Chapter 9

Analysis of Reinforced Concrete T-Beams

(Strength Analysis)
Antoine N. Gergess PhD, PE, F.ASCE
 Outline
• Configuration of T-Beams
• Effective Width
• Analysis
• Strain Distribution
• Negative Moment
• Examples
Effective Width: bE of bf

Interior Exterior (see next slide)

 S

T-beam = rectangular
beam + slab on top
Interior
Exterior Interior
Effective Flange Width

+ bw
 Analysis
Analyze as two parts: 1) Flange contribution and 2) web contribution

Asf: Flange Contribution Asw = As - Asf: Web Contribution

FLANGE (thickness hf): WEB (thickness bw):
• The analysis of T-beams is quite similar to rectangular beams,
i.e., the specifications related to the strains are identical.
• It is desirable that εt values ≥ 0.005, and they cannot be less
than 0.004 (maximum steel strain limit).
• The neutral axis for T-beams can fall either in the flange or
web, depending on the proportions of the slab and web.
• If it falls in the flange, the rectangular beam formulas apply.
Otherwise, the location of the neutral axis should be
determined.
• The flanges of most T-beams are usually so large that the
neutral axis most probably falls within the flange, and thus
the rectangular beam formulas apply.
 Strain distribution

𝜀𝑢 𝜀𝑠
=
𝑐 ( 𝑑 − 𝑐)
 MINIMUM STEEL
+ M:
- Compression top
- Tension bottom

If 2bw  be  use 2bw.

If 2bw  be  use be.
- M:
- Tension top
- Compressionn bottom
Continuous Beams
Maximum Steel Ratio a  hf
Maximum Steel Ratio a  hf
Maximum Steel Ratio a  hf
 Example 1
beff

d h

2 layers of 5T25

F’c = 21MPa; Fy = 400MPa; bw = 350mm; hf = 170mm; cc = 40mm; Bar size T25;

Stirrup size 10mm; ccvertical = 30mm; h = 700mm; S = 4,000mm; L = 6,600mm
Step 1: beff
- 16hf + bw = 16 170 + 350 = 3070mm
- S = 4000mm
- L/4 + bw = 6600/4 + 350 = 2000mm use minimum value
Step 2:
• As = 25490mm2 = 4,900mm2
• d = 700 – 40 – 10 – 25 – 30/2 = 610 mm.
•  = As/bd = 4,900/(2,000mm610mm) = 0.00402
• Max. # that fit in one row: [350 - 240 - 210 – 25]/(25 + 25) + 1 = 5 = 5 T25 per row OK
Step 3: Assume a  hf (170 mm)

0.85f’cab = Asfy  a = 4900mm2 400MPa/(0.8521MPa2000mm) =54.9mm  hf = 170mm assumption correct

c = a/1 = 54.9mm/0.85 = 64.6mm.

Step 4: Calculate the strain in the steel:

( )
𝜀𝑢 𝜀𝑠 610− 64.6
= → 𝜀𝑠 =0.003 =0.0253  0.005  =0.9
𝑐 ( 𝑑 − 𝑐) 64.6

Step 5: Moment capacity Mn

Mn = 0.9(0.8521MPa54.9mm2000mm)(610mm – 54.9mm/2) 10-6 = 1027.6kN-m

Step 6: Check minimum and maximum steel

(21MPa/(4400MPa)) = 0.00286
(1.4/400MPa) = 0.0035 governs  As min = 0.0035  350mm  610mm = 747mm2  4,900mm2 OK
MAXIMUM STEEL:

IN general, for T-Section you can use the criteria below to check maximum
steel. Note if there is no need to check max. Calculations are shown below
anyway: a  hf
 Example 2
beff

d h

2 layers of 4T32

F’c = 21MPa; Fy = 400MPa; bw = 400mm; hf = 150mm; cc = 40mm; Bar size T32;

Stirrup size 10mm; ccvertical = 30mm; h = 950mm; S = 2,500mm; L = 1,400mm
Step 1: beff

- 16hf + bw = 16 150 + 400 = 2,800mm

- S = 2,500mm
- L/4 + bw = 1,400/4 + 400 = 750mm use minimum
Step 2:
• As = 24804mm2 = 6,432mm2
• d = 950 – 40 – 10 – 32 – 30/2 = 853mm.
•  = As/bd = 6,432/(750mm853mm) = 0.01005
Step 3: Assume a  hf (150 mm)

0.85f’cab = Asfy  a = 6,432mm2 400MPa/(0.8521MPa750mm) =192.2mm  hf = 150mm assumption incorrect

Analyze as T beam
FLANGE:

Asf = 0.8521MPa 150mm(750mm – 400mm)/400MPa = 2,343mm2

WEB:

a = (6,432mm2- 2,343mm2)400MPa/(0.8521MPa400mm) = 229.1mm

c = a/1 = 229.1mm/0.85 = 269.5mm.

Step 4: Calculate the strain in the steel:

; Note that ACI recommends that which is satisfied

Step 5: Moment capacity Mn

Mn = [(2,343mm2400MPa)  (853mm – 150mm/2) + (6,432mm2- 2,343mm2)400MPa(853mm – 229.1mm/2)] 10-6 =

1,937kN-m  Mn = 0.91,937kN-m = 1,743kN-m

Step 6: Check minimum and maximum steel

(21MPa/(4400MPa)) = 0.00286
(1.4/400MPa) = 0.0035  As min = 0.0035  400mm  853mm = 1,194mm2  6,432mm2 OK
MAXIMUM STEEL:

IN general, for T-Section you can use the criteria below to check maximum steel if a 
hf. Note in the previous slide, since there is no need to check max. Calculations are
shown below anyway: a hf

SEE THE FOLLOWING EXAMPLE FOR THE CASE WHERE MAXIMUM STEEL IS EXCEEDED
 Example 3: Repeat example 2 using 10T32
beff

d h

2 layers of 5T32

F’c = 21MPa; Fy = 400MPa; bw = 400mm; hf = 150mm; cc = 40mm; Bar size T32;

Stirrup size 10mm; ccvertical = 30mm; h = 950mm; S = 2,500mm; L = 1,400mm
Step 1: beff

- 16hf + bw = 16 150 + 400 = 2,800mm

- S = 2,500mm
- L/4 + bw = 1,400/4 + 400 = 750mm use minimum
Step 2:
• As = 25804mm2 = 8,040mm2
• d = 950 – 40 – 10 – 32 – 30/2 = 853mm.
•  = As/bd = 8,040/(750mm853mm) = 0.0126
• Max. # that fit in one row: [400 - 240 - 210 – 32]/(32 + 32) + 1 = 5  4 T32 per row OK
Step 3: Assume a  hf (150 mm)

0.85f’cab = Asfy  a = 8,040mm2 400MPa/(0.8521MPa750mm) =240.2mm  hf = 150mm assumption incorrect

Analyze as T beam
FLANGE:

Asf = 0.8521MPa 150mm(750mm – 400mm)/400MPa = 2,343mm2

WEB:

a = (8,040mm2- 2,343mm2)400MPa/(0.8521MPa400mm) = 319.2mm

c = a/1 = 319.2mm/0.85 = 375.5mm.

Step 4: Calculate the strain in the steel:

Note that ACI recommends that Since = 0.00381  0.004, this tells you that the maximum
steel ratio is exceeded as shown in next slide.

Step 5: Moment capacity Mn

Mn = (2,343mm2400MPa)  (853mm – 150mm/2) + (8,040mm2- 2,343mm2)400MPa(853mm – 319.2mm/2) 10-6 =

2,310kN-m  Mn = 0.82,310kN-m = 1,847kN-m. YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT ADDING TWO MORE BARS DID NOT DO MUCH
HELP AS COMPARED TO EXAMPLE 2 AS THE INCREASE IN MOMENT CAPACITY (1,847 COMPARED TO 1,743 kN-m) IS ABOUT
6% only.

Step 6: Check minimum and maximum steel

(21MPa/(4400MPa)) = 0.00286
(1.4/400MPa) = 0.0035  As min = 0.0035  400mm  853mm = 1,194mm2  8,040mm2 OK
MAXIMUM STEEL:

IN general, for T-Section you can use the criteria below to check maximum steel if a 
hf. Note in the previous slide, since there is a need to check max. a hf

Calculations are shown below (same as in example 2):