MODULE 2:

FLEXURAL ANALYSIS
OF BEAMS
Reinforced Concrete Design
CEng 144

Engr. MARCELO T. ABRERA, Jr.

Instructor
LESSON 2.1
INTRODUCTION to FLEXURAL
ANALYSIS OF BEAMS
and
UNCRACKED CONCRETE
STAGE
Reinforced Concrete Design
CEng 144

Engr. MARCELO T. ABRERA, Jr.

Instructor
INTRODUCTION to FLEXURAL ANALYSIS OF BEAMS

Assume a concrete beam with tensile reinforcing is applied with

small transverse load, and that the load is gradually increased in
magnitude until the beam fails

As this takes place, the beam will go through three (3) distinct stages:
1. the Uncracked Concrete Stage
2. the Concrete Cracked – Elastic Stresses Stage
3. the Ultimate Strength Stage
INTRODUCTION to FLEXURAL ANALYSIS OF BEAMS

STAGE 1. the UNCRACKED CONCRETE STAGE

At small loads when the tensile stress are less
than the modulus of rupture, the entire cross-
section of the beam resists bending, with
compression on one side and tension on the
other.

MODULUS OF RUPTURE, 𝒇𝒓
is the bending tensile stress at which the concrete begins to crack
INTRODUCTION to FLEXURAL ANALYSIS OF BEAMS

STAGE 2. the CONCRETE CRACKED – ELASTIC STRESSES

STAGE

When the load is increased, the tensile stress in the bottom of the beam becomes
equal to the modulus of rupture, the cracks then starts to develop. The moment at
which these cracks begin to form is referred to as the cracking moment, 𝑀𝑐𝑟 .
This stage will continue as long as the compression
stress in the top fibers is less than about one-half of
the concrete’s compression strength, 𝑓𝑐′ , and as long
as the steel stress is less than the yield stress.

𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 < 0.5𝑓𝑐 ′ 𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑒𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 < 𝑓𝑦

INTRODUCTION to FLEXURAL ANALYSIS OF BEAMS

STAGE 3. the ULTIMATE STRENGTH STAGE

(BEAM FAILURE)

As the load is increased further so that the compressive stresses are greater than
0.50𝑓𝐶′ , the tensile cracks move farther upward, as does the neutral axis, and the
concrete compression stresses begin to change appreciably from a straight line.

𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 ≥ 0.5𝑓𝑐 ′ 𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑒𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 ≥ 𝑓𝑦

INTRODUCTION to FLEXURAL ANALYSIS OF BEAMS
1st Stage
- small moments less than the cracking
moment
- The entire beam cross-section is
available to resist bending

2nd Stage
- When the moment is increased beyond
the cracking moment, 𝑀𝑐𝑟 , the slope of
the curve will decrease a little because
the beam is not quite as stiff as it was in
the initial stage before it cracked

3rd Stage
- Until the steel yields, a fairly large
additional load is required to appreciably
increase the beam’s deflection
STAGE 1. UNCRACKED CONCRETE STAGE

FLEXURE FORMULA

▪ If the beam is uncracked, the bending stress in the beam can be

obtained based on the gross properties of the beam cross section.
▪ The stress in the concrete at any point a distance 𝒚 from the
neutral axis of the cross-section can be determined from the
following flexure formula in which 𝑴 is the bending moment equal
to or less than the cracking moment of the section and 𝑰𝒈 is the
gross moment of inertia of the cross-section
STAGE 1. UNCRACKED CONCRETE STAGE

CRACKING MOMENT

ACI 318-14
STAGE 1. UNCRACKED CONCRETE STAGE

CRACKING MOMENT

NSCP 2015
STAGE 1. UNCRACKED CONCRETE STAGE

MODULUS OF RUPTURE, 𝒇𝒓

ACI 318-14
STAGE 1. UNCRACKED CONCRETE STAGE

MODULUS OF RUPTURE, 𝒇𝒓

NSCP 2015
STAGE 1. UNCRACKED CONCRETE STAGE

EXAMPLE PROBLEM 2.1

① Compute the bending stress in the extreme tension fiber of the
beam in the figure for a bending moment of 33 kN-m. The normal
weight concrete has an 𝑓𝑐′ of 27.6 MPa. Does cracking occur in the
section?
② Determine the cracking moment of the section, in kN-m.
STAGE 1. UNCRACKED CONCRETE STAGE

EXAMPLE PROBLEM 2.2

① Neglecting the steel reinforcements, calculate the stress in the
concrete at the top and bottom extreme fibers under a positive
bending moment of 80 kip-ft, in psi
② If 𝑓𝑐′ = 3000 𝑝𝑠𝑖 and normal weight concrete is used, does
cracking occurs? what is the maximum uniformly distributed load
the beam can carry if it is used as a simple beam with 24-ft span
without exceeding the modulus of rupture of the concrete, in lb/ft?
Thanks guys…

_sirMars_