Chapter 7

Serviceability

1
Control of Deflections
If the actual deflection is calculated, it may
not exceed a max. permissible deflection:
Table 7-1 Maximum permissible computed deflection (Table 24.2.2 (b) in ACI Code)

2
Calculation of Deflections
Deflection of RC members can be
calculated with the usual
deflection
expression:

Fig.Some deflection expressions.

3
Effective Moments of Inertia
ACI Code
M   M  
3 3

I 
e  I  1  
cr
 I
g
cr
cr

M  a  M   a

Mcr is the cracking moment.

Ma is the maximum service-load moment occurring.
Ig is the gross amount of inertia.
Icr is the transformed moment of inertia.

4
Effective Moments of Inertia
or :

M 
3

I  I   I  I 
e cr g cr 
cr

M 
a

5
6
7
Sustained-Load Deflections
ACI Code 24.2.4.1 gives the ratio λΔ of the
additional sustained load deflection to the
instantaneous deflection.

 
1  50 
 '

Where  '  A bd at midspan for simple & continuous

'
s

beams and at the support for cantilever beams.

and  is a factor between 0 and 2, depending on the
time period for sustained loads.
8
Sustained-Load Deflections
Values of  are given in ACI Code
.
Table Time factor for sustained loads.

Duration of sustained load Time-dependent factor 

5 years or more 2.0

12 months 1.4

6 months 1.2

3 months 1.0

9
Sustained-Load Deflections
Values of  may
be selected
from the
following
curve.

Fig. Multipliers for long-term deflections.

10
Sustained-Load Deflections
The total instantaneous and sustained load
deflection is: 1    
 i

Where i is the instantaneous deflection.

11
Consideration of Deflections in Design

Excessive deflections can cause cracking of

partitions or malfunctioning of doors and
windows.
Surveys of partition damage have shown that a
frequent limit on deflections that cause
damage is a deflection of / 480.
This is the sum of the instantaneous deflection
due to LL plus the sustained portion of the
deflections due to DL and any sustained LL.
12
Consideration of Deflections in Design

That is:   t 0 , iD   iL   iSL

Where  iD ,  iL , and  iSL are the instantaneous deflections

due to the DL, LL, & sustained portion of the LL.
t 0, is the value of  based on the value of 
for 5 years minus the value of  at t0 when the
partitions are installed.

 is the value of  based on   2.

13
Consideration of Deflections in Design

The LL cannot act on the structure when the

DL is not present.
- We calculate first the deflection for the case
where DL alone is acting.
- Then we calculate the deflection for the case
where DL+LL are acting.

Then initial LL part of the deflection:

 
iL i ,D L
 iD

14
Consideration of Deflections in Design

Steps to calculate instantaneous and long-term

deflections:
a) Compute iD
b) Compute i,D+L
c) Determine iL = i,D+L  i,D
d) Compute i,D+SL
e) Determine SL = i,D+SL  i,D
f) Determine the long term deflection:
       
t 0,  iD iL  iSL

15
Example
The beam has a span of 6.1 m and
supports a dead load, including f’c = 21 MPa
its own weight, of 14.6 kN/m
n=9

and a live load of 10.2 kN/m.

- Determine the instantaneous
deflection for DL and LL.
- Calculate the deflection
assuming 30% of the LL is
sustained and partitions are
installed at least 3 months
after the shoring is removed.
16
(Solution)
bh  305 mm  510 mm 
3
3

Ig  
12 12
I g  33.7 108  mm 4

M cr 
fr I g 

0.62 21  33.7  10 8
mm 4

yt 255 mm
M cr  37.55 106  N.mm  37.55 kN.m

a) Calculation of iD:
14.6 kN/m  6.1 m 
2

Ma   67.9 kN.m  M cr
8
17
By transformed area method we get:
z
(305)( z )    9(1935)(435  z ) As = 1935

2
mm2

152.5 z 2  17415 z  757.55 104

 z  172.9 mm
1
I cr  (305)(172.9)3  17415(262.1) 2
z

3
435  z
 I cr  17.2 108  mm 4
nAs =17415 mm2

18
The effective moment of inertia:

 M cr 
3
  M cr  
3

Ie    I g  1     I cr
 Ma    M a  
3
 37.55 
Ie      
8
33.7 10
 67.9 
  37.55 3 
 1    17.2  10 8

  67.9  
I e  20 108  mm 4

19
The instantaneous deflection due to DL:
5wl 4
 iD 
384 Ec I e

Ec  4700 21  21538 MPa

5 14.6  6100 
4

 iD   6.1 mm
384  21538   20  10 8


20
b) Calculation of i,D+L:

14.6  10.2 kN/m  6.1 m 

2

Ma 
8
 M a  115.4 kN.m
3
 37.55 
Ie     33.7  10 8

 115.4 
  37.55 3 
 1    17.2  10 8
  I  17.7 10 8
 mm 4

  
e
115.4

21
The instantaneous deflection due to DL+LL:

5  24.8  6100 
4

i,D L   11.7 mm
384  21538  17.7  10 8


22
c) Calculation of iL:

 iL   i , D  L   iD  11.7  6.1  5.6 mm

If the beam is part of a floor system

that is “not supporting or attached
to nonstructural elements likely to
be damaged by large deflections”,
the deflection limit is:
360  6100 360  17 mm  5.6 mm

23
d) Calculation of i,D+SL :
(30% of LL is sustained)

w D SL  14.6   0.310.2   17.66 kN/m

Once (D + L) have been applied cracking will

increase making Ie reach its value for (D + L).
This value of Ie is to be used for all subsequent
calculations of the deflection, even if L is
removed, because cracking had occurred.

24
The instantaneous deflection due to DL+SL:

5 17.66  6100 
4

 i , D SL   8.4 mm
384  21538  17.7 10 
8

e) Calculation of iSL:

 iSL   i , D SL   iD  8.4  6.1  2.3 mm

25
f) Calculation of the long term deflection:
  t 0, iD   iL   iSL
  t 0,  6.1  5.6    2.3
the long term deflection :
 2
     2
1  50  '
1  50  0  3 months

 2  1
t 0,  1
1  50  0  If attached to elements not likely to be damaged

   1 6.1  5.6  2  2.3  16.3 mm  240  25.4 mm

26
Continuous-Beam Deflections

Consider a continuous
T-beam subjected
to both +ve and ve
moments.

Ie varies a great deal

throughout the
member.
Fig. Deflections for a continuous T-beam.

27
Continuous-Beam Deflections
ACI Code Section 24.2.4.3 suggests the use
of an average Ie value:

Average I  0.50 I  0.25( I  I )

e em e1 e2

Where Iem, Ie1, Ie2 are values of Ie for midspan and

the 2 ends of beam respectively.

For long term deflections,  values are averaged

in the same manner as are the Ie values.

28
Continuous-Beam Deflections
ACI committee 435:
- Beams with 2 ends continuous:
Average I  0.70 I  0.15( I  I )
e em e1 e2

- Beams with 1 end continuous:

Average I  0.85 I  0.15( I
e em e continuous end
)

Iem, Ie1, Ie2 are values of Ie for midspan and the 2

ends of beam respectively.
29