Concrete T Beam Design Another Example ACI 318-08

This example walks through the design of a concrete T beam with the depth of
the compression block greater than the depth of the flange
Given:

fc = 4,000 psi

fy = 60 ksi

Required:

Determine the moment capacity, Mn of the section

Assumptions:

Friday, August 10, 12

1.

Plain sections remain plain (ACI 318-08 section 10.2.2)

2.

Maximum concrete strain at extreme compression fiber = 0.003 (ACI

section 10.2.3)

3.

Tensile strength of concrete is neglected (10.2.5)

4.

Compression steel is neglected in this calculation.

Concrete T Beam Design Another Example ACI 318-08

Lets start by constructing the stress and strain diagrams:

Next, well calculate d, the depth from the extreme compression fiber to the center of reinforcement in the tensile zone, and dt, the depth from the
extreme compression fiber to the center of the extreme layer of tensile reinforcement.

Friday, August 10, 12

Concrete T Beam Design Another Example ACI 318-08

Next, we want to use equilibrium to solve for a, the depth of the Whitney stress block
From the rules of equilibrium we know that C must equal T, C = T

First, lets determine if a is less than tf by calculating C for a = tf and comparing it to T:

- C = 0.85 x fc x b x tf = 0.85 x 4 ksi x 24in x 4in = 326.4 kip

- T = As x fy = 6 x 1.00 in2 x 60 ksi = 360 kip (this assumes the steel yields)
- T is greater than C for a = tf, therefore we know that a must be greater than tf

Lets determine the tension force:

- T = fs x As

fs = stress in the steel (we make the assumption that the steel yields, and will later
confirm if it does).

As = area of tensile steel

- T = 60000psi x (6 x 1.00 in2) = 360,000 lb

Friday, August 10, 12

Concrete T Beam Design Another Example ACI 318-08

Next, we want to use equilibrium to solve for a, the depth of the Whitney stress block

Now lets determine an expression for the compressive force in terms of a

- C = Cflange + Cweb
- Cflange = 0.85 x fc x bf x tf = 0.85 x 4,000 psi x 24 in x 4 in = 326,400 lb
- Cweb = 0.85 x fc x bw x (a - tf) = 0.85 x 4,000 psi x 12 in x (a - 4 in)
- Cweb = 40,800 lb/in x a - 163,200 lb
- C = 163,200 lb + 40,800 lb/in x a

Now we can set C = T and solve for a

-C = T
- 163,200 lb + 40,800 lb.in x a = 360,000 lb
- a = 4.82 in

Friday, August 10, 12

Concrete T Beam Design Another Example ACI 318-08

Now that we know the depth of the stress block, we can calculate c, the depth to the
neutral axis.
From ACI 318 section 10.2.7.1 a = 1 x c
1 is a factor that relates the depth of the Whitney stress block to the depth of the
neutral axis based on the concrete strength. It is defined in 10.2.7.3
1 = 0.65 0.85 - ((fc 4000psi)/1000)) x 0.05 0.85
1 = 0.85 ((4000psi 4000psi)/1000) x 0.05 = 0.85
c = a / 1 = 4.82/0.85
c = 5.67
With c, we can calculate the strain in the extreme tensile steel using similar triangles to
determine if the section is tension controlled:

Friday, August 10, 12

Concrete T Beam Design Another Example ACI 318-08

Determine if the section is tension controlled:
Per ACI section 10.3.4 a beam is considered tension controlled if the strain in the extreme tension steel is greater than 0.005.
The calculated steel strain in our section is 0.0083 which is greater than 0.005 therefore this beam section is tension controlled.
= 0.90

Determine the strain at which the steel yields and check our assumption that the steel in fact yielded:
E = fy/y
E = Youngs modulus which is generally accepted to be 29,000 ksi for steel
fy = steel yield stress
y = yield strain
y = 60ksi / 29,000 ksi = 0.00207

Now lets check the strain at the

centroid of our tensile steel:

Friday, August 10, 12

0.0078 is greater than

0.00207, our steel yields as
assumed!

Concrete T Beam Design Another Example ACI 318-08

Next, lets determine if the beam section satisfies the minimum steel requirements of ACI:

Per ACI section 10.5.1, the minimum steel required for flexural members is as follows:

Therefore we satisfy the minimum steel requirements of ACI

Friday, August 10, 12

Concrete T Beam Design Another Example ACI 318-08

Using Moment Equilibrium, Lets Calculate the Moment Capacity of the Section

Calculate the moment about the center of the tensile force to determine the nominal
moment capacity:

Friday, August 10, 12

Concrete T Beam Design Another Example ACI 318-08

For questions or comments, send me an email at

info@civilpe.net
Check us out on the web at http://www.civilpe.net

Friday, August 10, 12