Reinforced Concrete Beam Project Reinforced Concrete Beam Project

ƒ Entry to the Herff College of Engineering 2003 ƒ Each team should prepare a full formal technical
Reinforced Concrete Competition requires:
report with a 5-minute presentation supported
by recent and relevant research
ƒ Letters of interest and writing plan are due Tuesday
March 18, 2003 to:
ƒ Final presentation and reports are due Sunday,
Dr. Martin E. Lipinski, Chair
Department of Civil Engineering April 13, 2003 -- 6:00 p.m. Engineering
The University of Memphis Auditorium
Memphis, TN 38152

ƒ A research-based progress report must be submitted to

Dr. Charles V. Camp, Contest Coordinator, by April 1,
2003.

Reinforced Concrete Beam Project Reinforced Concrete Beam Project

ƒ The cost of each beam will be estimated using

ƒ The objective of this project is to develop the the following data:
strongest reinforced concrete beam as
measured by the strength-to-weight ratio Material Cost

(SWR). Portland Type I cement $150/ton

Coarse aggregate $15/ton

Ultimate Load (lbs )

SWR =
Fine aggregate $12/ton

Beam Weight (lbs ) Steel reinforcement $500/ton

Admixtures - water reducer $10/gal

ƒ The strength of the beam is the ultimate load Admixture - silica flume $800/ton

recorded during testing. Fiber reinforcement Market value (see Dr. Camp)

Reinforced Concrete Beam Project Reinforced Concrete Beam Project

ƒ The concrete beam must be 30 inches long, 6 inches
ƒ A cost factor will be computed as follows: height, and have a prismatic cross-section.
Applied Load

$2.00
Cost Factor =
Beam Cost ($) width
6 in.
8 in. 8 in.

ƒ Using your cost factor, an adjusted SWR

computed as follows: 24 in.

30 in.

ƒ In designing the reinforced concrete beam groups may

SWRAdjusted = SWR × Cost Factor consider the use of admixtures, various types of
reinforcement, various types of cements and aggregates,
and non-rectangular cross-sections.

1
 Reinforced Concrete Beam Project Reinforced Concrete Beam Project

ƒ The reinforced concrete beam problem poses ƒ The reinforced concrete beam project schedule:
several challenges to the student:
Date Activity
March 4-6 Introduction; concrete mix #1; concrete beam #1
1. selection of the shape and size of the cross-section
March 18 Letters of interest and writing plan
of the beam;
March 18-20
2. design of a concrete mix based on strength and Break mix #1 and beam #1; develop concrete beam #2

workability; March 25-27 Break mix #2 and beam #2; develop concrete beam #3

3. design of the reinforcement (type of reinforcement, April 1 Research-based progress report

amount, and position in the beam), and April 1-3 Break mix #3 and beam #3; develop final beam

4. the prediction of the SWR of the beam. April 8-10 Break final concrete beam

April 13 Reinforced concrete beam presentations - 6:00 p.m.

Reinforced Concrete Beam Project Reinforced Concrete Beam Project

ƒ The cost of steel may be estimated as follows: ƒ For example, if one #5 rebar in placed in
the beam the steel cost is estimated as:
As L  lb   $500   ton  Bar # Diameter (in) As (in2 )
Cost of steel =
Cost of steel =  490 ft 3   ton   2, 000 lb  1 0.125 0.0123

1,728 in
3
   
2
3
0.125
0.375
0.0245
0.11
ft
3
4 0.500 0.20 (0.31in 2 )(30in )  lb   $500   ton 
5 0.625 0.31 =  490 ft 3   ton   2, 000 lb 
1,728 in 3 
3
6 0.750 0.44
  
ƒ where As is the cross-sectional area of steel ft
7 0.875 0.60
8 1.000 0.79

rebars, L is the length of the steel rebars, and

9 1.128 1.00
10 1.270 1.27
11 1.410 1.56
= $0.66
490 lb/ft3 is the unit weight of steel.

Reinforced Concrete Beam Project Reinforced Concrete Beam Project

ƒ Consider the following mix for a yd3 of concrete ƒ The cost of the concrete required for a 4" by 6"
developed using the ACI mix design procedure. by 30" beam is estimated as:
Component Amount (lb)
4in (6in )30in  708 lb   $150   ton 
water 304 Cost of cement =  3   
1, 728in 3  27 ft   ton   2, 000 lb 
3

cement 708 ft
coarse aggregate 1,824 = $0.82
fine aggregate 1,131
4in (6in )30in  1,824 lb   $15   ton 
Cost of coarse aggregate =  3   
1,728 in 3  27 ft   ton   2, 000 lb 
3

ft

= $0.21

2
 Reinforced Concrete Beam Project Reinforced Concrete Beam Project

ƒ The cost of the concrete required for a 4" by 6"

by 30" beam is estimated as: ƒ For example, if the unadjusted SWR for a beam
is 510 and the cost is $1.80, then the cost
Cost of fine aggregate =
4in (6in )30in  1,131 lb   $12   ton

 adjusted SWR is:
3   
1,728 in 3  27 ft   ton   2, 000 lb 
3

ft

= $0.10 SWRAdjusted = SWR × Cost Factor

The cost concrete is estimated as: $1.14
$2.00
The cost reinforced concrete beam is estimated SWRAdjusted = 510 × = 567
as: $1.80 $1.80

Reinforced Concrete Beam Project Reinforced Concrete Beam Project

Any questions?