<b>ABSTRACT</b></br>

An alternative experimental method for predicting the diagonal shear cracking resistance of steel-reinforced concrete beams is developed in this paper. Conventional extensometric strain-gauge rosettes are placed on the lateral surfaces of a set of four beams. As diagonal cracking propagates through the beams, the load–strain curves flatten out at a plateau and the mechanical property under consideration may be determined. The method is applied to four beams cast from pumpable and self-compacting concrete mixes with cement types I and IV containing electric arc furnace slag aggregates. The feasibility of applying standard design code formulas to the concretes containing these aggregates may therefore be studied and compared with other recent research works. Accurate experimental results were obtained with this method without having to interrupt the test for subjective visual appraisals of the test specimen.

</br>

<b>ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS</b></br>

The authors wish to express their gratitude to: the Spanish Ministry MICINN, AEI and ERDF [RTI2018-097079-BC31; PID2020-113837RB-I00; 10.13039/501100011033; FPU17/03374]; the Junta de Castilla y León (Regional Government) and ERDF [UIC-231, BU119P17]; Youth Employment Initiative (JCyL) and ESF [UBU05B_1274]; and the University of the Basque Country [PPGA20/26] and University of Burgos [SUCONS, Y135.GI] for additional funding. Our thanks also go to the Basque Government research group [IT1314-19] and likewise to CHRYSO and HORMOR for supplying the materials used in this research.