Chapter 3.

Limit state design for Beams

3- Limit state design RC Beam FOR FLEXURE

 Introduction
 General data on concrete and steel
 Design preliminaries
 Singly reinforced beams
 Continuous beams and solid one way slabs
 One way ribbed slab
 Serviceability Limit states of Deflection and crack width

Introduction
The working stress design method (WSD), discussed in section 4.1, has some shortcomings that
lead to the development of limit state design methods (LSD). The LSD method combines the
best features of WSD and USD (Ultimate Strength Design) and has gained acceptance in many
countries including Ethiopia. EBCS are based on the LSD methods.
The LSD method is based on the limit state design philosophy, which considers that any
structure that has exceeded the limit state for which it was designed is unfit for the intended
function or use.
Classification
1. The limit state of collapse (ULS)
- Concerned with load carrying capacity of structures.
2. The serviceability Limit state (SLS).
- Concerned with cracking and deflection of structures

ULS - Considers collapse of a structure as a whole or its parts associated with: -

- Rupture of one or more critical sections.
- Loss of equilibrium or stability.
- Transformation of the structure to a failure mechanism e.t.c.
To satisfy the design requirements of the ULS:-
- Appropriate safety factors are used.
- The most critical combination of loads are considered.
- Brittle failure is avoided (Ductility is ensured).
- Accuracy of concrete works checked.
SLS - Deals with cracking or shrinkage of concrete not to impair appearance, efficiency or
durability of the structure. Further, deformations affecting non-structural elements such as
partition walls, opening frames, and/or producing discomfort to occupants are checked.

Page 1
 Chapter 3. Limit state design for Beams

To satisfy these design requirements: -

- Minimum depth for defection requirements is provided
- Adequate cover is provided and
- Necessary detailing of reinforcement are made

Most reinforced concrete structures can be divided in to beams and slabs subjected primarily to
flexure (bending) and columns subjected to axial compression accompanied in most cases by
flexure. Typical examples of flexural members are the slab and beams shown in Fig. 4.1. The
load P applied at point A is carried by the strip of slab shown shaded. The end reactions from this
slab strip load the beams at B and C. the beams, in turn, carry the slab reactions to the columns at
D, E, F, and G. The beam reactions cause axial loads in the columns. The slab in Fig. 4.1 is
assumed to transfer loads in one direction and hence is called one way slab. If there were no
beams, the slab would carry the load in two directions. Such a slab is referred to as two-way slab.

Fig. 4.1 One-way flexure

In this chapter the stress-strain curves for concrete and reinforcement as recommended by
EBCS-2 are used to develop flexural theory.

General data on concrete and steel

(As per EBCS 2 – with some explanations)
Classification of concrete works
Concrete works are classified as either Class I or II depending on the quality of workmanship
and the competence of the supervisors directing the works.
Works carried out under the direction of appropriately qualified supervisors ensuring the
attainment of level of quality control as per EBCS 2 (chapter 9) are classified as Class I works.

Page 2
 Chapter 3. Limit state design for Beams

Works with a lower level of quality control are classified as Class II works. Class II works are
permissible only for single story structures.
Characteristic compressive strength of concrete
The compressive strength of a concrete member at one location may vary from that at another
location in the same member, due to many reasons like differences in extent of compaction, time
of placement, batch of concrete etc. Likewise, the strength of different specimens can also vary
from one another. In order to assess the strength of one particular mix proportion of concrete,
EBCS 2 specifies the use of characteristic compressive strength values. Characteristic
compressive strength of concrete is defined as that strength below which 5% of all possible
strength measurements may be expected to fall. It means that the characteristic strength has 95%
reliability or there is only 5% probability of actual strength being less than the characteristic
strength. Thus concrete is graded in terms of its characteristic compressive cube strength.
Table 2.1 of EBCS 2 gives the permissible grades of concrete for the two classes of concrete
works as shown below. The numbers in the grade designation denote the specified characteristic
compressive strength in MPa.
Table 2.1. Permissible grades of concrete
Class Permissible Grades of Concrete
I C5 C15 C20 C25 C30 C40 C50 C60
II C5 C15 C20
Grade C5 shall be used only as lean concrete
As per EBCS 2, compressive strength of concrete is determined from tests on 150 mm cubes at
the age of 28 days in accordance with Ethiopian Standards. Cylindrical or cubical specimens of
other sizes may also be used with conversion factors determined from a comprehensive series of
tests. In the absence of such tests, the conversion factors given in Table 2.2 (of EBCS 2) may be
applied to obtain the equivalent characteristic strength on the basis of 150 mm cubes.
Table 2.2 Conversion factors for strength
Size and type of test specimen Conversion factor
Cube (200 mm) 1.05
Cylinder (150 mm diameter, 300 mm height) 1.25

Page 3
 Chapter 3. Limit state design for Beams

In table 2.3 the characteristic cylinder compressive strength fck are given for the different grades
of concrete.
Table 2.3 Characteristic cylinder compressive strength of concrete
Grades of concrete C15 C20 C25 C30 C40 C50 C60
fck 12 16 20 24 32 40 48

Characteristic tensile strength (fctk)

The characteristic tensile strength refers to the axial tensile strength as determined by tests in
accordance with standards issued or approved by Ethiopian Standards.
In the absence of more accurate data, the characteristic tensile strength may also be determined
from the characteristic cylinder compressive strength according to the following equations.
fctk = 0.7 fctm, where fctm is the mean value given by fctm = 0.3 fck2/3
The corresponding values of fctk and fctm for different grades of concrete are given in the table 2.4.

Table 2.4 Grades of concrete and values of fctk and fctm

Grades of concrete C15 C20 C25 C30 C40 C50 C60
fctm 1.6 1.9 2.2 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0
fctk 1.1 1.3 1.5 1.7 2.1 2.5 2.8

Modulus of Elasticity
In the absence of more accurate data, or in cases where great accuracy is not required, an
estimate of the mean value of the secant modulus Ecm can be obtained from Table 2.5 for a given
concrete grade.
Table 2.5 Values of the secant modulus of elasticity Ecm in GPa
Grades of concrete C15 C20 C25 C30 C40 C50 C60
Ecm 26 27 29 32 35 37 39

The values given in table 2.5 are based on the following equation:
Ecm = 9.5 (fck + 8)1/3

Page 4
 Chapter 3. Limit state design for Beams

Poisson’s Ratio
Any value between 0 and 0.2 can be adopted for Poisson’s ratio.

Reinforcing steel
- high strength & high cost material
- the two materials – concrete and steel - are best used in combination if the
concrete is made to resist the compression stresses and the steel the tensile
stresses
When RC elements are used, sufficient bond between the two materials must be developed
to ensure that there is no relative movement between the steel bars and the surrounding
concrete.

This bond may be developed by:-

- chemical adhesion
- natural roughness
- closely spaced rib-shaped surface deformation of reinforcement bars.

(In Ethiopian Iron and Steel Factory, Akaki, deformed bars and round bars of yield strength fy =
420 MPa are being produced. Diameters: 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 16mm, 20mm, 24mm,
30mm, 32mm. Round bars of 6mm dia are also produced) in which all are surface deformed
except F6.

Some bar size and areas for design purpose are given below:

Diameter F
(mm) 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24…
Area (mm2) 28 50 78.5 113 154 200 254 314 380 450
Weight(kg/m) 0.222 0.395 0.619 0.888 1.210 1.570 2.000 2.470 3.000 3.500

Characteristic properties of reinforcing bars is expressed using its yield strength fy (fyk)
and modulus of elasticity Es.

Fy ranges between 220 to 500 MPa, with 300 MPa common is our country.
Es ranges between 200 to 210 GPa.

Characteristic strength of reinforcing steel

The characteristic strength fyk is defined as the 5% fractile of the proof stress fy or 0.2% offset
strength, denoted as f0.2.
If the steel supplier guarantees a minimum value for fy or f 0.2, that value may be taken as the
characteristic strength.

Page 5
 Chapter 3. Limit state design for Beams

Classification of reinforcing steel

Reinforcing steel shall be classified according to:
(a) Grade, denoting the value of the specified characteristic yield stress fyk in MPa
(b) Class, indicating the ductility characteristics
(c) Size
(d) Surface characteristics
(e) Weldability

In EBCS 2, two classes of ductility are defined. Class A refers to high ductility with εuk > 5%

and with value of (ft / fy)k > 1.08 and Class B refers to normal ductility with εuk > 2.5% and with

value of (ft / fy)k > 1.05, where, εuk denotes the characteristic value of the elongation at
maximum load,
ftk = Characteristic tensile strength of reinforcement
fyk = Characteristic yield strength of reinforcement
Two shapes of surface characteristics are defined: (a) Ribbed bars, resulting in high bond action,
(b) Plain, smooth bars (round bars), resulting in low bond action.

Physical properties of reinforcing steel

(a) Density 7850 kg/m3
(b) Coefficient of thermal expansion 10 x 10-6 per ◦C
Design preliminaries
In the reinforced concrete design, the strength of a given mix of concrete and the imposed load
that is likely to act over a specified area cannot be provided with certainty unless actual
measurements at an instant are made. Such variables are referred to as random variables in the
theory of probability. The behavior of a random variable can be characterized by probability
distribution of the random variable. In our case of material strength and imposed load in a
structure the uncertainty may be the result of the combined effect of many causes each difficult
to isolate and observe. In such cases the distribution can be developed for the variable of interest
without knowing the distribution of the cause. The normal or Gaussian probability distribution
is most commonly used for this purpose. Limit state design principle uses this for deriving the
characteristic strength of materials and characteristic loads on the structures.
Page 6
 Chapter 3. Limit state design for Beams

Design strength
Tests to determine the characteristic strengths of concrete and steel reinforcement are carried out
on near perfect specimens, which have been prepared under laboratory conditions. Such
conditions will seldom exist in practice. Therefore it is undesirable to use characteristic
strengths to size the members. To take account of differences between actual and laboratory
values, local weaknesses and inaccuracies in assessment of resistance of section, the
characteristic strengths (fck and fyk) are divided by appropriate partial safety factor for strengths
(γm) taken from table 3.1 and 3.2 of EBCS 2. The resulting values are termed as design
strengths.
The difference in values for the two materials is indicative of the comparative lack of control
over the production of concrete, the strength of which is affected by such factors as W/C ratio,
degree of compaction, rate of drying etc. which frequently cannot be accurately controlled on site
to that of steel which is produced under strict control conditions in factory.

In the formula for design strength of concrete in compression, the value 0.85 accounts for
effect of duration of loading.

Page 7