TH OF REINFORCED CONCRETE BEAMS

Objective
To cast, test and study the failure mechanism of a reinforced concrete beam.

Theory
The code of practice for design and construction of concrete, BS8110 - 1:1997, gives
recommendations for analysis and design of reinforced concrete structures. In the analysis and
design of beams, the following assumptions are made for the ultimate limit state of collapse:

Strain distributions in concrete in compression and strains in reinforcement (whether in

compression or tension) are derived from the assumptions that plane sections remain plane after
bending and are proportional to the distance from the neutral axis.

Stresses in concrete in compression may be derived from the stress-strain curve shown in figure
1, with γm= 1.5 for bending. Alternatively, the simplified stress block illustrated in figure 2 may
be used.

a) The tensile strength of concrete is ignored.

b) The stresses in reinforcement are derived from the stress-strain curve shown in figure 3,
with γm=1.05
c) Where a section is designed to resist bending only, the lever arm should not be assumed
greater than 0.95 times the effective depth.
Figure 1: Short-term design stress-strain curve for normal weight concrete

Figure 2: Simplified stress block for concrete at ultimate limit state.

Figure 3: Short term design stress-strain curve for reinforcement.
Note
(i) fcu is the characteristic strength of concrete in N/mm2(cube crushing strength at 28 days)
(ii) γm is a partial factor of safety for material strength to account for variations.
(iii) fy is the characteristic strength of reinforcement in N/mm2(250 and 460N/mm2for round
mild steel and deformed bars, respectively)
(iv) 0.67 is a coefficient to account for the relationship between the cube strength and the
bending strength in a flexural member.

PROCEDURE

Materials

Quantities of materials for making a batch of one cubic metre of concrete were provided. The
quantities required to make a batch enough for the following specimens; one beam of dimensions
100 x 180 x 2000mm; three standard cubes 150 x 150 x 150mm; and two cylinders of 150mm
diameter by 300mm height.

The total volume of concrete computed that was required for this experiment including wastages
was found to be 0.065m3. The mass of concrete components required were as shown in the table:
 Concrete Component Mass (kg)
Coarse aggregate (20mm) 58.5
Fine Aggregate (10mm) 26
Sand 31.2
Cement 24.7
Water 13

Table 1: Mass of the required Concrete Components

Reinforcement

The following reinforcement were tied up together with steel binding wire to form a cage:

 2R12 at the bottom as the tensile reinforcement;

 2R6 at the top as stirrup hangers; and
 14R6 @ 150mm spacing as stirrups.

R denotes mild steel round bars, fy= 250N/mm2

Casting

When the concrete mix was ready, the workability tests were carried out as follows on the fresh
concrete:-
 Workability Tests

i) Slump Test

The batch of concrete was put into a mould in the form of a hollow frustum of a cone whose base
and top were open and parallel to each other and at right angles to the axis of the cone having the
following internal dimensions:

 diameter of base: 200 mm

 diameter of top: 100 mm
 height 300 mm

The concrete was placed in three layers, each layer being tamped 25 times through a free fall
with a tamping rod.

Results

Original height of sample = 300mm

Final height of sample = 260mm

Slump = (300-260) = 40mm

ii) Compaction Factor Test

The top cone was filled with a batch of concrete and opened down to the bottom cylinder.

Weight of cylinder and uncompacted concrete = 21.8kg

Weight of cylinder and fully compacted concrete = 22.4kg
Weight of cylinder = 13.2kg

mass of uncompacted concrete

Compaction factor =
mass of fully compacted concrete

(21.8−13.2)kg 8.6
= = = 0.9348
(22.4−13.2)kg 9.2
After the testing was done, the test specimens were cast in moulds mounted on a vibrating table
to ensure complete compaction.

Specimen Number Dimensions (mm)

Cubes 2 150 x 150 x 150
Cylinders 2 150 dia. x 300 depth
Beam 1 100 x 180 x 2000

Table 2: Specification of Specimen

A cover of 20mm was maintained for the reinforcement cage in the beam by use of 20mm
spacers. The specimen was then cured in a water bath for 21 days before testing.

TESTING

CURED CONCRETE

i. Concrete Cubes
The Cube Crushing strength was determined as follows:

Specimen Crushing Strength (kN)

Cube 1 300
Cube 2 350
Table 3: Cube Crushing Strengths for Compression

Determining the average crushing strength:

300+350 650
¿ = =325 kN
2 2

Determining the average crushing stress:

3
Force 325 x 10 N 2
¿ = =14.44 N /mm
Area ( 150 x 150 ) mm 2
 ii. Concrete Cylinder
The tensile strength of the concrete was obtained as 30KN

The average tensile stress of concrete was determined using the indirect method by compressing
the cylinder when placed horizontally and applying the formula below:

3
2F 2 x 30 x 10 N 2
f= = =0.4244 N /mm
πdl 3.142 x 150 x 300

The Concrete Beam Specimen

The total volume of concrete was determined as 0.065m3. The concrete beam specimen was
tested at the age of 14 days. The applied load was increased in regular increments of 5kN and the
deflection at the free end and demec points strain reading for each load increment recorded.

The yield stress of the reinforcement bars was given as 250N/mm2. The concrete specimens were
tested at the age of 14 days after wet curing.

Position of load during testing: 430mm

m

1490 mm

Prior to conducting the test, the beam's external measurements, span, and loading configuration
were documented. The beam was subjected to incremental loading of 5 kN in a systematic
manner, and measurements of deflection at the free end and strain readings at the Demec points
were taken for each load increment.
RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

Average
Strains
Load(KN) Deflection(mm) Strains at A Strains at B
0.008376
T 0.0085 0.0083
0.007413
0 0 M 0.0080 0.0068
0.008438
B 0.0090 0.0079
0.008901
T 0.0100 0.0078
0.009319
5 0 M 0.0092 0.0094
0.009319
B 0.0091 0.0095
0.007388
T 0.0092 0.0055
0.009512
10 939.8 M 0.0098 0.0093
0.009487
B 0.0096 0.0094
0.00688
T 0.0076 0.0062
0.008676
15 4343.4 M 0.0091 0.0082
0.009783
B 0.0098 0.0098
0.006019
T 0.0068 0.0052
0.008639
20 7315.2 M 0.0085 0.0088
0.009225
B 0.0089 0.0096
0.005519
T 0.0053 0.0057
0.008614
25 9398 M 0.0086 0.0086
0.00941
B 0.0090 0.0098
Deflections

Deflection(in Deflection(mm
Load
) )
0 0 0
5 0 0
10 0.037 0.9398
15 0.171 4.3434
20 0.288 7.3152
25 0.37 9.398

Graph of Load Against Central deflection

Load-central deflection curve

35

30

25

20
Load(KN)

15

10

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Deflection(mm)
A graph of strain distribution at 0 KN

Load at 0kn
100
80
f(x) = 1724742.92409347
60 x + 0.265179224579368
Depth(mm)

40
20
0
-0.00006 -0.00004 -0.00002 0 0.00002 0.00004 0.00006
-20
-40
-60
-80
Strains

A graph of strain distribution at 5 KN

A graph of strain distribution at 10 KN

Load at 10kn
100

80
f(x) = 1718457.41781033 60
x + 9.01846452866861
Depth(mm)

40

20

0
-0.00006 -0.00004 -0.00002 0 0.00002 0.00004 0.00006
-20

-40

-60

-80
Strains
A graph of strain distribution at 15kN

A graph of strain distribution at 20kN

 Load at 20kn
100

80
f(x) = 1902412.78421391 x + 15.2487896718666
60
Depth(mm)

40

20

0
5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4
000 000 000 000 000 -20 000 000 000 000
.0 .0 .0 .0 .0 0.
0
0.
0
0.
0
0.
0
-0 -0 -0 -0 -0
-40

-60

-80
Strains

A graph of strain distribution at 20kN

DISCUSSION

a) Comparison between theoretical values and Observed values of the neutral axis
From the graph the position of the neutral axis at yield was found to be 78.603mm

Assuming section to be singly reinforced the theoretical position the neutral axis will be:
Compression force = Tension Force
Fc = Fs
0.67
× fcu × b × 0.9x =0.87 × fs × As
1.5

fcu = 14.44N/mm2
πD 2 π ×122
As = =
4 4

= 226.19mm2

0.67
× 14.44 ×115 × 0.9x = 0.87 × 250×226.19
1.5

X = 73.70mm

b) Mode of Failure for the beam

Position of neutral axis for the experiment at ultimate design failure(x)
x = 78.603mm
Checking for Stains
Yield strain

f s /γ ms 250 /1.05 N /mm 2 −3

∈ y= = 3 2
=1.19 x 10
Es 200 ×10 N /mm
 ∈s= ( d−xx ) ∈ = 175−73.7
cu
73.7
x 3.5 x 10
−3
=4.8107 x 10
−3

∈' s= ( x−dx ' ) ∈ = 73.7−20

cu
73.7
x 3.5 x 10 −3
=2.55 x 10−3

From the calculations, ∈s >∈ y and ∈' s >∈ y proving that the reinforcement had reached the yield
stress at failure and the section failed through compression. This proves that the assumption
above (under-reinforced section) was correct.

Determining Ultimate Moment of Resistance:

Taking moments about line of action of F s:

0.67 f cu
M u= b ( 0.9 x ) ×(d−0.45 x)
1.5

0.67 x 14.44
¿ x 115 × ( 0.9 x 73.7 ) x (175−0.45 x 73.7)
1.5

¿6.978kNm

Experimental calculation of the Ultimate Moment Capacity

12.5 KN 12.5 KN

530 mm 430mm 530 mm

6.625 kNm
Figure 11: Loading on the beam

From the experimental analysis the ultimate bending moment was found to be 6.656KNm while
the theoretical value was found to be 6.978KNm. The minor variations in the values can
primarily be attributed to the inherent fluctuations encountered during the actual experimentation
process. These discrepancies arise from experimental errors such as inadequate compaction of
the concrete, inaccurate readings and measurements of the materials used in preparing the
concrete batch, leading to an improper mix. Additionally, it is worth noting that these tests were
conducted after a 14- day curing period, and it is possible that the concrete had not yet attained
optimal strength during this stage.