SERVICEABILITY 7-1 Introduction 7-6 Procedure for 7-8 Deflection Control ‘ Calculating the Deflection Measures in Reinforced 7-2 Deflections of Simply Supported Conerete Structures 7-8 Calculation of ler fend Contnuaie Beane 7-9 Crack Control 7-4 Immediate Deflection 7-7 Procedure for Calculating | 710 Floor Vibrations the Deflection of 7-11 Gross and Cracked Section 7-5 Long-Term Continuous Girders Properties of Concrete Deflection Sections 7-1 INTRODUCTION to be more stringent than those given in ACI Code The ACI Code requires that bending members have structural strength adequate to support the antici- pated factored design loads (ACI Code Sections 4.4.4 and 4.6) and that they have adequate performance at service load levels (ACI Code Section 4.7). Adequate performance, or serviceability, relates to deflections and ‘racking in reinforced concrete beams and slabs. It is important to realize that serviceability is to be assured at service load levels, not at ultimate strength. At ser- vice loads, deflections should be held to specified limits because of many considerations, among which are aesthetics, effects on nonstructural elements such, as windows and partitions, undesirable vibrations, and proper functioning of roof drainage systems. Any cracking should be limited to hairline cracks for reasons of appearance and to ensure protection of reinforcement against corrosion. 7-2 DEFLECTIONS ‘The deflection of concrete flexural members is affected by the following factors: the magnitude and distri- bution of the load on the member; the span of the member and support conditions; the percentage of reinforcement; member section properties; properties of the concrete material; and the degree and extent of flexural cracking in the member. Guidelines for the contzol of deflections are found in the ACI Code, Section 24.2. In addition, Table 242.2 of the Code indi- ‘ates the maximum permissible deflections. Note that the permissible live load deflections for spandrel or edge beams supporting exterior cladding may need Table 2422, depending on the span of the beam and the performance requirements of the exterior cladding. A specific live load deflection limit of say 3/8-inch for spandrel beams regardless of the span is recommended to ensure adequate performance of the cladding [4]. For the purpose of following the Code guidelines, either of two methods may be used: (@) using the minimum thickness (or depth of mem- ber) criteria as established in Tables 7.3.1.1 and 9.3.1.1 of the Code, which will result in sections that are suf- ficiently deep and stiff so that deflections will not be ‘excessive; and (2) calculating expected deflections using standard deflection formulas in combination with the Code provisions for moment of inertia and the effects of the load /time history of the member. ‘Minimum thickness (depth) guidelines are simple and direct and should be used whenever possible. Note that the tabulated minimum thicknesses apply to non-prestressed, one-way members that do not sup port and are not attached to partitions or other con- struction likely to be damaged by large deflections. For members not within these guidelines, deflections ‘must be calculated. For the second method, in which deflections are calculated, the ACI Code stipulates that the members should have their deflections checked at service load levels. Therefore, the properties at service load levels must be used. Under service loads, concrete flexural members still exhibit generally elastic-type behavior (Gee Figure 1-1) but will have been subjected to crack- ing in tension zones at any point where the applied moment is large enough to produce tensile stress in ‘excess of concrete tensile strength. The cross section 183