SECTION:12- SERVICEABILITY LIMIT

STATE

By
Er. Navneet Gupta
Principal Consultant
M/s Tandon Consultants Pvt Ltd
New Delhi
 BROAD CHANGES

• Rare, Frequent, Quasi-permanent

combinations of loads (Table B.3 of IRC:6-
2017)

• Tensions permitted in PSC

• Mainly crack control

• Decompression
12. SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE
12.1 General
– Check of serviceability limit state (SLS)
ensures adequate performance of
structure during design service life.
▪ Stress check in concrete steel
▪ Crack width of concrete
▪ Deflection
– Vibration and fatigue are presently
outside the scope.
12. SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE

– Cross section assumed uncracked

provided concrete tensile stress 
fctm, fctm, fl, otherwise it is considered as
cracked.

– fctm : concrete mean tensile

strength
– fctm, fl : concrete mean flexural
tensile strength
= max {(1.6 − h / 1000) fctm, fctm}
12. SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE
12.2 Stress Limitation
12.2.1 Allowable Compressive Stress in
Concrete
– Max compressive stress = 0.48 fck
under rare combination of loads

– For compressive stress < 0.36 fck

under quasi-permanent load combination
 linear creep may be assumed, in case it
is higher, follow Appendix A2 for non-
linear creep
12. SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE
12.2.2 Allowable Tensile Stress in
Steel
– Reinforcement  300 MPa
under rare combination of loads
for higher steel stresses: Fatigue check
– Prestressing
▪ During tensioning  90% of 0.1% proof
stress
▪ at seating  0.75 fpk or 85% of 0.1%
proof stress, whichever is lesser
12. SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE
12.3. Limit State of Cracking
12.3.1 General

▪ Cracks can be due to load effects as

well as internal deformations (creep,
shrinkage, temperature)
▪ Partially prestressed structures are
also required to be checked
▪ Check for limit state of fatigue
12. SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE
12.3.2 Limiting Crack Width
▪ Limits for different exposure conditions as
per Table 12.1
▪ Decompression: No tensile stress within
100 mm around duct
▪ Gross section properties may be used for
temperature distribution forces
12.3.2 Limiting Crack Width (CONTD.)

▪ Members with bonded/bonded +

unbounded tendons  requirements of
prestressed concrete apply
▪ Members with unbonded tendons 
requirements of reinforced concrete apply
 Table 12.1 Recommended Values of Wmax

12. SERVICEABILITY
LIMIT STATE

12.3.2 (CONTD.)
12. SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE
12.3.3 Minimum Reinforcement for Crack
Control
▪ Estimated from equilibrium between tensile
force in concrete just before cracking and
tensile force in steel at yielding
▪ For T-beams and Box Sections
As. min s = kc kf ct ,eff Act Eq 12.1
As. min is the minimum area of reinforcing steel
within the tensile zone
Act Area of concrete in tension just before
cracking
f ct ,eff  f ctm when crack is first expected to occur
12. SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE
12.3.3 (CONTD.)
s = f yk (yield strength of reinforcement)

k = 1.0 web or flange < 600 mm long

= 0.65 web or flange > 800 mm long
(intermediate values may be
interpolated)
kc = 1.0 for pure tension
  
= 0.4 1 − k (hlh *) f   1
c
Eq 12.2
 1 ct ,eff 

for webs/rectangular sections (bending

or bending + axial forces)
12. SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE
12.3.3 (CONTD.)
Fcr Eq 12.3
= 0.9  0.5
Act f ct ,eff
for flanges (bending or bending + axial forces)
 c = (Mean concrete stress) = N Ed
bh
NEd = concrete axial force in SLS
K1 = 1.5 if N Ed is compressive
2h * N Ed
= if is tensile
3h
h* = h for h< 1.0m
= 1.0 for h> 1.0m
Fcr =Absolute value of tensile force within flange
before cracking; calculated using fct,eff
12. SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE
12.3.3 (CONTD.)

Fig. 12.1 TYPICAL DIVISION OF A FLANGED CROSS –SECTION

FOR ANALYSIS OF CRACKING
12. SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE
12.3.4 Calculation of Crack Width
Wk = S r ,max ( sm −  cm ) Eq. 12.5
S r ,max
= max crack spacing
 sm = mean strain in reinforcement (for PSC
members additional strain beyond
the state of zero strain)
 cm = mean strain in concrete between cracks

12.12

12.8
12. SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE
12.3.4 (CONTD.)
 sc − kt
f ct ,eff
 p ,eff
(1 +   )
 sc
e p ,eff

 sm −  cm =  0.6 Eq. 12.6

Es Es

 sc = tensile stress in reinforcement

 e = E S / Ecm
 p ,eff = As / Ac ,eff Eq. 12.7
Ac ,eff = is the effective area of concrete in
tension surrounding the
reinforcement, of the depth
hwhere
c ,eff ' is the lesser of
 h
hc ,eff  2.5(h − d ); (h − x) / 3; or 
 2
K t = 0.5 (factor for duration of loading)
12. SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE
12.3.4 (CONTD.)

In case of small spacing of

reinforcement  5(c+/2)

0.425k1k 2
S r ,max = 3.4c +
 p ,eff Eq. 12.8

As
 p ,eff =
Ac,eff
12. SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE
12.3.4 (CONTD.)
 = dia of bar or equivalent dia for different
bar sizes
c = clear cover to longitudinal
reinforcement
k1 = 0.8 for deformed bars (increase by 25%
for epoxy coated bars)
k2 = 0.5 for bending
= 1.0 for pure tension
k2 =
(1 + 2 )
= 2 1
Eq. 12.10
for combined bending + tension
1, 2 are smaller and larger values of tensile
strains of the cracked section
12. SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE
12.3.4 (CONTD.)

In case of larger spacing of reinforcement

> 5(c+/2)

S r ,max = 1.3(h − x) Eq. 12.12

h = overall depth of member

x = depth of neutral axis from
compression face
12. SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE
12.3.6 CONTROL OF CRACKING WITHOUT
DIRECT CALCULATION

▪ Tables 12.2 and 12.3 are applicable where

c = 40 mm; f ct .eff = 2.8MPa ; hcr 0.5
(h − d ) = 0.1h, k1 = 0.8, k2 = 0.5, kt = 0.5, k = 1.0

hcr = depth of tensile zone before cracking, under

quasi-permanent load combination and
characteristic prestressing

▪ Either of bar diameter and bar spacing

criteria need to be satisfied
12. SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE
12.3.6 (CONTD.)

Table 12.2 Maximum Bar Diameters s for Crack Control

12. SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE
12.3.6 (CONTD.)

Table 12.3 Maximum Bar Spacing for Crack Control

12. SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE
12.4. Limit State of Deflection
12.4.1 General

▪ Excessive deflection can adversely

affect appearance or functionality
▪ Precambering is permitted
▪ Hence, deflection limits apply to
deflection due to moving loads only
▪ Cable supported bridges not covered,
refer specialist literature
12. SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE
12.4.1 (CONTD.)

Deflection Limits
- Vehicular live load : Span/ 800
- Pedestrian live load with/ without : Span/ 1000
vehicular
(keeping in view human comfort)
- Vehicular live load on cantilever : Cantilever Span/ 300
- Pedestrian live load with/ without : Cantilever Span/ 375
vehicular
12. SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE
12.4.1 (CONTD.)

▪ For calculating deflections of cracked

members due to sustained loads, Icrack
= 0.7 Igross may be taken unless more
accurate determination is made.
▪ For uncracked members, such as
prestressed members, fully under
compression, Igross may be used.
12. SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE
Worked example 1= Stress Control
▪ Member = RCC deck slab
▪ Thickness = 350 mm
▪ Effective depth = 290 mm (cover=50mm)
▪ Concrete Grade = M50
▪ SLS Sagging BM = 144 KNm/m
(rare combination of loads)
▪ Out of 144 KNm/m
due to DL+SIDL = 32.4 KNm/m
due to LL = 111.6 KNm/m
▪ Reinforcement for ULS = 2513 mm2/m
(20mm bars @ 125mm c/c
12. SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE
12.4.1 (CONTD.)
▪Assuming uncracked section
 = bh / 12 = 1000  350 / 12 = 3.573  10 mm / m
3 3 9 4

▪h/2 = 350/2 = 175 mm

 top =  bott = My / I = 7.05 MPa
However, f = 3.5 MPA (Table 6.5) <  bot
ctm
Hence, stresses will be calculated ignoring
concrete in tension for the cracked section

Stresses
Strains
 12. SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE
12.4.1 (CONTD.)
Check of stresses when the bridge is just
opened to traffic, assuming short term
Elastic Modulus
Es = 200 GPa, Ecm = 35 GPa (Table 6.5)
Thus Ec,eff = 35 GPA
Depth of Concrete in Compression dc
− As Es + ( As Es )2 + 2bAs Es Ec ,ef f d
= dc =
bEc ,ef f
− 2513  200 109 + ( 2513  200 109 ) 2 + 2  1000  2513  200 109  35 109  290
= 1000  35  109

= 78.02mm
12. SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE
12.4.1 (CONTD.)

1 Ec ,eff
I cr = As (d − d c )2 + bd c3
3 Es
1 35
= 2513  ( 290 − 78.02) 2 +   1000  78.02 2 = 140.63  106 mm 4
3 200
M Ed Ec ,eff 144  106 35
Hence,  ctop = =  = 13.98MPa
Zc Es 140.63  106 / 78.02 200

< 0.48 fck = 24 MPa, hence OK

M Ed
s = = 144  106  ( 290 − 78.02) /(140.63  106 ) = 217.06MPa
Zs
Clause 12.2.2: tensile limit
, hence OK
0.8 f yk = 0.8  500 = 400MPa  217.06MPa
12. SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE

b) Stress Check after long term creep effects

• For 350mm thick slab, loading at 7 days and RH=80%
• Final Creep Co-efficient  = 2.2 from Table 6.9

( M qp + M st ) Ecm
Ec ,ef f =
M st + (1 +  ) M qp
(0.225 + 0.775)35
= = 23.41GPa
0.775 + (1 + 2.2) x 0.225

(Reduced after cracking)

12. SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE

Repeating the process of (a) above

We get dc= 92.17mm and Icrack=128.9x106 mm4
Hence,
M Ed Ec,eff 144 106 23.41
 ctop = = 
ƶc Es 128.9 106 / 92.17 200
= 12.05MPa  18MPa , hence Ok

M Ed
s = = 144 106 (290 − 92.17) /(128.9 1.06 )
ƶs
= 221.0MPa  400MPa , hence Ok
12. SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE
Worked Example 2: Crack Control

Take same structure as in Example 1

depth of neutral axis x=92.17mm

for bar spacing less than 5(c+  /2)
=5(50+20/2)=300

0.425  k1  k2  
sr ,max = 3.4c +
 p,eff

c = 50mm; = 20mm
12. SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE
As
 p ,eff =
Ac ,eff
314mm 2
As = = 2513mm 2
0.125( spacing)
Ac,eff (effective tension area) = bhc,eff
 (h − x) 
hceff = lesser 2.5(h − d ); or h/2
 3 
 350 − 92.17 350 
= lesser 2.5(350 − 290); ;
 3 2 
= lesser150mm, 85.9mm or 175mm
= 85.9mm
Ac ,eff = 85.9 1000 = 85900mm 2 / m
2513
 p ,eff = = 0.029
85900
12. SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE
0.8 x0.5 x 20
sr ,max = 3.4  50 + = 287.2mm
0.029
 sm −  cm =
f ct ,eff
 sc − kt (1 +  e  p ,eff )
 p ,eff   sc
0.6
Es Es
 sc = 221MPa (Already calculated)
 sc 0.6  221 −3
0.6 = = 0.663  10 (Minimum Value)
Es 200 10 3

Kt = 0.5
From clause 12.3.4
K1=0.8
K2=0.5
12. SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE

fct,eff = fctm = 3.5 MPa (M50 concrete)

e = Es = 200/35 = 5.714
Ecm

 sm −  cm =
3.5
221.0 − 0.5  (1 + 5.714  0.029)
0.029 221.0 − 70.34 −3
= = 0. 753  10
200 103 200 103

> 0.663x10-3 (Min value)

Wk = 287.2 x 0.753x10-3 =0.22mm < 0.30 mm, hence Ok

VARIATION OF SECTION PROPERTIES
WITH AGE

INSTANT LONG TERM

E : 35 23.41

I : 140.63106 128.9106

dc : 78.02 92.17

c : 13.98 12.05

s : 217.06 221.0

Wk : 0.22
THANK YOU
NAVNEET GUPTA
PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT
M/S TANDON CONSULTANTS PVT LTD
NEW DELHI