Concrete Frame Design ACI 318-14

ments to satisfy spacing considerations or transverse reinforcement volumetric

considerations must be investigated independently of the program by the user.

3.5 Beam Design

In the design of concrete beams, the program calculates and reports the required
areas of steel for flexure and shear based on the beam moments, shear forces,
torsions, design load combination factors, and other criteria described in the text
that follows. The reinforcement requirements are calculated at a user-defined
number of check/design stations along the beam span.

All beams are designed for major direction flexure, shear and torsion only.
Effects resulting from any axial forces and minor direction bending that may
exist in the beams must be investigated independently by the user.

The beam design procedure involves the following steps:

 Design flexural reinforcement

 Design shear reinforcement

 Design torsion reinforcement

3.5.1 Design Beam Flexural Reinforcement

The beam top and bottom flexural steel is designed at check/design stations
along the beam span. The following steps are involved in designing the flexural
reinforcement for the major moment for a particular beam for a particular sec-
tion:

 Determine the maximum factored moments

 Determine the reinforcing steel

3.5.1.1 Determine Factored Moments

In the design of flexural reinforcement of Special, Intermediate, or Ordinary
Moment concrete frame beams, the factored moments for each design load
combination at a particular beam section are obtained by factoring the

3 - 28 Beam Design
 Chapter 3 - Design Process

corresponding moments for different load cases with the corresponding design
load combination factors.

The beam section is then designed for the factored moments obtained from all of
the design load combinations. Positive moments produce bottom steel. In such
cases, the beam may be designed as a Rectangular or a T-Beam. Negative
moments produce top steel. In such cases, the beam is always designed as a
rectangular section.

3.5.1.2 Determine Required Flexural Reinforcement

In the flexural reinforcement design process, the program calculates both the
tension and compression reinforcement. Compression reinforcement is added
when the applied design moment exceeds the maximum moment capacity of a
singly reinforced section. The user has the option of avoiding the compression
reinforcement by increasing the effective depth, the width, or the grade of con-
crete.

The design procedure is based on the simplified rectangular stress block, as

shown in Figure 3-7 (ACI 22.2). Furthermore, it is assumed that the net tensile
strain of the reinforcing steel shall not be less than 0.005 (tension controlled)
(ACI 9.3.3). When the applied moment exceeds the moment capacity at this
design condition, the area of compression reinforcement is calculated on the
assumption that the additional moment will be carried by compression and
additional tension reinforcement.

The design procedure used by the program for both rectangular and flanged
sections (T-Beams) is summarized in the following subsections. It is assumed
that the design ultimate axial force does not exceed φ ( 0.1 f ′c Ag ) (ACI 9.3.3,
9.5.2.1); hence, all of the beams are designed ignoring axial force.

3.5.1.2.1 Design for Rectangular Beam

In designing for a factored negative or positive moment, Mu (i.e., designing top
or bottom steel), the depth of the compression block is given by a (see Figure
3-7), where,

Beam Design 3 - 29
Concrete Frame Design ACI 318-14

Figure 3-7 Rectangular beam design

2 Mu
a =−
d d2 − , (ACI 22.2)
0.85 f c′φ b

where, the value φ is taken as that for a tension controlled section, which is 0.90
by default (ACI 21.2.1, 21.2.2, Table 21.2.1, Table 21.2.2) in the preceding and
the following equations.

The maximum depth of the compression zone, cmax, is calculated based on the
limitation that the tensile steel tension shall not be less than εs,min, which is equal
to 0.005 for tension controlled behavior (ACI 9.3.3.1, 21.2.2. Fig R21.2.2b):

εc max
cmax = d where, (ACI 22.2.1.2)
εc ,max + ε s ,min

εc,max = 0.003 (ACI 21.2.2, Fig R21.2)

εs,min = 0.005 (ACI 21.2.2, Fig R21.2.26)

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 Chapter 3 - Design Process

Please note that the code allows the user to set εs,min to be equal to 0.004 (ACI
9.3.3.1) for beams. This allows a larger depth of the compression block. How-
ever, it is associated with a reduced value of φ factor (ACI 21.2.2, Table 21.2.2).
For simplicity, the program enforces εs,min=0.005.

The maximum allowable depth of the rectangular compression block, amax, is

given by

amax = β1cmax (ACI 22.2.2.4.1)

where β1 is calculated as follows:

 f ′ − 4000 
β=
1 0.85 − 0.05  c , 0.65 ≤ β1 ≤ 0.85 (ACI 22.2.2.4.3)
 1000 

 If a ≤ amax (ACI 9.3.3.1, 21.2.2), the area of tensile steel reinforcement is

then given by:

Mu
As =
 a
φ fy  d − 
 2

This steel is to be placed at the bottom if Mu is positive, or at the top if Mu is

negative.

 If a > amax, compression reinforcement is required (ACI 9.3.3.1, 21.2.2, Fig

21.2.26, 22.2.2.4.1) and is calculated as follows:

The compressive force developed in concrete alone is given by:

C = 0.85 f ′c bamax , (ACI 22.2.2.4.1)

the moment resisted by concrete compression and tensile steel is:

 a 
M uc =C  d − max  φ.
 2 

Therefore, the moment resisted by compression steel and tensile steel is:

M=
us M u − M uc .

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Concrete Frame Design ACI 318-14

So the required compression steel is given by:

M us
As′ = , where
( f ′s − 0.85 f ′c ) ( d − d ′) φ
c − d′
f ′s =
Es εc max  max  ≤ fy. (ACI 9.2.1.2, 9.5.2.1, 20.2.2, 22.2.1.2)
 cmax 

The required tensile steel for balancing the compression in concrete is

M uc
As1 = , and
 amax 
f y d − φ
 2 

the tensile steel for balancing the compression in steel is given by

M us
As 2 = .
f y ( d − d ′) φ

Therefore, the total tensile reinforcement is As = As1 + As2, and the total
compression reinforcement is As′ . As is to be placed at the bottom and As′ is
to be placed at the top if Mu is positive, and As′ is to be placed at the bottom
and As is to be placed at the top if Mu is negative.

3.5.1.2.2 Design for T-Beam

In designing a T-beam, a simplified stress block, as shown in Figure 3-8, is
assumed if the flange is under compression, i.e., if the moment is positive. If the
moment is negative, the flange comes under tension, and the flange is
ignored. In that case, a simplified stress block similar to that shown in Figure 3-8
is assumed in the compression side (ACI 22.2).

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 Chapter 3 - Design Process

Figure 3-8 T-beam design

Flanged Beam Under Negative Moment

In designing for a factored negative moment, Mu (i.e., designing top steel), the
calculation of the steel area is exactly the same as described for a rectangular
beam, i.e., no T-Beam data is used.

Flanged Beam Under Positive Moment

If Mu > 0, the depth of the compression block is given by

2M u
a =−
d d2 −
0.85 f ′c φ b f

where, the value of φ is taken as that for a tension controlled section, which is
0.90 by default (ACI 21.2.1, 21.2.2, Table 21.2.1, Table 21.2.2) in the preceding
and the following equations.

The maximum depth of the compression zone, cmax, is calculated based on the
limitation that the tensile steel tension shall not be less than εs,min, which is equal
to 0.005 for tension controlled behavior (ACI 9.3.3.1, 21.2.2, Fig 21.2.26):

εc ,max
cmax = d where, (ACI 22.2.1.2)
εc ,max + ε s ,min

Beam Design 3 - 33
Concrete Frame Design ACI 318-14

εc,max = 0.003 (ACI 21.2.2, Fig 21.2.26)

εs,min = 0.005 (ACI 21.2.2, Fig 21.2.26)

The maximum allowable depth of the rectangular compression block, amax, is

given by

amax = β1cmax (ACI 22.2.2.4.1)

where β1 is calculated as follows:

β1 = 0.85 – 0.05  f ′c − 4000  , 0.65 ≤ β1 ≤ 0.85 (ACI 22.2.2.4.3)

 1000 

 If a ≤ ds, the subsequent calculations for As are exactly the same as previously
defined for the Rectangular section design. However, in that case, the width of
the beam is taken as bf, as shown in Figure 3-8. Compression reinforcement is
required if a > amax.

 If a > ds, the calculation for As has two parts. The first part is for balancing the
compressive force from the flange, Cf , and the second part is for balancing the
compressive force from the web, Cw, as shown in Figure 3-8. Cf is given by:

= ( )
C f 0.85 f ′c b f − bw * min ( d s , amax ) (ACI 22.2.2.4.1)

Cf
Therefore, As1 = and the portion of Mu that is resisted by the flange is
fy
given by:

 min ( d s , amax ) 
M uf =
C f  d −  φ.
 2 

Again, the value for φ is 0.90 by default. Therefore, the balance of the moment,
Mu, to be carried by the web is given by:

M=
uw M u − M uf .

The web is a rectangular section of dimensions bw and d, for which the design
depth of the compression block is recalculated as:

3 - 34 Beam Design
 Chapter 3 - Design Process

2 M uw
a1 =−
d d2 − . (ACI 22.2)
0.85 f ′c φ bw

 If a1 ≤ amax (ACI 9.3.3.1, 21.2.2), the area of tensile steel reinforcement is then
given by:

M uw
As 2 = , and
 a1 
φ fy  d − 
 2

=
As As1 + As 2

This steel is to be placed at the bottom of the T-beam.

 If a1 > amax, compression reinforcement is required (ACI 9.3.3.1, 21.2.2, Fig

21.2.2b, 22.2.2.4.1) and is calculated as follows:

The compression force in the web concrete alone is given by:

C = 0.85 f ′c bw amax (ACI 22.2.2.4.1)

Therefore the moment resisted by the concrete web and tensile steel is:

 a 
=
M uc C  d − max  φ , and
 2 

the moment resisted by compression steel and tensile steel is:

=
M us M uw − M uc .

Therefore, the compression steel is computed as:

M us
As′ = , where
( f ′s − 0.85 f ′c ) ( d − d ′) φ
c − d′
f ′s =
Es εc max  max  ≤ fy. (ACI 9.2.1.2, 9.5.2.1, 20.2.2, 22.2.1.2)
 cmax 

The tensile steel for balancing compression in the web concrete is:

Beam Design 3 - 35
Concrete Frame Design ACI 318-14

M uc
As 2 = , and
 a 
f y  d − max  φ
 2 

the tensile steel for balancing the compression steel is:

M us
As 3 = .
f y ( d − d ′) φ

The total tensile reinforcement is As = As1 + As 2 + As 3 , and the total com-

pression reinforcement is As′ . As is to be placed at the bottom, and As′ is to be
placed at the top.

3.5.1.2.3 Minimum and Maximum Tensile Reinforcement

The minimum flexural tensile steel required in a beam section is given by the
minimum of the following two limits:

 3 f ′c 200 
As ≥ max  bw d , bw d  (ACI 9.6.1.2)
 f y fy 

4
As ≥ As (required) (ACI 9.6.1.3)
3

For T-beam in negative moment bw in the above expression is substituted by bw’,

where:

bw' = min {b f , 2bw } (ACI 9.6.1.2)

An upper limit of 0.04 times the gross web area on both the tension reinforce-
ment and the compression reinforcement is imposed as follows:

0.04bd Rectangular Beam

As ≤ 
0.04bw d T-Beam

0.04bd Rectangular Beam

As′ ≤ 
0.04bw d T-Beam

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 Chapter 3 - Design Process

For Special Moment Frames (seismic design), the beam design would satisfy the
following conditions:

 The minimum longitudinal reinforcement shall be provided at both the top and
bottom. Any of the top and bottom reinforcement shall not be less than As(min)
(ACI 18.6.3.1, 9.6.1.2).

 3 f ′c 200 
As (min) ≥ max  bw d , bw d  or (ACI 18.6.3.1, 9.6.1.2)
 f y fy 

 The beam flexural steel is limited to a maximum given by

As ≤ 0.025 bw d. (ACI 18.6.3)

 At any end (support) of the beam, the beam positive moment capacity (i.e.,
associated with the bottom steel) would not be less that 1/2 of the beam neg-
ative moment capacity (i.e., associated with the top steel) at that end (ACI
18.6.3.2).

 Neither the negative moment capacity nor the positive moment capacity at any
of the sections within the beam would be less than 1/4 of the maximum of
positive or negative moment capacities of any of the beam end (support)
stations (ACI 18.6.3.2).

For Intermediate Moment Frames (i.e., seismic design), the beam design would
satisfy the following conditions:

 At any support of the beam, the beam positive moment capacity would not be
less than 1/3 of the beam negative moment capacity at that end (ACI 18.4.2.2).

 Neither the negative moment capacity nor the positive moment capacity at any
of the sections within the beam would be less than 1/5 of the maximum of
positive or negative moment capacities of any of the beam end (support)
stations (ACI 18.4.2.2).

3.5.2 Design Beam Shear Reinforcement

The shear reinforcement is designed for each design load combination at a
user-defined number of stations along the beam span. The following steps are

Beam Design 3 - 37