The main aim of this thesis is to study a five-spring model for deep beams with conventional reinforcement proposed by Mihaylov et al. (2015), and to extend this model to deep beams with FRC. The five-spring model uses only two kinematic parameters to describe the deformations in deep beams. The extended model captures the complete load-displacement response of FRC beams by accounting for three effects associated with the steel fibers: 1) tension in the fibers crossing the shear cracks; 2) enhanced ductility of the critical compressed zones in deep beams; and 3) tension stiffening effect on the flexural reinforcement. To account for these three local effects, existing models from the literature are studied, compared, and validated.
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