REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURAL DESIGN C4301/UNIT4/ 1

UNIT 4
DESIGN OF RECTANGULAR BEAM SECTIONS

GENERAL OBJECTIVE

To be able to provide steel reinforcement required in reinforced concrete beams.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

At the end of this unit, you should be able to: -

1. calculate the area and total number of reinforcement required in given

beam sections with known bending moments.

2. calculate the bending moment that can be carried by the beam section

when the grade of steel is already provided.

4.1 Simply Reinforced Rectangular Section

What does it mean?

Simply reinforced section is the steel reinforcement that is provided only at the

tension zone. The form of section, stress distribution and forces on a section are as
0.45f
b shown in Figure 4.1:
cu

0.45x
0.9x
x
d
Fcc=0.405fcubx

As Z=d-0.45x

0.87 fy Fst=0.87fyAs

Section Stress Forces

Figure 4.1: The form of section, stress distribution and forces on a section
REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURAL DESIGN C4301/UNIT4/ 2

The meaning of symbols used are given in clause 3.4.4.3

For the section to be in balance, the sum of the forces must be equal to zero, i.e.

Fst = Fcc

0.87fyAs = 0.405fcubx

0.87 f y As
..........................equation( 4.1)
 x = 0.405 f cu b

Taking moments about Fcc or Fst, the moment of resistance of the section can be

calculated as follows,

M = Fst. Z

= (0.87fyAs) (d - 0.45x)

or,

M = Fcc. Z

= (0.405fcubx) (d – 0.45 x)

x 0.45 x
1
= (0.405 d ) ( d ) (fcubd2)

= K. fcu bd2

A section whereby the reinforcement is already known, the above equation can be

used to calculate the moment of resistance or the bending moment. Equation 4.1

shows that, x will increase if the area of reinforcement, As increases. The moment

of resistance of the section will also increase. It is clear that a section provided

with more reinforcement will be able to with stand reinforcement load i.e. greater

bending moment.
REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURAL DESIGN C4301/UNIT4/ 3

In order to make sure that concrete will not crush or fail when in compression or

when yielding of the steel occurs, BS 8110 limits the value of x to be not greater

than 0.5d.

Therefore, the maximum resistance moment of resistance of the section can be

obtained by equating x = 0.5d. This is shown as follows: -

0.5d 0.5d
(0.405  0.45 
M = Mu = d ) (1- d ) (fcubd2)

= 0.156fcubd2

= K’fcubd2

 Where Mu is known as the ultimate moment of resistance for singly

reinforced section.

 The equation above may be used to calculate the area of reinforcement

required if the bending moment is known.

 One important conclusion is that if the bending moment, M applied is less

than Mu, the section requires tension reinforcement in the tension zone.

This is called singly reinforced section.

4.2 Example Simply Reinforced Rectangular Section

A rectangular beam section is required to carry a design moment of 300kNm. The

dimension of the area, b = 250 mm and d = 700 mm. Determine the area and total

number of reinforcement needed if the characteristic strength of reinforcement

used, fy=460N/mm2 and that of concrete, fcu = 40 N/mm2.

REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURAL DESIGN C4301/UNIT4/ 4

Solution:

Calculate the ultimate moment of resistance for singly reinforced section as

follows: -

Mu = 0.156fcubd2

= 0.156 (40) (250) (700)2

= 764.4kNm

This shows that Mu > M (=300kNm). Therefore this is a singly reinforced section

Calculate the depth to neutral axis as follows: -

M = 0.405fcubx (d - 0.45x)

300 x 106 = 0.405 (4) (250) (x) (700 - 0.45x)

x2 – 1560x + 16500 = 0

x = 114 mm @ 1441 mm

x is taken as 114mm (the reasonable value).

Calculate Lever arm, Z = d – 0.45x

= 700 – 0.45(114)

= 649 mm

Calculate the area of reinforcement required as follows: -

M
0.87 f y Z
As =

300  10 6
= 0.87  460  649

= 1155mm2

Use 4T20 (As = 1260mm2)

 REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURAL DESIGN C4301/UNIT4/ 5

4.2.1Example

Calculate the moment of resistance for a beam section shown in Figure 4.1 below:

- 250 mm

d= 700 mm

4T20

Figure 4.1: Beam Section

The section is already provided with 4T20 reinforcement whereby fcu and fy are

given as 40N/mm2 and 460 N/mm2 respectively.

Solution:

b=250mm

d = 700 x
Fcc = 0.405fcubx

Z = d – 0.45x

Fst = 0.87fyAs
Figure 4.2: Simply Reinforced Rectangular Section
REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURAL DESIGN C4301/UNIT4/ 6

Calculate the depth to neutral axis as follows: -

Fcc = Fst

0.405fcubx = 0.87fyAs

0.87 f y As
x = 0.405 f cu b

0.87 ( 460)(1260)
= 0.405( 40)(250)

= 124 mm

x 124
  0.5
Check, d 700

Therefore concrete will not be crushed during compression.

Calculate the moment of resistance as shown below: -

M = Fst. Z

= 0.87 fy As (d - 0.45x)

= 0.87 (460) (1260) (700 – 0.45 (124))

= 325 kNm

Therefore, the moment of resistance of the beam section, provided with 4T20, is

325 kNm.
 REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURAL DESIGN C4301/UNIT4/ 7

4.3 Doubly Reinforced Rectangular Section

For singly reinforced section, steel reinforcement is only used for resisting tensile

force. Compressive force is taken by concrete in the compressive zone. BS 8110

allows the maximum value of x to be not greater than 0.5d for the concrete stress

block taking the compressive force.

Based on this maximum limit x = 0.5d, the maximum moment that can be carried

by concrete is given by,

Mu = 0.156fcubd2

If the bending moment, M to be carried by the section is greater than M u, steel

reinforcement is to be provided in the compression zone to resist the resultant

moment. The stress-strain distribution and the forces acting in a doubly reinforced

rectangular section is shown in Figure 4.3 below: -

Fsc
As’ d’
Fcc
x
d Z Z1

As

Fst

Section Strain Stress & Forces

The condition
Figure 4.3: The stress-strain forandequilibrium
distribution which
the forces acting mustreinforced
in a doubly be obtained at any
rectangular point
section in the section

is that horizontal forces must equate to zero; i.e.:

Fst = Fcc + Fsc

0.87fyAs = 0.405fcubx + 0.87fyAs’

REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURAL DESIGN C4301/UNIT4/ 8

(0.87 f y As  0.87 f y As ' )

x = 0.405 f cu b ……..(4.2)

Taking moment (moment of resistance) about the tension steel, we have;

M = Fcc . Z + Fsc . Z1

= (0.405fcubx) (d - 0.45x) + (0.87 fyAs’). (d - d’)

= 0.156fcubd2 + 0.87fyAs’ (d - d’)

= Mu + 0.87fyAs’ (d - d’)

Therefore, area of compression reinforcement is:

M  Mu
0.87 f y ( d  d ' )
As’ =

( K  K ' ) f cu bd 2
0.87 f y (d  d ' )
=

From equation 4.2, it can be shown that:

0.87fyAs = 0.405fcubx + 0.87fyAs’

0.87fyAs.Z = 0.405fcubx. Z + 0.87fyAs’ Z

When x = 0.5d, therefore z = 0.775d

Then,

0.87fyAs. Z = 0.405fcub (0.5d - 0.775d) + 0.87fyAs’. Z

0.87fyAs.Z = 0.156 fcubd2 + 0.87fyAs’. Z

Therefore the area of tension reinforcement is given by,

0.156 f cubd 2
 As '
0.87 f y Z
As =
REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURAL DESIGN C4301/UNIT4/ 9

Or As =

K ' f cu bd 2
 As '........................................................4.3
0.87 f y Z

4.4 Stress in the compression reinforcement.

In deriving equation 4.3 above, it is assumed that the compression reinforcement

has yielded, i.e. it has achieved its design strength of 0.87fy.

From the strain design diagram, it can be shown that:

 sc 0.0035

x  d' x

xd  sc

x 0.0035

d'  sc
 1
x 0.0035

For the design strength to achieve the value 0.87fy, therefore;

0.87 f y
 sc 
Es

d' 0.87 f y
 1
And x Es (0.0035)

For fy = 460 N/mm2,

d' 0.87( 460)

 1
x ( 200  103 )(0.0035)

= 0.43
REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURAL DESIGN C4301/UNIT4/10

This implies that for compression reinforcement to achieve its yield point, the

d' d'
ratio x must not exceed 0.43. If x > 0.43, the compressive stress, fsc < 0.87

fy and the value fsc can be obtained from Figure 2.2 BS 8110.

It can be shown that,

0.0035( x  d ' )
fsc = Es . εsc where εsc = x

d'
(1  )
 3
fsc = 200 x 10 x 0.0035 ( x

d'
(1  )
= 700 x

4.1 Design Example (Rectangular Section)

A rectangular section of reinforced concrete beam is to be designed to carry a

design moment of 880kNm. The width of this beam, b=250 mm and the depth,

d=700 mm. Calculate the area and the total number of bars needed if

fcu=40N/mm2 and fy = 460 N/mm2.

Solution:

Ultimate moment of singly reinforced section,

Mu = 0156fcubd2

= 0.156 x 40 x 250 x (700)2

= 764.4 kNm

Mu < M (= 880kNm). This shows that compression reinforcement is needed and

is calculated as follows: -

M  Mu
0.87 f y ( d  d ' )
As’ =
REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURAL DESIGN C4301/UNIT4/11

Assuming that d’ = 60 mm,

(880  764.4)  106

As’ = 0.87  460  (700  60)

= 451 mm2.

d'
Now, we have to check the x ratio. This is done as follows: -

x = 0.5d

= 0.5 x 700

= 350 mm

d' 60
x = 350

= 0.17 < 0.43

This shows that the assumed compression steel achieved its design strength

0.87fy.

The area of tension steel is then calculated as shown below: -

Mu
 As '
0.87 f y Z
As =

764.4  106
 451
= 0.87  460  0.775  700

= 3972 mm2

Now we have to check from the table below to determine the total number of bars

and then the size.

REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURAL DESIGN C4301/UNIT4/12

Bar size Number of bars Perimeter

(mm) (mm)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

6 28.3 56.5 84.9 113 141 170 198 226 18.9

8 50.3 101 151 201 251 302 352 402 25.1
10 78.6 157 236 314 393 471 550 629 31.4

12 113 226 339 453 566 679 792 905 37.7

16 201 402 603 805 1006 1207 1408 1609 50.3
20 314 629 943 1257 1571 1886 2200 2514 62.9

25 491 982 1473 1964 2455 2496 3438 3929 78.6

32 805 1609 2414 3218 4023 4827 5632 6437 100.6
40 1257 2514 3771 5029 6286 7543 8800 10057 125.7

Table 4.1: The Allowable Size and Numbers of Bars

Provided: 3T16 for compression reinforcement (As’ = 603 mm2)

5T32 for tension reinforcement (As = 4023 mm2)

4.1 Given the following information, calculate the area of reinforcement required

for a bending moment of 650 kNm

fcu = 30 N/mm2

fy = 460 N/mm2

b = 300 mm

d = 618 mm

d’ = 60 mm.

4.3 Solution: -

Step 1

Mu = 0.156fcubd2

= 0.156 x 30 x 300 x (618)2

= 536.2 kNm < M (= 650 kNm)

REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURAL DESIGN C4301/UNIT4/13

 Compression reinforcement is required.

Step 2

M  Mu
0.87 f y ( d  d ' )
As’ =

(650  536.2)  106

= 0.87  460  (618  60)

=509.6 mm2

Step 3

d'
Check x ratio: -

x = 0.5d = 0.5 (618) = 309 mm

d' 60
x = 309 = 0.19 < 0.43

 Compression steel has yielded.

Step 4

Mu
 As '
0.87 f y Z
As =

536.2  106
 509.6
= 0.87  460  0.775  618

= 2797 mm2

Step 5

Provide: 5T12 (As’ = 565 mm2) for compression reinforced

9T20 (As = 2828 mm2) for tension reinforced

4.2 Design example (Determine moment capacity of a section)

 REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURAL DESIGN C4301/UNIT4/14

Calculate the moment of resistance of a rectangular section beam which has been

provided with 5T32 (tension steel) and 3T16 (compression steel). The

characteristic strengths are f cu  40 N / mm and y

2
f  460 N / mm 2
.

The section is as shown in Figure 4.4 below:

250 mm

3T16

700
mm

5T32

Figure 4.4: Rectangular Section Beam

Solution:

The stress and forces in the stress block is given below: -

Fsc

Fcc
x d

Z Z1=d-d’

Fst

Step:
Figure 4.5: The Stress and Forces in the Stress Block
REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURAL DESIGN C4301/UNIT4/15

1. For equilibrium of forces;

Fst  Fcc  Fsc

0.87 f y  0.405 f cu bx  0.87 f y As '

2. The depth to neutral axis is given by,

0.87 f y ( As  As ' )
x
0.405 f cu b

0.87  460  ( 4023  603)


0.405( 40)(250)

= 338.5 mm

3. Check the steel stress.

x 338.5
  0.483  0.5
d 700

d' 60
  0.17  0.43
x 338.5

This shows that both the compression and tension steel have yielded at

0.87fy

4. Moment of resistance is calculated as shown below;

M  Fsc Z1  Fcc Z 2

 0.87 f y As ' (d  d ' )  0.405 f cu bx(d  0.45 x )

 0.87(460)(603)(700  600)  0.405(40)(250)[700  0.405(338.5)]

= 904 kNm.

Therefore the resistance moment of the section is 904 kNm.

4.8 Determine the moment of resistance for the given section: -

REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURAL DESIGN C4301/UNIT4/16

b = 400 mm2

As’ = 800 mm2

d’ = 40 mm

d = 800 mm

As = 5050mm2

fcu = 30N/mm2

fy = 460 N/mm2

4.2 Refer to the answer as shown below: -

Step 1: Equilibrium of forces

Fst  Fcc  Fsc

0.87 f y As  0.405 f cu bx  0.87 f y As '

0.87 f y ( As  As ' )
x
 0.405 f cu b

0.87  460  (5050  800)


0.405  30  400

= 350 mm

Step 2: Check whether the steel has yielded.

x 350
  0.4375  0.5
d 800

d' 40
  0.11  0.43
x 350

 Compression and tension steel have yielded.

Step 3: Calculate the moment of resistance.

M  Fsc Z1  Fcc Z 2
 REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURAL DESIGN C4301/UNIT4/17

 0.87 f y As ' (d  d ' )  0.405 f cu bx(d  0.45 x )

 (0.87)(30)(800)(800  40)  (0.405)(30)(400)(350)[800  0.45(350)]

= 15.87 + 1092.9 kNm

= 1108.77 kNm

SUMMARY
SUMMARY
To calculate the area of reinforcement of a beam (having a size of b x d), with a

bending moment of M, using concrete strength of fcu and steel strength fy , you

should use the following steps: -

M
K 
1. Calculate bd 2 f cu

2. Calculate K ' ( 0.156)

3. If K< K’, compression reinforcement is not required.

k
i) Calculate z  d{0.5  (0.25 
0.9
}
but z < 0.95d

M
0.87 f y Z
ii) Calculate As =

4. If K > K’, compression reinforcement is required.

K'
z  d {0.5  (0.25  }
i) Calculate 0 .9

dz
x
ii) Calculate 0.45

d'
iii) Check x ratio.

iv) Calculate
REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURAL DESIGN C4301/UNIT4/18

( K  K ' ) f cu bd 2 d'
As '   0.43
0.87 f y (d  d ' )
if x

( K  K ' ) f cu bd 2
As ' 
d' d'
700(1  )  0.43
or x if x

v) Calculate

K ' f cu bd 2
As   As '
0.87 f y Z
REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURAL DESIGN C4301/UNIT4/19