Serviceability Limits in Steel Reinforced Concrete Members

Crack Width
Cracking in reinforced concrete beams generally start at loads well below service level.
As the loads increases above the cracking load, both the number and width of cracks
increase, and at service load level a maximum width of crack of about 0.0016in is
typical in concrete beams reinforced with Grade 60ksi (414MPa) steel (ACI 318-02
clause R10.6.4). The 1995 ACI 318 Code (Clause 10.6) specifies that to assure
protection of reinforcement against corrosion, and for aesthetic reasons, many fine
hairline cracks are preferable to a few wide cracks. One variable of importance affecting
the width of cracks is the stress in the reinforcement at service load f s . The tensile
steel stress, f s , at specified load is computed based on elastic cracked-section analysis
as the unfactored moment divided by the product of steel area and internal moment arm
(refer to page 4 for more details). Alternatively, and it is permitted that f s may be taken
equal to 60 percent of specified yield strength ( 0.6 f y ) according to ACI 318-02 Code
clause 10.6.4 and CSA A23.3-04 Clause 10.6.1. In most practical situations, this is a
conservative assumption as the actual steel stress at specified load levels will be below
this value. The Gergely-Lutz expression could be used in the calculation of the
maximum crack width (as given in the ACI 318-95 old code):
3
w = Cβ f s dc A
where
w = the maximum crack width
β = ratio of distances to the neutral axis from the extreme tension fibre to that from the
centroid of the main reinforcement (= h2 h1 in Figure A). The ACI 318-95 Code
allows that an approximate value of 1.2 could used for β.
f s = stress in steel at specified load calculated by elastic cracked section theory (straight
line theory)
d c = is the distance from extreme tension fibre to the centre of the longitudinal bar
located closest thereto.
A = Ae n = effective tension area of concrete surrounding the main tension reinforcement
and having the same centroid as that reinforcement, divided by the number of bars
(shown cross-hatched in Figure A)
• For a slab: A = 2d c s
• For a beam with one layer of steel, all bars of equal size and a cover of
50mm or less to the main reinforcement: A = 2d b n
c w
• For a beam with two layers of steel: A = 2(h − d )b n = 2d b n
w s w
d s = distance from the extreme tension fibre t the centroid of the flexural reinforcement
(note the difference between d c and d s as shown in Figure 6-12)
n = number of bars, taken as total area of tension reinforcement ( AS ) divided by area of
largest bar used when bars are of different sizes
C = a numerical constant determined from statistical analysis of experimental data.
C = 11 × 10 −6 mm 2 / N

ENCI 633 Winter 2009 – Dr. R. El-Hacha Page 1 of 9

 fc

kd

N.A.
d
Ae = 2 (h - d) bw
h h1
A = Ae / n
h2
ds n = number of bars

ds dc fs / n

bw

Figure A: Parameters for crack width computation

Figure B: Effective tension area for a reinforced concrete beam: a) one layer of
reinforcement; b) two layers of reinforcement

The acceptable width of flexural cracks in service depends mostly on the conditions of
exposure and should be established in view of possibility of corrosion of the
reinforcement. The recommendation ACI Committee 224 recommends tolerable crack
widths for reinforced concrete based on the exposure condition. Control of the
maximum crack width can be thus obtained by setting an upper limit on the parameter z.

The Gergely-Lutz expression is given in another format in the 1995 ACI 318 code by the
quantity z and in the CSA A23.3-04 Code (Clause 10.6.1) :
3 w
z = fs d c A × 10 − 3 = × 10 −3
Cβ

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For general design use, β is assumed to have a value of 1.2. The Code further assumes,
on the basis of experience with existing structures, limiting crack widths of 0.40 mm
(0.016 in) and 0.33 mm (0.013 in) for interior and exterior exposure, respectively. With
these approximations, the right hand side of the equation reduces to:
0.40
for interior exposure, z = × 10 −3 = 30 kN/mm
− 6
11 × 10 × 1.2
0.33
for exterior exposure, z = × 10 −3 = 25 kN/mm
11 × 10 −6 × 1.2

On this basis, the crack width limitation is specified in CSA A23.3-04 (Clause 10.6.1) in
terms of the quantity “z” given below:
3
z = fs d c A × 10 −3 (CSA A23.3-04 Eq. 10-6)
where z = 30 kN/mm for interior exposure (corresponding to a crack width of
0.4mm)
z = 25 kN/mm for exterior exposure (corresponding to a crack width of
0.33mm)

For epoxy coated bars multiply “ z ” by 1.2.

f s 3 d c A × 10
−3 ⎧ 30 kN/mm (int.exp.)
=Z≤ ⎨25 kN/mm (ext.exp.)
⎩
A = 2d c b N
b
−3 ⎞ 3
2⎛ f s × 10
N ≥ 2bd c ⎜ ⎟
⎜ ⎟
⎝ Z ⎠
f s ≈ 0.6 f y (MPa); b, d c in mm

N = number of bars
effective concrete
area surrounding
2dc tension bars = 2dc b

dc
Figure C: Crack control (CSA A23.3-04 Clause 10.6.1)

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Stress at Service Load
Note that the crack control is checked under service loads. The calculated tensile stress
in reinforcement at service (specified) load shall be computed based on elastic cracked-
section analysis as the unfactored moment developed in the beam due to service load
( M ) divided by the product of the steel area and the internal moment arm (Figure D).
a
• The force in the tension steel: T = A f s
s s
• Based on equilibrium of the external and internal bending moments:
⎛ y⎞ ⎛ y⎞
M = T ⎜⎜ d − ⎟⎟ = A f s ⎜⎜ d − ⎟⎟
a s s
⎝ 3⎠ ⎝ 3⎠
where y is the neutral axis depth of the cracked section
M
• The stress is steel: f s = a

A ⎛ d− ⎞
y
⎜
s⎝ ⎟
3⎠

Figure D: Stress and strain distribution in a cracked reinforced concrete beam at service
load

Alternatively, in lieu of such detailed computations, the CSA A23.3-04 Clause 10.6.1
permits the use of 60% of the specified yield strength as an estimate of stress in steel
under service loads ( f s = 0.6 f ). In most practical situations, this is a conservative
y
assumption as the actual steel stress at specified load levels will be below this value.
Note that factor 0.6 has been carried forward from earlier version of A23.3 and is
approximately ( 0.85 1.38 ), where 0.85 represents the resistance factor for the
( )
reinforcement and 1.38 represents the average load factor ( α D + α L 2 .

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Immediate Deflections
For a reinforced concrete member,
Based on
three different values for EI must I of gross-
be considered (Figure 1): 1) the Based on Ig
transformed
Based on Icr
uncracked (gross) moment of section
inertia, 2) the fully cracked
Based on Ie
moment of inertia, and 3) the

Load
transition from uncracked to
cracked moment of inertia (at Actual
service load). (service load level)

Note: that the larger the flexural

stiffness the smaller are the flexural
stresses and deflections developed
in the member.

Figure 1: Typical load-deflection 0 Deflection

curve for reinforced concrete
beams (Ref 1)

The value of I e depends on the magnitude of the moment (load). As evident, I e

decreases as the loads increases, once cracking has occurred. Thus, for different load
levels, such as dead load alone or dead load plus live load, the respective deflections
( Δ D and Δ D+ L ) should be computed with the I e values for the corresponding total
moment levels ( M D and M D + L ) as indicated in Figure 2. The incremental deflection,
such as the part Δ L due to live load, is obtained as the difference between the
deflections computed with and without the live load, that is, Δ L = Δ D + L − Δ D .

based on Ig

(Ie ) D + L
(Ie ) D
moment M

MD + L
based on Icr
MD
Mcr

ΔL

0 Δcr ΔD ΔD + L
deflection Δ
Figure 2: Moment-deflection curve for short-term loading with I e (Ref.1)

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The effective moment of inertia, I e , should be evaluated based on moment at the
support for cantilevers, and midspan moment for simply supported beams. For
continuous beams average values of I e based on support moments and midspan
moments should be used as explained in the next section.

Procedure for Immediate Deflection Calculation

The immediate deflections can be computed by the following procedure:
1. Calculate the gross moment of inertia ( I g ).

2. Calculate the moment of inertia of the cracked section ( I cr ).

3. Calculate the effective moment of inertia ( I e ).
4. The dead load deflection ( Δ D ) is calculated based on the I e value corresponding to
the dead load bending moment ( M D ).
5. Deflection due to combined dead and live load ( Δ D+ L ) is calculated based on the I e
value corresponding to the total bending moment ( M D + L ).
6. The live load deflection ( Δ L ) is calculated as: Δ L = Δ D + L − Δ D
NOTE that the use of Δ D+ L to calculate all deflection terms tends to overestimate the
Δ D value and underestimate the Δ L value
An important note: always use specified (unfactored) loads and corresponding bending
moment for deflection calculations!!

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Time-Dependent Deflection
So far we have considered only immediate deflection since live load is not a sustained
load. Under sustained load, the deflection increases with time, due principally to the
effects of creep ( Δ cp ) and shrinkage ( Δ ). The additional long-term deflection may be
sh
as large as two to three times the immediate deflection.
Long-Term Deflection by CSA Code
According to CSA A23.3-04 (Clause 9.8.2.5) the additional long-term deflection under
sustained loads ( Δ t = Δ cp + Δ ) may be obtained by multiplying the immediate
sh
S
deflection ( Δ i ) due to the sustained load considered, by a factor that accounts
1 + 50ρ '
for the effect of compression reinforcement in reducing long-term deflection as well as for
the duration of sustained loading and for the long-term deflections caused by creep and
shrinkage.
⎛ S ⎞
Δ t = Δ cp + Δ = Δ i × ⎜ ⎟
sh ⎜ 1 + 50ρ ' ⎟
⎝ ⎠
Also, Δ i includes the immediate deflection due to dead load ( Δ iD ) and due to the portion
of live load that is sustained ( Δ iLs ).
Therefore, the incremental deflection which occurs after partitions are installed is given
by:

Δ
incremental
(
= Δ +Δ
iD
)
×⎜
⎛ S
(
⎞
⎟+ Δ −Δ
iLs ⎜ 1 + 50ρ ' ⎟ iL
)
iLs
⎝ ⎠
And the total deflection (immediate and long-term) is given by:

Δ
total
(
= Δ +Δ
iD
)
⎛
× ⎜1 +
S
iLs ⎜ 1 + 50ρ ' ⎟
⎞
(
⎟+ Δ −Δ
iL
)
iLs
⎝ ⎠
Note, if the dead load and the sustained live load are applied at different times, it may be
desirable to use different S values for the dead and sustained live load depending on the
duration of each, where
Δ iD = immediate deflection due to dead loads
Δ iL = immediate deflection due to live loads
Δ iLs = immediate deflection due to sustained portion of live loads

ρ ′ = A ′ bd is the compression reinforcement ratio, taken as the value at midspan for

s
simple and continuous spans and at the support for cantilevers
S = the time dependent factor for creep deflections under sustained loads.
The factor S is given in Figure 3 (similar to Figure N9.8.2.6 in CPCA Handbook) and
can be taken as:
= 2.0 for load sustained for 5 years or more
= 1.4 for load sustained for 12 months
= 1.2 for load sustained for 6 months
= 1.0 for load sustained for 3 months

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Figure 3: Variation of creep deflection factor, S, with load duration

Figure N9.8.2.6: Variation of Creep Deflection Factor, S, with Load Duration (Ref. 2)

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Deflection Control in CSA Code
Deflection Limits. For members not meeting the minimum thickness requirements, the
deflections (immediate and long-term) must be calculated and limited to the allowable
values (specified maximum permissible) in the Code (Clause 9.8.2.6). The deflection shall
not exceed the limits stipulated in Table 9-3 expressed as fractions of the clear span
length, l .
n

References
1. Reinforced Concrete Design, Pillai S.U., Kirk D.W. and Erki M.A., McGraw-Hill
Ryerson, 3rd edition, second print, 1999.
2. CPCA Concrete Design Handbook CSA A23.3-04, "Design of Concrete
Structures", Canadian Standards Association, Rexdale, 2006.

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