Addis Ababa Institute of Technology (AAiT)

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CONTINUOUS BEAMS AND ONE-WAY RIBBED SLABS
1.1. Introduction

C
ontinuous beam is a structural component that provides resistance to bending when a
load or force is applied. A continuous beam has more than two points of support along
its length. In contrast to a simply supported beam, which has supports at each end and
a load that is distributed in some way along its length, a continuous beam is much stiffer and
stronger. The two main factors for consideration in the design of a continuous beam are the
type of load and the strength characteristics of the material used to construct the beam. The
reactions that occur at the supports of a simply supported beam can be determined by
analyzing only the forces applied to the beam. For this reason, simple beams are known as
statically determinate. A continuous beam has more supports than are required to provide
equilibrium, and the deformation behavior under load is also considered when determining the
support reactions. As a result, a continuous beam is known as statically indeterminate.

Today, these types of beams are often designed using engineering software that accepts input
data and determines a design to meet the performance requirements. Input factors may
include the types of forces applied, the span between supports, the beam shape, the material
strength properties, and the mechanical connections to other structural members. A
continuous beam must be designed to withstand forces and stresses while minimizing weight,
space requirements, and material cost. Most beams are designed with a safety factor, which
serves to oversize the beam to protect against loading and other factors that cannot be
predicted in advance. The selection of an appropriate safety factor is based on the specific
application in combination with good engineering judgment. A margin of safety that is too high
will drive a beam design that is larger than needed, causing possible weight problems and
higher fabrication costs. Continuous beams are common elements in cast-in-situ reinforced
concrete constructions. Continuous beams offer the following advantages over simple
construction: greater load resistance and greater stiffness. These result in a smaller steel

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section being required to withstand specified loading. In this lecture, members are assumed to
be continuous over simple supports or to be rigidly connected to columns in braced frames.

1.2. Analyses and Design of Continuous Beams

Analysis and design of beam is still an important part in structural engineering practices. As a
major component in structure, it demands due attention and accuracy. At the same time
engineers need to achieve economy in time and cost in the design of beams. As mentioned
previously continuous beams are indeterminate structures with more than one span and
supports. As the beam is subjected to live and dead loads, it is very important to find the
configuration of these loads for the maximum effect. The dead load is distributed throughout
the length of the beam at all times due its nature.
As a quick tactic, one can see that the largest moment in continuous beams or one-way slabs or
frames occur when some spans are loaded and the others are not. Influence lines are used to
determine which spans should be loaded and which spans should not be to find the maximum
load effect. Figure 1.2-1a shows influence line for moment at B. The loading pattern that will
give the largest positive moment at consists of load on all spans having positive influence
ordinates. Such loading is shown in figure 1.2-1b and is called alternate span loading or
checkerboard loading. The maximum negative moment at C results from loading all spans
having negative influence ordinate as shown in figure 1.2-1d and is referred as an adjacent
span loading.

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Figure 1.2-1 Influence line for moment and loading patterns

Similarly, loading for maximum shear may be obtained by loading spans with positive shear
influence ordinate and are shown in figure 1.2-2.

Figure 1.2-2 Influence line for shear

Both Euro code and the Ethiopian Building Code Standard [EBCS] however specify the following
arrangements of loads for the maximum effect:

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1. Alternative spans loaded: which is the case when alternative span carrying the design
variable and permanent loads while other spans loaded with only the design permanent
load only. For any type of beam, two possible patterns are as shown.

i. The first, third and fifth spans loaded with permanent and variable actions
1.3Gk + 1.6Qk 1.3Gk + 1.6Qk 1.3Gk + 1.6Qk
1.3 Gk 1.3 Gk

ii. The second and forth spans loaded with permanent and variable actions

1.3Gk + 1.6Qk 1.3Gk + 1.6Qk

1.3Gk 1.3Gk 1.3Gk

2. Adjacent spans loaded: which is the case when two adjacent spans carrying the design
variable and permanent loads with other spans loaded with only the design permanent load
only. For this particular beam, four possible patters are as shown. In general (n - 1) cases are
possible for a beam of span n.

i. The first and the second spans loaded with permanent and variable actions
1.3Gk + 1.6Qk
1.3Gk

ii. The second and the third spans loaded with permanent and variable actions

1.3Gk + 1.6Qk
1.3Gk 1.3Gk

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iii. The third and fourth spans loaded with permanent and variable actions

1.3Gk + 1.6Qk
1.3Gk 1.3Gk

iv. The fourth and fifth spans loaded with permanent and variable actions

1.3Gk + 1.6Qk
1.3Gk

3. All spans loaded: All spans loaded with design permanent and variable action is obviously
other possible combination to be considered especially in slab and single span beam
designs.

1.3Gk + 1.6Qk

Elastic analysis methods studies in theory of structure II such as slope-deflection, moment

distribution, and matrix method or plastic analysis or approximate method such as the use of
moment coefficient or such methods as portal or cantilever can be used to find the shear force,
the bending moments or the support reactions for the above loadings. Once the bending
moment and shear force is computed for all the above loadings, the design shear and design
bending moment at a particular point will be the maximum effect from all the analysis. The
table on the next page shows the moment coefficients for different span ratios of five span
continuous beams subjected to uniformly distributed loads on all spans.

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L2/L1 L3/L2 L4/L3 L5/L4 b C d e f g h j k

1.0 - - - 0.071 -0.123 0.078 0.000 - - - - -
1.2 - - - 0.059 -0.126 0.076 0.000 - - - - -
1.4 - - - 0.043 -0.134 0.080 0.000 - - - - -
1.6 - - - 0.032 -0.143 0.082 0.000 - - - - -
1.8 - - - 0.020 -0.154 0.082 0.000 - - - - -
2.0 - - - 0.006 -0.165 0.083 0.000 - - - - -
1.0 1.0 - - 0.080 -0.099 0.021 -0.099 0.080 0.000 - - -
1.2 1.2 - - 0.080 -0.083 0.021 -0.114 0.079 0.000 - - -
1.4 1.4 - - 0.084 -0.063 0.017 -0.128 0.082 0.000 - - -
1.6 1.6 - - 0.097 -0.034 0.017 -0.142 0.082 0.000 - - -
1.8 1.8 - - 0.125 -0.005 0.021 -0.155 0.082 0.000 - - -
1.0 1.0 1.0 - 0.078 -0.106 0.034 -0.073 0.034 -0.104 0.078 0.000 -
1.2 1.2 1.2 - 0.072 -0.099 0.042 -0.069 0.029 -0.115 0.080 0.000 -
1.4 1.4 1.4 - 0.061 -0.103 0.047 -0.052 0.023 -0.087 0.081 0.000 -
1.6 1.6 1.6 - 0.039 -0.122 0.063 -0.026 0.021 -0.142 0.082 0.000 -
1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.079 -0.102 0.031 -0.080 0.040 -0.080 0.031 -0.102 0.079
1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 0.075 -0.094 0.033 -0.086 0.047 -0.069 0.028 -0.117 0.080
1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 0.074 -0.080 0.029 -0.098 0.052 -0.051 0.024 -0.130 0.082

M = CwL2
The three major stages in the design of a continuous beam are design for flexure, design for
shear, and reinforcement detailing. In addition, it is necessary to consider deflections and crack
control and, in some cases, torsion. When the area supported by a beam exceeds 37m2, it is
usually possible to use a reduced live load in calculating the moments and shears in the beam.

After obtaining the maximum load effects of continuous beams, the design of continuous
beams is carried out as discussed in reinforced concrete structures I course. Bottom
reinforcements are provided for span (positive) bending moments and top reinforcements are
provided for support (negative) moments in the longitudinal direction. Shear reinforcements
are provided in the forms of vertical stirrups, inclined stirrups or bent up bars as appropriate.

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Figure 1.2-3 three-span continuous beam

For convince, design steps of no moment redistribution1 by using km-ks table is recalled below
Steps for design using design table (no moment redistribution)
1. Evaluate Km
2. Enter the general design table No 1.a using Km and concrete grade.
a. If Km ≤ Km*, the value of Km show shaded in design Table No 1.a, then the section is
singly reinforced.
- Enter the design table No 1.a using Km and concrete grade
- Read Ks from the table corresponding to the steel grade and Km
- Evaluate As
b. If Km ≥ Km*, then the section should be doubly reinforced.
- Evaluate Km / Km * and d’’/d
- Read Ks, Ks’, ρ and ρ’ from the same table corresponding to Km / Km *, d’’/d and
concrete grade
- Evaluate

1
The design of continuous beams with moment redistribution will be dealt in the second chapter of this course. Let
us focus on moments with no redistribution at least for the moment.

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The design charts on EBCS 2, 1995 part 2 can also be used applied for design using the following
steps.
Design using general design chart
1. Calculate

2. Enter the general design chart,

• If , section is singly reinforced.

Evaluate Z from by reading value of from chart using

Evaluate

• If , section is doubly reinforced.

• Evaluate Z from chart using

• Evaluate

• Calculate

Note that the beam could be singly reinforced or doubly reinforced depending on the bending
moment and the provided sections.

1.3. Analysis and design of one-way ribbed slabs

Long-span floors for relatively light live loads can be constructed as a series of closely spaced,
cast-in-place T-beams (or joists or ribs) with a cross section as shown in figure 1.3-1. The joists
span one way between beams. Most often, removable metal forms referred to as fillers or pans
are used to form the joists. Occasionally, joist floors are built by using clay-tile fillers, which
serve as forms for the concrete in the ribs that are left in place to serve as the celling.

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Figure 1.3-1 Typical ribbed slab and slab cross-section

General Requirements:

• Because joists are closely spaced, thickness of slab (topping),

• Ribs shall not be less than 70 mm in width

• Ribs shall have a depth, excluding any topping, of not more than 4 times the minimum
width of the rib.

• Rib spacing shall not exceed 1.0 m

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• The topping shall be provided with a reinforcement mesh providing in each direction a
cross sectional area not less than 0.001 of the section of the slab.

• If the rib spacing exceeds 1.0 m, the topping shall be designed as a slab resting on ribs
considering load concentrations, if any.

• Transverse ribs shall be provided if the span of the ribbed slab exceeds 6.0 m.

• When transverse ribs are provided, the center-to-center distance shall not exceed 20
times the overall depth of the ribbed slab.

• The transverse ribs shall be designed for at least half the values of maximum moments
and shear force in the longitudinal ribs.

• The girder supporting the joist may be rectangular or T-beam with the flange thickness
equal to the floor thickness.

Procedure for design of ribbed slabs

1. Thickness of toppings and ribs assumed based on minimum requirement.

2. Loads may be computed on the basis of centerline of the spacing of joists.

3. The joists are analyzed as regular continuous or T -beams supported by girders.

4. Shear reinforcement shall not be provided in the narrow web of joist thus a check for
the section capacity against shear is carried out. The shear capacity may be
approximated as 1.1 Vc of regular rectangular sections.

5. Determine flexural reinforcement and consider minimum provision in the final solution.

6. Provide the topping or slab with reinforcement as per temp and shrinkage requirement.

7. Design the girder as a beam.

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