FLEXURE

Review
 Under-reinforced beams with tension reinforcement only
 Beams with tension and compression reinforcements
 T-Beams
 Over-reinforced beams with tension reinforcement only

CSA A23.3 2014

10.1.1 General
The factored moment and axial load resistance of members shall be based on strain
compatibility and equilibrium using material resistance factors and material properties
specified in Clause 8 and the additional assumptions specified in Clauses 10.1.2 to
10.1.7.
10.1.2 Plane sections assumption
The strain in reinforcement and concrete shall be assumed to be directly proportional to
the distance from the neutral axis, except for unbonded tendons, deep flexural
members (see Clause 10.7), and regions of discontinuities.
10.1.3 Maximum concrete strain
The maximum strain at the extreme concrete compression fibre shall be assumed to be
0.0035.
10.1.4 Balanced strain conditions
Balanced strain conditions shall exist at a cross-section when the tension reinforcement
reaches its yield strain just as the concrete in compression reaches its maximum strain
of 0.0035.
10.1.5 Tensile strength of concrete
The tensile strength of concrete shall be neglected in the calculation of the factored
flexural resistance of reinforced and prestressed concrete members.
10.1.6 Concrete stress-strain relationship
The relationship between the compressive stress and concrete strain may be based on
stress-strain curves or assumed to be any shape that results in a prediction of strength
in substantial agreement with the results of comprehensive tests.
10.5.2 Limit of c/d for yielding of tension reinforcement
The tension reinforcement in flexural members shall not be assumed to reach yield
unless
For flexural members without axial loads, the area of tension reinforcement shall be
limited such that Equation 10.5 is satisfied. In columns or walls, when c/d exceeds this
limit, the stress in the tension reinforcement shall be computed based on strain
compatibility.
Dr. M.A. Polak, Reinforced Concrete Mechanics, L3 1
 Flexural analysis and design are based on the following:

Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Beams in Flexure:

1.Looking for flexural capacity of the cross-section

2. Looking for moment-displacement (curvature) response

Example 1: Finding flexural capacity

Analyze a reinforced concrete beam’s cross-section subjected to bending

moment- find bending moment (flexural) capacity. Assume safety factors equal
to 1.

200 mm

310 400 mm
mm

f c'  35 MP a Longitudinal bars – 25 M, Stirrups - 10 M at 100 mm,

Reinforcement spacing = 310 mm, d = 355 mm
Dr. M.A. Polak, Reinforced Concrete Mechanics, L3 2
Stress-Block Approach
Stress block
concept

Collins, M.P., Mitchell, D., "Prestressed Concrete Basics", CPCI, 1987

1 = 0.85 - 0.0015 f'c ≥ 0.67 These values are for calculating moment capacity
β1 = 0.97 - 0.0025 f'c ≥ 0.67 of the cross section

1 = 0.8
β1 = 0.88

We will do the calculations withoutsafety factors. In other words- we will find

unfactored moment capacity.

C=T compression = tension

𝛼1 𝛽1 𝑓𝑐′ 𝑏𝑐 = 𝐴𝑠 𝑓𝑦

𝐴𝑠 𝑓𝑦 1000 × 400
𝑐= = = 81 𝑚𝑚
′ 0.8 × 0.88 × 35 × 200
𝛼1𝛽1𝑓𝑐 𝑏

Dr. M.A. Polak, Reinforced Concrete Mechanics, L3 3

Dr. M.A. Polak, Reinforced Concrete Mechanics, L3 4
 Example 2: Finding moment-curvature response

Calculate moment curvature response of a cross-section. Ignore tension in

concrete. Use stress block approach for modelling compression in concrete

Note: this beam contains also compression reinforcement

310 mm 400 mm

f c'  35 MP a Longitudinal bars: Tension 25 M, Compression 15M

Stirrups: 10 M at 100 mm,
d = 355 mm d’=45 mm

The calculations below are for one point on the moment curvature curve.
To find the full response the procedure needs to be repeated for all points.

1. Tension bottom strain εb= 0.0010.

2. Assume top compression strain εt= -0.0005.
strains stresses
εt= -0.0005
assumed

εb= 0.0010

Dr. M.A. Polak, Reinforced Concrete Mechanics, L3 5

 t
c h
Strain in reinforcement: t  b
d c
 sb  t
c
c  d'
 st  t
c

For general moment-curvature response (at any moment level) stress-blocks for
modeling compressive response are:

2
t 1  t 
stresses
1 1  /   / 
c 3  c 

4   t /  c/
1  Equivalent
6  2 t /  c/ stress block

Note: Both strains taken as positive

2 f c'
 
'
c  0.00215 ( Hognestad Parabola)
Ect
E ct  5500 f 'c = 32538 MPa

 1 1  0.215 1  0.68  1  0.315

t
c h  133.33mm
t  b
d c
 sb   t  0.00083
c
c  d'
 st   t  0.00033
c

Dr. M.A. Polak, Reinforced Concrete Mechanics, L3 6

  sb  0.00083 200000  166MPa
 st  0.00033 200000  66MPa

𝐹𝑠𝑏 = 166 × 500 × 2 × 10−3 = 166 𝑘𝑁

𝐹𝑠𝑡 = 66 × 200 × 2 × 10−3 = −26.4 𝑘𝑁

Fcc   1 f c' 1cb  0.215  35  133  200  10 3  200kN

133 310 310

𝑀 = [200 𝑘𝑁 × (200 − 0.68 ×
2
) + 166 𝑘𝑁 × (
2
) + 26.4 × ( 2
)] × 10−3 =

60.8 𝑘𝑁𝑚

𝐹 = −26.4 + 166 − 200 = −60.4 𝑘𝑁 compression

Dr. M.A. Polak, Reinforced Concrete Mechanics, L3 7

 Layered approach

Repeat steps 1,2, 3 from previous analysis (stress block analysis)

strains stresses stresses
εt= -0.0005
assumed

h
Or divide
into layers

εb= 0.0010

3. Using appropriate 1-D stress-strain relationships (equations) calculate

stresses at centres of each concrete layer and at each reinforcement
layer.

Stresses are determined using appropriate

stress-strain relationships. For example:

*concrete in compression:
Hognestad Parabola

∈ ∈ 2
𝑓𝑐 = 𝑓𝑐′ [2( 𝑐 ) − ( 𝑐 ) ]
∈ 𝑜 ∈ 𝑜

*concrete in tension:

Linear elastic until cracking 𝑓𝑡 = 𝐸𝑐 𝜀𝑐 ≤ 𝑓𝑡′ Chen, W.F., "Plasticity in Reinforced Concrete", McGraw
Hill, 1982

After cracking: either ignore tension 𝑓𝑡 = 0 (or include tension stiffening)

Dr. M.A. Polak, Reinforced Concrete Mechanics, L3 8

 *reinforcement

𝑓𝑠 = 𝐸𝑠 𝜀𝑠 ≤ 𝑓𝑦

5. Calculate resultant forces from these stresses. For example, constant

stress in each layer can be assumed and multiplied by the layer thickness.

6. Calculate moment M about centroidal axis ( reference axis) and the

resultant axial force N

7. If N=0 we have found proper strain distribution

i. If N>0 , increase εt go back to step 2
ii. If N<0 , reduce εt go back to step 2
8. Continue iterations until N=0.

t  b
9. Plot a point M versus

h

Dr. M.A. Polak, Reinforced Concrete Mechanics, L3 9