RC14-1334 Concrete Structures 1

Lecture 12 - Deflections
27 October 2015
RC14-1334: Concrete Structures 1

Prof. Tavio, Ph.D 1

Lecture Goals

Deflection Control of Beams and Slabs

Deflection Calculation of Beams and Slabs

Prof. Tavio, Ph.D 1

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Significance of Deflection Observation

• The working stress method of design and
analysis used prior to the 1970s limited to the
stress in concrete to about 45% of its
compressive strength and the stress in the steel
to less than 50% of its yield strength. As a result,
heavier sections with higher reserve strength
resulted as compared to those obtained by the
current ultimate strength approach.

Significance of Deflection Observation

• Higher-strength concrete having fc values in
excess of 80 MPa and higher-strength steels are
being used in strength design, and expanding
knowledge of the properties of the materials has
resulted in lower values of load factors and
reduced reserved strength. Hence more slender
and efficient members are specified, with
deflection becoming a more pronounced
controlling criteria.

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Significance of Deflection Observation

•Excessive deflection of a floor slab may cause
dislocations in the partitions it supports. Excessive
deflection of a beam can damage a partition
below, and excessive deflection of a lintel beam
above a window opening could crack the glass
panels. In the case of open floors and roofs such
as top garage floors, ponding of water can result.
For these reasons, deflection control criteria are
necessary.

Basic Description
Deflected Simply-Supported Beams due to
Uniformly Distributed Load (UDL)
w

A B
L

 = Midspan Deflection

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Basic Description
Beams and slabs are rarely built as isolated
members, but a monolithic part of an integrated
system.
Deflected Shape

Basic Description
Deflected Continuous Beams due to Uniformly
Distributed Load (UDL)
w

A B
L
 = Midspan Deflection

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Photograph 1
Deflected Simply-Supported Beams

Photograph 2
Deflected Continuous Beams

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Photograph 3
Deflected Simply-Supported Beam with Obvious
Cracks at Failure

Deflection Behavior of Beams

The load-deflection relationship of a reinforced
concrete beam is basically idealized as trilinear. It
is composed of three regions prior to rupture:

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Deflection Behavior of Beams

1. Region I: precracking stage, where a structural
member is crack-free.
2. Region II: postcracking stage, where the
structural member develops acceptable
controlled cracking both in distribution and
with.
3. Region III: postserviceability cracking stage,
where the stress in the tension reinforcement
reaches the limit state of yielding.

Precracking Stage: Region I

•The precracking segment of the load-deflection
curve is essentially a straight line defining full
elastic behavior.
•The maximum tensile stress in the beam in this
region is less than its tensile strength in flexure,
that is less than the modulus of rupture fr of
concrete.
•The flexural stiffness EI of the beam can be
estimated using Young’s modulus Ec of concrete
and the moment of inertia of the uncracked
reinforced concrete cross-section.

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Precracking Stage: Region I

•The load-deflection behavior depends on the
stress-strain relationship of the concrete as a
significant factor.

Precracking Stage: Region I

•The value of Ec can be estimated using the SNI
empirical expression. For wc between 1500 and
2500 kg/m3, Ec may be taken as:

(MPa) [SNI 10.5.1]

•For normal-weight concrete, Ec is estimated by:

(MPa) [SNI 10.5.1]

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Precracking Stage: Region I

•An accurate estimation of the moment of inertia I
necessitates consideration of the contribution of
the steel reinforcement As. This can be done by
replacing the steel area by an equivalent concrete
area (Es /Ec)As since the value of Young’s modulus
Es (200,000 MPa [SNI 10.5.2]) of the
reinforcement is higher than Ec. One can
transform the steel area to an equivalent concrete
area, calculate the center of gravity of the
transformed section, and obtain the transformed
moment of inertia Igt.

Precracking Stage: Region I

•Most designers, however, use a gross moment of
inertia Ig based on the uncracked concrete section,
disregarding the additional stiffness contributed by
the steel reinforcement as insignificant.
•The precracking region stops at the initiation of
the flexural crack when the concrete stress
reaches its modulus of rupture strength fr.
Similarly to the direct tensile splitting strength, the
modulus of rupture of concrete is proportional to
the square root of its compressive strength.

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Precracking Stage: Region I

•For design purposes, the value of the modulus for
normal-weight concrete may be taken as:

(MPa) [SNI 11.5.2.3]

•When lightweight aggregate concrete is used,
one of the following modifications shall apply:
1. When fct is specified and concrete is
proportioned in accordance with SNI 7.2, fr
shall be modified by substituting 1.8fct for
(fc)0.5, but the value of 1.8fct shall not exceed
(fc)0.5.

Precracking Stage: Region I

2. When fct is not specified, fr shall be multiplied
by 0.75 for all-lightweight concrete, and 0.85
for sand-lightweight concrete. Linear
interpolation shall be permitted if partial sand
replacement is used.
•If the distance of the extreme tension fiber from
the center of gravity of the section is yt, thus the
cracking moment can be calculates as follows:

[SNI 11.5.2.3] or

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Precracking Stage: Region I

•For a rectangular section:

where h is the total thickness of the beam.

•Calculations of deflection for this region are not
important since very few reinforced concrete
beams remain uncracked under actual loading.
However, mathematical knowledge of the variation
in stiffness properties is important since segments
of the beam along the span in the actual structure
can remain uncracked.

Example 1: Alternative Methods of

Cracking Moment Evaluation
Calculate the cracking moment Mcr for the beam
cross-section using both: (a) transformed and (b)
gross cross-section alternatives in the solution.
Given:
fc = 27.5 MPa
fy = 420 MPa
Es = 200,000 MPa, normal-weight concrete
Reinforcement: four 28-mm diameter bars

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Example 1:

536 mm
600 mm

4 D28

300 mm b = 300 mm
64 mm

Midspan section Transformed section

Example 1:
Solution: (a) Transformed section solution:
For normal-weight 27.5 MPa concrete,

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Example 1:
Depth of center-of-gravity axis, , can be done
using the first moment of area:

Note that (Es /Ec – 1) is used instead of Es /Ec to

account for the concrete displaced by the
reinforcing bars.

Example 1:
It is customary to denote n = Es /Ec as the
modular ratio. Taking moments about the top
extreme fibers of the section.

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Example 1:
If the moment of inertia of steel reinforcement
about its own axis is neglected as insignificant.

Example 1:
The distance of the center of gravity of the
transformed section from the lower extreme fibers
is:

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Example 1:
(b) Gross section solution:

Example 1:

There is a difference of about 14% in the value of

Ig and 20% in the value of Mcr. Even though this
percentage difference in the values of the Ig and
Mcr obtained by the two methods seems
somewhat high, such a difference in the deflection
calculation values is not of real significance and in
most cases does not justify using the transformed-
section method for evaluating Mcr.

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Postcracking Service Load Stage:

Region II
•The precracking region ends at the initiation of
the first crack and moves into region II of the
load-deflection diagram. Most beams lie in this
region at service loads.
•When flexural cracking
develops, the
contribution of the
concrete in the tension
zone reduces
substantially.

Postcracking Service Load Stage:

Region II
•Hence the flexural rigidity of the section is
reduced, making the load-deflection curve less
steep in this region than in the precracking stage
segment.
•As the magnitude of cracking increases, stiffness
continues to decrease, reaching a lower-bound
value corresponding to the reduced moment of
inertia of the cracked section, Icr. At this limit state
of service load cracking, the contribution of
tension-zone concrete to the stiffness is neglected.

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Postcracking Service Load Stage:

Region II
•The following assumptions are made with respect
to deflection computation based on extensive
testing verification:
1. The strain distribution across the depth is
assumed to be linear.
2. Concrete does not resist any tension.
3. Both concrete and steel are within the elastic
limit.

Postcracking Service Load Stage:

Region II
4. Strain distribution is similar to that assumed for
strength design, but the magnitudes of strains,
stresses, and stress distribution are different.

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Postcracking Service Load Stage:

Region II
•Strain and stress distributions across the depth of
a typical cracked rectangular concrete section.

Cross-section Strain Elastic Stress and Force

Cracked Beam Prior to Failure in Flexure

Postcracking Service Load Stage:

Region II
•The moment of inertia of the cracked section
designated as Icr can be calculated from the basic
principles of mechanics.
•To calculate the cracked moment of inertia Icr, the
value of the neutral axis depth c, should be
determined from horizontal force equilibrium.

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Postcracking Service Load Stage:

Region II
•Since the steel stress fs = Es s , hence:

•From similar triangles,

or

Postcracking Service Load Stage:

Region II
•Substituting this equation into the previous one,

or

•Replacing the modular ratio Es /Ec by n, it can be

rewritten as:

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Postcracking Service Load Stage:

Region II
•The value of c can be obtained by solving the
quadratic equation above. The moment of inertia
Icr can be obtained from:

where the term bc3/3 denotes the moment of

inertia of the compressive area bc about the
neutral axis, that is, the base of the compressive
rectangle, neglecting the section area in tension
below the neutral axis.

Postcracking Service Load Stage:

Region II
•The reinforcing area is multiplied by n to
transform it to its equivalent in concrete for
contribution to the section stiffness. The moment
of inertia of the steel about its own axis is
disregarded as negligible.
•Only part of the beam cross-section is cracked in
the case under discussion. As seen from figure,
the uncracked segments below the neutral axis
along the beam span posses some degree of
stiffness, which contributes to the overall beam
rigidity.

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Postcracking Service Load Stage:

Region II
•The actual stiffness of the beam lies between EcIg
and EcIcr, depending on such other factors as:
1. Extent of cracking.
2. Distribution of loading.
3. Contribution of the concrete between cracks.
•Generally, as the load approaches the steel yield
load level, the stiffness value approaches EcIcr.

Postcracking Service Load Stage:

Region II
•Branson developed simplified expressions for
calculating the effective stiffness EcIe for design.
The Branson equation, verified as applicable to
most cases of reinforced and prestressed beams
and universally adopted for deflection calculations,
defines the effective moment of inertia as:

Adopted by SNI 11.5.2.3

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Postcracking Service Load Stage:

Region II
•The above equation can also be written in the
following form:

•The effective moment of inertia Ie depends on

the maximum moment Ma along the span in
relation to the cracking moment capacity Mcr of
the section.

Gross and Cracked Moments of Inertia of

Rectangular and Flanged Sections

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Gross and Cracked Moments of Inertia of

Rectangular and Flanged Sections

Example 2: Effective Moment of

Inertia of Cracked Beam Sections
Calculate the cracked moment of inertia Icr and the
effective moment of inertia Ie of the beam cross-
section in Ex. 1 if the external maximum service
load moment is 225 kN-m. Given:
b = 300 mm fy = 420 MPa
d = 536 mm Es = 200,000 MPa
h = 600 mm Ec = 24,647 MPa
As = 2463 mm2 n = 8.1
fc = 27.5 MPa

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Example 2:

536 mm
600 mm

4 D28

300 mm b = 300 mm
64 mm

Midspan section Transformed cracked section

Example 2:
Solution: From previous equation for c,

Hence neutral axis depth c = 208.8 mm. From

earlier expression for Icr ,

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Example 2:

Using the Igt and Mcr values of Ex. 1, which include

the effect of the transformed steel area,

(as expected)

Example 2:
If the gross cross-section values for Ig and Mcr are
used without including the effect of transformed
As, the effective moment of inertia becomes:

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Example 2:
Comparison of the two values of effective Ie
calculated by the two methods (3.211109 mm4
versus 3.11109 mm4) shows an insignificant
difference.
Hence, use of the cross-section properties in the
above equation is, in most cases, adequate,
particularly when one considers the variability in
the loads and the randomness in the properties of
concrete.

Postserviceability Cracking Stage and Limit State

of Deflection Behavior at Failure: Region III
•The load-deflection
diagram is considerably
flatter in region III than in
the preceeding regions.
This is due to substantial
loss in stiffness of the
section because of
extensive cracking and
considerable widening of
the stabilized cracks
throughout the span.

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Postserviceability Cracking Stage and Limit State

of Deflection Behavior at Failure: Region III
•As the load continues to
increase, the strain s in
the steel bars at the
tension side continues to
increase beyond the yield
strain y with no additional
stress. The beam is
considered at this stage to
have structurally failed by
initial yielding of the
tension steel.

Postserviceability Cracking Stage and Limit State

of Deflection Behavior at Failure: Region III
•It continues to deflect
without additional loading,
the cracks continue to
open, and the neutral axis
continues to rise toward
the outer compression
fibers.
•Finally, a secondary compression failure develops,
leading to total crushing of the concrete in the
maximum moment region, followed by rupture.

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Postserviceability Cracking Stage and Limit State

of Deflection Behavior at Failure: Region III
•The increase in the beam load level between first
yielding of the tension reinforcement in a simple
beam and the rupture load level varies between
4% and 10%.
•The deflection value before rupture, however, can
be several times that at the steel yield level,
depending on the beam span/depth ratio, the steel
percentage, the type of loading, and the degree of
confinement of the beam section. An ultimate
deflection value 8 to 12 times the first yield
deflection has frequently been observed in tests.

Postserviceability Cracking Stage and Limit State

of Deflection Behavior at Failure: Region III
•Postyield deflection and limit deflection at failure
are not of major significance in design and hence
are not being discussed here in this course.
•It is important, however, to recognize the reserve
deflection capacity as a measure of ductility in
structures in earthquake zones and in other areas
where the probability of overload is high.

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Homework due (4/24/06)

Calculate Igt , Ig , Icr , Mcr , and Ie for cross
sections (a) through (f) in the following
figure. The maximum moment at the
serviceability limit state is 200 kN-m. Given:
fc = 27.5 MPa
fy = 420 MPa
Es = 200,000 MPa

Homework due (4/24/06) 750 mm

75 mm
600 mm

675 mm

375 mm

385 mm

525 mm
450 mm

3-D32
3-D28
4-D28

75 mm
250 mm 300 mm 65 mm
65 mm

75 mm
350 mm (b) (c)
(a)
65 mm 75 mm
750 mm

100 mm
435 mm

450 mm

2-D13 2-D25
525 mm
500 mm

525 mm
350 mm

5-D28
3-D22 4-D25

250 mm 65 mm 75 mm 75 mm
300 mm 375 mm (f)
(d) (e)

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