Structures from first principles!
An opening changes the behaviour of a reinforced concrete beam by interrupting its normal force path. The remaining concrete and reinforcement must redirect the internal forces around the void, which can increase local shear, bending and stress concentrations.
This article presents the design of concealed concrete beams, sometimes referred to as the “wide or strong band beams…
Concealed concrete beams are beams whose depth are kept equal to the thickness of the supported slab. They are normally reinforced separately from the slab, having longitudinal bars and stirrups like a drop beam.