MOMENT-CURVATURE RELATIONSHIP IN RC BEAMS

Curvature

• Curvature is the ratio of maximum compressive strain, cu in the

extreme compression fibers of concrete divided by the neutral axis
depth, xu
 cu
• Curvature is calculated by 
xu
• It is advantage to construct M- diagrams for determination of EI at
any stage of loading on the beam.
• Moment capacity of RC beam section can be estimated using linear
or nonlinear approach.
General M- Relationship
• Flexural rigidity, EI is obtainable as the slope (secant modulus) of the
moment-curvature relationship.

a. EIT – Based on uncracked transformed section

b. EIgr – Based on gross uncracked transformed section ignoring steel

c. EIeff – Based on effective section

d. EIcr– Based on “cracked transformed section”

 EIT - True EI for M < Mcr (EIT - constant)

 EIeff - True EI for M > Mcr (EIeff – depends on the load level)

EIT > EIgr > EIeff > EIcr

• IS: 456-2000 specifies, I eff 
I cr
 M  z  x  b 
1.2   cr  1   w 
 M  d  d  b 

• Icr ≤ Ieff ≤ Igr

• Icr = Moment of inertia of the cracked section
• Mcr = Cracking moment M cr  f cr
I gr
yt

• fcr = Modulus of rupture of concrete

• Igr = Moment of inertia of the gross section about the centroidal axis, neglecting the reinforcement.
• yt = Distance from centroidal axis of gross section, neglecting reinforcement to extreme fiber in tension.
• M = Maximum moment under service load
• Z = lever arm
• x = Depth of neutral axis
• D = Effective depth
• bw= Breadth of web and,
• b = Breadth of compression face
 Examples
1. A singly reinforced concrete beam measuring 250mm x 360mm is reinforced
with HYSD steel reinforcement. Draw M – ϕ diagrams when the beam is
provided with 0.8%, 1.0%, 2.0% and 3.0% tension reinforcement. Use fck = 28
N/mm2 fy = 420 N/mm2 [ρ = Ast / bd].
2. A reinforced concrete beam measuring 250mm x 400mm is reinforced with
HYSD bars in both tension and compression. Construct moment–curvature
response using M25 grade concrete and Fe 415 steel for the following
combinations (m = 8.0).
a. ρ = 1.0%, ρ' = 0.0%, 1.0%
b. ρ = 2.0%, ρ' = 0.0%, 1.0%
c. ρ = 3.0%, ρ' = 0.0%, 1.0%, 2.0%
3. In the above examples, construct moment-curvature response using mild
steel as the reinforcement.