Theoretical and Analytical Assessment of Punching Shear Reliability in Flat Slabs

The flat slab structural system has been widely used in recent decades due to its advantages over the traditional slab-beam system, such as increased internal space and reduced formwork usage. However, its structural behavior is complex, making it a subject of extensive research. One of the main challenges of the flat slab system lies in the slab-column connection, where significant stress concentrations occur, leading to failure by punching shear. This failure mechanism is brittle and requires close attention due to its sudden nature, which is induced by high shear forces. Over the years, several theoretical and analytical methods have been developed to improve the understanding of flat slab behavior. Theoretical models, when implemented in computational simulations, serve as fundamental tools for evaluating the ultimate load capacity of slabs, especially in assessing the influence of parameter variations. The use of parametric computational analyses enables optimization procedures that enhance system efficiency and provide deeper insights into the key factors influencing punching shear. Given this context, investigating structural reliability and the primary parameters affecting slab behavior is a crucial step toward a better understanding of the punching shear phenomenon. Therefore, this research employs theoretical-analytical models to assess the influence of concrete strength, reinforcement yield strength and effective reinforcement depth on punching shear and structural reliability.