Structural Behavior of Hollow Reinforced Concrete Beams: A Review

This paper reviews some experimental and numerical results about the hollow reinforced concrete beams (HRCB). Any subtraction in concrete quantity within the structural members without a considerable lack in load carrying capacity represents a common research trend nowadays due to the decrease in sections dimensions, reinforcing steel and lateral inertia forces in severe earthquakes as well as the sustainability gain for the resulting inhibiting of CO2 emission. In addition, the possibility of passing the electrical and mechanical facilities comprises another good feature of such type of structural members. During the traditional beam design process, the tension concrete is considered as strain transfer agent and do not have any role for structural resistance. As a result, longitudinal holes can be made within this area to produce the hollow reinforced concrete beams (HRCB). In this paper some remarkable research works are summarized with the most important conclusions within this field.