Red Seal Ironworker (Reinforcing) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Vertical stirrups are commonly used as shear reinforcement in beams to resist shear forces that occur due to applied loads. The primary function of stirrups is to provide additional support to the longitudinal reinforcement by effectively tying it together and providing lateral stability. This helps prevent the buckling of the main reinforcement bars under loading conditions.

In practical applications, stirrups are placed perpendicular to the beam’s longitudinal reinforcement, forming closed loops around the main bars. This configuration allows them to effectively confine the concrete within the beam, increasing its shear capacity. Thus, as shear forces increase, the stirrups help distribute those forces more evenly, reducing the risk of shear failure in the beam.

Other options, such as horizontal ties, diagonal braces, and anchors, serve different functions in structural applications. Horizontal ties typically help in resisting lateral forces, diagonal braces are essential for providing stiffness and stability in structures like frames, and anchors are used for securing elements to prevent uplift or sliding but are not specifically designed for shear reinforcement in beams. Therefore, vertical stirrups are the most appropriate and widely used type of shear reinforcement for beams.