Solids and Structures

Reinforced Concrete - 1

SPACE – CIV1017 – Solids and Structures

Learning outcomes
 List the advantages of RC
 Understand why steel and concrete work well
together

 Discuss concepts of reinforced concrete

 Explain the design values of steel and concrete in
the Eurocode
 Discuss the flexural formula in relation to
reinforced concrete sections
SNBE – CIV1017 – Solids and Structures
 Why reinforced concrete?

http://www.concretethinker.com/solutions/Locally-
Pantheon, Rome 118–128 AD
Produced.aspx

https://prezi.com/i1mefnccwx__/das-pantheon/

Locally sourced materials,

low technology
SNBE – CIV1017 – Solids and Structures
Why reinforced concrete?

http://civildigital.com/category/quiz/design-of-concrete-structures/

Any shape

By Ángel Plaza Simón - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=844736

SNBE – CIV1017 – Solids and Structures

Why reinforced concrete?

Any size

SNBE – CIV1017 – Solids and Structures

Why reinforced concrete?

Durable

SNBE – CIV1017 – Solids and Structures

Why reinforced concrete?

SNBE – CIV1017 – Solids and Structures

 Why concrete and
steel together? Stress

Stress 𝑓

Concrete STEEL

Compression
compression
& tension

tension Strain Strain

SNBE – CIV1017 – Solids and Structures

Why concrete and steel together?
Stress
𝑓

compression

0.003÷0.004
tension

SNBE – CIV1017 – Solids and Structures

Concept of reinforced concrete

Shear reinforcement
(stirrups or links)
Bending moment diagram
Tension reinforcement
Compression reinforcement

Shear force diagram

SNBE – CIV1017 – Solids and Structures

Why concrete and steel together?

Mechanical bond through

•Ribs
•Bent ends
SNBE – CIV1017 – Solids and Structures
Why concrete and steel together?

Same coefficient of linear

expansion 12x10-6

Concrete is alkaline,
It prevents steel from c
c
corrosion

Concrete cover

SNBE – CIV1017 – Solids and Structures

 How strong is concrete?

Fmax=
What maximum force could
this concrete cube bear
100 mm
100 mm
before failing?
1) the weight a column of 3 m (300 kg)

2) the weight of 15 persons (1 ton)

Strength = 30 N/mm2 3) the weight of 20 cars (30 tons)

SNBE – CIV1017 – Solids and Structures

Strength of reinforced concrete
fyk steel characteristic strength
BS 4449 / Grade B500
Concrete
fck/fck,cube (N/mm2) Ec Young modulus (kN/mm2)

20/25 30
25/30 31
30/37 33
35/45 34
40/50 35
45/55 36
50/60 37
SNBE – CIV1017 – Solids and Structures
Characteristic strength

A characteristic strength value is a

value of strength below which not
Number
of test more than 5% of the test results are
specimens expected to fall.

95%

1.64 SD
5% (Standard Deviation)
Mean strength
Characteristic
strength fm
strength fk

SNBE – CIV1017 – Solids and Structures

 Idealised stress-strain for concrete
in compression
Experimental curve Parabolic-rectangular stress block
Stress Stress
𝑓
0.85 𝑓
𝑓 =
𝛾

compression compression

0.003÷0.004 Strain 0.002 0.0035 Strain

tension

0.85 𝑓
𝛾 = 1.5; 𝑓 = = 0.567𝑓
1.5

SNBE – CIV1017 – Solids and Structures

 Idealised stress-strain curve for
structural steel
Experimental curve Elastic-perfectly plastic curve
Stress Stress

𝑓
𝑓 𝑓 = 500 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝑓
𝑓 =
𝛾
𝛾 = 1.15;
𝐸 = 210000 MPa 𝑓
𝑓 = = 0.87𝑓
1.15

Strain 𝜀 = =0.002 Strain

SNBE – CIV1017 – Solids and Structures

Steel reinforcements
 Strong in tension
 Equally strong in compression (but may buckle)
 Characteristic strength of steel reinforcements:
 Plain smooth bars: fyk = 250 N/mm2
 Ribbed bars: fyk = 500 N/mm2

JF Chen 18

SNBE – CIV1017 – Solids and Structures

 Roles of concrete and steel
reinforcement in RC structures

SPACE – CIV1017 – Solids and Structures

 Roles of concrete
 Resisting compressive stresses (concrete is
strong in compression)
 Protecting steel reinforcement from corrosion
and fire attack

JF Chen 20

SNBE – CIV1017 – Solids and Structures

Roles of steel reinforcement
 Resisting tensile stresses
 Controlling crack width
 Supplying additional compression strength
when concrete is not capable alone of
resisting compressive stresses
 (Stirrups) preventing longitudinal bars from
buckling & provide confinement of concrete
 Preventing concrete cover from spalling in fire
JF Chen 21

SNBE – CIV1017 – Solids and Structures