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STRUT AND TIE MODEL Strut and Tie model is a truss model of a structural member, or of a D-
ACI 310-14 region in such a member, made up of struts and ties connected at nodes,
capable of transferring the factored loads to the supports or to the
adjacent B-regions (ACI 318 Definition)

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CONCEPT OF STM

Strut and Tie model provides insight into structural behavior and detailing
requirements, it may be used to validate design details, such for special
reinforcement configurations, an can be used for detailed design of
member (13th ed Des of Concrete Structures-A. Nilson)

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St Venant’s Principle Bernoulli’s Hypothesis

• States that “ The localized effects caused by any load acting on the • States that “Plane Sections remain plane after bending”
body will dissipate or smooth out within regions that are sufficiently
away from the location of the load” • Allows a linear strain distribution for all loadings including ultimate
flexural capacity in the design.

N/A N/A

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STM Uses: B and D regions

Where:
• Anywhere when plane sections do a = shear span
not remain plane (D-Regions). d = distance from extrem
eg. Deep beams compression fiber to
the centroid of the
• Any structural component not longitudinal tension
reinforcement
mentioned in the code.
• (Bernoulli) B -Region = if strain is assumed linear
Beam/Flexural theory apply
• (Disturbed) D-Region = if strain is non-linear
Beam/Flexural theory does not apply
- a “geometrical discontinuity”: changes in cross-section, openings, nodes in
frames, connections between girders and beams, etc.;
- a “static discontinuity”: isolated loads, supports, temperature changes, anchorage
of pre-stressing tendons, etc.

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COMPONENTS OF STM: Strength of Struts Ws

P
bw
Legend Representation Relation As’
Strut Compression Concrete

Tie/Stirrup Tension Reinforcement R

P P
Node Intersection Joint / Concrete

WHERE: Acs = bw Ws, Cross-sectional area at the end of the strut under consideration
fce = 0.85 βsf’c , Concrete Effective Compressive Strength in Strut (Sect 23.4.3)
βs = Strut Coefficient (Table 23.4.3)
Φ = 0.75 Reduction factors for Struts, (Table 21.2.1)
R R

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Types of Compression Elements: Types of Compression Elements:

A. Compression struts fulfill two
• Idealized Prismatic Struts functions in the STM:
• Bottled shaped Struts P P • 1.They serve as the compression P P
• Fan shaped Struts chord of the truss mechanism which
resists moment
• 2.They serve as the diagonal struts
which transfer shear to the supports

B. Diagonal struts are generally

oriented parallel to the expected axis of
cracking
R R R R

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Strength of Ties Strength of Nodal Zones

(Non Pre-stressed)

WHERE: Ats = Cross-sectional area of Tie

fy = Yield strength of Steel WHERE: Anz = bw Wt Area of each face of Nodal Zone, given by 23.9.4 ad 23.9.5
Φ = 0.75 Reduction factors for Ties, (Table 21.2.1) fce = Concrete Effective Compressive at Nodal Zone (Sect 23.9.2)
ASSUMPTION: Tie centroid coincides with reinforcement centroid (Simple Tension element) βn = Strut Coefficient (Table 23.9.2)
Φ = 0.75 Reduction factors for Struts, (Table 21.2.1)

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DEEP BEAMS (ACI 318-14) ℎ

𝑙𝑛
• Sect 9.9.1.1
𝑙𝑛 ≤ 4ℎ
• Member in which most of its length is “D-region”
• Members that do not follow the Beam/Felxure and Shear theories
• Member in which a significant amount of the load is carried to
support by a compression thrust joining the load and the reaction

• Sect 9.9.1.2 – Deep beams shall be designed taking into account non
linear distribution of longitudinal strain over the depth of the beam.
• Sect 9.9.1.3 – Strut and Tie Models in accordance with chapter 23 are
deemed to statisfy 9.9.1.2

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Procedure:
1. Understand how the structural component is behaving.
2. Develop a truss model.
• Struts
• Ties
• Nodes
3. Verify truss geometry is appropriate. Is equilibrium satisfied?
• Are angles greater than 25 degrees?
• Do struts intersect only at nodes?
4. Analyze the truss and determine truss member forces.
5. Check design capacities of struts, ties and nodes.
• Verify adequate As is provided in ties.
6. Verify reinforcement can be developed at critical locations.

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If the values of ws, and wt just obtained are used for the dimensions of the struts and ties, the stress in strut
BC, FuBC, wll be at its limit, and the force in tie AD, FuAD, will be anchored in just sufficient area. In this
design, ws, will be selected to be 8 in. (203 mm), and wt, will be selected to be 10 in. (254 mm). Therefore,
d= 80 -10/2 = 75 in., jd= 80 – 8/2 -10/2 = 71 in., and FuBc = FuAD = 360(80)/71 = 406 kips (1806 W). Strut BC
is located 8/2 = 4 in.(1 02 mm) from the top of the beam and tie AD is located 10/2 = 5 in. (127 mm) from
bottom of the beam. This fixes the geometry of the truss and is illustrated in Fig. (B).

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References:
• ACI 318-14
• ACI SP-208 by Karl-Hienz Reineck
• Design of Conc Structures by A. Nilson
• Design of Reinforced Concrete 9th Ed Jack Mackormack

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