A state of the art review on transverse web opening for reinforced concrete beams with and without strengthening method

To erect modern constructions needs many ducts and pipes to accommodate essential services such as telephone, electricity, air conditioning, and computer network. Transverse web openings throughout the Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams enable the installation of these services. In recent decades, the researchers suggested several strategies for improving the structural behavior for deep, continuous, and simply-supported beams; involving transverse web-holes underwent shear forces, bending, torsion, and cyclic loads by utilizing supplementary internal steel reinforcing bars, Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) rods or plates, steel fiber, and Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) sheets. The current paper presents the previous investigations on the structural action of the RC-beams with the transverse web-openings. The effect of the shape, size, position of the opening, and type of strengthening on the structural performance of RC beams highlight and discussed in this paper. It found when the diameter of circle opening equal or greater than 40% of the depth of beam attributed by reducing in beam strength and earlier cracks occurred. Besides, the deflection of beams was rose when the openings settled below the centroid of the section. Finally, this study proves that the few previous studies discussed the RC beam's behavior with openings under cyclic loading. However, this paper aims to develop insights for future studies about assessing and strengthening methods for the RC beams with the transverse web opening. (paper)