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Chapter 14

Approximate Analysis of
Continuous Frames for
Vertical Loads

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This Power point presentation was prepared by Dr. Terry Weigel & Adjusted by OE.

Approximate Analysis
Less work than modeling entire structure

Useful for checking results of “exact”

analysis

Can be used to perform preliminary design

In some cases results of approximate analysis

may be as accurate as those of “exact”
analysis
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Maximum Stresses – Influence Line

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Maximum Stresses – Influence Line

Maximum Stresses – Influence Line

Plastic Hinges – Collapse / Failures

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Plastic Hinges – Collapse / Failures

ACI Coefficients
ACI Code Section 6.5

Used for analysis of beams and slabs

Typically produce values larger than those

obtained from exact analysis

Moment redistribution – decrease in negative

moment and increase if positive moment

ACI Coefficients
Use for members with approximately equal
spans
The length larger of the two adjacent spans
may not exceed the length of the shorter
span by more than 20%
Ratio of the uniform service live load to the
uniform service dead may not exceed
three
Can’t be applied to prestressed members
9

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Assumed Load Placement

One live load pattern to produce maximum
positive moment (near center of span)

One live load pattern to produce maximum

negative moment (at support)

10

Maximum Shear
Maximum shear at a section in a beam occurs
when the beam is loaded with live load
from the section to the more distant
support

To produce a shear envelope requires

evaluation of a large number of live load
positions

11

Beam Loaded to Produce

Maximum Shear

12

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Moment Redistribution
 Due to Plastic Hinges Principles – Moment Redistribution is applied

 Redistribution of moments, before attending the plastic hinge, is

required and allowed under two aspects:
1. First, the hinging section must be able to undergo the
necessary inelastic deformations.
2. Second, hinges should not occur at service loads, because wide
cracks develop at hinge locations.

 ACI Section 6.6.5 – All conditions have to be satisfied

13

Moment Redistribution
 ACI allow the redistribution for (1000εt) percent < 20% of moment,
provided that εt <0.0075 at the section where moments are being
reduced.
 These moments must have been computed via an elastic analysis,
and not the ACI moment coefficients

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Moment Redistribution

15

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Moment Redistribution

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Moment Redistribution

17

ACI Coefficients

For positive moment,  n is the clear

span

For negative moment,  n is the average

of the adjacent clear spans

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ACI Coefficients – Positive

Moment
Exterior span discontinuous end unrestrained
1
wu  2n
11

Exterior span discontinuous end integral with

support 1 2
wu  n
14

Interior span 1
wu  2n
16

19

ACI Coefficients – Negative

Moment
Exterior face of first interior support – two
spans 1
w 2 u n
9

Exterior face of first interior support – more

than two spans 1
wu  2n
10
Other faces of
interior supports
1
wu  2n
11
20

ACI Coefficients – Negative

Moment
Interior face of exterior supports built
integrally with a spandrel 1 wu  2n
24

Interior face of exterior supports built

integrally with column 1
wu  2n
16

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ACI Coefficients – Negative

Moment
Face of all supports for

(a) beams with spans not exceeding 10 ft

and
(b) beams and girders where the ratio of
the sum of the column stiffnesses to the
sum of the beams stiffnesses exceeds
eight at each end of the span
1
wu  2n
12
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ACI Code Coefficients - Moment

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ACI Coefficients – Shear

Exterior members at the face of the first
interior support 1.15  wu  n 
 2 
 

Shear at all other supports

wu  n
2

24

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ACI Code Coefficients - Shear

25

26

27

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Example

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Example 14.1
Design a continuous slab for moments
calculated with the ACI coefficients. The
slab supports a live load of 165 psf and a
superimposed dead load of 5 psf, in
addition to its own weight. The concrete
strength is 3,000 psi and the steel is
Grade 40. The slab will be constructed
integrally with the spandrel girder
supports, which are 12 in wide.

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Example 14.1

30

10
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ACI Minimum Thickness

Minimum Thickness, h
Member Simply One end Both ends Cantilever
supported continuous continuous
Solid one- L / 20 L / 24 L / 28 L / 10
way slabs
Beams or L / 16 L / 18.5 L / 21 L/8
ribbed one-
way slabs Table 4.1 (text)
For normal weight concrete and Grade 60 reinforcing. See footnotes
for lightweight concrete and other grades of reinforcement

31

Example 14.1
Table 4.1 - Deflection multiplier for Grade 40
steel 40,000 psi
0.4   0.80
100,000 psi

Minimum h for exterior span

  12 in/ft 13 ft  1 ft  

 0.80    0.80     5.6 in
24  24 

32

Example 14.1

Minimum h for interior span

  12 in/ft 13 ft  1 ft  
 0.80    0.80     4.8 in
28  28 

Use a 6 in. thick slab throughout.

33

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Example 14.1

Factored loads with 6 “ slab

 6 in 
wD    150 pcf   75 psf
 12 in/ft 
wu  1.2  75 psf  5 psf   1.6 165 psf   360 psf

34

Example 14.1
Negative moment, first interior support ( this
is the largest of the design moments)
wu  2n  360 plf 13 ft 
2

Mu     6084 lb-ft
10 10
Mu

12 in/ft  6084 lb-ft   299.6 psi
 bd 2 0.9 12 in  4.75 in 2
  0.0080
As   0.0080 12 in  4.75 in   0.456 in 2
No 5 at 6 in
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Example 14.1
Negative moment, exterior support, exterior
span
wu  n  360 plf 13 ft 
2 2

Mu    2535 lb-ft
24 24
Mu

12 in/ft  2535 lb-ft   124.8 psi
 bd 2 0.9 12 in  4.75 in 2
  0.005  ACI minimum steel, 200 / f y 
As   0.00512 in  4.75 in   0.285 in 2
No 5 at 12 in
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Example 14.1
Positive moment, centerline, exterior span
wu  2n  360 plf 13 ft 
2

Mu     4346 lb-ft
14 14
Mu

12 in/ft  4346 lb-ft   214.0 psi
 bd 2 0.9 12 in  4.75 in 2
  0.0056
As   0.0056 12 in  4.75 in   0.319 in 2
No 5 at 6 in
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Example 14.1
Positive moment, centerline, interior span
wu  2n  360 plf 13 ft 
2

Mu     3802 lb-ft
16 16
Mu

12 in/ft  3802 lb-ft   187.5 psi
 bd 2 0.9 12 in  4.75 in 2
  0.0050  ACI minimum steel, 200 / f y 
As   0.0050 12 in  4.75 in   0.285 in 2
No 5 at 6 in
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Example 14.1

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Equivalent Rigid Frame Method

When beams are supported by girders, it is
normal to assume that the girder provide
vertical support only
Torsional stiffness of girders is ignored
When beams are part of a frame, they frame
into girders and columns
The rotational restraint of the columns and
girders should be considered
40

Equivalent Rigid Frame Method

Rather than analyze an entire frame, the ACI
code permits evaluation of an “equivalent
rigid frame”
Equivalent rigid frame analysis is permitted
for gravity load only
Only the beam being analyzed is considered
Columns framing into the beam are assumed
to be fixed at their far ends
41

Equivalent Rigid Frame Method

42

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Equivalent Rigid Frame Method

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Equivalent Rigid Frame Method

According to ACI Code Section 6.4, only two
live load patterns need be considered:
(a) Live load on adjacent spans
(b) Live load on alternate spans

Axial deformation may cause load reversal

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Assumed Inflection Points

Points of zero moment (inflection points) are
assumed in the beams

Reasonable assumptions, such as a value from

10% to 20% of the span length, may be
made

As stated in GCV401
Structural Analysis
Approximate methods
45

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Assumed Inflection Points

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Assumed Inflection Points

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Assumed Inflection Points

48

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Assumed Inflection Points

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Example

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Example 14.2
Use the equivalent rigid frame method to draw
the shear and moment diagram for the
continuous T-beam. The beam frames into a
16 in square columns and supports a dead load
of 2.33 k/ft and a live load of 3.19 k/ft. Live
load is applied on the center span only. The
girders have a depth of 24 in. and a web width
of 12 in. Assume that moment of inertia of
the T-beam is twice the value of the moment
of inertia of its stem.

51

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Example 14.2

52

Example 14.2

53

Example 14.2

54

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Example 14.2

55

Example 14.2

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Example 14.2

Load and moment - exterior spans  dead load only 

wu  1.2  2.33 k/ft   2.8 k/ft
 2.8 k/ft  24 ft 
2

Mu   134.4 k-ft
12
Load and moment - interior span  dead plus live 
wu  1.2  2.33 k/ft   1.6  3.19 k/ft   7.9 k/ft
 7.9 k/ft  24 ft 
2

Mu   379.2 k-ft
12
57

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Example 14.2

Moment of inertia of columns

16 in 16 in 
3

I  5461 in 4
12
k of columns
I 5461 in 4
  455
 12 ft

58

Example 14.2

Equivalent moment of inertia of T-beam

1   12 in  24 in 3 
I  2  bw h3   2    27, 648 in 4
 12   12 
 
k of T-beam
I 27, 648 in 4
  1152
 24 ft

59

Example 14.2

Moment distribution
done using
symmetry
Cross method
We may use Software

Reactions –
VA = VD = 24.6 k
VB = VC = 137.4 k
60

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Example 14.2

61

Example 14.2

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Moment of Inertia – ACI 6.6.3.1.1

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