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Basic Concepts

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Mu = Moment due to factored loads (required

ultimate moment)
Mn = Nominal moment capacity of the cross-section
using nominal dimensions and specified
material strengths.
f = Strength reduction factor (Accounts for
variability in dimensions, material strengths,
approximations in strength equations.
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 Beam Proportions

Beams 5 to 7.5 m long – d/b approximately 1-

1/2 to 2
Longer beams – d/b approximately 3 to 4
Shallower beams result in reduced floor
height

Beam widths are usually in multiples of 5 cm or 10

cm

Deflections
Deflections may be calculated
Short-term and long-term deflections
ACI Code provides minimum depth – deflection
calculation not required (Table 9.5)
If deflections are calculated, ACI minimum
values are not mandatory
ACI minimums apply only to members
supporting construction not likely to be
damaged by large deflections
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CE432 Dr. Khaldoon Bani-Hani 7

SHRINKAGE AND TEMPERATURE REINFORCEMENT

Minimum shrinkage and temperature reinforcement normal to

primary flexural reinforcement is required for structural floor
and roof slabs (not slabs on ground) where the flexural
reinforcement extends in one direction only. Minimum steel
ratios, based on the gross concrete area, are:
1. 0.0020 for Grades 40 and 50 deformed bars;
2. 0.0018 for Grade 60 deformed bars or welded wire
reinforcement;
3. 0.0018 60,000/fy for reinforcement with a yield strength
greater than 60,000 psi; but not less than 0.0014.

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CE432 Dr. Khaldoon Bani-Hani 9

Minimum Steel Reinforcement

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 Member Weight
The weight of a member is a load which must
be supported by the members
Member weight is not known until the member
is designed
SWAG the member weight– design the
Estimate
beam – refine estimate of member weight

Redesign the member – refine weight

estimate if necessary

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Minimum
Edge
Distance

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 Minimum Spacing of Bars
ACI Section 7.6 – minimum clear distance
between bars is the larger of the bar
diameter or 1 in
If layers of bars are used, bars in the upper
layer are required to be placed directly
over those in the lower layer
ACI Code Section 3.3.2 limits maximum
aggregate size, based on bar spacing – for
¾ in. max agg size, max. bar spacing = 1 in.
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Aggregate Size and Bar Spacing

Aggregate size is limited to:

(a) one-fifth narrowest dimension between

side forms
(b) one-third slab depth
(c) three-fourths minimum clear spacing of
bars

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Development Length and Bar
Spacing
Development length varies with cover and bar
spacing

Larger values of cover and / or bar spacing

result in smaller development length

It may be economical to increase cover and /

or bar spacing in order to reduce
development length

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Design Aids

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Beam Sizes
Only a few beam sizes should be used in a
particular floor system

Beam subject to largest moment should be

sized to be as small as practical

Size other beams in the floor system similarly

and use less steel for those beams that
support smaller moment

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Cantilever Beams
Cantilever beams are subject to negative
moment throughout the length

For cantilever beams, the largest moment

occurs at the face of the support

For cantilever beams, the largest steel

requirement occurs at the face of the
support

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Cantilever Beams

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Continuous Beams
Continuous beams are statically indeterminate
Both positive and negative moments occur in
continuous beams
The largest negative moment occurs over the
supports
The largest positive moment occurs near
midspan
Both positive and negative moment
reinforcing steel is required
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Continuous Beams

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Design Examples

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Example: Design of Reinforcement when b and h
are known

For architectural reasons, it is necessary that

the beam shown in the figure be 600mm wide by
600mm deep. The strength of the concrete and
steel are 20MPa and 420MPa, respectively. In
addition to its own dead load, this beam carries a
superimposed service dead load of 15kN/m and a
service live load of 37kN/m. Compute the area of
reinforcement required at midspan, and select
the reinforcement bars.

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Solution:

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Design of Beams when b and h are not known:

The second type of design problem involves finding

b, d and As. Three sets of decisions must be made here.
These are :
- Estimate of beam own weight ≈ 10 to 20% of carried
loads
- Selection of a trial steel percentage : ρ ≈ 0.01
- Selection of beam dimensions: h ≈ 8 to 10% of the beam
span, b ≈ 0.5h.

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Solution

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