DOUBLY REINFORCED BEAMS

The steel that is occasionally used on the compression sides of beams is called
compression steel, and beams with both tensile and compressive steel are referred to
as doubly reinforced beams.
Sometimes beams are limited to such small sizes by space or aesthetic
requirements that compression steel is needed in addition to tensile steel. To increase
the moment capacity of a beam beyond that of a tensilely reinforced beam with the
maximum percentage of steel, it is necessary to introduce another resisting couple in
the beam. This is done by adding steel in both the compression and tensile sides of the
beam. Though expensive, compression steel makes beams tough and ductile, enabling
them to withstand large moments, deformations, and stress reversals such as might
occur during earthquakes.
Compression steel is very effective in reducing long-term deflection due to
shrinkage. Continuous compression bars are also helpful for positioning stirrups (by
tying them to the compression bars) and keeping them in place during concrete
placement and vibration. Tests of doubly reinforced concrete beams have shown that
even if the compression concrete crushes, the beam may very well not collapse if the
compression steel is enclosed by stirrups.
Section 407.12.1 of the NSCP states that compression reinforcement in beams
shall be enclosed by ties or stirrups, or by welded wire fabric of equivalent area. In
Section 407.11.5.1 of the NSCP states that the ties must at least 10 mm diameter in
size for longitudinal bars 32 mm diameter or smaller, and at least 12 mm diameter in
size for 36 mm diameter bars and bundled longitudinal bars.

Example 3.1
Compute the bending stresses in the extreme fibers of the beam shown in Figure 3.1 for
a bending moment of 160 kN.m. Assume n = 10.
b = 350mm b = 350mm

62.5mm
2 – 28mm  (2n-1)As’ = 23399 mm2 x
500mm NA
375mm
437.5 - x
4 – 28mm 
62.5mm nAs = 24630 mm2
Original Beam Section Transformed Section
Figure 3.1 Example 3.1

Solution:

1. Compute steel areas,

 
A s  4  (28)2   2463 mm2
4 
 
A 's  2  (28)2   1231.5 mm2
4 

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 nA s  10(2463)  24630 mm2
(2n  1)A 's  2(10)  1 2463  23399 mm2

2. Locate the position of the neutral axis,

x
350(x)    23399(x  62.5)  24630(437.5  x)
2
x 2  274.5x  69931.8  0
x  160.69 mm

3. Compute the moment of inertia,

350(160.69)3
INA   23399(160.69  62.5)2  24630(437.5  160.69)2
3
INA  2596.92x106 mm4

4. Compute the Bending stresses,

Mc c 160(10)6 (160.69)
fc    9.90 MPa
INA 2596.92x106
fs' Mc 's 160(10)6 (160.69  62.5) 
 ; fs'   6  2(10)   120.99 MPa
2n INA  2596.92x10 
fs Mc s 160(10) (437.5  160.69) 
6
 ; fs    (10)  170.55 MPa
n INA  2596.92x106 

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Example 3.2
Compute the resisting moment of the beam shown in Figure 3.2 if fc  9.30 MPa and
fs  fs'  165 MPa. Use n = 9.

450mm 450mm

62.5mm
3 – 25mm  x
(2n-1)As’ = 25041 mm2
NA
700mm 562.5mm
625 - x
4 – 28mm 
75mm nAs = 22167 mm2

Original Beam Section Transformed Section

Figure 3.2 Example 3.2

Solution:

1. Compute steel areas,

 
A s  4  (28)2   2463 mm2
4 
 
A 's  3  (25)2   1473 mm2
4 
nA s  9(2463)  22167 mm2
(2n  1)A 's  2(9)  1 1473  25041 mm2
2. Locate the position of the neutral axis,
x
450(x)    25041(x  62.5)  22167(625  x)
2
x 2  209.813x  68530.83  0
x  177.12 mm
3. Compute the moment of inertia,
450(177.12)3
INA   25041(177.12  62.5)2  22167(625  177.12)2
3
INA  5609.08x106 mm4
4. Compute the Resisting Moment,
Mc fI 9.30(5609.08x106 )
fc  c c ; Mc  c NA  (10) 6  294.51 kN.m
INA cc 177.12
fs' M' c ' fs' INA 165(5609.08x106 )
 s s ; M's  '
 (10)6  448.58 kN.m
2n INA 2nc s 2(9)(177.12  62.5)
fs Ms c s fs INA 165(5609.08x106 )
 ; Ms   (10) 6  229.60 kN.m
n INA nc s 9(625  177.12)

Therefore, the resisting moment of the beam is M = 229.60 kN.m

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