The results of experimental test of nine thickset reinforced concrete slabs in punching are presented in the this paper. The aim of the tests was verifi cation of the Eurocode EC 2 procedure, by which the ultimate shear stresses vRd,c depend on the slenderness of the slab. Besides of the performed tests results, the analysis of the foreign investigation of the fundaments is also included. The test results, as well as other tests, show the correctness of the function assumed in Eurocode 2, which gives correlation between ultimate stresses vRd,c and shear slenderness.

The proposition of a method to verify the punching resistance for very large supports based on the EN 1992-1-1 standard is described in this paper. The present standard guidelines for the calculation of the punching resistance for large supports are also summarised. The proposed direct method is compared with other standard methods using an example taken from design practice. This method consists of a direct check of the shear forces at specific locations of the control perimeter with the permissible shear force calculated from the EC2 standard. The method showed very good agreement with the experiment while remaining practical for applications. The method presented takes into account the actual distribution of shear forces in the vicinity of the support, taking into account the influence of non-uniform loads, irregular floor geometry, the concentration of internal forces at the corners of the support and the influence of the stiffness of the head used. The paper provides scientists, engineers, and designers new method (called the direct method) for estimation of the punching load-bearing capacity outside the shear cap.

In the paper the problem of strengthening of flat slabs against punching shear was discussed. Selected methods verified on the basis of experimental tests such as increasing size of the support, applying post-installed shear reinforcement or increasing the main reinforcement by installing additional steel flat bars, were presented. The previous studies demonstrated, that the last method allows for an increase in punching shear resistance of up to 90%, depending on the longitudinal reinforcement ratio. The example of the application of such strengthening technique in the real structure was described. The use of steel flat bars located in the vicinity of the columns and additionally anchored to the slab made possible to compensate for the load capacity deficiencies that occurred due to execution errors (lowering of the main reinforcement within the support zones).

In the paper an alternative method for increasing punching shear resistance of the flat slabs from lightweight aggregate concrete by means of hidden steel fibre reinforced capital was presented. Previous experimental studies demonstrated that the addition of steel fibres to concrete allows for increase in the punching shear resistance of flat slab. Steel fibres modify the tensile strength of concrete, which translates into increased ductility of the material. The results of the experimental investigations were presented, the aim of which was to assess the effectiveness of the proposed solution. For economic and technological reasons, a hidden capital of a height equal to half of the slabs depth was made so that the top reinforcement could be installed later. It was found that presented solution allowed to increase the load carrying capacity by about 36% with respect to the control element, made entirely of lightweight aggregate concrete.

In the paper the results of experimental investigations concerning flat slabs made from reinforced lightweight concrete with sintered fly ash aggregate CERTYD were presented. In the research program 6 models made in a natural scale were included. The main variable parameter was slab longitudinal reinforcement ratio. The aim of investigation was the experimental verification of efficiency of double-headed studs as punching shear reinforcement. In the existing technical approvals such kind of reinforcement was allowed only in normal concrete slabs. It was demonstrated that double-headed studs can be an effective transverse reinforcement of lightweight aggregate concrete slabs. The use of double-headed studs resulted in increase in the ultimate load from 19% to 44%, depending on the slab reinforcement ratio which ranged from 0.5% to 1.2%. The comparative analysis showed that the Eurocode 2 provisions were conservative in relation to the experimental results, which were on average 42% higher than the theoretical ones however with a very low 7% coefficient of variation.

The paper discusses the principles of the Critical Shear Crack Theory (CSCT) in terms of the punching shear analysis of flat slabs made from lightweight aggregate concretes. The basic assumptions of the CSCT were discussed, explaining the differences with regard to the calculation of ordinary concrete flat slabs, relating mainly to the adopted failure criterion associated with ultimate slab rotation. Taking into account the observations and conclusions from the previous experimental investigations, it was confirmed, that contribution of lightweight aggregate particles in the aggregate interlock effect should be ignored, due to possibility of aggregate breaking. However, the analysis of the profile of failure surface confirmed, that particles of the natural fine aggregate increase the roughness of the surface and should be included by formulating failure criterion for LWAC slabs.
The theoretical load-rotation relationships were compared with the results of measurements, confirming good agreement in most cases. The theoretical ultimate rotations were lower on average by about 11% than the experimental ones. The analysis of 57 results of the experimental investigations on punching shear of LWAC slabs made from various types of artificial aggregates showed a very good agreement with predictions of the CSCT. The obtained ratio of the experimental to theoretical load was 1.06 with a coefficient of variation of 9.1%. The performed parametric study demonstrated a low sensitivity of the correctness of the CSCT predictions to a change in a fairly wide range of parameters such as: the longitudinal reinforcement ratio, concrete compressive strength and concrete density.