New Opening in Existing Deep Concrete Beam / wall

[efFeb]

Good morning,
I have received a contractor request to cut a new opening ~900mm x 900mm in an existing deep reinforced concrete beam (this is a perimeter wall and supports some vertical gravity loads, but does not retain soil. It spans between pilasters / pile caps).

Based on the same ideas for openings through steel beam webs, i'd think to locate this near midspan, and within the middle third of the depth, but I can't help thinking in this case, I actually might be better off shifting the opening up directly below slab level so long as the slab itself can span across the width of the opening. I am thinking this, because I will be cutting a number of vertical bars in the wall to create this opening. I dont have the opportunity to add u-bars below the opening as i would in a new building, so i was thinking that shifting the opening up would give the cut verticals more depth over which to develop below the opening.

If anyone has thoughts on this, i would really appreciate your feedback.
Thanks so much!

 

[dik]

I would think that the mid height location would be better. Even with a deep beam, flexural reinforcing at the top of the wall is likely. Due to the location, shear is not likely to be an issue.

-----*****-----
So strange to see the singularity approaching while the entire planet is rapidly turning into a hellscape. -John Coates

-Dik

 

[Brad805]

What is the opening for and do you have flexibility to move it? Normally we are being asked things like this for mech units. In those cases moving them is not always an option for many reasons.