7.

0 Design of reinforced concrete beams

 Design procedure consists of a series of interrelated steps and checks as shown in fig.
7.1

 The above flow chart may be condensed into 3 basic design stages:-
(i) Preliminary analysis and member sizing
(ii) detailed analysis and design of reinforcement
(iii) Serviceability calculation
 Loading & calculation of moments and shear forces should be carried out using the
methods of chapter 3.
  Equations for calculating the areas of reinforcement have been derived in chapter 4 &
5.
 Serviceability requirements described in chapter 6.
 Arrangement of reinforcement is constrained both by requirements of the code of
practice for concrete structures & by practical considerations such as construction
tolerances, clearance between bas & available bar sizes and lengths.
 All calculations should be based on the effective span of a beam which is given as
follow:-
(i) A simply supported beam – the smaller of the distances between the centre of
bearings, or the clear distance between supports plus the effective depth.
(ii) A continuous beam – the distance between centres of support.
(iii) A cantilever beam – the length to the face of support plus half the effective
depth, or the distance to the centre of support if the beam is continuous.

7.1 Preliminary analysis and member sizing

 The layout and size of members are very often controlled by architectural details, &
clearances for machinery and equipment.
 The preliminary analysis need only provide the maximum moments and shears in
order to ascertain reasonable dimensions.
 Adequate concrete cover is required to protect the reinforcement from corrosion and
damage.
 The strength of a beam is affected considerably more by its depth than its breadth. A
suitable breadth may be a third to half of the depth; but it may be much less for a deep
beam and at other times wide shallow beams are used to conserve headroom. The
beam should not be too narrow of it is much less than 200mm wide there may be
difficulty in providing adequate side cover and space for the reinforcing bars.
Example 7.1 Beam sizing

A concrete lintel with an effective span 4.0m supports a 230mm brick wall as shown in fig.
7.2. The loads on the lintel are Gk = 100kN and Qk = 40kN. Determine suitable dimensions
for the lintel if grade 30 concrete is used.

The beam breadth b will match the wall thickness as that

b = 230mm

Let self weight of the beam = 14kN

>> Gk = 100 + 14 = 114kN

F = 1.4 x 114 + 1.6 x 40 = 224kN

Max. shear = 224/2 = 112kN

Assuming a triangular load distribution

>> M = FL/6 = 224 x 4 / 6 =149kNm

From such a relatively minor beam the case with no compression steel should be considered.

M
 0.156
bd 2 f cu
149 x10 6
 0.156
230d 2 x30
d  372mm

For mild conditions of exposure the cover = 25mm

So for 10mm links & 32mm bars,

Overall depth h = d + 25 + 10 + 32/2 = d + 51

Make h = 525mm (as an integer number of brick courses)

d = 525 – 51 = 474mm

Shear stress, v = V/bd = 113x103/ (230x474) = 1.03N/mm2<0.8

Basic span – effective depth = 4000/474 = 8.4<20

So, a beam size of 230mm x 525mm deep would be suitable.

Weight of beam = 0.23x0.525x4x24 = 11.6kN

Which is sufficiently close to the assumed value.

7.2 Design for bending

 Use equation of chart derived in chapter 4.

 An excessive amount of reinforcement usually indicated that a member is undersized
& it may also cause difficulty in fixing the bars and pouring the concrete.
 The codes requires As/Ac < 4.0%
 On the other hand too little reinforcement is also undesirable. Therefore,
As/Ac≥0.24% (mild steel)
As/Ac≤0.13% (high – yield steel)
 To avoid excessive deflections it is also necessary to check the span to effective depth
ratio as in chapter 6.

7.2.1 Singly reinforced rectangular beam

Example 7.2 Design of tension reinforcement for a rectangular section

The beam section shown in fig. 7.3 has fcu = 30N/mm2, fy = 460N/mm2. The ultimate design
moment is 165kNm which causes sagging of the beam. Design the bending reinforcement.
Given b = 230mm, d = 490mm & h = 550mm. Also check the area of steel provided is
within the range.

Fig. 7.3
7.2.2 Rectangular section with Compression Reinforcement

Example 7.3 Design of tension and compression reinforcement, βb>0.9

The beam section shown in fig. 7.4 has fcu = 30N/mm2, fy = 460N/mm2. The ultimate
moment is 165kNm, causing sagging of the beam. Design for the tension & compression
reinforcement. Given b = 230mm, d = 330mm, h = 390mm & d’ = 50mm. Also check the
area of steel provided is within the range.

Fig. 7.4
7.2.3 Anchorage bond

 The anchorage bond stress, fbu for a reinforcing bar is given by

fbu = (fs/4L)ϕ
where
fs = direct tensile or compression stress in the bar
L = the length of embedment beyond the section considered
ϕ = the bar size
 This stress should not exceed the ultimate anchorage bond stress given by fcu = β .
 The required anchorage length should be measured from the point at which the bar is
assumed to be stressed.
 The fig 7.5 lists the anchorage lengths appropriate to the ultimate stress, 0.95fy for
various grades of concrete and steel.

Fig. 7.5 Anchorage length (anchorage length L = KA x bar size)

 The anchorage of a bar is more effective in a compressive zone of a member than in a
tension zone and this should be considered when detailing the reinforcement.
Anchorage requirements are also important when detailing the curtailment of bar.

7.2.4 Curtailment of bars

 As the magnitude of the bending moment on a beam decrease along its length, so may
the area of bending reinforcement be reduced by curtailing bars as they are no longer
required.
 Fig. 7.6 illustrates the curtailment of bars on the span and at an internal support of a
continuous beam. The bending – moment envelope diagram is divided into sections
as shown, in proportion to the area and effective depth of each bar.

Fig. 7.6
 Each curtailed bar should extend beyond the point at which it is no longer needed so
that it is well anchored into the concrete. The rules for curtailing such bars, other than
at a simple end support, area as follow:-
(1) The curtailment anchorage should not be < 12 x bar size or the effective depth
of the beam, whichever is the greater.
(2) A bar should not be stopped in a tension zone unless
(i) The shear capacity is twice the actual shear present.
(ii) The continuing bars have twice the area required to resist the moment
at that section
(iii) The curtailment anchorage is increased to a full anchorage bond based
on a stress of 0.95fy.
 In fig. 7.6, bar 1, 5, 6, 7 (curtailed in tension zone) require full anchorage bond length
( L = (fs / 4fbu)ϕ)
 Bar 4, 2, & 3 (curtailed in compression zone) required curtailment anchorage which is
the greater of (i) 12 ϕ, or (ii) effective depth of beam.
 The curtailment of bars should be staggered wherever possible in order to avoid
sudden changes in cross – section (with resulting stress concentrations & possible
 cracking). This curtailment can often be achieved while using bars of equal length, as
fig 7.7.

Fig 7.7 Staggering the curtailment of bars Fig. 7.8 Alternative

anchorage length
at a simple support

 At a simply supported end of a member, the reinforcing bars should extend over the
supports so that the beam is sure to be reinforced in this region of high shear &
bearing stresses.
 Therefore, each tension bar should be anchored according to one of the 2 rules shown
diagrammatically in fig. 7.8. No bend or hook should begin before the centre of the
support for rule 1 nor before d/2 from the face of support for rule 2.
 Where the local on a beam are substantially uniformly distributed simplified rules for
curtailment may be used. These rules only apply to continuous beams if the
characteristic imposed beam load does not exceed the characteristic dead load and the
span are equal (refer to fig. 7.9)
 Fig. 7.8

Fig. 7.9

7.2.5 Span – effective depth rations

 Necessary to check the span – effective depth ratios to ensure that the deflections are
not excessive.
 Can be a problem for cantilevers or long span beams.
7.2.6 Bending – reinforcement example

Example 7.4 Design of a beam – bending reinforcement

The beam shown in fig. 7.10 supports the following uniformly distributed loads. Design the
bending reinforcement , curtailment at support and span – effective depth ratio.

Dead load, Gk = 40kN/m, including self weight

Imposed load, Qk = 12kN/m

fcu = 30N/mm2, fy = 460N/mm2, d = 550mm, b = 300mm

Fig. 7.10 One – span beam – bending

reinforcement
7.3 Design for shear

Example 7.5 Design of shear reinforcement for a beam

Shear reinforcement is to be designed for the one – span beam shown in fig. 7.11. The
characteristic strength of the mild steel links is fyv = 250N/mm2. Ultimate load = 75.2kN/m.

Fig 7.11 Non – continuous beam – shear reinforcement

7.4 Bar spacing

 For minimum value, this is governed by constructional requirements to allow for the
access of poker vibrators and the flow of concrete to obtain a well – compacted and
dense concrete.
 The maximum limitations on spacing are to prevent excessive cracking caused by
shrinkage of the concrete & thermal expansion and contraction of the member.
 These serviceability requirements are dealt with in Chapter 6.

7.5 Continuous beam

 Beams, slabs & columns of a cast in situ structure all act together to form a
continuous load – bearing structure.
 The bending – moment envelope is generally a series of sagging moments in the spans
and hogging moments at the supports a sin fig. 7.12, but occasionally the hogging
moments may extend completely over the span.
 Where the sagging moment occur the beam and slab act together, and the beam can be
designed as a rectangular section. This is because the hogging moments cause tension
in the slab.
 Design of beam follows the procedures and rules set out in the previous sections.
 Fig. 7.12 illustrates a typical arrangement of the bending reinforcement & shear
reinforcement for a two – span continuous beam.
 The bending – moment envelope has been divided into sectors equivalent to the
moment of resistance of each reinforcing bar. This establishes the cut – off points
beyond which the bars must extend at least a curtailment anchorage length.
 On the shear – force envelope the resistance of the concrete plus the nominal stirrups
has been marked and this shows the length of the beam which need shear
reinforcement. When designing the shear reinforcement, reference should be made to
the arrangement of bending reinforcement to ensure that the longitudinal tension bars
used to establish vc extent at least an effective depth beyond the section being
considered.
 Fig. 7.13 shows the detailing for R.C. beams from a engineering consultant’s working
drawing.
Arrangement of bending reinforcement

Arrangement of shear reinforcement.

Figure 7.12
 Fig. 7.13

Example 7.6 Design of a continuous beam

The beam is 300mm wide by 600mm deep with 3 equal 5.0m spans. In the transverse
direction, the beams are 4.0m centers with a 180mm thick slab, as shown in fig. 7.14

Qk = 50kN/m

Gk = 85kN/m (including self – weight)

fcu = 30N/mm2, fy = 460N/mm2 fyv = 250N/mm2

for mild exposure the minimum concrete cover = 25mm

Fig. 7.14 Continuous beam with ultimate bending moment and shear – force coefficients
7.6 Cantilever beam

 The moments, shear and deflection for a cantilever beam much greater than those
equivalently loaded span that is supported at both its ends.
 Also, the moments in a cantilever can never be redistributed to other parts of the
structure. Because of this, the design and detailing of a cantilever beam should be
done with care.
 When the loads are uniformly distributed the reinforcement may be arranged as in fig.
7.16. The provision of additional steel in the compressive zone of the beam can help
to restrain the increased deflections caused by creep.
 Horizontal links should be provided as in fig. 7.16b when the cantilever has a short
span or where there is a concentrated load near to the support. These horizontal links
should have a full anchorage length within the support.

(a) (b)
Fig. 7.16