A new perspective on the punching resistance of edge columns with and without shear reinforcement applying refined measurement techniques

Despite edge columns being instrumental components of flat slabs, most punching research has focused on internal connections. Several particularities of edge columns, such as load eccentricity and moment transfer, require additional experimental investigations. This paper examines the behaviour of edge connections on the basis of two tests on edge panels (one with shear reinforcement, one without). The setup was designed to approximate the actual boundary conditions of this type of connection in a flat slab. Refined measurement techniques have been extensively used. The global slab behaviour is analysed, as is the influence of the shear reinforcement. The focus then shifts towards shear stress concentrations, analysing the column penetration and the shear reinforcement activation. The impact on design of the incorporation of stress redistributions in FE modelling is then evaluated.