Special Term Exam – Concrete Structures I

Integrated Master Degree (MSc) in Civil Engineering

Responsible: Prof. José Camara
16 July 2014
st
1 Semestre
Note: Duration: 3h. Consultation of Formulary and Tables Justify all answers. Identify all examination sheets. Please
turn off the cell-phone and house it. The use of calculators is only allowed for the authorized models of calculators.

Problem 1 (14.0 val)

Consider the following slab represented in the figure, part of a one-level building. Admit for applied loads
the self weight of the concrete structure, and the following permanent and variable loads applied by square
2 2
meter of slab: r.c.p. = 3 kN/m ; sob = 4 kN/m .

4,0

A 0,2
0,7
B

A
0,3
4,0
Secção AA

7.5 m 7.5 m

g = 1,35
q = 1,50
Cover = 3,5 cm
C20/25
A500 NR SD
2 = 0,20 ; 1 = 0,5

NOTE: Please consider that the major part of the load applied on the central beam corresponds to the
loads transmitted by the slabs.

(2.0 val.) a) a1) Calculate the amount of bending reinforcement required to verify safety at Ultimate Limit State, at
mid-span and at intermediate support. Please use an effective width of the compression flange
bef = 1,60 m, and consider that edge supports are simply supported. Do not consider any
alternate locations for variable loads.
(2.0 val.) a2) Please comment and explain the following two sentences:
“When verifying safety of beam at Ultimate Limit State, it is not required to consider alternate
locations of variable loads on different spans, because of the moment redistribution capacity of
beam near failure.”
“Edge supports of beams are considered as simply supported, however “reasonable” amounts of
top and bottom bending reinforcement should be provided in this connection”.

(2.0 val.) b) Verify safety at Ultimate Limit State of shear failure and define the distribution of transversal
reinforcement along the length of the beam.

(2.0 val.) c) Using the results of question a) and question b), carefully detail the reinforcement of beam. Draw the
cross-section near the intermediate support and an elevation of the entire beam. Rigorous
calculations of any bar cut-off locations are not required, however these should be indicated.
(2.0 val.) d) Calculate for the frequent load combination, the tensile stress at the top bending reinforcement at the
intermediate support. Please comment and explain the order of magnitude of the obtained value.
Based on this value, proceed to the evaluation of crack opening without direct calculation.

(2.0 val.) e) e1) Considering the quasi-permanent load combination, and knowing that the elastic bending
deflection at mid-span is given by:
4
1 pl
ac = 184.6  ,
E
Calculate the long term deflection (consider an equivalent rectangular cross section)
Use the following values fctm = 2,5 MPa,  = 3,5.
(0.5 val.) e2) Please explain, based on the moment – mean curvature (M – 1/Rm ) diagram, the reason why the
deflection of a reinforced concrete beam is influenced by cracking.
(1.0 val.) e3) Please explain, why is important to control the deflections in a project of a building? How can the
span to depth ratio l/h be used to control deflections without explicit calculation.

(0.5 val.) f) Consider now in this structure a design working life of 100 years. Indicate and explain which specific
measures should be considered in this project.

Problem 2 (6.0 Val)

Consider the column indicated in the figure, and the same material properties of Problem 1.

(2.0 val.) a) Admit that the axial force is N1,Sd =1750 kN for load combination 1, and N 2,Sd = 3500 kN for load
combination 2. Calculate the maximal bending strength for each combination (bending in the plane of
the paper).

(1.0 val.) b) Explain the obtained differences for bending moment values calculated in previous question, taking
into account the influence of the axial force (higher values of N  higher values of M). Is it always like
this?

(1.0 val.) c) Verify if second order effects should be considered, knowing that the column is inserted in a braced
structure, for bending in the plane of the paper. Use the most unfavorable load combination defined at
question a). Consider l0 = 0.8 l.

(2.0 val.) d) Detail in the figure all the transversal reinforcement, for cross-sections, and along the entire length of
the column. Consider the safety at shear failure and practical detailing rules for transversal
reinforcement in columns. Justify the design options that were considered.

Msd,1 = 500 kN.m

4Ø25+10Ø20

CORTE 1-1

Msd,2 =200 kN.m

 Msd,1 = 500 kN.m

4Ø25+10Ø20

CORTE 1-1

Msd,2 = 200 kN.m

7,5m 7,5m

Nº NOME