Design of Rectangular Beams

Before the design of an actual beam is attempted, several miscellaneous topics need to
be discussed. These include the following:
1) Beam proportions.
Unless architectural or other requirements dictate the proportions of
reinforced concrete beams, the most economical beam sections are usually
obtained for shorter beams (up to 20 ot 25 ft in length), when the ratio of d to b is
in the range of 1.5 to 2. For longer spans, better economy is usually obtained if
deep, narrow sections are used. The depths may be as large as three or four
times the widths. However, todays reinforced concrete designer is often
confronted with the need to keep members shallow so as to reduce floor heights.
As a result, wider and shallower beams are used more frequently than in the
past. You will notice that the overall beam dimensions are selected in whole
inches. This is done for simplicity in constructing forms or for rental or forms.
2) Estimated Beam Weight
The weight of the beam to be selected must be included in the calculation
of the
bending moment to be resisted, as the beam must support itself as well as the
external loads.
3) Selection of Bars
After the required reinforcing area is calculated, the selection of bar sizes
will follow. For the usual situation bars of sizes 36mm and smaller are practical. It
is usually convenient to use bars of one size only in a beam, although
occasionally two sizes will be used.
4) Cover
The reinforcing for concrete member must be protected from the
surrounding environment; that is, fire and corrosion protection needs to be
provided. To do this the reinforcing is located at certain minimum distances from
the surface of the concrete so that a protective layer of concrete called concrete
cover is provided. In addition, the concrete cover improves the bond between
steel and concrete. In Section 4107.8.3.1 of the NSCP, minimum permissible
concrete cover is given for reinforcing bars under different conditions. Values are
given for reinforced concrete beams, columns, and slabs, for members exposed
to weather and earth, and so on.
5) Minimum spacing of bars
Section 407.7.1 of NSCP states that the minimum clear spacing between
parallel bars in a layer be db but not less then 25mm. Where parallel
reinforcement is placed in two or (Section 407.7.2), bars in the upper layer shall
be placed directly above bars in the bottom layer with clear distance between
layers not less than 25mm. Please refer to section 407.7.3 and 407.7.5 for the
spacing limitations of other conditions.
 Singly Reinforced Rectangular Beam – Analysis for Flexure

325mm
εc = 0.003

a/2
a C
c
d
d h
(d-a/2)
6 - 36mm

T εs

Beam Equivalent stresss Strain

Cross-section diagram Diagram

Forces:
C  0.85 fc ' ab T  As f y
C T 0.85 fc ' ab  As f y
As f y As
a let   As  bd
0.85 f c ' b bd
 bdf y  df y
a 
0.85 f c ' b 0.85 f c '
fy
Let m  a   dm
0.85 f c '
Moments:
M n  T  d  a 2   As f y  d  a 2 
M n  bdf y  d   dm 2   f ybd 2 1   m 2  Rubd 2
where: Ru   f y 1   m 2 
Mu  M n M u   Ru bd 2   0.90 for bending
Strain diagram:
c d 0.003d
 c
c c  s 0.003  f y Es
Using Es  200 103 MPa
600d
c
600  f y
C T 0.85 fc ' ab  As f y
600d
 bdf y  0.85 f c '  cb  0.85 f c '  b
600  f y
f c 600
b  0.85 (balanced steel reinforcement ratio)
f y 600  f y
Sample problems: Beam Design (Proportioning Beams for Flexure)

Example 1. (Using ρmax and finding the permissible beam size)

Design a rectangular beams for a 6m simple span to support a dead load of 30 kN/m
(including the estimated beam weight) and a live load of 44 kN/m. Use ρ max, d  1.5bw ,
fc’ = 27.6 MPa, and fy = 276 MPa.

Solution:
1) Calculate the ultimate loads,
wu  1.4wD  1.7wL
wu  1.4  30   1.7  44   116.8 kN / m
2) Calculate the Design Moment,
wu L2 116.8  6 
2

Mu    525.6 kN .m (at midspan)

8 8
3) Calculate ρmax,
 0.85 f '  600  
max  0.75b  0.75  1 c
  
 f y  600  f y  
 0.85  0.85 27.6   600  
max  0.75b  0.75      0.037115
 276  600  27.6  
4) Solve bd2,
 0.59  f y 
M u   f y bd 2 1  
 fc ' 
 0.59  0.037115 276  
525.6 106   0.90  0.037115 276  bd 2 1  
 27.6 
bd  722995085mm
2 2

5) Solving b and d using d  1.5bw

b 1.5b   72995085mm2
2

b  319mm say b  325 mm

d  1.5  325  487.5mm
6) Calculate As (Area of steel reinforcing),
As  bd  0.037115  325 487.5  5880.36mm2
7) Calculate number of bars,
Using 36mm diameter bars (Ab = 1017.88 mm2)
A 5880.36
n s   5.78 say use 6-36mmø bars (2 layers)
Ab 1017.88
8) Calculate h (beam thickness)
Note: 2 layers of 36mmø with 3 bars per layer
Thickness: h  487.5  25 / 2  36  12  40  588 mm say h =600 mm
 325mm

d =487.5mm h
6 - 36mm
25mm min
Cover+stirrups

Example 1

9) Check for minimum thickness since deflection is not computed (from table 409-
1).
hmin   0.4  f y 700 
L
16
6000
hmin   0.4  276 700   298 mm < 600 mm ok!
16

10) Draw Final Section Details,

325mm

450mm 500mm
6 - 36mm
75mm
75mm
m

Final Section Details

 0.18 f c '
Example 2. (Using   for economy and deflection)
fy
Design a rectangular beam for a 6-m simple span to support a dead load of 30 kN/m
0.18 f c '
(including the estimated beam weight) and a live load of 44kN/m. Use   ,
fy
bw  350mm , fc’ = 27.6 MPa and fy = 276 MPa.

Solution

1) Calculate the ultimate loads,

wu  1.4wD  1.7wL
wu  1.4  30   1.7  44   116.8 kN / m
2) Calculate the Design Moment,
wu L2 116.8  6 
2

Mu    525.6 kN .m (at midspan)

8 8
0.18 f c '
3) Calculate   ,
fy
0.18  27.6 
  0.018
276
4) Solve bd2,
 0.59  f y 
M u   f y bd 2 1  
 fc ' 
 0.59  0.018 276  
525.6 106   0.90  0.018 276  bd 2 1  
 27.6 
bd  131519730.3 mm
2 2

5) Solving b and d using b  350 mm

350d 2  131519730.3 mm2
d  613 mm say d  625 mm
6) Calculate As (Area of steel reinforcing),
As  bd  0.018  350  625  3937 mm2
7) Calculate number of bars,
Using 25mm diameter bars (Ab = 490.9 mm2),
A 3937.5
n s   8.02 say, use 8-25mmø bars (2 layers)
Ab 490.9
8) Check clear spacing of bars (4 bars per layer),
b  50  2   n  db 
Clear spacing, s 
n 1
 350  50  2   4  25 
s  50 mm  25 mm Ok!
4 1
9) Calculate h (beam thickness)
Note: 2 layers of 25 mm ø with 4 bars per layer
(please refer to Figure 1.7)
Thickness, h  625  25 2  25  10  40  712.5 mm say 725mm

350mm

d = 625mm h
8 - 25mm
25mm min
Cover+stirrups

Computation of h

10) Check for Minimum Thickness since deflection is not computed (From Table 409-
1)
L f 
hmin   0.40  y 
16  700 
hmin 
16

6000
0.40  276
700  298 mm < 725 mm therefore Ok!
11) Draw final section details,

350mm

587.5mm 725mm
8 - 25mm
75mm
75mm
m

Final Section Details

Further Notes on Beam Sizes
From the standpoints of economy and appearance only a few different sizes of
beams should be used in particular floor system. Such practice will save appreciable
amounts of money by simplifying the formwork and at the same time will provide a floor
system that has more uniform and attractive appearance.

Determining Steel Are when the beam dimensions are predetermined

Sometimes the external dimensions of a beam are predetermined by factors
other than moments and shears. The size of a whole group may have been chosen for
architectural reasons.

Example 3
The dimensions of the beam shown in Figure 2.1 have been selected for architectural
reasons. The beam is designed to carry a total factored moment of 200 kN.m. Using f c’
= 20.7 MPa and fy = 414 MPa, design the steel reinforcement.

b = 350mm

d = 525mm
600mm

As
75mm

Example 3

Solution:
1) Calculate Ru,
Mu
Ru 
 bd 2
200 10 
6

Ru   2.3036 MPa
0.90  350  525
2

2) Calculate the required ρ,

0.85 f c '  2 Ru 
 1  1  
fy  0.85 f c ' 

0.85  20.7   2  2.3036  

 1  1    0.005986
414 
 0.85  20.7  

3) Check for ρmin
f ' 1.4
min  c 
4 fy fy
 20.7
min   0.0027474 ,
4  414 
1.4
 0.003382
414
Therefore, min  0.003382
Since,   0.005986  min  0.003382 , therefore, use   0.005986
4) Check for ρmax
0.75  0.85 0.85 20.7   600 
max  0.75b     0.01632
414  600  414 
Since,   0.005986  max therefore, design as a Singly Reinforced beam.
5) Calculate As,
As  bd  0.005986  350 525  1099.93 mm2
6) Select bar size and compute the required number of bars,
Using 20mmø bars (Ab = 314mm2)
A 1099.93
n s   3.5 , say use 4-20mmø bars (1 layer)
Ab 314
7) Check spacing,
b  50  2   n  db 
Clear spacing, s 
n 1
350  50  2   4  20 
s  56.67mm  25 mm Ok!
4 1

8) Draw Section Details,

350mm

525mm 600mm
4 - 20mm

75mm

Final Section Details

PRACTICE EXERCISE (1/2 CROSSWISE) 12/02/10

Problem 1. Determine whether the section in the figure is under or overreinforced

section and check code maximum permissible area of steel for the following cases, f y
=360 MPa and fc’ = 25 MPa:

150mm

600mm

As

Section Details

1. As = 500 mm2
2. As = 2000 mm2

Problem 2. A beam is to carry its own dead load plus a uniform service live load of
25.5kN/m and a uniform superimposed service dead load of 14.5kN/m on a 10m span if
fy = 400 MPa and fc’ = 25 MPa. Assume a depth to width ratio of 2.0.
 Analysis of Doubly Reinforced Rectangular Beams

b
0.85fc’ 0.85fc’ εc = 0.003
d’
d’ C2 a/2 εs’
As’ a C1 a C1 C2
c
= + = d
d h d-d’
(d-a/2)

As

T=Asfy T1 T2 εs = fy/Es

Beam Moment Resistance

Moment Resistance Moment M1 Moment M2
Strain
Cross-section First Stage Second Stage
Diagram

Assuming that both tension and compression steel yields.

fs  f y fs '  f y
nd
2 stage:
C2  As ' f y T2  As 2 f y
T2  C2 As 2 f y  As ' f y As 2  As '
M 2  Cc  d  d '  As ' f y  d  d '
1st stage
As  As1  As 2  As1  As ' As1  As  As '
C1  0.85 fc ' ab T1  As1 f y
C1  T1 0.85 fc ' ab  As1 f y

0.85 fc ' ab   As  As ' f y

 As  As ' f y
a
0.85 f c ' b
 a  a  a
M1  T1  d    As1 f y  d     As  As ' f y  d  
 2  2  2
Nominal moment capacity:
M n  M1  M 2
Ultimate moment capacity:
M u   M n    M1  M 2    0.90
Strain Diagram:
c d 600d
 c
0.003 0.003  f y Es 600  f y
Stress Diagram:
T  C1  C2 : As f y  0.85 fc ' ab  As ' f y
As
Let   As  bd
bd
 As '
' As '   ' bd
bd
bdf y  0.85 fc '  cb   ' bdf y
600d
 bdf y  0.85 f c '  b   ' bdf y
600  f y
f c ' 600
b  0.85   '  b   '
f y 600  f y
max  0.75b   '
  b fs  f y
When , tension steel yields
  b f  fy
When , tension steel does not yield s
Strain diagram:
c d' 600d '
 c
0.003 0.003  f y Es 600  f y
Stress diagram:
T  C1  C2 : As f y  0.85 fc ' ab  As ' f y
bdf y  0.85 fc '  cb   ' bdf y
f ' d ' 600
lim  0.85 c '
f y d 600  f y
  lim f '  fy
When , compression steel yields s
  lim f '  fy
When , compression steel does not yield s
When compression steel does not yield:
 fs ' 
b  b   ' 
 f 
 y 
  max
Note: when for singly reinforced beam, the effect of the compression steel may
be neglected and the beam may be analyzed as a singly –reinforced.
 Doubly Reinforced Rectangular Beam – Design Problem

2.3 A rectangular beam which must carry a service live load of 36 kN/m and a
calculated dead load of 15.5 kN/m on a 5.50 m simple span is limited in cross-section
for architectural reasons to 300 mm width and 500 mm total depth. If fy = 276 Mpa and
fc’ =21 MPa what steel area must be provided?

b = 300mm
0.85fc’ 0.85fc’ εc = 0.003
d’
d’= 65 mm C2 a/2 εs’
As’ a C1 a C1 C2
c
= + = d
d = 400mm h d-d’
(d-a/2)
As

T=Asfy T1 T2 εs = fy/Es

Beam Moment Resistance Moment M1 Moment M2

Moment Resistance Second Stage Strain
Cross-section First Stage Diagram

Solution:
1.3.1 Compute factored loads and factored moment
wu  1.4 15.5  1.7  36  82.9 kN / m
1 1
 M u  wu L2  82.9  5.5  313.466 kN  m
2

8 8
1.3.2 Check capacity if singly reinforced
f '  30 MPa,   0.85
Since c
f ' 600 21 600
b  0.85 c  0.85  0.85  0.03765
f y 600  f y 276 600  276
max  0.75b  0.75  0.03765  0.0282
As1  max bd  0.0282  300 400   3384 mm2
As1 f y 3384  276 
a   174 mm
0.85 f c ' b 0.85  21 300 
 a  174  6
M1   As1 f y  d    0.90  3384  276   400  10  263.103 kN  m
 2  2 
1.3.3 Compute steel areas
M 2  M u  M1  313.466  263.103  50.363 kN  m
50.363x106
M 2   As ' f y  d  d '
M2
As '    605 mm2
 f y  d  d ' 0.90  276  400  65
As 2  As '  605 mm2
As  As1  As 2  3384  605  3989 mm2
1.3.4 Check ductility
A 3989 As ' 605
 s   0.03324 '   0.00504
bd 300  400  bd 300  400 
b  b   '  0.03765  0.00504  0.04269
Since    0.03324  <  b  0.04269  f  fy
, tension steel yields s
f ' d ' 600 21 65 600
lim  0.85 c   '  0.85  0.85  0.00504  0.02158
f y d 600  f y 276 400 600  276

Since
  '  0.03324 >  b  0.02158 , compression steel yields f s '  f y
1.3.5 Select size and number of bars

For tension bars: using 32 mmø; As   32   804 mm2
2

4
As 3989
n   4.96 , say 5-32 mm ø bars (2-layers)
Ab 804
b  nb  2 pc 300  3  32   2  50 
Clear spacing: s    52 mm > 25mm ok!
4 1 3 1
A ' 605
For compression bars: using 20 mmø; n  s   1.93 , say 2-20 mmø
Ab 314
bars
(1-layer)

1.3.6 Details (section at midspan)

300mm

2 - 20mm

500mm
5 - 32mm

Final Section Details

 Doubly Reinforced Rectangular Beam
Investigation – Tension and Compression Steel Yields

2.1 Determine the ultimate moment capacity of the doubly reinforced beam section
shown if fc’ = 34.5 MPa and fy = 345 Mpa

b = 300mm
0.85fc’ 0.85fc’ εc = 0.003
d’
d’= 60 mm C2 a/2 εs’
a C1 a C1 C2
As’ = 2-28ø c
= + = d
d = 460mm h d-d’
(d-a/2)
As = 6-32ø

T=Asfy T1 T2 εs = fy/Es

Beam Moment Resistance Moment M1 Moment M2

Moment Resistance Second Stage Strain
Cross-section First Stage
Diagram

Solution:
2.1.1 Solve steel ratios
 As 4825
As   32   6   4825 mm2    0.03496
2

4 bd 300  460 
 As ' 1232
As   28  2   1232 mm2 '   0.00893
2

4 bd 300  460 
2.1.2 Check if compression bars can be neglected
  0.85  0.008  fc ' 30  0.85  0.008  34.5  30   0.814  0.65
f c ' 600d 34.5 600
For singly reinforced: b  0.85  0.85  0.814   0.0439
f y 600  f y 345 600  345
max  0.75  0.75  0.0439   0.0329
Since    0.03496   max  0.0329 , Therefore analyze as consider the effect of
compression bars
2.1.3 Check ductility
b  b   '  0.0439  0.00893  0.05283
Since    0.03496   b  0.05283 , tension steel yields f s  f y
f c ' d ' 600 34.5 60 600
lim  0.85   '  .85  0.814   0.00893  0.0302
f y d 600  f y 345 460 600  345
Since    0.03496   lim  0.0302 , compression steel yields f s '  f y

2.1.4 Compute moment capacity

  As  As ' f y  4825  1232  345
a   140 mm
0.85 f c ' b 0.85  34.5 300 
 a  140 
M1   As  As ' f y  d     4825  1232  345  460    483.44 kN  m
 2  2 
M 2  As ' f y  d  d '  1232  345 460  60106  170.02kN  m
M u    M1  M 2   0.90  483.44  170.02  588.11kN  m

Doubly Reinforced Rectangular Beam

Investigation –Compression Steel does not Yields

2.2 Determine the ultimate moment capacity of the doubly reinforced beam section
shown if fc’ = 34.5 MPa and fy = 345 Mpa

b = 300mm
0.85fc’ 0.85fc’ εc = 0.003
d’
d’= 60 mm C2 a/2 εs’
a C1 a C1 C2
As’ = 2-32ø c
= + = d
d = 460mm h d-d’
(d-a/2)
As = 6-32ø

T=Asfy T1 T2 εs = fy/Es

Beam Moment Resistance Moment M1 Moment M2

Moment Resistance Second Stage Strain
Cross-section First Stage
Diagram

Solution:
2.1.1 Solve steel ratios
 As 4825
As   32   6   4825 mm2    0.03496
2

4 bd 300  460 
 A' 2413
As   28  2   2413mm2 ' s   0.0175
2

4 bd 300  460 
2.1.2 Check if compression bars can be neglected
  0.85  0.008  fc ' 30  0.85  0.008  34.5  30   0.814  0.65
f c ' 600d 34.5 600
For singly reinforced: b  0.85  0.85  0.814   0.0439
f y 600  f y 345 600  345
max  0.75  0.75  0.0439   0.0329
Since    0.03496   max  0.0329 , Therefore analyze as consider the effect of
compression bars.
2.1.3 Check ductility
b  b   '  0.0439  0.0175  0.0614
 Since    0.03496   b  0.0614 , tension steel yields f s  f y
f c ' d ' 600 34.5 65 600
lim  0.85   '  .85  0.814   0.0175  0.0405
f y d 600  f y 345 460 600  345
Since    0.03496   lim  0.0405 , compression steel has not yields f s '  f y
2.2.4 Solve stress in compression steel at failure
s ' 0.003 0.003  c  65
 s ' 
c  65 c c
f s '  Es s '  200 x103
0.003  c  65    c  65
600
c c
T  C1  C2 : As f y  0.85 fc ' ab  As ' f y a   c  0.814c
600  c  65
4875  345  0.85  34.5814c  300   2413
c
c2  30.28c  13141.3  0
a   c  0.814 130.8  106.5 mm
600  c  65 600 130.8  65
fs '    302MPa   f y  345 MPa 
c 130.8
 f '  302 
b  b   '  s   0.0439  0.0175    0.0592   , tension steel yields,
 f   345 
 y 
2.1.4 Compute moment capacity
 a  a  106.5 
M1  C1  d    0.85 f c ' ab  d    0.85  34.5106.5 300   460   10   380.94 kN  m
6

 2  2  2 
M 2  As ' f s '  d  d '  2413  302 460  65106  287.85 kN  m
M u    M1  M 2   0.90  380.94  287.85  601.91kN  m