The purpose of this paper is the analysis of the mechanical performance of concrete deep beams. To overcome the shortcomings inherent to the pioneer models, the finite element approximation on a non linear orthotropic model is employed. The obtained results showed that the practiced range on steel reinforcement did not influence, significantly, the beam performance, and one testifies a behavior, in the overall way, pursuant the fashion accepted in the scientific literature on the subject. Nevertheless, it should be detached that the material failure resulted from the concrete crushing on beneath load region, in addition to the occurrence of horizontal tensile stress and "snap back", at the upper edge in the center region, for the beams of greatest height.
concrete; deep beam; mechanical performance; analysis
