CE5510 Advanced Structural

Concrete Design

5. Serviceability Limit States

- Deflection Control -

Professor Tan Kiang Hwee

Dept of Civil & Environmental Engrg
National University of Singapore

Contents
5.1 General 3
5.1.1 Criteria for deflection control 4
5.1.2 Deflection limits 6
5.1.3 Methods of deflection control 7
5.2 Deflection control by computed deflection 8
5.2.1 Maximum deflection of elastic 8
members
5.2.2 Concrete members subjected mainly to 12
flexure
5.2.3 Shrinkage curvature 17
5.3 Deflection control w/o direct calculation 23
Annex – Basic drying shrinkage strain 28

© Tan K H, NUS 2
 5.1 General

 Need for deflection control

 Use of high-strength materials leading to slender
members
 Lack of substantial walls and partitions

 Requirements
 Deformation should not affect functioning or
appearance

©Tan K H, NUS 3

5.1.1 Criteria for Deflection Control (ACI 435)

(a)Sensory acceptability  To satisfy (b):

(b)Serviceability • Total deflection is
(c) Effect on non-structural limited
elements
 To satisfy (c):
(d)Effect on structural
• Incremental
elements
deflection after
In general, members attachment of non-
satisfying (b) & (c) structural elements is
may be deemed to limited
meet (a) and (d)

©Tan K H, NUS 4
 2
3
4
= tot – ’’

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5.1.2 Deflection Limits

 Appearance and general utility

 Beam, slab, cantilever subjected to quasi-
permanent loads
 Pre-camber due to prestressing

 ≤ L/250

 Damage to adjacent parts of structure

Additional  ≤ L/500
under quasi-permanent loads

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5.1.3 Methods of Deflection Control

 By limiting computed deflections

 Deflections at various stages of loading are
calculated and checked against limits

 By limiting span/depth ratios

©Tan K H, NUS 7

5.2 Deflection Control by Computed

Deflection

5.2.1 Max deflection of elastic member

1 2
   dx
or rx
 = k (1/r)L2 = k (M/EI)L2

k = elastic deflection coefficient e.g. s.s. beam under

M = reference moment uniform loading:
L = span length M/EI
E = modulus of elasticity
I = moment of inertia of section  = (5/48)(wL2/8EI)L2
1/r = M/EI = curvature of section k
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©Tan K H, NUS 9

(1/r)c (1/r)u

Ig or
Iu

Ic

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 =0

EIeff = EIc + (1 - ) EIu

=1

The same applies to 1/r   = II +(1 - )I

where  = function of Mcr/M
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5.2.2 Concrete Member subjected mainly to flexure

 Assume elastic behaviour even after cracking

 Main factors affecting deflection

 tensile strength of concrete
 creep of concrete
 elastic modulus of concrete

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  Consider deformation parameter (strain,
curvature or rotation, or deflection)

 = II +(1 - )I

where
I : value of parameter for uncracked condition
II : value of parameter for fully cracked condition
 : distribution coeff. (= 0 for uncracked section)

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 = 1 – (sr /s )2 or  = 1 – (Mcr/M)2

 = 1.0 for a single short-term loading; = 0.5 for sustained

loads or many cycles of repeated loading;
sr : stress in the tension reinft. based on cracked section
at 1st cracking;
s : stress in the tension reinft. based on cracked section.

Additional SF
Note:

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  To account for creep, use effective modulus of
elasticity for concrete

where (, t0) : creep coefficient

Fig. 3.1 h0 : notional size = 2Ac /u

©Tan K H, NUS 15

Note: Figures applicable

only if the concrete is not
subjected to a compressive
stress greater than 0.45fck(t0)
at the time of loading.

Fig. 3.1

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5.2.3 Shrinkage curvature

cs
d'
As’ As’csEs
h d n.a.
M
As AscsEs

This results in a moment M where:

M = AscsEs(d – x) – As’csEs(x – d’) = csEsS

The resulting curvature is: 1st mt of area

1/r = M/EcI = cs(Es/Ec) S/I S = As(d – x) – As’(x – d)

©Tan K H, NUS 17

where
cs : free shrinkage strain = cd + ca (see note)
e : effective modular ratio = Es /Ec,eff
S : first moment of area of reinforcement
about centroid of section = As(d – x) – As’(x – d)
I : second moment of area of section

Note:
cd : drying shrinkage strain; which develops slowly due to drying, and is a
function of migration of water through the hardened concrete
ca : autogenous shrinkage strain; which develops during hardening of
concrete, and is a function of concrete strength.

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 Drying shrinkage:

cd () = kh cd,0

Autogenous shrinkage:

ca () = 2.5(fck – 10) x 10-6

h0 : notional size = 2Ac /u
©Tan K H, NUS 19

Example 5.2 – Deflection calculation

Qk = 40 kN/m

8000 mm

375
61  Calculate the long-term
2 H32
deflection of the beam
(1608
mm2 ) under quasi-permanent
loads (assume 2 = 0.6).
635
700

 Assume loading at 28 days

4 H40 (t0 ) and 80% RH; and creep
(5026
coefficient = 2.0.
mm2 )
fck = 25 MPa
fyk = 500 MPa
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 Section properties*
Mid-span section:
 ’=0.0068
MSd = (6.56**+0.6x40 = 30.6)x82/8
  = 0.0211 = 245 kNm
 Ecm = 31.5 GPa  Uncracked:
 fctm = 0.3fck2/3 = 2.56 MPa xu = 381 mm
Iu = 16.1 x 109 mm4
(1/rb)I = MSd/Ec,effIu =1.449x10-6/mm
Creep coefficient & effective
Mcr = 0.9fctm Iu/(h – xu) = 116 kNm
modulus of concrete  Cracked:
 (, 28)  2.0 (EC2, Fig. 3.1b) xc = 0.444d = 282 mm
Ec,eff = 31.5 / (1+2) = 10.5 GPa Ic = 10.2 x 109 mm4
e = Es /Ec,eff = 19.0 (1/rb)II =MSd/Ec,effIc =2.288x10-6/mm
 Effective bending curvature:
 = 1 – 0.5(Mcr /MSd)2 = 0.888
*see Ex. 4.3 on crack width calculation. (1/rb)eff =  (1/rb)II + (1 - ) (1/rb)I
**self-weight = 0.375 x 0.7 x 25 = 6.56 kN/m = 2.194x10-6/mm

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Shrinkage curvature
 Drying shrinkage
Effective shrinkage curvature:
ho = 2Ac /u = 244 mm
 = 1 – 0.5(Mcr /MSd )2 = 0.888
cd = kh cd,0 = 0.806x0.285x10-3 (1/rcs)eff =  (1/rcs)II + (1 - ) (1/rcs )I
= 229.7x10-6 = 0.653x10-6/mm
 Autogenous shrinkage
ca = 2.5(fck – 10) 10-6 = 37.5x10-6 Deflection
 Total shrinkage strain  Due to bending:
cs = cd + ca = 267.2 x 10-6 wb = (5/48)(1/rb)eff l 2
 Uncracked: = 14.63 mm
x = 381 mm; Iu = 16.1x109 mm4
 Due to shrinkage strain:
S = 0.762x106 mm3
(1/rcs)I =cs e S/Iu=0.240x10-6/mm wcs = ( 1/8 )(1/rcs)eff l 2
 Cracked: = 5.22 mm
x = 282 mm; Ic = 10.2x109 mm4  Total deflection
S = 1.419x106 mm3
w = wb + wcs = 19.9 mm
(1/rcs)II =cs e S/Ic=0.706x10-6/mm
< l / 250 = 32 mm
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 5.3 Deflection control w/o calculations
 Limits to span/depth ratio
Limits
deflection
to span/250

- can be increased by a factor equal to:

310/s if tensile steel stress s < 310 MPa; or As,req/As,prov(1.5)
K : factor to account for different structural systems
0 : reference reinforcement ratio = 10-3 fck (fck in MPa)
 : required tension reinft. ratio at mid-span (at support for cantilevers)
‘ : required compression reinft. ratio at mid-span (at support for cantilevers)
As,prov : area of steel provided at mid-span / support
As,req : area of steel required at mid-span / support for ULS
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 Values of K

Notes: Table has been derived for concrete class C30/37

1.Values are generally conservative; thinner members may be possible
2.For 2-way slabs, check based on shorter span. For flat slabs, check based on longer span.
3.Limits for flat slabs correspond to a less severe limitation on the midspan deflection.
4.Values of K may not be appropriate when formwork is struck at an early age or when
construction loads exceed the design load.
5.Asprov /As,req should be limited to 1.5.
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  Modifications

 Flanged sections where flange breadth > 3 x rib

breadth: multiply l/d by 0.8

 Beams & slabs (excluding flat slabs) exceeding 7 m

in span with supported partitions likely to be
damaged by excessive deflections: multiply l/d
by 7/leff

 Flat slabs with span > 8.5 m: multiply l/d by 8.5/leff

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Example 5.3 – Deflection control w/o calculation

Check for l/d limit for the beam in Example 1 (Ch. 4,

Slide 23). Assume that the beam is not supporting
partitions.

 ’=0.0068 ;  = 0.0211 ; 0 = 10-3 x 251/2 = 0.0050 < 

 s.s. beam: K = 1.0
 l/d ≤ 1 [ 11 + 1.5 (25)1/2 (0.005/(0.0211 – 0.0068))
+(1/12)(25)1/2 (0.0068/0.005)1/2 ] = 14.1
 l (= 8 m) ≤ 14.1 x 635 mm = 9.0 m ok

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Exercise 1

Refering to the exercise problem for cracking (Ch. 4,

Slide 32).

(a) Calculate the midspan deflection of beam under

quasi-permanent loads. Assume loading at 28 days
and R.H. = 80%. (Ans: 9.44 mm)

(b) Verify the serviceability limit state of deflection by

checking the l / d ratio. (Ans: l/d = 14.52 > (l/d)act)

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Annex – Basic drying shrinkage strain

fcm = mean compressive strength (MPa)

fcmo = 10 MPa
ds1 is a coefficient which depends on the type of cement
= 3, 4 and 6 for cement Class S, N and R, respectively
ds2 is a coefficient which depends on the type of cement
= 0.13, 0.12 and 0.11 for cement Class S, N and R, respectively
RH is the ambient relative humidity (%)
RH0 = 100%.

©Tan K H, NUS 28
 Further Reading

Darwin, D., Dolan, C.W. & Nilson, A.H., “Design of

Concrete Structures”, 15e (Int’l. Ed.), Ch 7.
Wight, J.K., “Reinforced Concrete: Mechanics &
Design”, 7e (Global Ed.), Ch 9.

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Test Your Understanding –

Deflections
1. Deflections of concrete beams are calculated using elastic
formulae by incorporating an effective ____________?
Ans:

2. What factors do the deflections depend on?

(a) ______ of loading
(b) _________ properties of concrete
(c) _________ & ____________ section properties
(d) _________ stress level
Ans:

3. Deflections due to additional imposed loads can be calculated

without considering existing loads on the beam. T or F?
Ans:

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