## 5 Conclusions  
In this study, experimental and numerical studies were conducted to investigate the strength of deep beams fitted with TMS plates to replace conventional shear links as shear reinforcement. The effects of two different types of detailing in the TMS plates were studied: (i) the perforated hole arrangement on the TMS plates and (ii) the TMS plate thickness. Thirteen deep beam specimens were fabricated, comprising one control specimen with conventional shear link as shear reinforcement (specimen CS), three specimens with TMS plates with no holes (FP series), and three specimens for each category of perforated TMS plates with three, four, and five columns of perforated holes (HP3, HP4, and HP5 series). All the specimens were experimentally tested with a four-point load test and numerically simulated. From the results, it is concluded that:  
Figure 11: Crack pattern comparison. Figure 12: Superimposition of experimental and numerical crack patterns of specimens. (**a**) Specim CS; (**b**) FP series specimens; (**c**) HP series specimens. * The introduction of holes to the TMS plates produces a slight improvement in the load-carrying capacity compared with the control specimen and FP series specimens. This is because the perforated holes in the TMS plates allow the concrete matrix to pass through the inner core and sides of the concrete cover layers of the deep beam, which then promotes the formation of concrete tenons and better bonding of the perforated TMS plates to the concrete. However, the implementation of more than three columns of holes on the TMS plates decreases the load-carrying capacity in the deep beams, as the effective shear area in these TMS plates was reduced. * Among the 1.5 mm, 2.0 mm, and 2.5 mm TMS plate thickness specimens, the specimens with 2.0 mm plate thickness can yield the highest load-carrying capacity and recorded the largest ultimate displacement across all the types of series, as the 2.0 mm thick plate provided adequate stiffness. * The implementation of holes in the TMS plates on RC deep beams altered the failure mode that is commonly seen in conventional RC deep beams. The test results showed the development of gradual flexural cracks before the ultimate loading stage was reached, and diagonal tension cracks when approaching the ultimate loading stage. Compared with the FP series specimens, which showed sudden diagonal tension crack formation at the late stage of loading, the holes in the TMS plates from the HP series specimens showed a reduction in the progression rate of diagonal tension crack formation. This is attributed to the better bonding developed between the inner core and side concrete cover layers of the deep beam. * All the developed numerical models were able to simulate progressive and ultimate tension crack patterns similar to those observed in the experimental tested specimens. Numerical load-displacement results for the thirteen specimens show a good correlation with the experimental results, with \(\pm\)10% differences in the values recorded for each specimen. These numerical models can fulfill the needs of future optimization work on proposed deep beams without conducting expensive experimental work such as under the excitation of cyclic loading and fixed end support conditions. Conceptualization, K.F.C., K.S.W., J.H.L. and F.W.L. ; methodology, K.F.C., K.S.W. and J.H.L. ; validation, J.K.W., Y.L.L. and F.W.L. ; formal analysis, K.F.C. ; investigation, K.F.C., K.F., J.K.W., J.H.L. and Y.L.L. ; data curation, K.F.C. and J.K.W. ; writing--original draft preparation, K.F.C. ; writing--review and editing, K.S.W. and Y.L.L. ; visualization, K.F.C. and J.H.L. ; supervision, K.S.W., J.H.L. and F.W.L. ; project administration, K.S.W. ; funding acquisition, K.S.W. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. This research was funded by Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman under the Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman Research Fund (UTARRF) Project No. IPSR/RMC/UTARRF/2020-C1/W02. This support is gratefully acknowledged. Not applicable.