ACI Concrete Beam Design: Building The Model
ACI Concrete Beam Design: Building The Model
ACI Concrete Beam Design: Building The Model
Version Note: This tutorial may have been created using a prior version of VisualAnalysis. Minor changes to the software may have occurred including new features and graphics updates. The appearance of dialog boxes and the Project Manager may be altered slightly. Consult available Web training Videos (http://www.iesweb.com/training/index.htm) or the Users Guide (http://www.iesweb.com/products/visualanalysis/help/) if steps do not appear correct.
Modeling Discussion:
Should the beams be designed as one combined member or two separate members? The answer to this question lies in the way the design module is set up. From the diagram below, we see the typical steel layout (see the VisualAnalysis Users Guide
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(Help | Contents) for more information about the steel layout). It is quite evident that this detailing is laid out for negative moments at the ends and positive moment in the middle. These moments will correspond correctly to our detailing. Had we modeled the two 25 long beams as a combined member, the design module would not accurately call out adequate reinforcement for the moment pattern. For the alternative, consider our model with the first span split into two members (see diagram below).
Diagram Displaying Model with First Span Split For analysis purposes we could analyze the beam as two members, but for design purposes we need to combine members M1 and M2 of the model above using the Model | Combine Member Elements command. If we leave the members as two separate members, the right end of the first member and left end of the second member will have positive moments and we will not be consistent with the steel detailing pattern.
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Create the following service load cases: Dead Loads: 2 kips/ft on both spans (include self weight) Live Load: 3 kips/ft on both spans
Next, select ASCE7-10 LRFD from the Load Case Manager to include these load combinations in the analysis. Information on applying loads and selecting factored combinations is available in the VisualAnalysis Users Guide (Help | Contents).
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Concrete Parameters: The Concrete Beam parameters are the first parameters available for editing in the Project Manager. For this example, leave these general parameters unchanged.
Design Parameters: The Beam parameters are next in the Modify tab. The beam will be designed as a rectangular section. For the purposes of this example, we will assume that 12 columns frame in at both the start and end of the beam. With this in mind, specify the Column Width at Start and Column Width at End both as 12. This allows the software to calculate capacity corresponding to the moment/shear demand at the appropriate locations. Width and Depth can be constrained under the Design heading. Set the Min/Max Width to 12/24, and the Min/Max Depth to 18/36 respectively. Set both the width and depth increment to 2 in. These settings let the design software know that you want it to work through cross sections two inches at a time (i.e. Try a 12x18; then a 12x20; then 14x18; then a 14x20; then a 14x22). Leave the High Seismic Risk option unchecked. See the VisualAnalysis Users Guide for more information on this option and when you might want to use it.
Beam Options: The basic material properties for the beam are controlled using these parameters. Make sure Fc is set to 5000 psi (you must change this setting while in the Model View). Set both cover values to 1.5 in. Also make sure the Reinforcing Steel Fy values are both set to 60,000 psi.
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Stirrup Parameters: The next set of parameters is the Stirrups Parameters. Set the bar size to #4 to indicate we want to use #4 stirrups. Leave the # vertical legs set to 2. Leave the Symmetrical Spacing option unchecked as well. This option would require the stirrups to be spaced symmetrically about the beam centerline.
Now, it may be of use to allow the design software to select a section that will meet strength requirements rather than using a trial and error iterative process. Choose Design | Design Selected Group (or select the ellipsis button [...] next to Design election in the Modify Tab). This will pop up the Concrete Beam Design Selection dialog. Here you can make a selection if one of these meets your requirements. Select the 20Wx26H for this example.
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IES VisualAnalysis
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IES VisualAnalysis
Another useful tool in larger models is the Find Tool (F7). This allows you to see unity checks without switching to a report view. Consult the Users Guide for more information on the Find Tool.
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