BEAMS

PLANNING ASPECTS

1. Layout of beams shall be done first. The layouts of beams are often

controlled by positions of columns and the architectural considerations. The

beams are normally provided over the columns, under the walls and under

heavy concentrated loads to avoid these loads directly coming on slabs.

2. When the centre to centre distance between the intersection of walls, the

spacing between two columns is governed by limitations of spans of

supported beams, because of spacing of columns, decides the span of the

beam.

3. In general, maximum span of beams carrying live loads up to

4 KN / m2 may be limited to the following values:

Supported Fixed /
Cantilevers Simply supported
condition continuous
Rectangular 3.0 M 6.0 M 8.0 M
Flanged 5.0 M 10.0 M 12.0 M

4. As far as possible depth of beam greater than 1.0 M should be avoided from

consideration of controlling deflection, cracking and economy point of view.

5. Beams shall be provided for supporting staircase flights at floor levels and

at mid landing levels.

6. Beams should be positioned so as to restrict the slab thickness, to 150

mm, satisfying the deflection criteria. To achieve this, secondary beams

shall be provided where necessary.

7. As far as possible, cantilever beams should not be projected from beams, to

avoid torsion.

8. Generally we come across with the situation that there is a gap between the

floor level beam and beam supporting the chajja. Here the depth of floor
 beam shall be so chosen that it can support chajja also. However if depth so

required is large( distance between floor beam bottom and lintel top,

greater than 30 cm) provide separate beam.

9. Beams of equal depths shall be provided on both side of the expansion joint

from aesthetical point of view.

10. To get the required minimum head room, the following alternatives can be

tried.

(a) Reduce the beam depth without violating deflection criteria and

maximum of steel criteria for beams.

(b) In case there is a wall, over the beam without any opening inverted

beam may be provided in consultation with Architect.

11. Where secondary beam are proposed to reduce the slab thickness and to

form a grid of beams, the secondary beams shall preferably be provided of

lesser depth than the depth of supporting beams so that main

reinforcement of secondary beams shall always pass above the main

beams.

12. In toilet block provide minimum number of secondary beams so that

casting slabs and beam will be simple. No secondary beam condition would

be ideal.

13. Beams which are required to give a planer look from the underside shall be

provided as inverted beams, e.g. canopies. Alternatively hidden beams

inside the slab having the same depth as thickness of slab may be adopted.

Such hidden beams can be provided in toilet blocks, under partition wall

etc., where a cluster of beams can be avoided.

PRACTICAL ASPECTS

1. Size of Beam
(). The width of beam should be equal to or less than the dimension of

the columns supporting the beam.

(ii) Usually width of beam is kept equal to width of wall it supports

(i.e.) 115, 230 or 350 mm thick.

iii) For effective transfer of load from beam to the column, the breadth

of beam should not exceed the width of column. It is normally taken

in multiples of 50 mm or in modules of 3" for brick sizes 9" x 4-1/2".

iv) 1/3 to ½ depth of beam is taken and rounded in multiples of 50 mm

or in modular of 3".
1/3
v) b = 3.24 (Lx) (As per Swedish Regulations where b, Lx are in

CMS).Practical width used:

150, 200, 230, 250, 300, 380, 400 and 450.

The width of the section should accommodate the required number of

bars with sufficient spacings between them and a minimum side

cover of 25 mm to the stirrups.

Depth of beam

i) The depths of beams are usually in multiples of 3" for old series and

a module of 50 mm for new series. It is in practice to adopt depth of

beam upto 500 mm in multiples of 25 mm and depth of beam greater

than 500 mm in multiples of 50 mm.Generally the depth of beam

should be such that the percentage of steel required is about 75% of

that required for balanced section.

Support condition Depth of beam

Simply supported and continuous 1/10 to 1/12 of clear span
 beams
Tee beams 1/12 to 1/15 of clear span
Cantilever beams 1/5 to 1/6 of clear span
In a flanged Tee beams, depth of slab is usually taken as 20% of the

overall depth of beam.

(ii) As per Swedish formula

Db Ly but ≠ 2.5
= 1.67 x
Dt Lx where

Db = Depth of beam

Dt = Depth of slab

Practical depth used:

150, 200, 230, 250, 300, 380, 400, 450, 500, 530, 600, 680, 750, 800,

840, 900, 1000.

Reinforcements

Main Rods

Minimum dia : 12 mm
Common dia : 12, 16, 20, 25, 28, 32
Maximum dia : 32 mm
Common Numbers : 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12
Minimum percentage : 0.34 for Fe 250 (MS Bars)

0.20 for Fe 415 (Tor 40)

0.17 for Fe 500

Maximum percentage : 4.0% for Fe 415
Common percentage : 0.2 to 0.5% for Fe 415

Hanger Bars (stirrup hangers)

Minimum dia= ½ bigger main bar not less than 10 mm

If the main steel is only 4 Nos 12 dia RTS, use 8 mm dia RTS.

Minimum dia : 8 dia RTS

Maximum dia : 16 dia RTS

 Common dia : 12 to 16 mm dia RTS

Minimum No. : 2

Note: Use 8 mm dia RTS bars upto 450 mm depth. Use 10 mm dia RTS above

450 mm depth. Normally top straight bars are 2Nos 10 dia RTS for light

beams and 2 Nos 12 dia RTS for heavy beams

STIRRUPS

Minimum dia : 6 dia MS

Maximum dia : 16 dia RTS

Common dia : 6, 8, 10, 12

Spacing : Minimum 80 mm

Maximum - 450 mm or 0.75 depth whichever is

less.

Normal spacing : 80, 100, 120, 125, 150, 160, 180,

200, 250, 300, 400, 450.

Note: It is a good practice to use 4 legged stirrups when width of beam exceeds

350 mm

Side face reinforcement

When depth of beam exceeds 750mm, side face reinforcement = 0.10% of

web area distributed equally in two faces with spacing not greater than 300 mm or

width of web whichever is less.

Adjustment of No. of bars when their size is changed

No. of bars actually provided =

2
Dia of bar as
No. of bars as per percentage
x
design Dia of bar actually
provided

Spacer bars:If the reinforcement provided in two layers, provide spacer bars of 25

mm dia at 600 mm centre to centre to separate the layers of beam bars.

DESIGN ASPECTS

1. Beam section at support : Rectangular

Beam section at mid span: T beam for interior beams and L

beam for exterior beams

2. If Mu < Mr - Tee beam requires 9% lesser reinforcement as

required for rectangular beam.

3. Mu = Mr. The beam requires 20% lesser than that required for rectangular

beam.

14. For span > 4 m where there is appreciable B.M., it is advisable to design

beam at mid span as Tee or Ell beam.

15. Practical Depth Beam:

Loading Span in metre Span/Depth ratio

L/d
Light 3m to 4m 15 to 20
Medium to Heavy 5m to 10m 12 to 15
Heavy ≥ 10m 10 to 12