps to impede crack propagation from the supports to the load application points. The results indicate that the inclusion of metal strap stirrups enhanced the beam’s load-bearing capacity by a minimum of 5.5% and up to 34% compared with the control specimen. Additionally, the performance of beams reinforced with metal strap stirrups closely mirrored that of the beam with steel stirrups, despite the wider spacing of the metal straps. Response-2000 software was used to model the beams with metal straps as transverse reinforcement. The modelling verified the experimental results, with a strong correlation between the experimental and analytical outcomes.