ACI STRUCTURAL JOURNAL
Title no. 110-S65
Generalized Equivalent Stress Block Model Considering
Varying Concrete Compressive Strength and Unit Weight
by Keun-Hyeok Yang, Jae-Il Sim, and Thomas H.-K. Kang
In this study, a generalized equivalent Stress Block Model has been
proposed that is applicable to all types of concrete, including light-
weight and high-strength concrete (HSC). First, available stress-
strain models for concrete were verified through an extensive data-
base. Then, the coefficients used in the proposed stress blocks were
formulated based on a nonlinear regression analysis of the values
determined from the layer-by-layer integral evaluation approach.
The hypothesis underlying this integral approach is that the magni-
tude and location of the resultant force in the equivalent stress
distribution are the same as those in the actual distribution. The
extreme compressive fiber strain of 0.003 and the factor of 0.85 used
to compensate for the difference between the in-place strength and
the cylinder strength were assumed, as was done for normalweight
and/or normal-strength concrete (NSC). The reliability and safety
of the proposed stress blocks were confirmed through compari-
sons with the flexural capacities measured from approximately
175 normalweight and 80 lightweight concrete (LWC) beams, and
approximately 100 normalweight concrete (NWC) columns.
Keywords: beam; column; equivalent stress block; flexural capacity; high
strength; lightweight.
INTRODUCTION
Most current code provisions1-3 recommend the use of an
equivalent stress block for determining the flexural capacity
of reinforced concrete members with and without axial
loads. However, the codes do not specifically differentiate
the distributions of compressive stresses in lightweight
concrete (LWC) from those in normalweight concrete
(NWC), despite the fact that it is frequently noted4 that the
area under the stress-strain curve decreases with a decrease
of the unit weight of concrete. This is in part due to the fact
that very little research is available on the applicability of
NWC equivalent stress blocks specifically for LWC.
It is generally known that the mechanical properties of
concrete are significantly affected by its unit weight wc,
mixing proportions, and curing condition. On the other hand,
the mechanical properties of concrete at the same unit weight
are affected by the strength and unit volume weight of the
used aggregates.5 Because of the difficulty of measurement,
most of the available literature does not provide the strength
of the lightweight aggregates used in the concrete mixture,
and only a little information regarding the specific gravity of
the aggregates is available. Given this limitation, the current
study attempts to assess only the relationship between the
mechanical properties of the concrete and its unit weight, the
most influential parameter.
ACI 318-111 specifies constant coefficients used to define
the equivalent rectangular stress block when the concrete
compressive strength is higher than 56 MPa (8.1 ksi);
however, the shape of the compressive stress-strain curve
keeps changing (becomes more linear rather than para-
bolic) as the compressive strength increases. As such, it
is frequently pointed out6,7 that the ACI rectangular stress
ACI Structural Journal/September-October 2013
TECHNICAL PAPER
block is unconservative for high-strength concrete (HSC)
columns subjected to both axial load and bending moment.
This study proposes a generalized equivalent Stress Block
Model that addresses the aforementioned issues. The Stress
Block Model is extensively applicable to LWC and HSC
as well as NWC and normal-strength concrete (NSC). The
stress-strain curves for concrete in compression obtained
from flexural tests are quite similar to those from uniaxially
loaded specimens.8 Thus, the coefficients used in the equiva-
lent Stress Block Model can be mathematically determined
using a reliable uniaxial stress-strain relationship of concrete,
which is to be verified through the extensive database9 of
test data. The coefficients of the proposed stress blocks then
need to be compared with those specified in ACI 318-111 and
obtained from the previous flexural tests of beams or eccen-
trically loaded columns. Lastly, the reliability and safety of
the proposed equivalent stress blocks should be examined
by the comparisons of the calculated and measured flexural
capacities of reinforced concrete beams and columns. These
processes are carefully conducted and detailed in this paper.
RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE
There are still questions regarding the applicability of
the ACI stress block to LWC or HSC members. This study
proposes new equivalent trapezoidal and rectangular stress
blocks to reflect the actual compressive stress distribu-
tions in LWC and HSC members at ultimate. This study
also reveals that the ACI stress block becomes unconser-
vative with increasing concrete compressive strength or
decreasing concrete unit weight in predicting the strength
of columns when the axial load level is higher than that at
the balanced failure.
EQUIVALENT STRESS BLOCK
General shapes of parabola, trapezoid, rectangle, or
any other shape—if they correspond to compressive test
results—are allowed by ACI 318-111 for the equivalent
stress block, as the stresses of compressive concrete exhibit
an inelastic and inexplicit distribution. The coefficients
used to define the equivalent trapezoidal or rectangular
stress blocks for rectangular sections are shown in Fig. 1.
The coefficient a1 is used to compensate for the difference
between the in-place strength and the cylinder strength, and
to reflect the reduction in long-term strength due to inelastic
deformations and sustained loads.1 In most of the previous
ACI Structural Journal, V. 110, No. 5, September-October 2013.
MS No. S-2011-302.R1 received April 25, 2012, and reviewed under Institute
publication policies. Copyright © 2013, American Concrete Institute. All rights
reserved, including the making of copies unless permission is obtained from the
copyright proprietors. Pertinent discussion including author’s closure, if any, will be
published in the July-August 2014 ACI Structural Journal if the discussion is received
by March 1, 2014.
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