Flexural Analysis & Design of Rectangular Beams:

EC2 & ACI318-19 Compared

Kamal J. Bsaibes
Structural Engineer

The increasing complexity of a large number of projects and the development of new
techniques have led to a rapid and significant extension of the regulations on the basis of the
experience acquired and the results of the numerous researches carried out in several
countries. Today, the engineer is therefore obliged to comply with regulations which are not
the same everywhere and given the large share of activity of design offices abroad, engineers
must also have a good knowledge of the main foreign regulations. Only the big nations have
developed their own regulations and almost all the other countries have chosen one of the
two major reference text in reinforced concrete structures : the ACI 318-19 and the
Eurocode2 (EC2). We start by comparing “Simple bending in reinforced rectangular beam”
with numerical comparison for each subject. These comparisons leads to general conclusions
about the cases treated. The following text accompanied by an application
https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9NFXL4VWSDX0, is added to other texts in the
literature in order to acquire more profit on the subject.
 EUROCODE 2 ACI318-19
Hypotheses

The following limitations and simplifications are taken into account in this comparative
study:
• Service loads are equal;

• The value of the coefficient cc  1 ( cc  0.85 some national annexes) ;
We will consider in the following : cc  1 ;

• For concrete : fck ( EC2)  fc' ( ACI ) and for steel : f yk ( EC 2)  f y ( ACI ) ;

• Plane sections before bending remain plane after bending;

• Unit strain in the concrete is proportional to the distance from the neutral axis;

• The tensile strength of the concrete is ignored;

• The adhesion between steel and concrete must be completely perfect. i.e. there is no relative
displacement between concrete and steel;

• The stress in steel varies linearly according to the unit strain up to the elastic limit; it
remains constant after this point while the unit strain increases (EC2 allows the use of a
stress-strain diagram of horizontal top branche) ;

• The ultimate concrete unit strain must be limited to 0.003 (ACI 318-19) and to 0.0035
 cu3  according to EC2.
 EUROCODE 2 ACI318-19
Stress distribution
When the section is not fully compressed, the The stress distribution in compressed
"parabola-rectangle" diagram can be replaced concrete can be considered as rectangular,
by the simplified rectangular diagram defined trapezoidal, parabolic, or any other form
below: giving results in agreement with the test
results. Rectangular Diagram:

fcd  fck  c
 17 MPa  fc'  28MPa :
fck  50MPa :
1  0.85
  0.80 ;   1
 28MPa fc' 55 MPa :
 50MPa fck  90MPa :

λ  0.8   fck  50  / 400

 1  0.85 

0.05 fc'  28 
7
η  1   fck  50 / 200
 fc'  55 MPa : 1  0.65
h = overall depth of the section
d = effective depth, h = overall depth of the section
b = breadth of the section d = effective depth,
x = depth to the neutral axis b = breadth of the section
As = area of tension reinforcement c = depth to the neutral axis
As = area of tension reinforcement
 cu 3 = maximum strain in the concrete
 c = maximum strain in the concrete
 s = strain in steel
t = strain in steel
 EUROCODE 2 ACI318-19
Strain Compatibility
With same ordinate, the strain of steel is With same ordinate, the strain of steel is
equal to the strain of concrete: equal to the strain of concrete:
s d x  d x  t d  c  d c 
   s   cu3     t   c  
 cu3 x  x  c c  c 

x  cu3 c c
Let :   Let :   
d  cu3   s d  c  t

 1      1    
 s   cu3  c  s  t   c   et  c  t  
 et      1 
    1 
- For fck  50MPa ;  cu3  0.0035 ; For εc  0.003 ; ε t  f y Es ;

E s  200000 MPa E s  200000 MPa

x 0.0035 700 c 0.003 600

       
d 0.0035  f yd E s 700  f yd d 0.003  f y Es 600  f y

For f yk  500MPa ; For f y  500MPa ;

f yd  500 1.15  435 MPa c 600

   0.546
d 600  500
x 700
   0.617 Hence, to ensure yielding of the tension steel
d 700  435
at the ultimate limit state : c  0.546d
Hence, to ensure yielding of the tension steel
for f yk  500MPa
at the ultimate limit state : x  0.617d
for fck  50MPa and f yk  500MPa To ensure ductility, ACI limits the depth of
neutral axis to :
At the ultimate limit state it is important that
member sections in flexure should be ductile.
c 0.003
For this purpose, EC2 limits the depth of   .
d  fy 
neutral axis to : 0.003    0.003 
 Es 
x
  0.45 .
d
 EUROCODE 2 ACI318-19
Design of a singly reinforced rectangular section

C   x.cc. fcd .b C  0.85 fc' b1c  0.85 fc' 1bd

with : x   d with : c   d
The tension force of steel is: T  As fs The tension force of steel is: T  As fs
a    a   
Taking : z d  z  d1 Taking : zd  z  d1 1 
2  2  2  2 
The balance of normal efforts result in : The balance of normal efforts result in :
T=C T=C
As fs   x.cc. fcd .b As f s  0.85 fc' b   1c 
As . f s As . f s As . f y
x   (  cc  1)  1c 
cc . fcd .b . fcd .b
0.85. fc' .b
As . f s  . fs As
.( x d )   (  ) As . f s  . fs As
b.d. . fcd  . fcd b.d  1 .(c d )   (  )
b.d.0.85. f c' 0.85. f c' b.d
Steel percentage :
Steel percentage :
A . x d .. fcd . .. fcd
 s   As  1 .  c d  .0.85. fc'  1 . .0.85. fc'
b.d fs fs   
b.d fs fs
 EUROCODE 2 ACI318-19
Design of a singly reinforced rectangular section
Resisting internal moment  C  z  T  z Resisting internal moment:
Mu  M Ed  C  z   xcc fcd bz Mu ø  M n  C  z  T  z
The lever arm z is such that: Mu ø  Mn  C  z  1c(0.85 fc' )bz
   The lever arm z is such that:
z  d  0.5  x  d  0.5  d  d  1 
 2 
 
z  d  0.5  1c  d  0.5  1 d  d  1  1 
    2 
M u   d cc fcd b  d  d
 2 
Mu  ø( 0.85 fc' )bd 21  1  1 2  
  
M u   cc bd 2 f cd  1   Mu  
 2    1  1  1 
ø ( 0.85 fc' )bd 2
 2 
Mu   
u    cc  1  Mu  
bd 2 fcd  2  u    1  1  1 
ø( 0.85 fc' )bd 2
 2 
For fck  50MPa :   0.8 ; η=1 ;  cc =1
Mu

1
1
1  1  2 u 
u   0.8  1  0.4  
bd 2 fcd
a  
a   1 c   1 d et z d  d1 1 

  1.25 1  1  2 u  et z  d  1  0.4  2  2 

Mu
M Mu ø  T  z  As fs z  As 
Mu  M Ed  T.z  As s z  As  Ed øzf s
sz
 Si  s  f y E s  fs   s Es
 Si  s  f yd E s  fs   s Es
 Si  s  f y E s  f s  f y
f yk
 Si  s  f yd E s  f s  f yd 
s
 EUROCODE 2 ACI318-19
Determination of As,min et de As,max
A minimal percentage of steel is required for bending elements by the two codes, for
controlling the opening of cracks. Both codes impose a maximum percentage of steel to
ensure adequate ductility.
Minimal percentage: Minimal percentage:
 f   f' 1.4 
As,min  max 0.26 ctm bd ; 0.0013bd  As,min  Max  0.25 c bd ; bd
 f yk   fy fy 
 
min  As,min bd This value of As ,min does not apply, if
As,mis en place  1.33 As,calculé .

min  As,min bd

In order to guarantee sufficient ductility of the structure elements at ultimate state (plastic
behavior), the EC2 and ACI define the following limits:

For fck  50MPa ; fy

s  (  0.003) to avoid excessive steel
Es
1    
 c  3.5  s  c    0.0043 section :
  
3 1 fy
  x d  0.45  c  0.003   s   (  0.003)
1000  Es
max  0.45
0.003
  c d 
 fy 
For 50  fck  90 MPa ; 0.003    0.003 
 Es 
0.46
max  0.003
 1.25 *  0.6  0.0014 /  cu 3   max 
fy
 0.006
Es
These limitations of neutral axis can be converted into limiting moments that sections can
support without addition of compressed steel.
 EUROCODE 2 ACI318-19
Determination of As,max

Percentage limit (not to have Percentage limit (not to have

compression reinforcement) : compression reinforcement) :
 .max . . fcd 1 .max .0.85. fc'
l  l  ou :
fs fs
Maximum tension and compression steel
fc' c
area should not exceed 4% of the gross l  0.85  1
fy fy
section area. c  (  0.003)
Es

f ck (MPa) fctm (MPa) min (EC2)% min (ACI)%  l (EC2)%  l (ACI)%

f yk  500 (MPa)

25 2.6 0.14 0.28 1.38 1.28

30 2.9 0.15 0.28 1.66 1.50
35 3.2 0.17 0.30 1.93 1.68
40 3.5 0.18 0.32 2.21 1.83
45 3.8 0.20 0.34 2.49 1.97
50 4.1 0.21 0.35 2.76 2.08
55 4.2 0.22 0.37 3.45 2.15
60 4.4 0.23 0.39 3.61 2.34
70 4.6 0.24 0.42 3.86 2.73
80 4.8 0.25 0.45 4.03 3.12
90 5 0.26 0.47 4.12 3.51
The previous table shows that the minimum percentage of steel required by the ACI code is
greater than that of the EC2; while the maximum percentage of steel required by EC2 code, to
ensure ductility, is greater than that of ACI .
 EUROCODE 2 ACI318-19
Moment limit values
We compare the moments limit of the two regulations for :
fck ( EC2)  fc' ( ACI )  25 MPa and f yk ( EC 2)  f y ( ACI )  500MPa
Let: G = dead load and Q = live load; total load : P = G + Q.
By taking into account the load factors for each regulation, the moments limit values are
calculated according to different values of Q P ; the value of the moment calculated, is
related to the total load.
fck  25 MPa  fcd  25 1.5  16.67 MPa 0.003
max   0.353
f y E s  0.006
max  0.8max  1  0.4max  ;
  max  1 
max  0.8  0.45  1  0.4  0.45   0.295 max  max  1  1    0.247
 2 
Ml EC 2 fcd bd 2  max  0.295 
Ml ACI  0.9  0.85  bd 2 fc'  max  0.247
Ml EC 2 16.67bd 2  0.295 
Ml EC 2 19.13bd 2  0.247 
Ml EC 2  4.92bd 2 ;
Ml ACI   4.72bd 2 .
1.35G  1.5Q  1.35  P  Q   1.5Q
1.2G  1.6Q  1.2  P  Q   1.6Q
 0.15Q   0.4Q 
1.35G  1.5Q  1.35 P  1   1.2G  1.6Q  1.2P  1 
 1.35 P   1.2P 

Q P M l EC 2  M l ACI  Ml ACI  Ml EC 2

0 3.644 3.933 1.080

0.20 3.565 3.688 1.035
0.25 3.546 3.631 1.025
0.30 3.527 3.578 1.015
0.35 3.508 3.522 1.006
0.40 3.489 3.471 0,996
0.45 3.471 3.420 0.987
0.50 3.453 3.371 0.978
In practice the ratio Q P varies between 0.2 and 0.5, and it is noted that the sections in
bending at EC2 require addition of compression steel for moments limit lower than the ACI
moments limit.
 EUROCODE 2 ACI318-19
Applications
Design the following beam for : MG  90kNm ; MQ  30kNm .

fck ( EC2)  fc' ( ACI )  25 MPa

et f yk ( EC 2)  f y ( ACI )  500MPa .

Ultimate moment: Ultimate moment:

Mu  1.35  90  1.5  30  166.5kNm Mu  1.2  90  1.6  30  156kNm
As : fck  50MPa donc   0.8 et η=1 ; fc'  25MPa  β1  0.85
Mu 166.5  10 3 Mu
u    0.133 μu 
bd 2 fcd 0.30  0.50 2  16.67 ø(0.85fc' )bd2
 
  1.25 1  1  2 u  0.179 max  0.45
μu 
124  103
 0.108
So no need for compression steel. 0.9  0.85  25  0.30  0.502

 1 
s  c 
 1  0.179 
  0.0035    0.016
ξ
1
0.85
 
1  1  2μ u  0.135
    0.179 
 s  0.016  y  500 ( 1.15  2  10 5 ) ξ max  0.003 (f y Es  0.006)  0.353

 s  0.016  y  0.00217 ξ  0.135 ξ max  0.353

  s  f yd  500 1.15  435 MPa So no need for compression steel.

 1   1  0.135 
z  d  1  0.4   0.50 1  0.4  0.179   0.464m  s   c     0.003  0.135   0.019
   
Mu 166.5  103  s  0.019  y  500 2  10 5  0.0025
As    0.00082m 2
 s z 435  0.464
  s  f y  500MPa ; z  d  1  0.5  1 
As  8.2cm2
z  0.50 1  0.5  0.85  0.135   0.471m

Mu 156  103
As    0.00074m2
øzf y 0.9  0.471  500

A s  7.4cm2
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 EUROCODE 2 ACI318-19
For the same beam above; we consider : MG  90kNm ; MQ  60kNm
Ultimate moment: Ultimate moment:
Mu  1.35  90  1.5  60  211.50kNm Mu  1.2  90  1.6  60  204kNm
As : fck  50MPa donc   0.8 et   1 fc'  25MPa  β1  0.85
Mu 211.5  10 3 Mu
u  2
  0.170 μu 
bd fcd 0.30  0.50 2  16.67 ø(0.85fc' )bd2
 
  1.25 1  1  2 u  0.234 max  0.45
μu 
204  103
 0.142
So no need for compression steel.
0.9  0.85  25  0.30  0.502

 1 
s  c 

 1  0.234 
  0.0035    0.011
ξ
1
0.85

1  1  2μ u  0.181
   0.234 
 s  0.011  y  500 ( 1.15  2  10 5 ) ξ max  0.003 (f y Es  0.006)  0.353

 s  0.011  y  0.00217 ξ  0.181 ξ max  0.353

  s  f yd  500 1.15  435 MPa
So no need for compression steel.
z  d  1  0.4   0.50  1  0.4  0.234   0.453m
 1   1  0.181 
s  c    0.003    0.014
Mu 211.5  10 3     0.181 
As    0.001073m2
 s z 435  0.453  s  0.014  y  500 2  10 5  0.0025
As  10.73cm2   s  f y  500MPa

z  d  1  0.5  1 

z  0.50 1  0.5  0.85  0.181  0.462m

Mu 204  103
As    0.00098m2
øzf y 0.9  0.462  500

A s  9.8cm2
The ACI gives steel areas lower than the EC2 by about 10%. This result is still general,
especially for weakly reinforced beams,
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 EUROCODE 2 ACI318-19
For the same beam above; we consider : MG  170kNm ; MQ  90kNm
Ultimate moment: Ultimate moment:
Mu  1.35  170  1.5  90  364.5kNm Mu  1.2  170  1.6  90  348kNm
Comme : fck  50MPa donc   0.8 et η=1 fc'  25MPa  β1  0.85
Mu 364.5  103 Mu
u  2
 2
 0.292 μu 
bd fcd 0.30  0.50  16.67 ø(0.85fc' )bd2
 
  1.25 1  1  2 u  0.444 max  0.45
μu 
348  103
 0.243
So no need for compression steel.
0.9  0.85  25  0.30  0.502

 1   1  0.444 
ξ
1
0.85

1  1  2μ u  0.333
s  c    0.0035    0.0044
    0.444  ξ max  0.003 (f y Es  0.006)  0.353
 s  0.0044  y  500 ( 1.15  2  10 5 )
ξ  0.333 ξ max  0.353
 s  0.0044  y  0.00217
  s  f yd  500 1.15  435 MPa So no need for compression steel.
 1   1  0.333 
z  d  1  0.4   0.50  1  0.4  0.444   0.411m  s   c     0.003  0.333   0.006
   
Mu 364.5  103  s  0.006  y  500 2  10 5  0.0025
As    0.00204m 2
 s z 435  0.411
 s  f y  500MPa
As  20.4cm2
z  d  1  0.5  1 

z  0.50 1  0.5  0.85  0.333  0.429m

Mu 348  103
As    0.0018m2
øzf y 0.9  0.429  500

A s  18cm2
For heavily reinforced beams, the ACI also gives smaller steel areas than the EC2. It follows
from the previous calculations that the EC2 always leads to steel areas larger than the ACI, this
difference being able to reach 15% for values of moments close to moments limit.
https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9NFXL4VWSDX0
 EUROCODE 2 ACI318-19
Remark (1)
Let: G = dead load and Q = live load; total load : P = G + Q.
If we consider as an indication that, for the same value of the load P  G  Q :
- Steel according to EC2 are almost proportional to the quantity:
 0.15Q 
1.35G  1.5Q  1.35 P  1   a 
 1.35 P 
- Steel according to ACI are almost proportional to the quantity:
 0.4Q 
1.2G  1.6Q  1.2P  1  b
 1.2P 

Q P 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6

 a b 1.125 1.101 1.078 1.057 1.037 1.018 1.00

It is noted that, for current values of the ratio Q P , varying between 0.2 and 0.5, the difference
between the steel areas given by the EC2 and the ACI decreases as Q P increases.
 EUROCODE 2 ACI318-19
Remark (2)
We consider a beam of length l, uniformly loaded, of width b = 30cm and effective height 50cm.
MG et M Q being respectively the bending moment due to the dead loads and the bending moment
due to the live loads. The steel areas is calculated according to EC2 and ACI for different values of.
Q P with P  G  Q ; then we deduct the difference in percentage.

fck ( EC2)  fc' ( ACI )  25 MPa et f yk ( EC 2)  f y ( ACI )  500MPa

Q P MG MQ Mu (EC2) Mu (ACI) As (EC2) As (ACI) Différence
(kNm) (kNm) (kNm) (kNm) (cm2) (cm2) (%)
0 80 0.00 108 96 5.208 4.42 17.83
0.1 80 8.89 121 110 6.657 5.87 13.41
0.2 80 20.00 138 128 8.544 7.75 10.25
0.3 80 34.29 159 151 11.04 10.29 7.29
0.4 80 53.33 188 181 14.67 13.80 6.30
0.5 80 80.00 228 224 20.26 19.29 5.03

We also notice that for the current values of the ratio Q P , the difference between the results given
by the EC2 and the ACI decreases when Q P increases.
 EUROCODE 2 ACI318-19
Resistant moment of a section with known tension reinforcement
The balance of the compression force in By writing the balance of the compression force in
concrete and the tensile force of steel gives: concrete and the tensile force of steel we will have
C T the nominal resisting moment which is equal to:
C   x.cc. fcd .b ; cc  1  a
Mn  A s f y  d  
 2 
The tensile force of steel is: T  f yd .As
A s .f y
Pour fck  50MPa :   0.8 et η=1 ; Avec : a
0.85.fc' .b
f yd .As
0.8x. fcd .b  f yd .As  x  Then we calculate øMn avec ø=0.9
0.8. f cd .b
So the resisting moment of the section is:
So the resisting moment of the section is:
 a
 0.8x  øM n  øAs f y  d  
M sr  T  z  f yd .As  d   2
 2 
 As . f y 
 As f yd  øMn  øAs f y  d 
  ;   As bd
M sr  f yd .As  d   ;   As bd  1.7 fc' .b 
 2 fcd .b 
 bdf y 
 bdf yd  As  bd ; øMn  øf y bd  d  
As  bd ; M sr  f yd .bd  d    1.7 fc' .b 
2 fcd .b  


  f yd    fy 
M sr   f yd bd 2  1  øMn  ø  f y bd 2  1   ; Mu  øMn
  1.7 f '
 2 fcd   c 

M sr   f yk  øMn   fy 
 0.87  f yk  1    ø fy  1  
bd 2 1.533 fck  bd 2  1.7 f '
  c 

In this calculation, it has been assumed that the steel has reached its elastic limit before the concrete
reaches its ultimate strain of 0.0035 or  cu 3 for (EC2) and 0.003 for (ACI). This hypothesis must be
verified by calculating the steel strain ε s for ultimate concrete strain.
 EUROCODE 2 ACI318-19
Comparison of resisting moments
Comparison of resisting moments Mrésistant bd 2 according to the steel percentage  , for

f yk ( EC 2)  f y ( ACI )  500MPa and for different values of fck ( EC2)  fc' ( ACI ) .


 
Values of Mrésistant bd 2 MN m 2 for rectangular diagram

25MPA 30MPa 35 MPa 40MPa 50MPa

EC2 ACI EC2 ACI EC2 ACI EC2 ACI EC2 ACI
0.003 1.254 1.302 1.262 1.310 1.269 1.316 1.273 1.320 1.279 1.362
0.005 2.033 2.118 2.057 2.140 2.074 2.156 2.086 2.167 2.104 2.184
0.007 2.767 2.891 2.813 2.934 2.846 2.965 2.871 2.988 2.906 3.02
0.009 3.455 3.621 3.532 3.693 3.587 3.744 3.628 3.782 3.685 3.836
0.011 4.098 4.309 4.213 4.416 4.295 4.492 4.356 4.550 4.442 4.630
0.013 4.696 4.880 4.856 5.104 4.970 5.211 5.056 5.291 5.176 5.403

Note that the values given by ACI are higher than those of EC2. It also shows that EC2 is more
conservative than ACI concerning the bending resisting moment .
 EUROCODE 2 ACI318-19
Neutral
Comparison of the values of   x d   c d  according to the steel percentage  , for

f yk ( EC 2)  f y ( ACI )  500MPa and for different values of fck ( EC2)  fc' ( ACI ) .
 Valeurs de   x d   c d  pour un diagramme rectangulaire
25MPA 30MPa 35 MPa 40MPa 50MPa
EC2 ACI EC2 ACI EC2 ACI EC2 ACI EC2 ACI
0.003 0.049 0.051 0.082 0.070 0.070 0.063 0.061 0.058 0.049 0.051
0.005 0.163 0.138 0.136 0.117 0.116 0.105 0.102 0.096 0.082 0.085
0.007 0.228 0.194 0.190 0.164 0.163 0.147 0.143 0.135 0.114 0.119
0.009 0.293 0.249 0.245 0.211 0.210 0.189 0.183 0.173 0.147 0.153
0.011 0.359 0.304 0.299 0.258 0.256 0.231 0.224 0.212 0.179 0.187
0.013 0.424 0.360 0.353 0.305 0.303 0.273 0.265 0.250 0.212 0.221

The previous table shows that, for a given  , the ACI ratio   c d  is lower than that of EC2 for the

values of fc'  35 MPa which means that ACI provides higher ductility than EC2 in common cases.

The opposite is true for the values of fc'  35 MPa .

But, as the compression concrete strength fc' increases, the difference of   x d   c d  between
the two codes decreases.
 EUROCODE 2 ACI318-19
Analysis of Doubly Reinforced Concrete Sections
When compression steel is used, the nominal resisting moment of the beam is assumed to
consist of two parts: the part due to the resistance of the compression concrete and the
balancing tensile reinforcing, and the part due to the nominal moment capacity of the
compression steel and the balancing amount of the additional tensile steel.

The first resisting moment

The first resisting moment  a
M n1  As1 f y  d  
 a  2
M n1  0.87 As1 f yk  d  
 2 The second resisting moment is that
The second resisting moment is that produced by the additional tensile and
produced by the additional tensile and

compressive steel As 2 and A s' : 

compressive steel As 2 and A s'  :
Mn2  A's fs'  d  d'   A s2 f y  d  d' 
Mn2  A's f s'  d  d'   0.87 A s2 f yk  d  d' 
 a
M n  As1 f y  d    A s 2 f y  d  d' 
 a  2
M n  0.87 As1 f yk  d    A's f s'  d  d' 
 2
  a 
øM n  ø  As1 f y  d    A's f s'  d  d'  
  2  
 EUROCODE 2 ACI318-19
Analysis of Doubly Reinforced Concrete Sections
The strain,  's , in the compression steel is The strain,  's , in the compression steel is
checked to determine whether or not it has checked to determine whether or not it has
yielded. Initially the stress in the yielded. Initially the stress in the
compression steel is assumed to be at yield compression steel is assumed to be at yield

 f s' 
 f yd : As f yd   x. cc . fcd .b  A's f yd ; f '
s 
 f y : As f y  0.85 fc'  1cb  A's f y ;

x
A s 
 A's f yd  x  d' 
; ε's  ε cu3  c
A s 
 A's f y  c  d' 
;  's  0.003 
 cc . fcd .b  
 x  0.85 fc'  1b  c 

If the strain in the compression steel If the strain in the compression steel
 's  y  f yd Es , the assumption is valid and  's  y  f y Es , the assumption is valid and

f s' is at yield, f yd . If  's  y the compression f s' is at yield, f y . If  's  y the compression

steel is not yielding, and the value of x steel is not yielding, and the value of c
calculated above calculated above
is not correct. A new equilibrium equation is not correct. A new equilibrium equation
must be written that assumes fs' f yd . must be written that assumes f s' fy .

 x  d'   c  d' 
As f yd   x. cc . f cd .b  A's    cu 3 E s As f y  0.85 fc'  1 cb  A's    0.003  E s  c
 x   c 
x The value of c determined enables us to
The value of x determined enables us to compute the strains in both the compression
compute the strains in both the compression and tensile steels and thus their stresses
and tensile steels and thus
 EUROCODE 2 ACI318-19
Analysis of Doubly Reinforced Concrete Sections
Determine the design moment capacity of the beam shown in Figure
the inset of the compression steel is 5cm fck ( EC2)  fc' ( ACI )  20MPa
et f yk ( EC 2)  f y ( ACI )  414MPa

Writing the Equilibrium Equation Writing the Equilibrium Equation

Assuming Assuming
f s'  f y ; As f yd   x. cc . fcd .b  A's f yd f s'  f y ; As f y  0.85 fc'  1cb  A's f y

32.16  104  360  0.8  13.33  1  0.35  x 32.16  104  414  0.85  20  0.85  0.35  c
 4.02  104  360  4.02  104  414
 x  0.27135m  c  0.23035m
a  x  0.8  0.27135  0.2171m a  1c  0.85  0.23035  0.1958m
Computing Strains in Compression Computing Strains in Compression
Steel to Verify Assumption that It Is Steel to Verify Assumption that It Is
Yielding Yielding
Compression steel strain : Compression steel strain :
 x  d'   c  d' 
ε's  0.0035   ε 's  0.003  
 x   c 
 0.27135  0.05   0.23035  0.05 
ε 's  0.0035    0.00286 ε's  0.003    0.00235
 0.27135   0.23035 
ε y  fyd Es  360 200000  0.0018 ε y  fy Es  414 200000  0.0021

ε's  0.00286 ε y  0.0018 ε's  0.00235 ε y  0.0021

Compression steel stress:  fs'  f y as assumed

 fs'  f y as assumed
A 's fs'
A s2 
A 's fs' f yd
A s2 
f yd
4.02  104  414
A s2   4.02  104 m2
4.02  104  360 414
A s2   4.02  104 m2
360
 EUROCODE 2 ACI318-19
Doubly reinforced concrete sections
A s1  A s  A s2  A s1  A s  A s2 

32.16  104  4.02  104  28.14  104 m2 32.16  104  4.02  104  28.14  104 m2
dx d c 
s  c   s  c  
 x   c 
 0.65  0.27135   0.65  0.23035 
 s  0.0035    0.00488  s  0.003    0.0055
 0.27135   0.23035 
 a  s  0.0055 f y Es  0.003  0.0021  0.003
M n  As1 f yd  d     A's f s'  d  d' 
 2
 s  0.0055 0.0051
 0.2171  ø  0.9
M n  28.14  10 4  360  0.65 
 2 
  a 
 4.02  10 4  360  0.65  0.05  øM n  ø  As1 f y  d    A's f s'  d  d'  
  2 
M n  0.6354MNm  635.4kNm øMn  0.6687 MNm  668.7kNm
https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9NFXL4VWSDX0
 Analysis of Doubly Reinforced Concrete Sections
Determine the design moment capacity of the beam shown in Figure
the inset of the compression steel is 5 cm
fck ( EC2)  fc' ( ACI )  25 MPa
et f yk ( EC 2)  f y ( ACI )  500MPa

Writing the Equilibrium Equation Writing the Equilibrium Equation

Assuming Assuming
f s'  f y f s'  f y

As f yd   x. cc . fcd .b  A's f yd As f y  0.85 fc'  1cb  A's f y

12.56  104  435  0.8  16.67  1  0.35  x 12.56  104  500  0.85  25  0.85  0.35  c
 4.02  104  435  4.02  104  500
 x  0.0796m
a   x  0.8  0.0796  0.0637m  c  0.0675m

Computing Strains in Compression a  1c  0.85  0.0675  0.0574m

Steel to Verify Assumption that It Is Computing Strains in Compression
Yielding Steel to Verify Assumption that It Is
Compression steel strain : Yielding
 c  d'  Compression steel strain :
ε's  0.0035  
 c   c  d'   0.0675  0.05 
ε's  0.003    0.003  
 0.0796  0.050   c   0.0675 
ε 's  0.0035    0.0013
 0.0796  ε's  0.00078
ε y  f yd Es  435 200000  0.0022 ε y  fy Es  500 200000  0.0025
ε's  0.0013 ε y  0.0022 ε's  0.00078 ε y  0.0025
Compression steel stress:
 fs'  f y as assumed
 fs'  f yd as assumed
Since the assumption is not valid, we
Since the assumption is not valid, we
have to use the equilibrium equation that
have to use the equilibrium equation that
is based on fs' not yielding.
is based on fs' not yielding.
 EUROCODE 2 ACI318-19
Analysis of Doubly Reinforced Concrete Sections
 x  d'   c  d' 
As f yd   x. cc . f cd .b  A's    cu 3 E s As f y  0.85 fc'  1 cb  A's    0.003  E s
 x   c 

12.56  104  435  0.8x  1  16.67  0.35  c  0.08392m  8.392cm

 x  0.05  a  1c  0.85  0.08392  0.0713m
4.02  104   0.0035  200000
 x 
 c  d' 
 x  0.09017m  9.017cm ε's  0.003  
 c 
a  x  0.8  0.09017  0.0721m
 0.08392  0.05 
ε 's  0.003    0.001213
 x  d'   0.08392 
ε's  0.0035  
 x  fy 500
ε's  0.00121   0.0025
 0.0902  0.05  Es 200000
ε 's  0.0035    0.00156
 0.0902  L’acier comprimé n’a pas atteint sa limite
f yd 435 élastique.
ε's  0.00156   0.00217
Es 200000 Compression steel stress :
L’acier comprimé n’a pas atteint sa limite fs'  ε'sEs  0.00121  200000  242.5MPa
élastique. Compression steel stress : A 's fs'
A s2 
fs'  ε'sEs  0.00156  200000  312MPa fy
A 's fs' 4.02  104  312 4.02  104  242.5
A s2   A s2   0.000195m2
f yd 435 500
A s2  0.000288m2 A s1  A s  A s2

A s1  A s  A s2   12.56  104  0.0002  0.00106m2

12.56  104  2.88  104  9.68  104 m2  0.45  0.08392 
 s  0.003    0.0131
 a  0.08392 
M n  As1 f yd  d    A's f s'  d  d' 
 2  s  0.0131 f y E s  0.003  0.0025  0.003
 0.0721   s  0.0131 0.0055  ø  0.9
M n  9.68  10 4  435  0.45 
 2 
  a 
 4.02  10 4  312  0.45  0.05  øM n  ø  As1 f y  d    A's f s'  d  d'  
  2  
M n  0.2244MNm  224.4kNm øMn  0.2327 MNm  232.7kNm
https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9NFXL4VWSDX0
 EUROCODE 2 ACI318-19
Design of Doubly Reinforced Concrete Sections
If the moment applied to the section is such that the limit value of x d (c/d) is exceeded
when trying to calculate the section with tension reinforcement only, then compression steel
must be added in order to resist excessive moment and keep the depth of the neutral axis at
the limit value. The configuration for a doubly reinforced beam is given below.
The moment applied to the section Mu is partially balanced by the moment limit
M l determined from the maximum authorized value of x d (c/d) and the rest by the couple
induced by the force of the compression steel and the additional equal force of the tension
steel. We suppose in this calculation that the area of concrete displaced by compression steel
is ignored and that these steel have reached their elastic limit. The strength of compression
steel C s is exactly balanced by an equivalent force of tension steel.

We first calculate the maximum resisting moment of a reinforced section with the maximum
percentage of tensile reinforcement ρ max only.
The corresponding section of tension steel is: A s1  ρ l bd
 EUROCODE 2 ACI318-19
Design of Doubly Reinforced Concrete Sections
Residual moment: Residual moment:
Mres   Mu  Mlim   As2 f yd  d  d'  Mres  Mu  Mn

Mres Tension steel for : Mu  Mres :

Tension steel for : Mres : As2 
d  d  f
'
yd A s2 
Mres
 ø  0.9 
ø  d  d ' fy
Compression steel strain :
 x  d'  Compression steel strain :
ε's  ε cu3  
 x   c  d' 
ε 's  0.003  
Compression steel stress:  c 
Compression steel stress:
Si ε's  ε y  fs'  0.87fyk
Sinon : fs'  200000  ε's Si ε's  ε y  fs'  f y
Sinon : fs'  200000  ε's
Compression steel area:
A s2 f yd Compression steel area:
A 's 
fs' A s2 f y
A 's 
Total tension steel area A s : fs'

As  As1  As2 Total tension steel area A s :

As  As1  As2
 EUROCODE 2 ACI318-19
Design of Doubly Reinforced Concrete Sections
Design of the following beam : MG  177.5kNm ; MQ  70kNm .

fck ( EC2)  fc' ( ACI )  30MPa

et f yk ( EC 2)  f y ( ACI )  500MPa

Mu  1.35  177.5  1.5  70  344.63kNm Mu  1.2  177.5  1.6  70  325kNm

fcd  fck 1.5  30 1.5  20MPa fc'  30MPa  1  0.836
 .max . . fcd 1 .max .0.85. fc'
As1  l bd  bd As1  l bd  bd
f yd fs
0.8  0.45  1  30 0.836  0.353  0.85  30
As1   0.30  0.40 As1   0.30  0.40
435  1.5 500
As1  0.001986m2  19.86cm2 As1  0.00181m2  18.1cm2

Mlim fcd bd 2  0.295  0.003 0.003

 max    0.353
fy 500
Mlim 20  0.30  0.402  0.295   0.006  0.006
Es 200000
Mlim  0.283MNm
 0.836 
max  0.353  0.836  1  0.353  0.252
Mu  0.345 MNm Mlim  0.283MNm  2 
 Compression steel needed Ml ACI  0.9  0.85  bd 2 fc'  max
Mres  Mu  Mlim
Mres  0.345  0.283  0.062MNm
M l ACI  0.9  0.85  30  0.30  0.40   0.252
2

Ml ACI   0.277 MNm

x  0.45d  0.45  0.40  0.18m
 x  d'  Mu  0.325 MNm Ml ACI   0.277 MNm
ε's  0.0035  
 x   Compression steel needed
 0.18  0.05  Mn 1  0.277 0.9  0.308 MNm
ε's  0.0035    0.00253
 0.18  Mn  0.325 0.9  0.361 MNm
f yd 435 Mres  Mn  Mn1  0.361  0.308  0.053MNm
ε's  0.00253   0.00218
Es 200000
Compression steel reaches its elastic limit
 EUROCODE 2 ACI318-19
Doubly reinforced concrete sections
Compression steel stress : A s1 f y 0.00181  500
a   0.118m
 x  d'   0.18  0.05  0.85fc' b 0.85  30  0.30
fs'  700    700  
 x   0.18 
c  a β1  0.118 0.836  0.142m
fs'  505.55MPa fyd  435MPa
 c  d'   0.142  0.05 
ε 's  0.003    0.003  
 fs'  fyd  435MPa  c   0.142 
Compression steel : ε's  0.00194
fy 500
ε's  0.00194   0.0025
Mres 0.062 Es 200000
A's   
d  d  f
'
yd  0.40  0.05  435 L’acier comprimé n’a pas atteint sa limite
élastique.
A's  0.000407m2  4.07cm2
Compression steel stress :
A' f '
A 's fs'  A s2 f yd  A s2  s s  A 's  c  d'   0.142  0.05 
f yd fs'  600    600  
 c   0.142 
Tensile steel :
fs'  388.73MPa 500MPa

As  As1  As2  19.86  4.07  23.93cm2

Compression steel :
Mres 0.053
A 's  
fs'  d  d '  388.73  0.40  0.05 

A 's  0.00039m2  3.90cm2

A 's fs'
A 's fs'  A s2 f y  A s2 
fy
0.00039  388.73
A s2   0.00030m2
500
Tension steel :
A s  A s1  A s2  0.00181  0.0003

A s  0.00211m2  21.10cm2
https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9NFXL4VWSDX0
 EUROCODE 2 ACI318-19
Conclusion

 The minimum percentage of steel required by the ACI code is greater than that
of the EC2; while the maximum percentage of steel required by EC2 code, to
ensure ductility, is greater than that of ACI ;
 In practice the sections in bending require at EC2 addition of compression steel

for moments limit lower than that of the ACI;

 The ACI gives smaller steel areas than the EC2 for weakly and heavily reinforced
beams ; this difference being able to reach 15% for values of moments close to
moments limit ;
 G = dead load and Q = live load; total load ; P = G + Q . The difference between
the steel areas given by the EC2 and the ACI decreases as Q/P increases.
 EC2 is more conservative than ACI concerning the bending resisting moment .
 For a given steel percentage, ACI provides higher ductility than EC2 in common
cases; but, as the compression concrete strength increases, the difference in
ductility between the two codes decreases.