BEC 6 – Architectural Structures

Module 1.0 Introduction to Reinforced Concrete

Design and Analysis Concepts
Prepared by: Christian Paul L. Mendoza, RCE/RSE
Topic Learning Outcomes
By the end of this lecture, the student should be able to:
1. Differentiate and describe plain concrete (or simply concrete)
from reinforced concrete;
2. Enumerate the different advantages and disadvantages of
concrete as a construction material;
3. Familiarize themselves on the different codes and specifications
governing concrete.
(Plain) Concrete vs. Reinforced Concrete
• Concrete
 Mixture of coarse aggregates (gravel), fine aggregates (sand),
cement, and water. Admixtures are added sometimes to change
certain characteristics of concrete such as its workability, durability,
and time of hardening.
 High compressive strength but low in tensile strength
• Reinforced Concrete
 Combination of concrete and steel wherein the steel reinforcement
provides the tensile strength lacking in the concrete.
Concrete as a Structural Material
(Advantages)
• More economical (compressive strength per unit cost)
• High resistance to fire and water
• Very rigid
• Low-Maintenance Material
• Longer Service Life when properly maintained
• Readily available in some areas
• Easy to construct
Disadvantages of Using Concrete as a
Structural Material
• Very low tensile strength -> tensile reinforcement
• Additional Cost due to formworks and shoring
• Low-strength per unit of weight of concrete leads to heavy
members.
• Larger sections w/ low strength per unit volume of concrete
• Concrete properties vary widely because of variations in its
proportioning and mixing. Placing and curing of concrete is not as
carefully controlled as in the production of other materials.
Concrete and Reinforcing Steel Bars
Compatibility
• Concrete – low tensile strength
• Steel – high tensile strength (approx. 100 times than that of
concrete)
• Little change of slippage
• Chemical adhesion
• Ribbed-shaped deformations
• Concrete protects the reinforcing bars from corrosion
• Thermal expansions are relatively close
• Steel: 0.0000065 per unit length per degree Fahrenheit thermal
expansion coefficient
• Concrete: Ave. 0.0000055 per unit length per degree Fahrenheit
thermal expansion coefficient
Specifications & Building Codes
Other Standards
• American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM
Standards)
Serviceability, Strength, & Structural Safety
Sources of Uncertainty w/ Require a Definite Margin of Safety:
1. Actual Loads may differ from those assumed.
2. Actual loads may be distributed in a manner different from that
assumed.
3. The assumptions and simplifications inherent in any analysis
may result in calculated load effects – moments, shears, etc. –
different from those that, in fact, act in the structure.
4. The actual structural behavior may differ from that assumed,
owing to imperfect knowledge.
5. Actual member dimensions may differ from those specified.
6. Reinforcement may not be in its proper position.
7. Actual material strength may be different from that specified.
Materials Testing (Concrete)

Stress-Strain Diagram
Materials Testing (Steel)
Materials Testing (Steel)
Safety Design/ Design Approach
Design Strength ≥ Required Strength

• Working Stress Design (WSD)

• Ultimate Strength Design (USD)

Basic Load Combinations (Strength
Design)
U = 1.4(D + F)
U = 1.2(D + F + T) + 1.6(L+H) + 0.5(Lr or R)
U = 1.2D+1.6(Lr or R)+(f1L or 0.5W)
U = 1.2D + 1.0W + f1L + 0.5(Lr or R)
U = 1.2D + 1.0E + f1L
U = 0.9D + 1.0W + 1.6H
U = 0.9D + 1.0E + 1.6H
where:
f1 = 1.0 for floors in places of public assembly, for live loads
in excess of 4.8 kPa, and for garage live load, or
= 0.5 for other live loads
Basic Load Combinations (Stress Design)
U=D+F
U=D+H+F+L+T
U = D + H + F + 0.75[L + T(Lr or R)]
U = D + H + F + (0.6W or E/1.4)
Basic Load Combinations (Alternate Load
Combinations)
U = D + H + F + 0.75[L + Lr(0.6W or E/1.4)]
U = 0.6D + 0.6W + H
U = 0.6D + E/1.4 + H
U = D + L + (Lr or R)
U = D + L + 0.6W
U = D + L + E/1.4
Questions?
Questions?