BS5400 Part 3 course TE Epsom

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BS5400 Part 3 Training

DOCUMENT REFERENCE: AR8610/br/special structures/training/BS5400 Part 3/ SESSION 8.doc

Report Title:

Session 8 Serviceability Limit States

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9/9/04

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Chris Murphy

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Chris Murphy 10/6/04

BS5400 Part 3 course TE Epsom

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SESSION 8 SERVICEABILITY LIMIT STATE CHECKS

Introduction
Although the majority of checks to determine member size are carried out at the
Ultimate Limit State (ULS,) BS 5400 Part 3 and Part 5 still require designers to carry
out Serviceability Limit State (SLS) checks. In steel composite design the nature of
the SLS checks required are as follows :i) Stress Checks on Steel and Concrete
ii) Crack widths in the concrete slab (hogging sections only)
Effective Section Properties for SLS
In accordance with BS 5400 Part 3 Clause 9.2.3, the effects of shear lag should be
included in the section properties used for SLS checks. Shear lag is a phenomenon
where the shear flexibility in the deck slab results in a non-uniform distribution of
bending stress across the flange as illustrated below in Figure 1.

Figure 1 Distribution of Longitudinal Stresses in the Flange of a Beam

As illustrated in Figure 1, BS 5400 deals with shear lag by taking a reduced effective
width of the flange. The increased stresses in the flange calculated from the reduced
slab width are an approximation of the peak stresses over the web that occur in reality.
The procedure for calculating the shear lag section properties is as follows :Chris Murphy 10/6/04

BS5400 Part 3 course TE Epsom

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1) Calculate the distance b and the span L (As illustrated in Figure 2 below) in
order to derive b/L.

Figure 2 Definitions of b (Clause 3\8.2)

2) Derive the effective breadth ratio from BS 5400 Part 3 Tables 4 to 7. Guidelines
on which Table to use are on Figure 3 below.

Figure 3 Calculation of

3) Amend values to take account of cracked section properties

Chris Murphy 10/6/04

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BS 5400 Part 5 Clause 5.2.3.2 states that the mean effective breadth ratio (derived
from BS 5400 Part 3) for a concrete flange that is assumed to be cracked in tension
should be modified by adding (1- )/3. Using the reduced slab width, the section
properties are then calculated using the same procedure described in session 2.
Stress Checks at SLS
BS 5400 Clause 9.9.8 states that the smaller flange of unsymmetrical beams needs to
be checked for the serviceability limit state, treating the beams as non-compact. The
SLS check involves checking to see that yield does not occur at working (i.e. SLS
loads.) This will avoid unsightly deflections occurring at working loads and possible
cracking of paint.
If compact beams are utilised, a check of the SLS stresses using the shear lag section
properties needs to be carried out. This check should calculate the stresses on the
beams by calculating the SLS loading from the steel only, long term and short term
grillages and then building up the stresses (calculated by applying the loads to the
shear lag sections) from the three grillages elastically.
In theory, the same procedure needs to be carried out for non-compact sections as
well. In the majority of cases, the SLS stress check will not govern the design of the
beam. It is recommended that the design supervisor is consulted to ascertain whether a
SLS stress check is required in a design of non-compact sections.
Crack Width Check in Slab
Over pier supports, the longitudinal tensile strains in the concrete slab, induced by the
hogging moments, will cause cracking. The width of the cracks induced in the
concrete slab needs to be calculated to ensure that the crack width is not large enough
to create durability problems.
Loading - BS 5400 Part 5 Clause 5.2.6.2
The loading for crack widths needs to be taken as the worst case of either :i)
ii)

25HB + Coexistant HA (SLS)

HA (SLS)

This is the same as in BS 5400 Part 4, but BD 24 amends BS 5400 Part 4 to require
crack checks in beams to be performed with HA only. In addition please note that
local crack width checks in slabs use 30HB.

Procedure :Chris Murphy 10/6/04

BS5400 Part 3 course TE Epsom

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i) Calculate the section properties of the cracked section at SLS (shear lag)
ii) Calculate the strain at the top of the deck due to SLS loading. Add this onto the
tensile strain caused by primary shrinkage to give a total strain ( m )
iii) Calculate acr for the rebar layout as illustrated below.

Figure 4 Calculation of acr

iv) Calculate the crack width from the equation in BS 5400 Part 4 Equation 25
Design crack width 3acr m
The design crack width should then be compared against the allowable values in BS
5400 Part 4 Table 1.
Similar checks are also needed for transverse members in ladder beam decks.

Worked Example 1

Chris Murphy 10/6/04

BS5400 Part 3 course TE Epsom

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Calculate the effective width (taking account of shear lag) of the top slab of girder X
(illustrated in Figure 5 below) at points A and C as marked.

Figure 5 Details of Girder X

Worked Example 2
The SLS properties of a girder are illustrated in Figure 6 below. Calculate the crack
width due to hogging bending in the deck slab over the main beam. Primary strain due
to shrinkage may be neglected in this example.

Figure 6 Girder in Worked Example 2.

Chris Murphy 10/6/04

BS5400 Part 3 course TE Epsom

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Chris Murphy 10/6/04