Lesson 1: Flexural Analysis of Beams−Cracking Moment

Cracking Moment
The area of reinforcing as a percentage of the total cross-
sectional area of a beam is quite small (usually 2% or less),
and its effect on the beam is almost negligible as long as the
beam is uncracked.
As we previously mentioned, the Modulus of Rupture of
concrete:
𝑓𝑟 = 0.62𝜆 𝑓𝑐 ′
where the value of 𝜆 is in accordance with NSCP Section
419.2.4 − Lightweight Concrete.
For normal-weight concrete, 𝜆 = 1.
The cracking moment as
𝑓𝑟 𝐼𝑔
𝑀𝑐𝑟 = .
𝑦𝑡
Modulus of Elasticity

ACI 318/NSCP defines an empirical expression for

calculating the modulus of elasticity of concrete:
a) For 𝑤𝑐 between 1440 and 2560 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3
𝐸𝑐 = 𝑤𝑐 1.5 0.043 𝑓𝑐 ′ (in 𝑀𝑃𝑎)
b) For normal weight concrete ≈ 2300 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3
𝐸𝑐 = 4700 𝑓𝑐 ′ (in 𝑀𝑃𝑎)
where
𝑤𝑐 = density of concrete, 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3
𝑓𝑐′ = specified compressive strength of concrete, 𝑀𝑃𝑎
where
𝐼𝑔 = is the gross moment of inertia of the cross section
𝑦𝑡 = is the distance from the centroidal axis of the section
to its extreme fiber in tension

Failure

𝑀𝑦𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑
Reinforcing bars yield
Moment

𝑀𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑖𝑐𝑒 Approximate service or working load range

𝑀𝑐𝑟 Tensile concrete cracks

Curvature, 𝜃
Moment-curvature diagram for reinforced concrete beam
with tensile reinforcing only.
𝑀𝑐𝑟
Example:
a) Assuming the concrete is uncracked, compute the
bending stresses in the extreme fibers of the beam for a
bending moment of 32 𝑘𝑁 ∙ 𝑚. The normal-weight
concrete has an 𝑓𝑐 ′ of 28 𝑀𝑃𝑎.
b) Determine the cracking moment of the section.

380
3 − ∅25 450

Ans. a) 3.16 𝑀𝑃𝑎

70 b) 33.22 𝑘𝑁 ∙ 𝑚
300
Elastic Stresses−Concrete Cracked
When the bending moment is sufficiently large to cause the
tensile stress in the extreme fibers to be greater than the
modulus of rupture, it is assumed that all of the concrete
on the tensile side of the beam is cracked and must be
neglected in the flexure calculations.
The cracking moment of a beam is normally quite small
compared to the service load moment. Thus when the
service loads are applied, the bottom of the beam cracks.
The cracking of the beam does not necessarily mean that
the beam is going to fail. The reinforcing bars on the
tensile side begin to pick up the tension caused by the
applied moment.
The ratio of the steel modulus to the concrete modulus is
called the modular ratio:
𝐸𝑠
𝑛=
𝐸𝑐
For example, the modular ratio for a particular beam is 8,
the stress in the steel will be 8 times the stress in the
concrete at the same distance from the neutral axis.

As shown above, the steel bars are replaced with an

equivalent area of fictitious concrete 𝑛𝐴𝑠 , which
supposedly can resist tension and 2𝑛 − 1 𝐴𝑠 ′ to resist
compression together with concrete as in the case of a
doubly reinforced beam. This area is referred to as the
transformed area.
Examples:
1. a) Calculate the bending stresses in the beam shown
below by using the transformed area method: 𝑛 = 9
and 𝑀 = 60 𝑘𝑁 − 𝑚.
b) Determine the allowable moment of the beam if the
allowable stresses are 𝑓𝑐 = 9 𝑀𝑃𝑎 and 𝑓𝑠 = 138 𝑀𝑃𝑎.

3 − ∅25

Ans. a) 𝑓𝑐 = 8.35 𝑀𝑃𝑎, 𝑓𝑠 = 122.76 𝑀𝑃𝑎

b) 64.66 𝑘𝑁 − 𝑚
2. Compute the bending stresses in the beam shown
below; 𝑛 = 10 and 𝑀 = 120 𝑘𝑁 ∙ 𝑚
60

𝑦 2 − ∅28

500
380
440 − 𝑦
4 − ∅28

350 60

Ans. 𝑓𝑐 = 7.30 𝑀𝑃𝑎, 𝑓𝑠′ = 91.48 𝑀𝑃𝑎, 𝑓𝑠 = 126.80 𝑀𝑃𝑎

Exercise 1:

Problems 1 and 2. Determine the cracking moments

for the sections if 𝑓𝑐′ = 28 𝑀𝑃𝑎.
1.

3 − ∅28
2.

2 − ∅25
Problems 3 and 4. Use the transformed-area method to
compute their flexural stresses for the load or moment
given.

3.

4 − ∅28
4.

2 − ∅25

4 − ∅28