Design of reinforced concrete beams with web openings

The provision of transverse openings in floor beams to facilitate the passage of utility pipes and service ducts results not only in a more systematic layout of pipes and ducts, it also translates into substantial economic savings in the construction of a multi-storey building. To investigate the problem of openings in beams, the author initiated a research program in the early 1980s. Since then extensive research has been carried out giving a comprehensive coverage on both circular and large rectangular openings under various combinations of bending, shear and torsion. In this paper, major findings relevant to the analysis and design of such beams under the most commonly encountered loading case of bending and shear are extracted and summarized. An attempt has been made to answer the frequently asked questions related to creating an opening in an already constructed beam and how to deal with multiple openings. It has been shown that the design method for beams with large openings can be further simplified without sacrificing rationality and having unreasonable additional cost.