EC2 Worked Examples (rev A 31-03-2017) Latest Version

SECTION 4. DURABILITY - WORKED EXAMPLES

EXAMPLE 4.1 [EC2 clause 4.4]

Design the concrete cover of a reinforced concrete beam with exposure class XC1.

The concrete in use has resistance class C25/30.

Bottom longitudinal bars are 5 φ 20; the stirrups are φ 8 at 100 mm.

The max aggregate size is: dg = 20 mm (< 32 mm).

The design working life of the structure is 50 years.
Normal quality control is put in place.
Refer to Fig. 4.1.

From table E.1N - EC2 we see that, in order to obtain an adequate concrete durability, the
reference (min.) concrete strength class for exposure class XC1 is C20/25; the resistance
class adopted (C25/30) is suitable as it is higher than the reference strength class.

The structural class is S4.

First, the concrete cover for the stirrups is calculated.

With:
cmin,b = 8 mm

We obtain from table 4.4N - EC2:

cmin,dur = 15 mm

Moreover:
∆cdur,γ = 0 ;
∆cdur,st = 0 ;
∆cdur,add = 0 .

From relation (3.2):

cmin = max (cmin,b; cmin,dur + ∆cdur,γ - ∆cdur,st - ∆cdur,add; 10 mm) =
max (8; 15 + 0 – 0 – 0; 10 mm) = 15 mm

Moreover:

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EC2 Worked Examples (rev A 31-03-2017) Latest Version

Δcdev = 10 mm.

We obtain from relation (3.1):

c nom = c min + Δcdev = 15 + 10 = 25 mm .

If we now calculate now the concrete cover for longitudinal reinforcement bars,

we have:
c min,b = 20 mm.

We obtain from table 4.4N - EC2:

cmin,dur = 15 mm .

Moreover:
∆c dur , γ = 0 ;
Δcdur,st = 0 ;
Δcdur,add = 0 .

From relation (3.2):

c min = max (20; 15 + 0 – 0 – 0; 10 mm) = 20 mm .

Moreover: Δcdev = 10 mm.

We obtain from relation (3.1):

c nom = 20 + 10 = 30 mm .

The concrete cover for the stirrups is “dominant”. In this case, the concrete cover for
longitudinal bars is increased to: 25 + 8 = 33 mm .

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EC2 Worked Examples (rev A 31-03-2017) Latest Version

EXAMPLE 4.2 [EC2 clause 4.4]

Design the concrete cover for a reinforced concrete beam placed outside a residential
building situated close to the coast.
The exposure class is XS1.
We originally assume concrete with strength class C25/30.
The longitudinal reinforcement bars are 5 φ 20; the stirrups are φ 8 at 100 mm .
The maximal aggregate size is: dg = 20 mm (< 32 mm).
The design working life of the structure is 50 years.
A normal quality control is put in place.
Refer to Fig. 4.2.

From table E.1N - EC2 we find that, in order to obtain an adequate concrete durability, the
reference (min.) concrete strength class for exposure class XS1 is C30/37; the concrete
strength class must therefore be increased from the originally assumed C25/30 to C30/37,
even if the actions on concrete were compatible with strength class C25/30.

In accordance with what has been stated in example 4.1, we design the minimum concrete
cover with reference to both the stirrups and the longitudinal bars.
The structural class is S4

We obtain ( cmin,dur = 35 mm ; Δcdev = 10 mm):

- for the stirrups: c nom = 45 mm ;
- for the longitudinal bars: cnom = 45 mm .

The concrete cover for the stirrups is “dominant”. In this case, the concrete cover for
longitudinal bars is increased to: 45 + 8 = 53 mm .

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EC2 Worked Examples (rev A 31-03-2017) Latest Version

EXAMPLE 4.3 [EC2 clause 4.4]

Calculate the concrete cover of a TT precast element, made of prestressed reinforced concrete,
placed outside an industrial building situated close to the coast.

The exposure class is XS1.

We use concrete with strength class C45/55.
At the lower side of the two ribbings of the TT element we have:
− longitudinal φ 12 reinforcement bars;
− φ 8 stirrups at 100 mm ;
− strands φ 0.5” .
The maximal aggregate size is: dg = 16 mm.
The design working life of the structure is 50 years.
An accurate quality control of concrete production is put in place.
Refer to Fig. 4.3.

We find out from table E.1N - EC2 that for exposure class XS1, the minimum concrete
strength class is C30/37; strength class C45/55 is therefore adequate.

The original structural class is S4.

In accordance with table 4.3N:
− the structural class is reduced by 1 as the concrete used (C45/55) is of strength class
higher than C40/50;
− the structural class is reduced by 1 as special quality control of the concrete production
is ensured

We then refer to structural class S2.

Calculating first the concrete cover for stirrups.

We have:
c min,b = 8 mm .

We obtain from table 4.4N - EC2:

cmin,dur = 25 mm .

Moreover:
∆c dur , γ = 0 ;
Δcdur,st = 0 ;
Δcdur,add = 0 .

From relation (3.2):

c min = max (c min,b ; c min,dur + ∆cdur , γ − ∆cdur,st − ∆cdur,add ; 10 mm ) =
= max (8; 25 + 0 – 0 – 0; 10 mm) = 25 mm .

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EC2 Worked Examples (rev A 31-03-2017) Latest Version

Considering that the TT element is cast under procedures subjected to a highly efficient
quality control, in which the concrete cover length is also assessed, the value of Δcdev can
be taken as 5 mm.

We obtain from relation (3.1):

c nom = c min + Δcdev = 25 + 5 = 30 mm .

Calculating now the concrete cover for longitudinal bars.

We have:
c min,b = 12 mm .

We obtain from table 4.4N - EC2:

c min,dur = 25 mm .

Moreover:
∆c dur , γ = 0 ;
Δcdur,st = 0 ;
Δcdur,add = 0 .

From relation (3.2):

c min = max (c min,b ; c min,dur + ∆c dur, γ − ∆cdur ,st − ∆cdur,add ; 10 mm ) =
= max (12; 25 + 0 – 0 – 0; 10 mm) = 25 mm .

We obtain from relation (3.1):

c nom = c min + Δcdev = 25 + 5 = 30 mm .

Note that for the ordinary reinforcement bars, the concrete cover for stirrups is “dominant”.
In this case, the concrete cover for longitudinal bars is increased to: 30 + 8 = 38 mm .

Calculating now the concrete cover for strands.

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EC2 Worked Examples (rev A 31-03-2017) Latest Version

We have:
c min,b = 1.5 · 12.5 = 18.8 mm .

We obtain from table 4.5N - EC2:

cmin,dur = 35 mm .

Moreover:
∆c dur , γ = 0 ;
Δcdur,st = 0 ;
Δcdur,add = 0 .

From relation (3.2):

c min = max (18.8; 35 + 0 – 0 – 0; 10 mm) = 35 mm .

Moreover:
Δcdev = 5 mm .

From relation (3.1):

c nom = 35 + 5 = 40 mm .

The first strand’s axis is placed at 50mm from the lower end of the ribbing of the TT
element. The concrete cover for the lower strands of the TT element (one for each ribbing)
is therefore equal to 43mm.

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