Increase of punching shear resistance

of flat slabs or footings and ground

slabs – double headed studs –
Calculation Methods

TR 060
November 2017
EOTA TR 060 2/14

Contents

1 General .................................................................................................................. 3
1.1 Scope 3
1.2 Assumptions 3
1.3 Specific terms used in this TR 4
1.3.1 Abbreviations.......................................................................................................... 4
1.3.2 Indices .................................................................................................................... 4
1.3.3 Actions and resistances ......................................................................................... 4
1.3.4 Concrete, reinforcement and double headed studs ................................................ 5
2 Punching shear Calculation ................................................................................ 6
2.1 General rules and basic control perimeter 6
2.2 Verifications 6
2.2.1 Actions - design shear stress ................................................................................. 6
2.2.2 Flat slabs ................................................................................................................ 7
2.2.3 Footings and ground slabs ..................................................................................... 7
2.3 Punching shear resistance without shear reinforcement 8
2.3.1 Flat slabs ................................................................................................................ 8
2.3.2 Footings and ground slabs ..................................................................................... 8
2.4 Punching shear resistance with shear reinforcement 9
2.4.1 Flat slabs ................................................................................................................ 9
2.4.2 Footings and ground slabs ..................................................................................... 9
2.4.3 Outer control perimeter ........................................................................................ 10
3 Positioning of the reinforcement elements and the double headed studs ... 11
3.1 Flat slabs 11
3.2 Footings and ground slabs: 11
4 Reference documents ........................................................................................ 13
Specification on the reinforcment elements .................................................... 14
A.1 Reinforcement elements with double headed studs 14

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1 GENERAL

1.1 Scope

This Technical Report contains a method for punching shear calculation of flat slabs or footings and ground
slabs under static, quasi-static and fatigue loading.
Reinforcement elements according to Annex A are used for the increase of the punching shear resistance
of flat slabs or footings and ground slabs under static, quasi-static and fatigue loading.
The reinforcement elements are located adjacent to columns or high concentrated loads.
This TR covers the following specifications of the intended use:
• flat slabs or footings and ground slabs made of reinforced normal weight concrete of strength class
C20/25 to C50/60 according to EN 206-1:2000
• flat slabs or footings and ground slabs with a minimum height of h = 180 mm
• flat slabs or footings and ground slabs with a maximum effective depth of d = 300 mm (only for double
headed studs with smooth shafts)
• reinforcement elements with double headed studs of the same diameter and type (ripped or smooth)
in the punching area around a column or high concentrated load
• reinforcing steel for the studs acc. to EN1992-1-1 may be used with fyk ≥ 500 N/mm2, in design only fyk
= 500 N/mm2 is allowed
• reinforcement elements with double headed studs installed in an upright (rail at the bottom of the slab)
or hanging position
• reinforcement elements with double headed studs positioned such that the double headed studs
are perpendicular to the surface of the slab or footing
• reinforcement elements with double headed studs directed radially towards the column or high
concentrated load and distributed evenly in the critical punching area
• reinforcement elements with double headed studs positioned such that the upper heads of the studs
reach at least to the outside of the uppermost layer of the flexural reinforcement
• reinforcement elements with double headed studs positioned such that the lower heads of the studs
reach at least to the outside of the lowest layer of the flexural reinforcement
• reinforcement elements with double headed studs positioned such that the concrete cover complies
with the provisions according to EN 1992-1-1
• reinforcement elements with double headed studs positioned such that the minimum and maximum
distances between the double headed studs on an element and between the elements as arranged
around a column or area of high concentrated load complies with the provisions according to section 3
• The provisions according to section 3 are kept on site with an accuracy of 0,1h (h height of the slab)
This document was written to represent current best practice. However, users should verify that applying
its provisions allows local regulatory requirements to be satisfied.
The design for static, quasi-static and fatigue loading of the flat slabs or footings and ground slabs shall
base on EN 1992-1-1.

1.2 Assumptions

It is assumed that
- The load-bearing capacity of the column below the shear reinforcement as well as the local compressive
stress at the joint between slab and column are each verified individually and by taking into account of
national provisions and guidelines.
- The load-bearing capacity of the concrete slab outside the punching shear reinforced area is verified
separately and in accordance with the relevant national provisions.
- The moment resistance of the entire slab is verified in accordance with the relevant national provisions.

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- In case of cast in-situ slabs, the punching shear reinforced area is poured monolithically with the slab. In
case of slabs made out of prefabricated thin elements and additional cast in-situ concrete one head of the
punching shear reinforcement is arranged in the prefabricated slab.
- The flexural reinforcement over the column has to be anchored outside the outer perimeter u out.
- The lower reinforcement of the slab is laid over the column.
- The upper reinforcement of the slab is placed continuously over the loaded area.
- If the precast elements need to be joined in the punching area, the distance between the prefabricated
elements shall be ≥ 40 mm wide and shall be carefully filled with cast in-situ concrete thoroughly. The
distance between prefabricated elements and the edge of the column is limited to -10 mm (prefabricated
element extends over the column edge) and 40 mm (see Hegger 2015).
- The position, the type, the size and the length of the double headed studs are indicated on the design
drawings. The material of the double headed studs is given additionally on the drawings.
- The lower reinforcement of the slab is laid over the column.
- The upper reinforcement of the slab is placed continuously over the loaded area.

1.3 Specific terms used in this TR

1.3.1 Abbreviations

1.3.2 Indices

E action effects
R resistance
V shear force
c concrete
d design value
fo footing or ground slab
k characteristic value
max maximum
min minimum
pu punching shear
re reinforcement
s steel
sl flat slab
y yield

1.3.3 Actions and resistances

 partial safety factor

vRd,max maximum punching shear resistance along the critical diameter u1
vmin minimum punching shear resistance along the critical diameter u1
vRd,c punching shear resistance without shear reinforcement
VEd design value of the applied shear force
vEd: shear stress calculated along the area defined by the basic perimeter and the
effective depth (u1·d)
fcd design compressive cylinder strength (150 mm diameter by 300 mm cylinder)
fyd design steel yield strength
fyk: characteristic value of yield stress of the stud (≥ 500 MPa)
cp normal stresses in concrete in critical section
fywd: design value of the yield strength of the double headed studs

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1.3.4 Concrete, reinforcement and double headed studs

 reinforcement ratio
a distance from column face to control perimeter
u0 column perimeter
 coefficient to take into account size effects
mC: number of elements (rows) in the area C
nC: number of studs of each element (row) in the area C
dA: shaft diameter of the double headed stud
 s: product dependent partial safety factor for double headed studs
= 1,15
 factor to take into account the effective depth
Asw; 0,8d: cross sectional area of punching reinforcement in a distance between 0,3·d and
0,8·d from the column face
Acrit: area within the critical perimeter ucrit at the iteratively determined distance acrit from
the column face
A: area of the footing (area within the line of contraflexure for the bending moment in
radial direction in a continuous ground slab)
sr radial distance between different rows of double headed studs
 coefficient taking into account the effects of load eccentricity
red reduced coefficient taking into account the effects of load eccentricity
d effective depth according to EN 1992-1-1
u1 perimeter of the critical section at a distance of 2,0·d from the column face
ls distance between column face and outermost row of stud

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2 PUNCHING SHEAR CALCULATION

2.1 General rules and basic control perimeter

The design of punching shear reinforcement typically consists of the following steps:
• Resistance of the slab without punching shear reinforcement at critical perimeter u1

v Ed  v Rd ,c (2.1)
• Maximum resistance of the slabs at critical perimeter u1

v Ed  v Rd ,max (2.2)
• Resistance of the punching shear reinforcement inside zone C:

v Ed  v Rd ,s (2.3)
• Resistance of the slabs at outer perimeter uout

v Ed  v Rd ,c (2.4)
The verification of the load bearing capacity at ultimate limit state is performed as follows: The ultimate
limit state of punching shear shall be assessed along control perimeters. The slab shall be designed to
resist a minimum of bending moments according to national guidelines. Outside the control perimeter the
verification of the ultimate limit state design for shear and bending shall be carried out according to national
guidelines.
For the determination of the punching shear resistance, an inner critical perimeter u1 perpendicular to the
flat slab surface at the distance 2,0·d (d = effective depth of the slab) around the column and an outer
control perimeter uout at a distance of 1,5·d from the outermost row of the punching shear reinforcement
are considered. For footings and ground slabs, the distance to the critical perimeter has to be calculated
with an iterative method.
The critical perimeter may be determined as stated above for columns with a perimeter u0 less than 12·d
(or according to NA to EN1992-1-1) and a ratio of the longer column side to the shorter column side not
larger than 2,0. For columns with an arbitrary shape the perimeter u0 is the shortest length around the
loaded area. The critical perimeters are affine to the perimeter u0.
If these conditions are not fulfilled, the shear forces are concentrated along the corners of the column and
the critical perimeter has to be reduced.

2.2 Verifications

2.2.1 Actions - design shear stress

In a first step, the design value of the action effect of shear vEd per area (u·d) along the basic control
perimeter u1 is calculated:
 VEd
v Ed  (2.5)
u1  d
vEd: shear stress calculated along the area defined by the basic perimeter and the effective depth
(u1·d)
: coefficient taking into account the effects of load eccentricity.
d: effective depth
VEd: design value of the applied shear force
u1: perimeter of the critical section at a distance of 2,0·d from the column face

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For structures where the lateral stability does not depend on frame action between the slabs and the
columns, and where the adjacent spans do not differ in length by more than 25 %, constant values for 
may be used. If not given otherwise in NA to EN1992-1-1, the following values may be used:

interior columns:  = 1,10 (2.6)

edge columns:  = 1,40
corner columns:  = 1,50
corner of wall:  = 1,20
end of wall: 
= 1,35
Alternatively the more detailed calculation according to EN 1992-1-1, section 6.4.3 (3) may be used to
determine the factor . The applicability of the reduced basic control perimeter according to EN 1992-1-1,
section 6.4.3 (4) may be limited by NA.

2.2.2 Flat slabs

The load bearing capacity of flat slabs with punching shear reinforcement is verified as follows:
  VEd  VRd ,sy and   VEd  v Rd ,max  u1  d (2.7)
where
 is defined as in section 2.2.1 of this TR
VRd,sy is determined as in section 2.4.1 of this TR
vRd,max is determined as in section 2.4.1 of this TR

2.2.3 Footings and ground slabs

The load bearing capacity of footings and ground slabs with punching shear reinforcement is verified as
follows:
  VEd ,red  VRd ,s and   VEd ,red  vRd ,max  u  d (2.8)
where
VRd,s is determined as in section 2.4.2 of this TR
vRd,max is determined as in section 2.4.2 of this TR
u is the control perimeter determined by iterative calculation as in section 2.3.2 of this TR
in general:   VEd ,red    VEd – VEd     VEd –  gd  Acrit 
(with gd being the mean value of the soil pressure inside the critical area A crit)
 Acrit 
 VEd ,red   VEd  1–
A 
for a uniform soil pressure distribution: (2.9)

Acrit: area within the critical perimeter ucrit at the iteratively determined distance acrit from the
column face
A: area of the footing (area within the line of contra flexure for the bending moment in radial
direction in a continuous flat plate)
If outside of 0,8·d further rows of studs are necessary, the required cross-sectional area of each additional
row of shear reinforcement may be determined for 33% of the design value of the shear force, taking into
account the reduction by the soil pressure within the shear reinforced area.

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2.3 Punching shear resistance without shear reinforcement

2.3.1 Flat slabs

In flat slabs, the resistance of the slab without punching reinforcement is calculated either according to
Equation (2.10) or according to NA to EN1992-1-1:

vRd ,c  CRd ,c    3 100   l  fck  k1   cp  vmin  k1   cp  (2.10)

CRd,c empirical factor, the recommended value is CRd ,c  0,18 c

c partial safety factor for concrete (recommended value is c = 1,5)
 coefficient to take into account size effects, d in [mm]

200
  1  2,0 (2.11)
d
l mean reinforcement ratio of y- and z-directions

2,0% 
 
 l   lx   ly    (2.12)
0,5  f f 
 cd yd 

fcd design value of cylinder compressive strength

fyd design value of yield strength of reinforcing steel
k1 empirical factor, the recommended value is 0,1
cp normal stresses in concrete in the critical section
0,0525
vmin    1,5  fck0,5 for d ≤ 600 mm (2.13)
c
0,0375
vmin    1,5  fck0,5 for d > 800 mm (2.14)
c
(intermediate values are linearly interpolated)
In case of small ratios of the column perimeter to the effective depth (u0/d), the punching resistance has
to be reduced.
0,18  u  0,15
u0 / d  4,0 : CRd ,c    0,1 0  0,6   (2.15)
c  d  c

2.3.2 Footings and ground slabs

For footings and ground slabs, the punching shear resistance along the basic perimeter is determined as
follows.
The punching shear resistance without shear reinforcement vRd,c for footings and ground slabs is defined
according to the following Equation (2.16) or according to NA to EN1992-1-1:
2d 2d
vRd ,c  CRd ,c    3 100   l  fck   v min  (2.16)
a a
CRd,c: 0,15/c for compact footings with a/d ≤ 2,0
0,18/c for slender footings and ground slabs
a: the distance from the column face to the control perimeter considered
The governing distance a (≤ 2 d) leads to the minimum value of vRd,c and can be determined iteratively.

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EOTA TR 060 9/14

2.4 Punching shear resistance with shear reinforcement

2.4.1 Flat slabs

The maximum punching shear resistance along the critical perimeter u1 is defined as the resistance of the
slab without shear reinforcement multiplied with the factor kpu,sl according to Equation (2.17):
v Rd ,max  k pu ,sl  v Rd ,c (2.17)
The verification acc. to Equ. (6.53) of EN1992-1-1 is not applicable.
The value kpu,sl is product dependent and given in the ETA and vRd,c in Equation (2.17) is the calculated
punching shear resistance according to Equation (2.10) and not according to the NA to EN 1992-1-1,
taking into account the relevant partial safety factors for material properties.
The effect of normal compressive stresses shall not be considered for the calculation of the maximum
punching shear capacity of the slab if not stated otherwise in the ETA. If inclined pre-stressed tendons
reduce the punching shear capacity, the effect shall be included for the dimensioning of the studs with the
maximum value of the negative influence. If inclined pre-stressed tendons increase the punching shear
capacity, they have to be effective in both areas C and D.
For the purpose of dimensioning of the studs, distinction will be made between the area C (adjacent to the
column) and the area D (further away than 1,125·d from the column face). The double headed studs in
the area C shall be dimensioned according to the following equation:
d A2    fyk
 VEd  VRd ,sy  nc  mc (2.18)
4   s 
mC: number of elements (rows) in the area C
nC: number of studs of each element (row) in the area C
dA: shaft diameter of the double headed stud
fyk: characteristic value of yield stress of the stud = 500 MPa
 s: product dependent safety factor for double headed studs
= 1,15
 factor taking into account the effective depth, intermediate values have to be interpolated:
1,0 for d  200mm 
 
1,6 for d  800mm 
Alternative values for  may be given in the ETA.
In the area D, the dimensioning of the studs is governed by the rules for positioning of the studs as given
in clause 3.1.

2.4.2 Footings and ground slabs

The maximum punching shear resistance in the critical perimeter ucrit is defined by a multiple value of the
resistance of the footing without shear reinforcement:
v Rd ,max  k pu,fo  v Rd ,c footings and ground slabs (2.19)
The verification acc. to Equ. (6.53) of EN1992-1-1 is not applicable
The value kpu,fo is product dependent and given in the ETA and vRd,c in Equation (2.19) is the calculated
punching shear resistance according to Equation (2.16) and not according to the NA to EN 1992-1-1,
taking into account the relevant partial safety factors for material properties.
In footings and ground slabs, the amount of double headed studs shall be dimensioned according to the
following equation:
VRd ,s  fywd  Asw ;0,8d (2.20)
fywd: design value of the yield strength of the double headed studs
Asw; 0,8d: cross sectional area of punching reinforcement in a distance between 0,3·d and 0,8·d from the
column face

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Acrit: area within the critical perimeter ucrit at the iteratively determined distance acrit from the column
face
A: area of the footing (area within the line of contra flexure for the bending moment in radial direction
in a continuous ground slab)
If outside of 0,8·d further rows of studs are necessary, the required cross-sectional area of each additional
row of shear reinforcement may be determined for 33% of the design value of the applied shear force,
taking into account the reduction by the soil pressure within the shear reinforced area.
For the calculation of the punching shear resistance outside the shear reinforced zone, it is allowed to
subtract the soil pressure inside the outermost row of shear reinforcement.

2.4.3 Outer control perimeter

In the case, that punching shear reinforcement is necessary, an adequate amount of punching
reinforcement elements has to be placed in the slab. The control perimeter uout at which shear
reinforcement is not required shall be calculated with the following expression
 red VEd
uout  (2.21)
vRd ,c  d
red: reduced factor for taking into account the effects of eccentricity in perimeter uout
vRd,c: design punching shear resistance without punching shear reinforcement according to Equation
(2.10),
with CRd,c may be taken from the national guidelines for members not requiring design shear
reinforcement, i.e. one-way shear (EN 1992-1-1, 6.2.2(1)), the recommended value is 0,15/c
For the determination of the shear resistance along the outer perimeter (uout) of edge and corner columns,
a reduced factor red for the verification along the outer perimeter may be used.
Edge columns:

red   int .col
1,2  
ls (2.22)

20 d
Corner columns:

red   int .col
1,2    s
l (2.23)
15 d
Corner of wall; end of wall, interior columns:


red   int .col
1,2  
ls (2.24)

40 d

ls = distance between the face of the column and the outermost stud
ßint.col according to NA of EN1992-1-1

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EOTA TR 060 11/14

3 POSITIONING OF THE REINFORCEMENT ELEMENTS AND THE DOUBLE

HEADED STUDS

3.1 Flat slabs

The studs of the first row are placed at a radial distance from the column face between 0,35d and 0,5d.
The studs of the second row are placed at a radial distance from the column face of ≤ 1,125d.
The radial spacing of the studs is ≤ 0,75d.
The tangential spacing of the studs is ≤ 1,7d at a radial distance from the column face of ≤ 1,00d.
The tangential spacing of the studs is ≤ 3,5d at a radial distance from the column face of > 1,00d.
The area with a radial distance from the face of the column of ≤ 1,125d is called area C.
The area with a radial distance from the face of the column of > 1,125d is called area D.
If the number of reinforcement elements in the area D is larger compared to the area C, the additional
reinforcement elements in the area D are placed radially to the column and at even tangential spacing.
For thick slabs where reinforcement elements with three or more headed studs are used in area C, the
radial distance is reduced according to the following equation:
3  d  mD
sr ,area D   0,75  d (3.1)
2  nc  mC
with mC: number of elements (rows) in the area C
mD: number of elements (rows) in the area D
nC: number of studs of each element (row) in area C

For double headed studs placed next to free slab edges and recesses, a transverse reinforcement is
provided to control the transverse tensile forces.

Figure 3: Maximum spacing of studs in area C and D of flat slabs ((sw  st))

3.2 Footings and ground slabs:

The studs of the first row are placed at a radial distance from the column face of 0,3d.
The studs of the second row are placed at a radial distance from the column face of ≤ 0,8d.
The radial spacing of the studs is ≤ 0,5d.
The tangential spacing of the studs is ≤ 1,5d at a radial distance from the column face of ≤ 0,8d.
The tangential spacing of the studs is ≤ 2,0d at a radial distance from the column face of > 0,8d.
The double headed studs are evenly distributed along the circular sections.

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The area with a radial distance from the face of the column of ≤ 0,8d is called area C.
The area with a radial distance from the face of the column of > 0,8d is called area D.
For slender footings with a/d > 2,0 (see Figure A2) the radial distance in the area D is ≤ 0,75d.

Figure 2: Maximum spacing of studs in slender and compact footings ((sw  st))

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EOTA TR 060 13/14

4 REFERENCE DOCUMENTS
As far as no edition date is given in the list of standards thereafter, the standard in its current version is of
relevance.

EN 1990:2015 Eurocode: Basis of structural design

EN 1992-1-1:2011 Design of concrete structures – Part 1-1: General
rules and rules for buildings
EN 206-1:2000 Concrete Part 1: Specification. Performance and
conformity
EAD 160003-00-0301 Double headed studs for the increase of punching shear
resistance of flat slabs or footings and ground slabs
Hegger 2015 Gutachterliche Stellungnahme zur Ausbildung des
Decke-Stützen-Knotens bei Verwendung von
Elementplatten. G13-11 vom 05.02.2015 (Expert
Report on the construction of slab-column-connections
in semi-precast flat slabs)

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EOTA TR 060 14/14

SPECIFICATION ON THE REINFORCMENT ELEMENTS

A.1 Reinforcement elements with double headed studs

This TR covers double headed studs with an ETA issued on basis of EAD 160003-00-0301.
The double headed studs are connected in one of the following examples:
a) by a rail, studs are tack welded or clamped at one end to a rail made of non-structural steel or
reinforcing bars or (see Figure A.1 a))
b) by reinforcing bars welded to the shaft, non-structural ribbed reinforcing bars are spot welded to the
shaft (see Figure A.1 b))
c) clamped with plastic locks to a steel or plastic rail (see Figure A.1 c))

a)

b)

c)
Figure A.1: Examples of connections of double headed studs

©EOTA 2017