Reinforced Concrete Beam Design

1. Determination of nominal cover, c

2. Calculation of the effective depth, d.
3. Design load calculation.
4. Moment & shear analysis –SFD and BMD
5. Design of main reinforcements.
6. Design of shear reinforcements.
7. Deflection check.
8. Crack check.
9. Detailing.

Concrete cover

Is determined based on two requirements:

a) Durability requirement (EC2-1-1)
b) Fire resistance requirement (EC2 -1-2)
Durability requirement (EC2 – page 49)
Refer EC2- page 48
Refer EC2 – page 51
Fire resistance requirements EC2-1-2
Effective depth, d

Design load

1. For ultimate limit state,

Design load = 1.35 gk+ 1.5 qk

2. For serviceability limit state,

Design load = 1.0 gk

Permanent / dead loads – include self weight, finishes (screeding, tiles)

Variable / live loads – loads of moving objects / people (obtained from EC1), retained earth or
water

Moment and shear forces

- Calculate and draw the shear force and bending moment diagrams for the beam.
- The maximum values of the shear forces and bending moment will be used in the design
calculation.
Continuous beam design

Design of main reinforcements

Refer EC2 page 152

Refer EC2 page 29 (Table 3.1)

Design of shear reinforcements
Spacing between links

For vertical links, α = 90°.

Deflection check

(L/d) actual ≤ (L/d) allowable

(L/d) actual - from clause 7.16 EC2

(L/d) allowable = (L/d) actual x Modification factor

Modification factor
If deflection check fails,
a) Increase tension reinforcements
b) Increase depth of beam and redesign

Crack control (section 7.3 EC2)

Maximum spacing between bars

Minimum spacing between bars - refer EC2 page 131

Detailing

For continuous beam,

a) Tension reinforcement (at interior support)

- 100% bars must be extended with a distance of 0.15L or 45 from the surface of support
(whichever is greater).
- At least 60% of bars must then be extended with a distance of 0.25L from the surface of
support and,
- At least 20% of the bars have to be extended to the end of span.

b) Tension reinforcement (at mid-span)

- 100% bars at mid-span must be extended to a distance of 0.15L from the center of the
interior support and 0.1L from the center of the outer support.
- At least 30% of this bar has to be extended to the centre of the interior and outer supports.