LECTURE 4: BEHAVIOUR OF BEAMS IN BENDING

Concrete is strong in compression but weak and unreliable in

tension. Reinforcement is required to resist tension due to
moment. A beam with loads at the third points where the central
third is subjected to moment only is shown in Fig.(a). Tension
cracks at collapse due to moment are shown.

Fig. (a) Failure of concrete beam due to Tension

Theory of simple bending (Basic assumptions)

Material of beam is homogenous and isotropic => constant E in all direction

Youngs modulus is constant in compression and tension => to simplify analysis

Transverse section which are plane before bending before bending remain plain
after bending. => Eliminate effects of strains in other direction

Beam is initially straight and all longitudinal filaments bend in circular arcs =>
simplify calculations

Radius of curvature is large compared with dimension of cross sections =>

simplify calculations

Each layer of the beam is free to expand or contract => Otherwise they will
generate additional internal stresses.

Bending in beams

Bending Stress in beams

Consider the simply supported beam below:

Stresses due to bending

Design of resistance of moment of beams (clause 3.4.4)

Analysis of sections (3.4.4.1)

On the basis of these assumptions the strain and stress diagrams for the
two alternative stress distributions for the concrete in compression are
as shown on the figure here below, where the following symbols are
used:

Moment of resistancesimplified stress block

The method of calculating the moment of resistance of a concrete section is
given first using the simplified stress block. The calculation is made for the
case where the depth x to the neutral axis is d/2. This is the maximum depth
to the neutral axis permitted in clause 3.4.4.4 of the code.

0.95fy

C =force in the concrete in compression = Ac x 0.447fcu

=0.447fcu0.9b0.5d
=0.201fcubd

T =force in the steel in tension

=0.95fyAs

Equating

MRc=MRs

and

making

As

as

the

subject

one

gets;

The area of steel As = MRs/0.674fyd. Because the internal forces are

equal the moments of resistance with respect to the steel and concrete
are equal, i.e. MRs = MRs. Then the percentage p of steel in the section
is defined as:

Moment of resistancerectangular parabolic stress block

The moment of resistance of the section using the rectangular

parabolic stress block is calculated for the same case as above
where the depth to the neutral axis is equal to d/2.

The beam section, strain diagram and stress diagram with internal
forces
are
shown
in
the
Figure
above.
The stresses are

0.67fcu/m=0.67fcu/1.5=0.45fcu >> for concrete

For steel, with a strain of 0.0035
Stress = fy/m =fy/1.05=0.95fy

For a depth to the neutral axis of x these are

C=k1bx

where

The force C acts at k2x from the edge of the beam in compression
where

The expressions for k1 and k2 are readily derived from the

dimensions of the stress block using the geometrical properties of
the parabola and rectangle. The design constants can be
calculated for the case where x=d/2.

For concrete class 30 and steel grade 460:-

Example: Singly reinforced rectangular beam balanced design

A

simply supported rectangular beam of 8 m span carries a

uniformly distributed dead load which includes an
allowance for self-weight of 7 kN/m and an imposed load of
5 kN/m. The breadth of the beam is 250 mm. Find the
depth and steel area when the depth to the neutral axis is
one-half the effective depth. Use grade 30 concrete and
high yield steel reinforcement.

Solution:

Provide three 25 mm diameter bars to give a steel area of 1472

mm2.

From BS8110: Part 1, Table 3.4, the cover on the links is 25 mm for
mild exposure. Referring to Table 3.5 of the code, this cover also
gives a fire resistance of 1.5h.

If the link diameter is 10 mm the overall depth of the beam on

rounding the effective depth up to 350 mm is

h=350+12.5+10+25=397.5 mm, say 400mm