CONTENTS
1 Summary
4 Chapter 1 Introduction
4 1.1 Overview
4 1.2 Problem Statement
5 1.3 Research Objectives and Scope
5 1.4 Organization
6 Chapter 2 State of Knowledge on Minimum Reinforcement Requirements
6 2.1 Introduction
6 2.2 Philosophical Background
7 2.3 Flexural Member Behavior with Minimum Reinforcement
15 2.4 Methodologies and Code Approaches
21 2.5 Past Research on AASHTO Minimum Reinforcement Requirements
22 2.6 Factors Affecting Minimum Reinforcement Requirements
24 2.7 Summary of Findings
25 Chapter 3 Experimental and Analytical Investigations
25 3.1 Introduction
25 3.2 Experimental Test Matrix
25 3.3 Experimental Test Setup
49 3.4 Experimental Test Results
71 3.5. Analytical Study
85 Chapter 4 Specifications Update
85 4.1 Introduction
85 4.2 Criteria for Evaluation
85 4.3 Specification Update Evaluation
91 4.4 Parametric Study of Proposed Updates to Specifications
94 4.5 Recommendations
94 4.6 Proposed Revisions to the AASHTO LRFD Specifications
98 Chapter 5 Conclusions
98 5.1 Introduction
98 5.2 Review of U.S. and International Practice
98 5.3 Experimental Investigation
99 5.4 Analytical Study
99 5.5 Recommended Changes to AASHTO Specifications
100 List of Notations
103 Abbreviations
104 References