Characteristic Strength

The characteristic strength, fk, means that value of the strength of material below which not more
than 5% of the result are expected to fall. Same definition is applied for characteristic strength of
both concrete, fck, and reinforced steel, fy. The criterion for the characteristic strength, fk, is:

𝑓𝑓𝑘𝑘 = 𝑓𝑓𝑚𝑚 − 1.64𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓, Where, fm is the mean strength and 𝜎𝜎 is standard deviation.
Frequency

95%
confidence
level

fk 1.64σ Strength
fm
 Characteristic Load
Concept for the characteristic load, wk, is just opposite of that used for characteristic
strength. It is defined as the value of load at the confidence level beyond which only 5%
or less data may exceed.
Characteristic load, wk, is
𝑤𝑤𝑘𝑘 = 𝑤𝑤𝑚𝑚 + 1.64𝜎𝜎
Where, wm is mean load and 𝜎𝜎 is standard deviation.
Frequency

95%
confidence
level

1.64σ Load
wm wk
 Partial Safety Factors
Partial safety factors are used for both materials strength and applied load. The reasons
for applying such partial safety factors are:
Material Strength:
• More deviation may arise while producing the materials (deficiency on quality
control)
• Possibility of deviation on strength of materials and sectional dimensions
• Calculation procedure accuracy
• Risk of life and economic consequences
Material strength is generally considered for the limit state of collapse. For this
consideration, partial safety factor for concrete is taken as 1.5 and for steel as 1.15.
Loads
• The reasons for applying partial safety factors to applied load are:
• Unexpected load may be applied during construction and service period
• Additional stresses may arise which are not considered in design
• Inaccurate effect of loading
• Consideration for limit state

Partial safety factors for both dead and live load = 1.5 (Non-seismic Design)
13 combination of dead load and live loads for seismic design (refer code)
 Assumptions made on Limit State
• The plane section normal to the axis remains plane after bending
• The maximum strain in concrete at the outermost compressive fiber is taken as 0.0035 in
bending regardless of the strength of concrete.
• The relationship between stress and strain distribution in concrete is assumed to be parabolic,
as shown in Fig 3.12. The maximum compressive stress at extreme compressive fiber is taken
0.67𝑓𝑓
as 1.5 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 or 0.446fck. Here, note that 0.67 times of the characteristic strength is taken for the
design purpose, which is 0.67fck. And, 1.5 is the partial safety factor for strength.
• Tensile strength of concrete is ignored
• The stress in reinforced is derived from representative stress-strain curve for the type of steel
used. Design strength of steel is achieved by dividing characteristic strength, fy, with partial
𝑓𝑓𝑦𝑦
safety factor 1.15. It means 1.15 = 0.87𝑓𝑓𝑦𝑦 is the design strength of the given steel.
• The maximum strain in tension reinforcement in the section at failure should not be less than
0.87σy
+ 0.002, i.e.
E s
0.87𝑓𝑓𝑦𝑦
𝜀𝜀𝑠𝑠 ≥ + 0.002
𝐸𝐸𝑠𝑠
Where,
fy = Characteristic strength of steel
Es = Young’s modulus of steel
εs = strain in steel at failure
Characteristic strength on experimental Stress-strain
curve of concrete

30
Compressive Stress (MPa) fck

20

10

0
0 0.002 0.004 0.006

Axial Strain
 Design Strength of concrete

Stress
Parabolic Curve

fck Remains constant until collapse

0.67 times of fck is taken for considering

0.67fck the difference of quality control
between producing test specimen and
real structures
0.67 fck Again divided by partial safety factor
= 0.446 fck
1.5 μm = 1.5 to get the design curve

Strain
0.002 0.0035
Strain at Strain at
maximum stress Collapse
Characteristic and Design Strength of Mild Steel
Stress (MPa)
Yield point
clearly known

Strain
Stress (MPa)

Idealized
Characteristic Curve
fy fy = 250 MPa
Design Curve fy
0.87fy
1.15= 0.87fy = 217.5 MPa

Es = 2.0×105 MPa

Strain
0.00109
Characteristic Strength of Deformed Steel

Stress (MPa)
Yield point
not known
fy

Strain
0.002
Characteristic Strength of Deformed Steel

Stress (MPa)
Yield point
not known
fy

Strain
0.002
 Design Strength of Deformed Steel

Design Curve Idealized Characteristic

for Fe500 Steel Curve for Fe500 Steel
Stress (MPa)

Fe500 (fy = 500 MPa)

0.87fy = 435 MPa (for Fe500) Fe415 (fy = 415 MPa)

0.87fy = 361 MPa (for Fe 415)
Idealized Characteristic
Curve for Fe415 Steel

Design Curve
for Fe500 Steel

Strain