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Worked Design Examples Using Strut-and-Tie Method Double Corbel (ACI 318-02 Appendix A)

Design Example of A Double Corbel Using Strut-and-Tie Method

per ACI 318-02 Appendix A
A double corbel projecting from a 14 in. x 14 in. column is to be designed to support precast
beam reaction forces at 6 in. from the face of the column. The factored vertical load to be carried
is 61.8 kips. Due to restraint of beam creep and shrinkage deformations, a factored horizontal
force of 14.3 kips is assumed to develop. The upper column carries a factored axial load of 275
kips.
The concrete strength is 4 ksi (normal density), and the yield strength of reinforcement is taken
as 60 ksi.

Determine the Bearing Plate Dimensions:

Choose a 12 in. 6 in. 1/2 in. bearing pad. The bearing plate area is 12(6) = 72 in.2 and
the bearing stress is 61.8(1000)/72 = 858 psi. Since this is less than the bearing stress limit,
i.e. f cu = (0.85 n f c' )= 0.75[0.85(0.80 )(4000)] = 2040 psi, the bearing size is adequate.

Choose the Corbel Dimensions:

Choose a column face depth of 18 in. The ACI Code requires that the depth at the outside of
the bearing area is at least one-half of the depth at the column face. Therefore, select a depth
of 10 in. at the free end of the corbel. The selected dimensions for the corbel are summarized
in Figure 1.
12 in x 6 in x 1/2 in
bearing plate (typical)

13"
3"

6"

3"

2"
10"
18"
8"

12"

14"

12"

Figure 1

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Worked Design Examples Using Strut-and-Tie Method Double Corbel (ACI 318-02 Appendix A)

Establish the Strut-and-Tie Model:

To allow for load eccentricities and erection tolerances, consider the vertical load to be
placed 1 in. toward the edge of the corbel from center of bearing plate. Thus, the position of
vertical load is 1 + 6 = 7 in. from the face of column.
The geometry of the assumed truss is given in Figure 2. The center of the tie is assumed to be
located 2 in. from the top of the corbel. Thus, d = 18 2 = 16 in. The horizontal strut BB is
assumed to lie on the horizontal line passing through the sloping end of the corbel.
The location of strut CB centerline can be found by calculating the required compressive
force in strut CB, NCB, and the strut stress limit to obtain the strut width a. The strut CB force
is N CB = 275 / 2 + 61.8 = 199.3 kips and the limit stress on the nodal zone B (also the strut

CB) is f cu = 0.85 n f c' = 0.75[0.85(1.0 )(4000 )] = 2550 psi. Thus, we have

N
199.3(1000 )
a = CB =
= 5.58 in.
f cu b
2550(14)

This fixes the geometry of the truss and means that member AB has a horizontal projection of
0.46 + 7 + 5.58/2 = 10.25 in.

Resu
ltant L
ine

Pu /2 = 137.5 k

0.46"

Vu = 61.8 k
3"

Pu /2 = 137.5 k

D'

Vu = 61.8 k

7 in

39.8 k

B'

73

54.1 k

.2
57

199.3 k

199.3 k

8"

57
.2

73

.5

18"

A'
.5
k

10"

137.5 k

2"

Nu = 14.3 k
137.5 k

Nu = 14.3 k

C'

199.3 k
12"

199.3 k
14"

fcu
a = 5.58"

12"

fcu
a = 5.58"

Figure 2

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Worked Design Examples Using Strut-and-Tie Method Double Corbel (ACI 318-02 Appendix A)

Determine the Required Truss Forces by Statics:

The required forces in all the members of the truss are given in the following table. Note that
positive indicates tension, negative compression.
Member
Force (k)

AA
+54.1

AB
-73.5

BB
-39.8

CB
-199.3

BD
-137.5

Design the Tie:

The area of reinforcement required for tie AA is As required =

the minimum area of reinforcement is As min = 0.04

N AA'
54.1
=
= 1.20 in.2 and
f y 0.75(60)

f c'
4
bd = 0.04 (14 )(16 ) = 0.60 in.2
fy
60

Choose 6 No. 4 bars, As = 6(0.20 ) = 1.20 in.2

Check the Struts:

The struts will be checked by computing the strut widths and checked whether they will fit in
the space available.
The stress of the diagonal strut AB is limited to
f cu = 0.75(0.85 s f c' ) = 0.75[0.85(0.75)(4000)] = 1912 psi. Hence, the required width for strut
N AB 73.5(1000 )
=
= 2.75 in. Select a width of 3 in. for strut AB.
AB is
f cu b 1912(14 )

The stress of the vertical struts BD and CB and horizontal strut BB is limited to
f cu = 0.75(0.85 s f c' ) = 0.75[0.85(1.0 )(4000 )] = 2550 psi. Hence, the required widths for strut

N BD 137.5(1000)
N
39.8(1000 )
=
= 3.85 in. and BB ' =
= 1.11 in.,
f cu b
2550(14 )
f cu b
2550(14)
respectively. Choose 4 in. width for strut BD and 2 in. width for strut BB. The required
width for strut CB is equal to a, i.e. 5.58 in.
As shown in Figure 3, all the strut widths fit into the outline of the corbel region. Thus, this
solution is accepted. Note that Figure 3 also shows a summary of the stress in each strut and
its corresponding stress limit (in brackets).

BD and BB are

Calculate the Minimum Reinforcement Required for Crack Control:

According Appendix A, the minimum reinforcement provided must satisfy
vi sin i 0.0030 to be able to use s as 0.75 for the diagonal struts, and the minimum
spacing for the vertical reinforcement is the smallest of 12 in. or d/2.
In addition, the code requires closed stirrups or ties parallel to the reinforcement required for
tie AA to be uniformly distributed with 2/3 of the effective depth adjacent to tie AA, i.e. 2/3
(16) = 10.67 in. Use 11 in. The area of these ties must exceed 0.5( As An ) , where An is the
area of reinforcement resisting the tensile force N uc . Hence the minimum area required is

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Worked Design Examples Using Strut-and-Tie Method Double Corbel (ACI 318-02 Appendix A)

N
14.3(1000 )
= 0.44 in.2
0.5( As An ) = 0.5 As uc = 0.51.20

fy
0.75(60000 )

Try 3 No. 3 closed stirrups with average spacing of 11/3 = 3.67 in.
Av = 3(2 )(0.11) = 0.66 in.2

vi

sin i =

2(0.11)
sin 57.5 o = 0.0036 > 0.0030.
14(3.67 )

Since this amount of reinforcement satisfies both requirements, provide 3 No. 3 closed
stirrups distributed over a depth of 11 in. from tie AA with a concrete cover of 1 in.

2454 psi
(2550 psi)

D'

2454 psi
(2550 psi)

4"

3"

1415 psi
B (2550 psi) B'
2550 psi
(2550 psi)

2"

4"

2550 psi
(2550 psi)

i
ps
53 si)
17 40 p
(20

3"

A'
17
(20 53 p
40 s i
ps
i)

C
5.58"

C'
5.58"

Figure 3

Design the Nodal Zones and Check the Anchorages:

The width a of nodal zone A was chosen to satisfy the stress limits on the nodal zone.
To anchor tie AA, the horizontal loop is used. The detail is shown in Figure 4. To satisfy the
nodal zone stress limit, the tie reinforcement must engage an effective depth of concrete at
least equal to
N AA'
N AA'
54.1(1000 )
=
=
= 1.89 in.
'
f cu b (0.85 n f c )b 0.75[0.85(0.80)(4000 )](14 )

This limit is easily satisfied since the nodal zone available is 4 in.
1200d b
1200(0.5)
= 0 .7
= 6.65 in. Since
The required anchorage length for tie AA is ldh =
'
4000
fc
this is less than the available length, i.e. 3 + 6 (1 + 3/8) = 7.63 in., the anchorage length is
adequate.

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Worked Design Examples Using Strut-and-Tie Method Double Corbel (ACI 318-02 Appendix A)

Summary of the Design:

The reinforcement details for the corbel designed using the strut-and-tie model according to
Appendix A are shown in Figure 4.
No. 4 hoop
3 No. 3 hoops
12 in x 6 in x 1/2 in
bearing plate (typical)
No. 4 hoop
2" (centroid of No. 4 hoops
and framing bars)
10"

2 No. 4 framing bars

11"

18"
8"

5"

Note: Column reinforcement

is not shown

12"

14"

12"

Elevation View
No. 4 hoop
2 No. 4 framing bars
No. 4 hoop

14"

Top View

Figure 4
Last Update: March 20, 2003

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