Design recommendations for interface shear transfer in fib Model Code 2010

Interface shear transfer between differently aged concretes is a topic that crops up frequently and in different situations in structural design. In the fib Model Code for Concrete Structures 2010 the fundamental basics of concrete-to-concrete load transfer are given in section 6.3 and the corresponding design rules in 7.3.3.6. The different potential mechanisms contributing to the shear resistance along the interface, i.e. adhesive bond, aggregate interlock, friction and dowel action, are thus combined and their relationship taken into account by interaction factors. This article summarizes the most important results from past and ongoing studies and presents the background to the theory forming the design basis of fib Model Code 2010, the “extended shear friction theory” (ESF).