The Islamic University of Gaza

Department of Civil Engineering

Design of Special Reinforced Concrete Structures

Design of Circular Beams

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 1

 Circular Beams

They are most frequently used in circular reservoirs,

spherical dome, curved balconies … etc.
Circular beams loaded and supported loads normal
to their plans.
The center of gravity of loads does not coincide
with the centerline axis of the member.

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 2

 Circular Beams

Circular beam are subjected to torsional moments

in addition to shear and bending moment
The torsional moment causes overturning of the
beams unless the end supported of the beams are
properly restrained.

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 3

Semi-circular beam simply supported on three
equally spaced supports

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 4

 Semi-circular beam supported on three supports

Supports Reactions
Let
R A = R C = V1
R B = V2
Taking the moment of the reaction about the line
passing through B and parallel to AC

M 0
 2R 
F y 0
2V 1R  wR   R   WR
   V 2  wR   2   2 
WR 2
V1    2  V 2  2Rw
2

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 5

S.F and B.M at Point P at angle  from support C

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 6

 Semi-circular beam supported on three supports

Taking the bending moment at point P at angle 

from the support say, C equal:

 R sin  / 2  
M  V 1R sin  wR   sin  / 2  
  / 2  
wR
M     2  R sin   2wR 2
sin 2
 / 2 
2
2    2  
M   wR  sin   2sin  / 2  
2

 2 

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 7

 Semi-circular beam supported on three supports

Maximum negative moment occurs at point B


M max.ve  M B (at   )
2
M B  0.429wR 2
Maximum Positive moment
dM 
Max . M ve  where (  0)
d
dM  2    2  
 wR  cos   2sin  / 2  cos  / 2    0
d  2 
 2
tan     29 43'
2
M max  0.1514wR 2
Dr. Mohammed Arafa 8
 Semi-circular beam supported on three supports
Torsional Moment at point P
 R sin  / 2  
T  V 1   R  R cos    wR   R  cos  / 2  
  / 2  
   2     2  
T   wR    cos     sin  
2

 2   2  
dT
The section of maximum torsion 0
d
dT
0 at   59 26 '
d
T max.  0.1042wR 2

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 9

Circular beams loaded uniformly and supported on
symmetrically placed columns

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 10

Circular beams at symmetrically placed columns

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 11

 Circular beams at symmetrically placed columns

Consider portion AB of beam between two

consecutive columns A and B be with angle 
The load on portion AB of beam =wR
The center of gravity of the load will lie at a
distance R sin( /2) ( /2) from the center
Let M0 be the bending moment and V0 be the
shear at the supports

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 12

 Circular beams at symmetrically placed columns

From geometry V 0  wR  / 2
The moment M0 at the support can be resolved
along the line AB and at right angle to it. The
component along line AB is M0 sin( /2) and M 0 cos( /2)
at right angle of it.
Taking the moment of all forces about line AB

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 13

 Circular beams at symmetrically placed columns

Taking the moment of all forces about line AB

 R sin  / 2  
2M 0 sin  / 2   wR    R cos  / 2  
  /2 
  sin  / 2  cos  / 2  
M 0  wR  2
  
 2sin  / 2   /2 2sin  / 2  
  
M 0  wR 1  cot  / 2  
2

 2 

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 14

 S.F and B.M. at point P, at angle  from the support

• Load between points A and P is wR

• Shearing force at point P
wR   
VP   wR   wR    
2 2 
Dr. Mohammed Arafa 15
 Shear force and bending moment at point P

The direction of vector representing bending moment at

point P will act along line PO

R sin  / 2 
M  V 0 R sin   M 0 cos  wR  sin  / 2 
/2
wR 2   
M  sin   wR 2 1  cot  / 2   cos   2wR 2 sin 2  / 2 
2  2 
  
M   wR 2  sin   cos   cot  / 2  cos   2sin 2  / 2  
2 2 
since cos   1  2sin 2  / 2 
   
M   wR  1  sin   cot  / 2  cos  
2

 2 2 
Dr. Mohammed Arafa 16
 Shear force and bending moment at point P

The direction of vector representing torsion at point P will act at

right angle to line PO
wR   R sin  / 2  
T   M 0 sin    R  R cos    wR   R  cos  / 2  
2   /2 
since R  R cos   R 1  cos    2R sin 2  / 2 
    2 
T   wR 2 1  cot  / 2   sin   wR 2 sin 2  / 2   wR 2 1  sin  / 2  cos  / 2  
 2    
    21 
T   wR 2 1  cot  / 2   sin   wR 2 sin 2  / 2   wR 2 1  sin  
 2   2 
  
T   wR 2 sin   cot  / 2  sin    sin 2  / 2     sin  
 2 
  
T   wR 2   cot  / 2  sin    sin 2  / 2  
 2 
since 2sin 2  / 2   1  cos 
    
T   wR 2    cos   sin   cot  / 2  sin  
 2 2 2 Dr. Mohammed  Arafa 17
 Shear force and bending moment at point P
To obtain maximum value of torsional moment
dT 
0
d
wR   R sin  / 2  
T   M 0 sin    R  R cos    wR   R  cos  / 2  
2  /2 
dT     
 wR 1  sin   sin   cot  / 2  cos    0
2

d  2 2 
   
M   wR 2 1  sin   sin   cot  / 2  cos    0
 2 2 

i.e. point of maximum torsion will be point of zero moment

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 18

 Circular beams loaded uniformly and supported on
symmetrically n placed columns
Angle
# of Supports R V  K K` K`` for Max
Torsion
4 P/4 P/8 90 0.137 0.07 0.021 19 21
5 P/5 P/10 72 0.108 0.054 0.014 15 45
6 P/6 P/12 60 0.089 0.045 0.009 12 44
7 P/7 P/14 51.4 3 0.077 0.037 0.007 10 45
8 P/8 P/16 45 0.066 0.030 0.005 9 33
9 P/9 P/18 40 0.060 0.027 0.004 8 30
10 P/10 P/20 36 0.054 0.023 0.003 7 30
12 P/12 P/24 30 0.045 0.017 0.002 6 21

P  2 rw
Tmax
Mmax(+ve)

M support  KwR 2 Tmax

Mmax(-ve)

M Midspan  K ' wR 2 /2

Vmax

`

Tmax  K '' wR  2
Dr. Mohammed Arafa
Mmax(-ve)

Vmax
O
19
 Example 1
Design a semi-circular beam supported on three-equally
spaced columns. The centers of the columns are on a
circular curve of diameter 8m. The beam is support a
uniformly distributed factored load of 5.14 t/m in addition
to its own weight.
f c'  350 kg / cm 2 and f y  4200 kg / cm 2
L  r  2   6.28 m
hmin  L /18.5  628 /18.5  33.94cm
use Beam 40×70 cm

o. w. of the beam =0.4(0.7)(2.5)(1.2)

= 0.84 t/m’
Total load= 5.14+0.84=5.98 t/m’

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 20

 Example 1

M max( ve )  0.429wR 2  0.429(5.98)(4) 2  41.05 t .m

M max( ve )  0.1514wR 2  0.1514(5.98)(4) 2  14.48t .m
T max  0.1042wR 2  0.1042(5.98)(4) 2  9.97 t .m
Reactions
wR 5.98(4)
RA    2     2   13.65ton
2 2
R B  2wR  2(5.98)(4)  47.84 ton
wR
Shear at point P: V    2  wR 
2

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 21

Example 1

Shear Force Diagram

Bending Moment Diagram

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 22

 Example 1
Design for Reinforcement
d=70-4.0-0.8-1.25=63.95

0.85  350  2.61 105  41.05  

 ve  1  1    0.00697   min
4200  40  63.95  350 
 
A s ( ve )   0.00697  40  63.95   17.85 cm 2

0.85  350  2.61 105 14.48  

 ve  1  1    0.00238   min
4200  40  63.95  350 
 
A s ( ve )   0.0033 40  63.95   8.44cm 2

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 23

 Example 1
Design for Shear
V max  23.92 ton (T  0.0 at middle support)
V c  0.53  0.75  350(40)(63.95)  19.02 ton
23.92  19.02
VS   6.53 ton
0.75
A
6.53 1000  V 4200(63.95)
S
AV
 0.0243 cm 2 / cm
S

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 24

 Example 1
Design for Torsion
0.265 f c' Acp2
if T u   neglect torsion
pcp
Acp  bh , pcp  2 b  h  , A 0 h  x 0 y 0 , p h  2  x 0  y 0  and A 0  0.85x 0 y 0
The following equation has to be satisfied to check for ductlity
2 2
 V u   Tu p h   Vc ' 
   2 
  2.12 f c 
b d
 w   1.7 A oh  b
 w d 
Reinforcement
AT Tu

S 2 f ys A 0

 AT  1.3 f c' Acp  AT 

Al    p h and A l ,min    ph
 S  f y  S 

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 25

 Example 1
Design for Torsion
At section of maximum torsion is located at =59.43

T=9.97 t.m
wR 59.43
Vu     2   wR   13.65  5.98(4)( 2 )  11.6 ton
2 360
M  0.0
V c  0.53  0.75  350(40)(63.95)  19.02 ton V u  No shear reinf.required 

0.265  0.75  f c'  40  70 

2
0.265 f c' Acp2
  1.32 t .m  T u
pcp 2  40  70 10 5

i.e torsion must be considered

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 26

 Example 1
Design for Torsion: Ductility Check
The following equation has to be satisfied
2
 Vu   Tu ph   Vc ' 
   2 
  2.12 f c 
b d
 w   1.7 Aoh  b
 w d 
x0  40  4  4  0.8  31.2
y0  70  4  4  0.8  61.2
ph  2  x0  y0   2  31.2  61.2   184.8 cm
Aoh  31.2  61.2  1909.44 cm 2

 11.16 103    9.97 10  184.8  

2 2 5
 Vu   Tu ph 
           30.04 kg / cm 2

 40  63.95   1.7 1909.44  

2 2
 bw d   1.7 Aoh 
 Vc '   19.02 
  2.12 f c   0.75   2.12 350   49.6 kg / cm 2  30.04
 bw d   40  63.95 
i.e section dimension are adequate for preventing brittle failure
due to combined shear stresses.
Dr. Mohammed Arafa 27
 Example 1
Design for Torsion
AT Tu 9.97 105
   0.097 cm 2 / cm
S 2 f ys A 0 2  0.75  4200  0.85 1909.44 
 AT  3.5bw 3.5  40 
     0.0167 cm 2
/ cm
 S min 2f ys 2  4200 
 AV   AT 
 
    0  0.097  0.086cm 2
/ cm
 S   S 
A 1.13
Use 12mm @11.5cm (closed stirrups) with   0.0983cm 2 / cm
S 11.5

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 28

 Example 1
Design for Torsion
A 
A l   T  p h  0.086 184.8   15.98 cm 2
 S 
1.3 f c' Acp  AT  1.3 350  40  70 
A l ,min    ph   15.98  0.234 cm 2
fy  S  4200
15.98
Al   5.33cm 2
3
Use 2 20 top and 414skin reinforcement
A 
s , ve total  8.44  5.33  13.77cm 2 use 618mm

A 
s , ve total  17.83  5.33  23.16cm 2 use8 20mm

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 29

 Example 1
Design for Torsion

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 30

 Internal Forces in Circular beams Using polar coordinate

dV
 w ds  rd  A
ds
dV
 wr
d 
P

dM dT
 V as r = constant
B

ds dr
dT T

dr r
dM T
 V
ds r
dM
 T V r
d

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 31

 Internal Forces in Circular beams Using polar coordinate

The component of the moment M along ds in the radial

direction must be equal to the difference of the torsional
moments along the same element

Mds
dT  Md  
r
dT
M
d

This means that the torsional moment is maximum at

point of zero bending moment

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 32

 Internal Forces in Circular beams Using polar coordinate

Differentiating the equation

dM
 T V r
d

d 2 M dT d V r  dV
   r   r 2
w
d 2
d d d
d 2M
 M  wr 2

d2

The solution of this deferential equation gives

M  A sin   B cos  wr 2

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 33
 Internal Forces in Circular beams Using polar coordinate

M  A sin   B cos  wr 2

 The constants can be determined from conditions at

supports
 The internal forces are in this manner statically
indeterminate. In many cases, they can be determined
from the conditions of equilibrium alone because the
statically indeterminate values are either known or equal
to zero.

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 34

 Circular beams loaded uniformly and supported on
symmetrically n placed columns
2 
20  0 
n n
2 rw  rw
R V 
n n
 The bending moment and shearing force V at any
section at an angle  from the centerline between two
successive supports are given by:
  cos  
M r w 
2
 1
 n sin 0 
  sin  
T  r w 
2
 
 n sin 0 
V  rw  Dr. Mohammed Arafa 35
 SEMICIRCULAR BEAM FIXED AT END SUPPORTS

 If a semicircular beam supports a concrete slab, as

shown the ratio of the length to the width of the slab is
2r/r = 2, and the slab is considered a one-way slab.
 The beam will be subjected to a distributed load, which
causes torsional moments in addition to the bending
moments and shearing forces.
 The load on the curved beam will be proportional to its
distance from the support AB

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 36

SEMICIRCULAR BEAM FIXED AT END SUPPORTS

Load on the curved beam per unit length

wr sin 
w' 
2
Shear Force
 
VA  VB    wr 2  0.39wr 2
8
Bending Moment at support
wr 3
MA  MB  
3
Torsional Moment at support
TA  0.11wr 3

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 37

SEMICIRCULAR BEAM FIXED AT END SUPPORTS
Bending Moment at section N
  1  cos 2

MN  wr  sin  
3
 T A sin 
8 6 
 1  cos 2  
MN  wr  sin  
3
 0.11sin  
8 6 

M Midspan  0.116wr 3 at  =
2
Torsional Moment at section N
  1 
T N  wr 3   cos   1   sin 2   T A cos 
8 4 24 
3   1 
T N  wr   cos   1   sin 2  0.11cos  
8 4 24 

T Midspan  0 at  =
2
Dr. Mohammed Arafa 38
 BMD

TMD

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 39

Fixed-end Semicircular Beam Under Uniform Loading

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 40

Fixed-end Semicircular Beam Under Uniform Loading

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 41

Fixed End Semicircular Beam with Uniform Loading

Load on the curved beam per unit length w

Shear Force
VA  VB  1.57 wr
Bending Moment at support
M A  M B   wr 2
Torsional Moment at support
TA  0.3wr 2

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 42

Fixed End Semicircular Beam with Uniform Loading
Bending Moment at section N
 
MN  wr  sin   1 T A sin 
2

2 
4 
MN  wr 2  sin   1
 

M Midspan  0.273wr 2
=
2
Torsional Moment at section N
  
T N  wr  cos       T A cos 
2

2 2 
  4 
T N  wr 2    cos  
 2  

T Midspan  0 = Dr. Mohammed Arafa 43
2
Fixed End Circular Beam under Uniform Loading

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 44

Fixed End Circular Beam under Uniform Loading

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 45

Fixed End Semicircular Beam with Uniform Loading
Load on the curved beam per unit length w
Bending Moment at Centerline
wr 2
MC    K1  K 2  K 3    K1  K 2  
K4
Torsional Moment at Centerline
TC  0
Bending Moment at Section N
M N  M C cos   wr 2 1  cos  
Torsional Moment at Section N
TN  M C sin   wr 2   sin  

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 46

Fixed End Semicircular Beam with Uniform Loading

Bending Moment at Support A

M A  M C cos   wr 2 1  cos  
Torsional Moment at Support A
TA  M C sin   wr 2   sin  

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 47

 Values of  and J

 The value of G/E for concrete may be assumed to

be equal to 0.43.

The Value of J
1 4
For circcular section J   r
2
For square section of side x J  0.141x 4
For rectangular section of short side x and long side y
J  K ' xy 3

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 48

 Values of  and J

For rectangular section of short side x and long side y

Dr. Mohammed Arafa 49

 Problems
P1- Design a circular beam that supported on six equally spaced
columns, and its centerline lies on a circle 7m in diameter. The
beam carries a uniform dead load of 12 t/m` and live load of
6kg/m’. Use f c'  300 kg / cm 2 and f y  4200 kg / cm 2

P2. Find the values of factored shear, moment and torsion at critical
sections for the fixed end semicircular beam, if the diameter of the
circle is 10 m. The beam is apart of floor slab that caries a uniform
dead load (including its own) weight of 800 kg/m2 and live load of
200kg/m2.

P3. Find the values of factored shear, moment and torsion at critical
sections for the 60o V-shape beam, with a=8m. The beam carries a
uniform dead load (including its own) weight of 10 t/m` and live
load of 4t/m`. Assume the ratio of long to short side of the
rectangular section is 2.

50