ANALYSIS OF BEAM SECTION UNDER FLEXURE

Flexural members are those subject to bending, e.g. beams and

slabs. EC2 also mentioned on other types of beam namely:
Deep Beams - Deep beams having a clear span of less than
three times their overall depth require special consideration
and are outside the scope of this module. EC2 gives design
guidance.
Slender Beams- Slender beams, where the breadth of the
compression face b is small compared with the depth and
length, have a tendency to fail by lateral torsional buckling. If
this buckling is prevented by, for example, a slab attached to
the

compression

face

of

the

beam,

then

the

beam

is

considered as laterally restrained and it will be satisfactory if

the depth h is not more than 2.5 times the breadth b. If the
compression

face

is

unrestrained,

then

the

unrestrained

length should not be more than 35 b .

In practice, slender beams are rare.

Stress- Strain Relations for the Design of Cross-sections

Downward loads on a simply supported beam induce sagging
bending moments which cause compressive stress in the material
fibres above the neutral axis and tensile stresses in those below.
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Concrete is good at resisting compressive stresses but its resistance

to tension is so poor that it is ignored. Instead, steel reinforcing
bars are introduced to resist the tension.
A

A
Some of the parameters used to describe the cross-section of a
singly reinforced beam are shown below:

Cross-section A-A of rectangular singly reinforced beam

A singly reinforced beam will be adequate in bending if the

ultimate resistance moment Mu of a concrete beam must be
greater than or equal to the ultimate design bending
moment Md i.e
Mu M d
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The ultimate design bending moment Md is calculated under

ultimate design loads and will be greatest at or near the centre of
the beam.(For simply supported beam with uniformly distributed
load Md = wdL2/8)
To determine the Mu section analysis can be used as shown below:

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Figure (b) above shows the strains in the beam when it is subject
to a sagging bending moment equal to M . The neutral axis is at
distance x from the top of the beam.
EC2 in Clause 3.1.7 allows the use of simplified stress-strain
relationship as in Fig (d) which can be used for the design at
ultimate limit state.
In the UK it is considered good practice that x should not be more
than d /2. This will ensure that the beam is under-reinforced and
will fail in a ductile manner by yielding of the reinforcement
giving a robust structural element with some warning of the
failure. If x is much greater than d /2 then the beam is overreinforced and may fail by crushing of the concrete, possibly
leading to a sudden collapse. Limiting K to 0.167, as described
later in this section, ensures that the beam is under-reinforced.
During steel yielding, the formation of plastic hinges allows
redistribution of maximum moment, resulting in a safer and
economical structure.
To ensure sufficient rotation of the plastic hinge and also to allow
for others factors, EC2 limits the depth of neutral axis to:
x 0.45 d

for concrete class C50/60

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Figure (c) shows the design values of the stresses at the ULS.
The concrete cylinder strength f ck is multiplied by 0.85, a factor
which converts compressive strength into bending strength, and
divided by the partial safety factor m = 1.5.
The reinforcement strength fyk is divided by the partial safety
factor m = 1.15.
Note that the stress in the concrete below the neutral axis is zero as
it is assumed to be cracked.
Figure (d) is a simplified version of Figure (c) with the curved
stress block replaced by a rectangular stress block of depth 0.8 x
for ease of calculation.
Figure (e) shows the stresses from Figure(d) converted to forces.
Concrete force F cc = stress multiplied by area
= (0.567 fck )(0.8 x )( b ) = 0.453 xbfck
Steel force F st = stress multiplied by area
= 0.87 fyk As

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PUSAT PENGAJIAN DIPLOMA PPD

Analysis of a singly reinforced beam

Based on Cl 3.1.7 EN 1992-1-1
Design equations can be derived as follows:

0.85fck/c = 0.567fck

0.0035

s/2
x

s =0.8x

Fcc

Neutral
Axis

z=lad

As

st
Section

Fst

Strain

Stress Block

Bending will induce a resultant tensile force Fst in the steel bar and
a resultant compressive force in the concrete Fcc.
At equilibrium , ultimate design moment M = moment of
resistance of the section
M = Fccz =Fstz

(1)
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Where z is the lever arm.

Fcc = stress x area of action = 0.567fck x b x s ..(2)
and z = d s/2
substitute in (2)
M = Fccz = 0.567fck x b x s x z
Replacing s,
M = 1.134fckb(d-z)z
Rearranging and substitute K = M/bd2fck
(z/d)2 - (z/d) + K/1.134 = 0
Solving the quadratic equation:
z = d {0.5 + (0.25 K/1.134)}
In equation (1) ,
Fst = (fyk/s) x As
= 0.87fykAs

s - safety factor for steel = 1.15

Therefore,
As = M
0.87fykz
This equation can be used to design the tension steel area for singly
reinforced beam section to resist an ultimate design moment M.
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PUSAT PENGAJIAN DIPLOMA PPD

Balance Section
For a singly reinforced beam, EC2 allows the maximum value
for x (depth to neutral axis)= 0.45d (for C50/60 concrete) in
order to provide ductile section and a gradual tension type
failure. This is often referred as the balance section because at
ultimate limit state the concrete and tension in steel reach their
ultimate strain at the same time.
x bal = 0.45 d
The depth of the stress block,
s = 0.8xbal = 0.8 x 0.45d = 0.36d
The force on the concrete stress block is
Fccbal = 0.567fck x b x s = 0.204fckbd
For equilibrium the force in concrete = force in steel
Fstbal = 0.87fykAsbal = Fccbal = 0.204fckbd
Therefore,
Asbal = 0.234fckbd/fyk
So that
100Asbal = 23.4 fck percent
bd
fyk
which is the steel percentage for a balanced section which should
not be exceeded for a ductile singly reinforced section.
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Example: If fck = 25 N/mm2 and fyk=500 N/mm2

100Asbal = 23.4 x 25 = 1.17 percent
bd
500
The ultimate moment of resistance of the balanced section is
Mbal = Fccbalzbal where
zbal = d s/2 = 0.82d
Substitue Fccbal and z
Mbal = 0.167fckbd2
and
Md = 0.167 = Kbal
fckbd2
If
Md > Kbal = 0.167 than the section can no longer be singly
fckbd2
reinforced and compression steel is needed in the
Compression zone of the section
If the value of K for a singly reinforced beam is found to exceed K
lim > 0.167 then the beam is likely to fail by crushing of the
concrete before the reinforcement yields.(Over-reinforced)
This should be avoided by either:
using stronger concrete and so reducing K
increasing the size of the beam and so reducing K
providing compression reinforcement above the neutral axis
to form a doubly reinforced beam.

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PUSAT PENGAJIAN DIPLOMA PPD

Moment of Resistance of a Section

Given a cross-section of a reinforced concrete beam, the moment
of resistance of the section can be calculated.
For equilibrium of the compressive force in the concrete and the
tensile force in the steel as shown below:

Fcc = Fst
therefore
0.567fckb x s = 0.87 fyk As
Therefore depth of stress block is
s = 0.87fykAs/0.567fckb
And

x = s/0.8
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Therefore moment of resistance of the section is

M = Fst x z
This equation assume the tension reinforcement has yielded, which
will be the case if x< 0.617d
Example:
Determine the moment of resistance of the cross-section shown
below. Given fyk=500 N/mm2; fck = 25 N/mm2.
b=300mm

d =520mm

As=1470 mm2

Fcc = Fst
Therefore
0.567fckb x s = 0.87 fyk As
0.567 x 25 x 300 x s = 0.87 x 500 x 1470
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s = 150 mm
and
x = s/0.8 = 150/0.8 = 188 mm
This value is less than 0.617. Therefore the steel yielded and fst =
0.87fyk as assumed.
Therefore moment of resistance of the section is
M = Fst x z
= 0.87fykAs(d s/2)
= 0.87 x 500 x 1470(520 150/2) x 10-6
= 284 kNm
Doubly Reinforced Concrete Section
When M > 0.167fckbd2 i.e when the design moment exceeds the
moment of resistance of concrete ( Mbal) then compression
reinforcement is required.
0.85fck/c = 0.567fck

0.0035

s/2

d
As

Fsc
x

s =0.8x

Fcc

Neutral
Axis

z bal

As

st
Section

Fst

Strains

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PUSAT PENGAJIAN DIPLOMA PPD

Stress Block

For this condition the maximum depth of neutral axis allows in

EC2 is x <0.45d to ensure ductile failure of the section.
Using equilibrium, Fst = Fcc + Fsc
0.87fykAs = 0.567fckbs +0.87fykAs
And taking moments about the centroid of the tension steel
M = Fcc x zbal + Fsc (d d)
It can be proved that:
As =

( K K bal ) f ck bd 2
0.87 f yk ( d d ' )

and
As =

K bal f ck bd 2
0.87 f yk z bal

+ As

Where Kbal = 0.167 and K=

M
bd 2 f ck

If d/d < 0.171 than the compression yielded

EXAMPLE
The section shown below is to resist an ultimate design moment of
285 kNm. Given fyk=500 N/mm2; fck = 25 N/mm2. Determine the
area of reinforcement required.

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PUSAT PENGAJIAN DIPLOMA PPD

As

d=50
mm

d =440
mm
As

K=

b=260
mm

M
bd 2 f ck

= 285 x 106/260x4402x25 = 0.226 >0.167

Therefore compression steel is required.
Check d/d = 50/400 = 0.11 < 0.171
Compression steel will have yielded
Compression steel:
As =

( K K bal ) f ck bd 2
0.87 f yk ( d d ' )

= (0.226 0.167) x 25 x 260 x 4402

0.87 x 500 x (400 50)
= 438 mm2
Tension steel:
As =

K bal f ck bd 2
0.87 f yk z bal

+ As

= 0.167 x 25 x 260 x 4402 + 438

0.87 x 500(0.82 x 400)
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= 1339 + 438 = 1777 mm2

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Moment of Resistance of Doubly Reinforced Beam

Example
Determine the ultimate moment of resistance of the cross
section shown below. Given fyk = 500 N/mm2 and fck = 25 N/mm2
0.85fck/c = 0.567fck
b=280

s/2

d=50
As=628

Fsc
x

s =0.8x

Fcc

Neutral
Axis

d=510

z bal

As=2410

Fst
Section

Stress Block

Using equilibrium
(tension) (compression)
Fst
= Fsc + Fcc
0.87fykAs = 0.567fckbs + 0.87 fykAs
s = 0.87fyk(As As)/ 0.567fckb
= 0.87 x 500 (2410 628)/0.567 x 25 x 280
= 195 mm
x = s/0.8 = 244 mm
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x/d = 244/510 = 0.48 < 0.617

so tension steel yielded.
d/x = 50/225 = 0.22 < 0.38
so compression steel yielded.
Taking moment about tension steel:
Moment of resistance = Fcc(d s/2) + Fsc(d d)
= 0.567fckbs(d-s/2) + 0.87fykAs(d-d)
={ 0.567x25x280x195(510-195/2) + 0.87x500x620(510-50)}x10-6
= 443 kNm

TUTORIAL
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S1

The singly reinforced concrete beam shown below

is made of C30/37 concrete. Using stress block as
recommended in EC2, check whether the section can
resist an ultimate sagging bending moment of 525 kNm.

Given As = 2348 mm2

S2

The singly reinforced concrete beam shown below is made

of C35/45 concrete and is required to resist an ultimate
sagging bending moment of 150 kNm. The breadth b is
250 mm. Choose a suitable beam depth and determine the
area of reinforcement required.

ASSIGNMENT
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A simply supported reinforced concrete beam with an effective

span of 7.0 m is 500 mm deep overall by 250 mm wide. It
supports the following characteristic loads:
Permanent dead loads: 12.0 kN/m plus beam self-weight
Variable imposed loads: 11.0 kN/m.
The concrete is grade C40/50, and 25-mm cover is required to
all reinforcement. Assuming that the shear links are H10 and
the main bars are H25, check whether the beam size is
adequate for the bending ULS and determine suitable tension
reinforcement.

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PUSAT PENGAJIAN DIPLOMA PPD

HJ ROSLAN BIN KOLOP

PUSAT PENGAJIAN DIPLOMA PPD