HBRC Journal (2012) 8, 99106

Housing and Building National Research Center

HBRC Journal
http://ees.elsevier.com/hbrcj

Evaluate the capability and accuracy of

response-2000 program in prediction of the shear
capacities of reinforced and prestressed concrete members
Ibrahim M. Metwally
Reinforced Concrete Dept., Housing & Building Research Centre, P.O. Box 1770 Cairo, Egypt
Received 15 July 2011; accepted 17 January 2012

KEYWORDS
Response-2000;
Shear capacity;
Concrete beams

Abstract The program Response-2000 developed at the University of Toronto by Evan C. Bentz
(1) was used in this research to obtain shear strength predictions. This program allows users to analyze beams and columns subjected to moment, shear, and axial loads comprising virtually any type
of beam geometry, material types, and material properties. The fundamental theory supporting the
program is the Modied Compression Field Theory (MCFT).
Member response analysis and sectional analysis were both used in Response-2000 to predict the
behavior of the beams. Member response calculates the full member behavior including the deection and curvature along the member length, as well as predicted failure modes. The analysis was
performed by specifying the length subjected to shear and any constant moment region. Response2000 provided a very good prediction of experimental behavior when compared to a database of
534 beams tested in shear. These include prestressed and reinforced sections, very large footing-like
sections, sections made with very high strength concrete and elements with unusual geometry. All
are predicted well. The results include that Response-2000 can predict the failure shear with an
average experimental over predicted shear ratio of 1.05 with a coefcient of variation of 12%. This
compares favorably to the ACI 318-08 [2] Code prediction ratios that have an average of 1.20 and a
coefcient of variation of 32%.
2012 Housing and Building National Research Center. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.
All rights reserved.

Introduction

E-mail address: dr_ibrahimmetwally@yahoo.com

Peer review under responsibility of Housing and Building National
Research Center

Production and hosting by Elsevier

Response-2000 computer program was developed at the

University of Toronto by Evan Bentz [1] as a part of his
Ph.D. thesis. This two-dimensional sectional analysis program
for beams and columns will calculate the strength and ductility
of a reinforced concrete cross-section subjected to shear,
moment, and axial load. Al1 three loads are considered simultaneously to nd the full load-deformation response.
Response- 2000 is able to calculate the strength of beams

1687-4048 2012 Housing and Building National Research Center. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.hbrcj.2012.09.005

100

I.M. Metwally

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Reinforced Concrete Element.

Automatically produced cross section of beam from Response-2000.

and columns with rectangular sections as well as or better than

traditional methods and, more importantly, is able to make
predictions of shear strengths for sections that cannot easily
be modeled by such traditional methods. Response-2000 allows analysis of beams and columns subjected to arbitrary
combinations of axial, moment, and shear. It also includes a
method to integrate the sectional behavior for simple prismatic

beam-segments. The assumptions implicit in the program are

that plane sections remain plane and that there is no transverse
clamping stress across the depth of the beam. For sections of a
beam or column a reasonable distance away from a support or
point load, these are excellent assumptions. These are the same
locations in beams that are usually the critical locations for
brittle shear failure. Response 2000 uses the Modied

Evaluate the capability and accuracy of response-2000 program in prediction of the shear

Fig. 3

101

Response-2000 results from an analysis of a RC beam.

Compression Field Theory (MCFT) which is considered the

theoretical foundation for the analytical process [3].
The MCFT is a smeared, rotating crack model describing
the load-deformation response of reinforced concrete elements
subjected to general two- or three dimensional stress conditions, as shown in Fig. 1. Conditions of equilibrium, compatibility and constitutive response are formulated in terms of
average stresses and average strains; also central to the formulation, however, is the consideration of local stress conditions
at crack locations. Concrete is treated as an orthotropic solid
continuum with evenly distributed (smeared) cracks, as opposed to a solid interrupted by discrete physical discontinuities. The smeared cracks freely reorient, remaining coaxial
with the changing direction of the principal concrete compressive stress eld. As well as being computationally convenient,
the smeared rotating crack approach is consistent with the distributed and meandering crack patterns observed in many reinforced concrete structures. In the basic form of the MCFT, the
following assumptions are made: reinforcement (permissible in
any direction) is well distributed; cracks are uniformly distributed and fully rotating; element boundary stresses are uniformly applied; a unique stress state exists for each strain
state, without consideration of strain history; strains and stresses are averaged over distances that include several cracks;
concrete principal strain and principal stress directions coincide; perfect bond exists between reinforcement and concrete;
independent constitutive relationships can be dened for concrete and reinforcement; and negligible shear stresses exist in
the reinforcement. These assumptions lead to a simple and
powerful conceptual model that can be applied to a wide range
of practical problems.
Response 2000 will calculate strengths and deformations
for beams and columns subjected to axial load, moment and

shear based on the familiar assumption plane sections remain

plane of engineering beam theory. Therefore, to have a reasonable analysis result, a limitation on the depth/span ratio
of the frame component should exist.
Unlike the other programs, Response-2000 program does
not have a default cross section entered into it. This is not a
problem, however, as one can be made quickly. For this example, an 80 foot span prestressed concrete bridge girder and slab
will be analyzed.
Program Response-2000 provides enhanced modeling and
analysis capabilities for beam elements, using a layered section
analysis approach (1). In addition to the traditional abilities of
a sectional model to account for the effects of axial load and
shear, Response-2000 also allows rigorous inclusion of the
effects of shear. Thus shear-moment-axial load interaction effects on strength and ductility are automatically taken into
effect. The program is based on the assumption of plane sections remaining plane, zero clamping stress through the depth
of the beam and the constitutive relations of the MCFT.
Example capabilities are illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.
Research signicance
Examine the validity of the Response 2000 program and ACI
318 Code for nding the shear capacity of all types of concrete
members with any cross sections (reinforced and prestressed
concrete members).
Test specimens & methodology
The test specimens consisted of 534 reinforced and prestressed
concrete beams with various shapes of cross section geometries
were collected from the literature. The parameters of this study

102

Table 1

Summary of Response-2000 & ACI 318 Experimental Verication.

Reference

Number & Specimens type

Loading

Depth, mm

fc, MPa

Stirrups Avfy/bws

Response-2000
M

COV, %

COV, %

MacGregor [4]
Kani et al. [5]
Ghannoum [6]
Moody et al. [7]
Adebar and Collins [8]
Taylor [9]
Shahawy and Batchelor [10]

83 Prestressed I beams
43 rectangular beams
16 rectangular beams
28 rectangular beams
21 rectangular beams
15 rectangular beams
25 full-size Prestressed
bridge girders
16 rectangular beams
9 round columns
34 Prestressed I beams
28 rectangular beams
5 rectangular beams
12 rectangular beams
12 rectangular beams
62 T-beams

2 point loads on simple span

2 point loads on simple span
Point load on simple span
Point load on simple span
End loads applying shear and tension
Point load on simple span
Point load on simple span

305
152 to
220 to
305
210 to
150 to
1118

16 to 52
17 to 35
34 to 58
6.1 to 41.2
46 to 59
22 to 34
42

0 to 3.6
0
0
0
0 to 1.3
0
0 to 12

1.12
1.05
1.10
1.02
0.96
0.99
1.05

12.5
9.1
12.5
10.4
12.8
8.3
9.6

1.27
1.12
1.39
1.7
1.23
1.09

19.5
24.4
11.2
66.4
13.6
14.2

Point load on continuous span

Symmetrical moment and shear
2 point loads on simple span
Point load on simple span
Uniform load on simple span
Point load on simple span
Point load on simple span
Point load on beam with tension
or compression
Point loads on continuous span
Point loads on continuous span
2 point loads on simple span
Point load on simple span
Point load on simple span
Point load on simple span
Point load on simple span
2 point loads on simple span
Various loading

500 to 1000
445
256 and 457
125 to 1000
300 to 3000
750
1000
470

50
23
40
36
19
36
21
13

91
40
70
99
29
87
80
44

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

to 1
to 0.35
to 4.8

1.02
1.06
1.12
1.05
1.02
1.05
0.95
1.09

8.2
6.4
8.2
16.8
10.9
11.2
15.4
11.1

0.88
1.33
1.15
0.89
0.74
1.14
0.74
1.1

12.4
24.2
9.7
29.2
46.3
14.4
23.8
8.9

457
457
360
635 to
250 to
615
1050
330 to
406 to

31
31
58
72
64
29
25
25
25

82
125
89
45
60

0 to 0.57
0 to 0.77
0 to 0.71
0 to 8.1
0.6 to 1.48
7.41 to 15.4
4.02 to 6.03
0
0 to 2.0

0.98
1.02
1.09
0.95
1.03
1.01
1.08
1.05
1.02

9.1
13.1
10.3
11.7
12.8
9.7
4.9
9.4
11.1

0.98
1.05
1.34
1.06
1.51
1.7
1.5
0.98
1.71

8.6
10
14.7
25.3
11.5
19.6
12.2
28
55

1.05

12.0

1.20

32

Collins et al. [11]

Khalifa and Collins [12]
Aregawi [13]
Podgorniak [14]
Shioya et al. [15] and Shioya [16]
Yoon et al. [17]
Angelakos [18]
Haddadin et al. [19]
Pasley et al. [20]
Palaskas and Darwin [21]
Ozcebe et al. [22]
Roller and Russell [23]
Kong and Rangan [24]
Rangan [25]
Levi and Marro [26]
Kawano and Watanabe [27]
Gupta[28], Arbesman [29] and
Kuzmanovic [30]

13 T-beams
15 T-beams
12 rectangular beams
10 rectangular beams
33 rectangular beams
16 I-beams
7 I-beams
8 rectangular beams
5 rectangular beams
4 I-beams
2 Interlock hoop
534 beams

1219
960
410
1000

864
600

2200
610

to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to

to
to
to
to
to

to 50

to
to
to
to

0.83
2.7
4.8
0.35

ACI 318-08

I.M. Metwally

Evaluate the capability and accuracy of response-2000 program in prediction of the shear

Fig. 4

Fig. 5

Fig. 6

Experimental and Predicted Shear Strength by Response-2000 and ACI 318.

Experimental to predicted shear strength of beams versus concrete compressive strength.

Experimental to predicted shear strength of beams versus shear span to depth ratio.

103

104

I.M. Metwally

Fig. 7

Experimental to predicted shear strength of beams versus effective depth.

were beam geometry (bd), amount of longitudinal tensile

steel reinforcement (q), amount of transverse steel reinforcement (qv ), loading status, and concrete compressive strength
(f0c ). The beams were simply supported and subjected to various types of loading, as reported in Table 1.
These beams have been considered with a view to compare
the ultimate shear strength of them to the shear capacity predicted by both Response-2000 software and ACI 318 Code.
For a comparison to be made between the actual shear capacities and theoretical ones, the theoretical shear capacities had
to be based on the same parameters as the actual beams tested.
The details and summary of Response-2000 & ACI 318 Code
experimental verication have been given in Table 1.
Verication of the response-2000 program & aci 318 code
To verify the Response-2000 Program, the theoretical values of
shear strength predicted by Response-2000 Program were
compared to the test results of 534 prestressed and reinforced
concrete beams which were collected from the literature.
Table 1 show relevant details on the specimens included in this
verication.

Fig. 8

Besides the predicted shear strengths according to the

Response-2000 Program, the predicted shear capacities
according to the current ACI 318-08 shear design equation
are also presented in Table 1. For the 534 concrete beam tests,
the average Vuexp /Vupred for the Response-2000 is 1.05 with a
coefcient of variation of 12% (Table 1). On the other hand,
the corresponding values were 1.2 and 32%for the current
ACI 318-08 method.
Fig. 4 shows comparison between the experimental and predicted shear strengths of the studied beams based on the results
of the Response-2000 Program and ACI 318-08 equations.
From these gures, it is evident that the level of accuracy of
the shear strength of the concrete beams predicted by the
Response-2000 Program is consistent unlike the method of
ACI 318-08. The same observation can be made when the results of the Response-2000 Program and those of the ACI
318-08 equations are plotted versus the concrete strength,
(shear span to depth)a/d ratio, effective depth, longitudinal
reinforcement, and transverse reinforcement as in Figs. 59
respectively. Across the range of variables included in the data
set, the predictions of the ACI 318-08 design method appear to
have larger band width of the scattered results and higher level

Experimental to predicted shear strength of beams versus tensile Longitudinal Reinforcement.

Evaluate the capability and accuracy of response-2000 program in prediction of the shear

Fig. 9

105

Experimental to predicted shear strength of beams versus Transverse Reinforcement (Stirrups).

of conservatism compared to that of the Response-2000

Program. Thus, Response-2000 Program appears to be more
accurate and reliable for predicting the shear capacity of prestressed and reinforced concrete beams.
Conclusions
Response-2000 Program was used to calculate the shear
strength of 534 prestressed and reinforced concrete beams
tested in 27 different investigations. The calculated shear
strengths using this program were compared to those calculated by the ACI 318-08 equations and the experimental ones.
Based on this comparison, the following conclusions can be
drawn:
1. Response-2000 Program gives accurate predictions and yet
conservative over the range of variables known to affect the
shear strength.
2. Response-2000 Program was compared to the ACI 318
Code using the available test data. More accurate and consistent predictions were obtained using this software.
3. It is very needed to modify the ACI 318 Code provision; it
provides more conservative and inaccurate estimate of the
shear capacity for concrete beams.

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106
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