Beam design

• Basic Concepts
• Rectangular Beams
• Non-uniform beams
• Balanced Beams
 Flexural Stress
Basic Assumptions in Flexure Theory
• Plane sections remain plane ( not true for deep beams
h > 4b)
• The strain in the reinforcement is equal to the strain
in the concrete at the same level, i.e. s = c at same
level.
• Stress in concrete & reinforcement may be calculated
from the strains using curves for concrete &
steel.
 Flexural Stress
Additional Assumptions for design (for simplification)

• Tensile strength of concrete is neglected for

calculation of flexural strength.
• Concrete is assumed to fail in compression, when c
(concrete strain) = cu (limit state) = 0.003
• Compressive relationship for concrete may be
assumed to be any shape that results in an acceptable
prediction of strength.
 Flexural Stress
The concrete may exceed the c at the outside edge
of the compressive zone.
 Flexural Stress
The compressive force is modeled as Cc = k1k3f’c b*c
at the location x = k2*c
 Flexural Stress
The compressive coefficients
of the stress block at given
for the following shapes.
k3 is ratio of maximum stress
at fc in the compressive zone
of a beam to the cylinder
strength, fc’ (0.85 is a typical
value for common concrete)
 Flexural Stress
The compressive zone is modeled with a equivalent
stress block.
 Flexural Stress
The equivalent rectangular concrete stress distribution
has what is known as a  coefficient is proportion of
average stress distribution covers.
1  0.85 for f c  4000 psi

 f c  4000 
1  0.85  0.05 *    0.65
 1000 
 Flexural Stress
Requirements for analysis of reinforced concrete beams

[1] Stress-Strain Compatibility

Stress at a point in member
must correspond to strain at a
point
[2] Equilibrium
Internal forces balances with
external forces
 Flexural Stress
Example of rectangular reinforced concrete beam.

(1) Setup equilibrium.

F x 0  TC
As f s  0.85 f c ab
 a
 M  0  T 

d    Mn
2
 Flexural Stress
Example of rectangular reinforced concrete beam.
(2) Find flexural capacity.
T  As f s
C  0.85 f c ab
As f y
a
0.85 f cb
 Flexural Stress
Example of rectangular reinforced concrete beam.
(2) Find flexural capacity.

M n  Tjd
 a 
 As f y  d  
 
 2
 Flexural Stress
Example of rectangular reinforced concrete beam.
(3) Need to confirm s > y
y
y 
Es
a
c
1

s 
 d  c
c   y
c
Three possibilities in Inelastic Behavior

• Compression Failure - (over-reinforced

beam)
• Tension Failure - (under-reinforced beam)
• Balanced Failure - (balanced reinforcement)
 Inelastic Behavior
Compression Failure

The concrete will crush before

the steel yields. This is a
sudden failure.
The beam is known as an
over-reinforced beam.
 Inelastic Behavior
Tension Failure
The reinforcement yields
before the concrete crushes.
The concrete crushes is a
secondary compression
failure.
The beam is known as an
under-reinforced beam.
 Inelastic Behavior
Balanced Failure

The concrete crushes and the

steel yields simultaneously.
The beam is known as an
balanced-reinforced beam.
 Inelastic Behavior
Which type of failure is the most desirable?

The under-reinforced beam

is the most desirable.

fs = fy
s >> y
You want ductility system
deflects and still carries load.
Limitations on Reinforcement Ratio, 
For rectangular cross-sections, 

As

bd
[1] Upper Limit on 

  0.75  bal
ACI 10.3.3
This will ensure steel yields; s  (1.8 to 2.0)y @ failure
Limitations on Reinforcement Ratio, 
It is best to keep = ( 0.4 to 0.5 )bal to allow enough
space to place reinforcement and to limit cracking and
deflection.
[2] Lower Limit on ACI 10.5.1
3 f c 200
As(min)  * bw d  * bw d
fy fy ACI Eqn. 10-3
fc & fy are in psi
Limitations on Reinforcement Ratio, 
[2] Lower Limit on ACI 10.5.1
3 f c 200
 min  
fy fy
Lower limit used to avoid “Piano Wire” beams.
Very small As ( Mn < Mcr )
s is huge (large deflections)
when beam cracks ( Mn > Mcr ) beam fails right away
because Mn < Mcr
Additional Requirements for Lower
Limit on 
If As (provided)  4/3 As (required) based on
analysis, then As (min) is not required.
4
 Mn  Mu
3 for As (provided)
See ACI 10.5.3
Additional Requirements for Lower
Limit on 
Temperature and Shrinkage reinforcement in
structural slabs and footings (ACI 7.12) place
perpendicular to direction of flexural reinforcement.
GR 40 or GR 50 Bars: As (T&S) = 0.0020 Ag
GR 60 or Welded Wire Fabric (WWF):
As (T&S) = 0.0018 Ag
Ag - Gross area of the concrete
 Determine Balanced Reinforcement
Ratio, bal
bal = unique value to get simultaneous c = 0.003
& s = y
Use similar triangles:

0.003 y

cb d  cb
 Determine Balanced Reinforcement
Ratio, bal
The equation can be rewritten to find cb
0.003d  0.003c b   y c b
c b  0.003   y   0.003d
0.003d 0.003d
cb   a b  1c b  1
 0.003   y   0.003   y 
 Determine Balanced Reinforcement
Ratio, bal
The equation can be rewritten to find bal
C  T  0.85 f cba b  As(bal) f y
0.85 f cba b 0.85 f cb1d  0.003  Es
As(bal)   * *
 
fy fy  0.003   y  Es
0.85 f c1bd  87,000 
As(bal)  *
fy  87,000  f 
 y 

0.85 f c1  87,000 

As(bal)
 bal   *
bd fy  87,000  f 
 y 
 Analysis of Doubly Reinforced
Sections
Effect of Compression Reinforcement on the Strength
and Behavior
Less concrete is needed to resist
the T and thereby moving the
neutral axis (NA) up.

T  As f y
C T
 Analysis of Doubly Reinforced
Sections
Effect of Compression Reinforcement on the Strength
and Behavior
Singly Reinforced 
 a1 
C  Cc ; M n  As f y  d  
 2
Doubly Reinforced 
 a2 
C  Cc  Cs ; M n  As f y  d  
 2
and  a2  a1 
 Reasons for Providing
Compression Reinforcement
• Reduced sustained load deflections.
– Creep of concrete in compression zone
– transfer load to compression steel
– reduced stress in concrete
– less creep
– less sustained load deflection
 Reasons for Providing Compression
Reinforcement
Effective of compression
reinforcement on sustained
load deflections.

Fig 5-14 MacGregor

 Reasons for Providing Compression
Reinforcement

• Increased Ductility
reduced stress block depth increase
in steel strain larger curvature are obtained.
 Reasons for Providing Compression
Reinforcement
Effect of compression
reinforcement on
strength and ductility
of under reinforced
beams.
b

Fig 5-15 MacGregor

 Reasons for Providing Compression
Reinforcement

• Change failure mode from compression to

tension. When bal, addition of As
strengthens.
Compression zone allows tension steel to
yield before crushing of concrete.
Effective reinforcement ratio = (’)
 Reasons for Providing Compression
Reinforcement

• Eases in Fabrication
use corner bars to hold & anchor stirrups.
Effect of Compression Reinforcement

Compare the strain distribution in two beams

with the same As
 Effect of Compression Reinforcement
Section 1: Section 2:
T  As f s
T  As f s
T  Cs  Cc1
T  Cc1  0.85 f c ba  0.85 f c b1c1
 As f s  0.85 f c ba2
As f s
c1   As f s  0.85 f c b1c2
0.85 f c b1
As f s  As f s
c2 
0.85 f c b1
Addition of A’s strengthens compression zone so that less concrete
is needed to resist a given value of T. NA goes up (c2 <c1) and
s increases (s2 >s1).
 Doubly Reinforced Beams
Four Possible Modes of Failure
• Under reinforced Failure
– ( Case 1 ) Compression and tension steel yields
– ( Case 2 ) Only tension steel yields
• Over reinforced Failure
– ( Case 3 ) Only compression steel yields
– ( Case 4 ) No yielding Concrete crushes
 Analysis of Doubly Reinforced
Rectangular Sections

Case 1
Assume As yields fs=fy

Cc  0.85 f c ba
T  As f y
Cs  As  f y  0.85 f c
 Analysis of Doubly Reinforced
Rectangular Sections
Case 1(cont.)
Using equilibrium and find a
As f y  As  f y  0.85 f c
T  Cc  Cs  a 
0.85 f cb
a
c
1
 Analysis of Doubly Reinforced
Rectangular Sections
Case 1 (cont.)
Check assumption

 c  d 
 s    cu
 c 
d c
s    cu
 c 
 Analysis of Doubly Reinforced
Rectangular Sections
Case 1 (cont.)
Confirm
fy
 s   y  ; s   y
Es
Calculate:
 a
M n  Cc  d    Cs  d  d 
 2
 Analysis of Doubly Reinforced
Rectangular Sections
Case 2
Assume A’s has not yielded
Cc  0.85 f c ba  0.85 f c b1c
T  As f y
 Analysis of Doubly Reinforced
Rectangular Sections
Case 2(cont.)
Using similar triangles

 c  d 
 s    cu
 
 c 
Cs  As  f s  0.85 f c ; where, f s  Es s
 Analysis of Doubly Reinforced
Rectangular Sections
Case 2 (cont.)
Equilibrium

T  Cc  Cs

*Solve for NA, depth c (quadratic equation in terms of NA

depth c)
 Analysis of Doubly Reinforced
Rectangular Sections

Case 2 (cont.)
Check Assumptions
 s   y s   y

Calculate: a  1c
 a
M n  Cc  d    Cs  d  d 
 2
 Doubly Reinforced Beams
Four Possible Modes of Failure
• Under reinforced Failure
– ( Case 1 ) Compression and tension steel yields
– ( Case 2 ) Only tension steel yields
• Over reinforced Failure
– ( Case 3 ) Only compression steel yields
– ( Case 4 ) No yielding Concrete crushes
 Analysis of Doubly Reinforced
Rectangular Sections

Case 1
Assume As yields fs = fy

Cc  0.85 f c ba
T  As f y
Cs  As  f y  0.85 f c
 Analysis of Doubly Reinforced
Rectangular Sections
Case 1 (cont.)
Using equilibrium and find a
As f y  As  f y  0.85 f c
T  Cc  Cs  a 
0.85 f cb
a
c
1
 Analysis of Doubly Reinforced
Rectangular Sections
Case 1 (cont.)
Check assumption

 c  d 
 s    cu
 c 
d c
s    cu
 c 
 Analysis of Doubly Reinforced
Rectangular Sections

Case 1 (cont.)
Confirm
fy
 s   y  ; s   y
Es
Calculate:
 a
M n  Cc  d    Cs  d  d 
 2
 Analysis of Doubly Reinforced
Rectangular Sections
Case 2
Assume A’s has not yielded
Cc  0.85 f c ba  0.85 f c b1c
T  As f y
 Analysis of Doubly Reinforced
Rectangular Sections
Case 2 (cont..)
Using similar triangles

 c  d 
 s    cu
 
 c 
Cs  As  f s  0.85 f c ; where, f s  Es s
 Analysis of Doubly Reinforced
Rectangular Sections
Case 2 (cont.)
Equilibrium

T  Cc  Cs

*Solve for NA, depth c (quadratic equation in terms of NA depth c)

 Analysis of Doubly Reinforced
Rectangular Sections

Case 2 (cont.)
Check Assumptions
 s   y s   y

Calculate: a  1c
 a
M n  Cc  d    Cs  d  d 
 2
 Analysis of Doubly Reinforced
Rectangular Sections
Alternative Solution for Mn
Trial & Error solution for c
– try c =(1/3)*d
– calculate ’s,f’s,C’s, T
– Check
• T< Cc +C’s (decrease c)
• T> Cc + C’s (increase c)
– Iterate until T =Cc + C’s
– Calculate Mn
Limitations on Reinforcement Ratio for
Doubly Reinforced beams
(1) Upper limit on 
 f s(bal)
 
 max  0.75  bal    
 f 
 y 
where
0.85 f c1  87,000 
 bal 
fy  87,000  f 
 y 

As
 
bd
  Stress in As for balanced condition
f s(bal)
Limitations on Reinforcement Ratio for
Doubly Reinforced beams

(2) Lower limit on  (ACI 10.5)

same as for single reinforce beams.

3 f c 200
 min  
fy fy