2025, Vol. 6, Issue 2, Part A

Punching shear failure in flat slabs is a critical failure mode due to its brittle nature, which can lead to loss of the slab-column connection. However, tensile stresses developed within flat slabs, caused by thermal effect or concrete shrinkage, may influence the punching shear capacity.

The study offers first a literature review on previous experimental studies carried out, showing the different methodologies used in the experimental tests, which have significant effects on the results. Afterwards, a numerical nonlinear finite element model was carried out and validated using ATENA 3D which matches existing experimental data available in the previous studies. The model was used to further investigate the influence of concrete compressive strength on the shear behavior of flat slabs.