Reliability of codes provisions for punching shear design

Abstract This paper presents a reliability analysis of the punching shear of flat slabs without shear reinforcement. The evaluation is performed for the codes ACI 318, Eurocode 2, Model Code 2010, and ABNT NBR 6118:2014. Six models were used for predicting the punching strength, the design models, the Critical Shear Crack Theory (CSCT), and a Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis (NLFEA) model. Reliability analysis was performed to evaluate the safety level of code provisions. Design code provisions were evaluated in terms of sufficient reliability criteria based on target reliability β=3.8. This target reliability was based in the Model Code 2010 criteria. This criterion represents an acceptable value level of safety in design of structures. The results showed that the reliability indexes β presented satisfactory for all slabs designed by the Model Code 2010. However, this paper also shows some of the tested slabs presented reliability index below 3.0, being the ACI 318 the code with the lowest reliability index.