Comparative Study of Shear Reinforcement Schemes for Flat Slabs with Openings near Edge Columns

This study investigated punching shear behavior in thin flat slabs (1500 × 1000 × 120 mm) with openings adjacent to edge columns, evaluating three shear reinforcement methods: bent bars, shear bands, and shear studs. Experimental testing of seven specimens demonstrated that shear studs provided optimal performance, enhancing the first cracking load by 10%, ultimate capacity by 4.74%, and energy absorption by 80.07% relative to the control specimen. In specimens with two symmetrically positioned openings resulting in 50% cross-sectional reduction, shear stud reinforcement preserved 86% of the control specimen's load-bearing capacity. Analysis against established design codes indicated that ACI, CSA, ECP, and NZS provisions reasonably predicted punching capacities, while Eurocode 2 equations yielded overestimations. Shear studs proved effective for strengthening slab-column connections with service openings. However, the findings are based on small-scale specimens, and further studies under varied loading conditions are needed.