INTRODUCTION

TO
REINFORCED
CONCRETE
DESIGN
daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph
 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Definition of Concrete and Reinf. Concrete

• CONCRETE – is a combination of aggregates (sand,

gravel, crushed rock, etc.) bonded together with a
paste composed of cement and water. Admixtures are
sometimes added to the mixture in order to change
its characteristics such as its workability, durability,
and time of hardening. Concrete has a very high
compressive strength but a very low tensile strength.

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

REINFORCED CONCRETE – is a combination of concrete and

reinforcing steel (mostly deformed round bars) wherein the
steel provides the tensile strength that is lacking in the
concrete. In the plain concrete beam shown in (b), the
moments about point O due to applied loads are resisted by
an internal tension–compression couple involving tension in
the concrete. An unreinforced beam fails very suddenly and
completely when the first crack forms. Reinforcing bars are
embedded in the concrete in such a way that the tension
forces needed for moment equilibrium after the concrete
cracks can be developed in the bars shown in the figure (c).

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Reinforced Concrete Structural Elements

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Reinforced Concrete Structural Elements

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Reinforced Concrete Structural Elements

• Reinforced concrete structures consist of a series of “members” that interact to support the loads placed on the structure. The second
floor of the building in Figure 1.2 is built of concrete joist–slab construction. Here, a series of parallel ribs or joists support the load
from the top slab. The reactions supporting the joists apply loads to the beams, which in turn are supported by columns. In such a floor,
the top slab has two functions: (1) it transfers load laterally to the joists, and (2) it serves as the top flange of the joists, which act as T-
shaped beams that transmit the load to the beams running at right angles to the joists. The first floor of the building in Figure 1.2 has a
slab-and-beam design in which the slab spans between beams, which in turn apply loads to the columns.

• The column loads are applied to spread footings, which distribute the load over an area of soil sufficient to prevent overloading of the
soil. Some soil conditions require the use of pile foundations or other deep foundations. At the perimeter of the building, the floor
loads are supported either directly on the walls, as shown in Figure 1.2, or on exterior columns, as shown in Figure 1.3.

• The walls or columns, in turn, are supported by a basement wall and wall footings. The first and second floor slabs in Figure 1.2 are
assumed to carry the loads in a north–south direction (see direction arrow) to the joists or beams, which carry the loads in an east–
west direction to other beams, girders, columns, or walls. This is referred to as one-way slab action and is analogous to a wooden floor
in a house, in which the floor decking transmits loads to perpendicular floor joists, which carry the loads to supporting beams, and so
on. The ability to form and construct concrete slabs makes possible the slab or plate type of structure shown in Figure 1.3. Here, the
loads applied to the roof and the floor are transmitted in two directions to the columns by plate action. Such slabs are referred to as
two-way slabs.

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Reinforced Concrete Structural Elements

• The first floor in Figure 1.3 is a flat slab with thickened areas called drop panels at the columns. In addition, the tops of the
columns are enlarged in the form of capitals or brackets. The thickening provides extra depth for moment and shear resistance
adjacent to the columns. It also tends to reduce the slab deflections. The roof of the building shown in Figure 1.3 is of uniform
thickness throughout without drop panels or column capitals. Such a floor is a special type of flat slab referred to as a flat plate.
Flat-plate floors are widely used in apartments because the underside of the slab is flat and hence can be used as the ceiling of
the room below. Of equal importance, the forming for a flat plate is generally cheaper than that for flat slabs with drop panels
or one-way slab-and-beam floors. Reinforced concrete structures are consisting of structural elements that are connected with
each other to carry the loads placed in it.

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Advantages and Disadvantages of RC

Advantages of reinforced concrete as a structural material are as follows:
• considerable compressive strength per unit cost
• fire and water resistant
• very rigid
• low-maintenance
• very long service life
• economical material available for footings, floor slabs, basement walls, piers, etc.
• ability to cast into any variety of shapes
• inexpensive local materials (sand, gravel, and water)
• highly grade skilled labor is not required for erection

Disadvantages of reinforced concrete as a structural material are as follows:

• very low tensile strength
• cost of formworks needed to hold the concrete intact until it hardens is expensive
• low strength per unit of volume of concrete will result to relatively large members
• mixing, casting and curing are needed which can affect its strength
• develop cracks due to shrinkage and application of loads

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Compatibility of Concrete and Steel

The following characteristics of both concrete and steel that shows its compatibility are as follows:

• concrete’s lack of tensile strength is one of the great advantages of steel

• concrete and steel reinforcement bonds together very well so there is little chance of slippage between the two
• reinforcing bars are subject to corrosion, but the concrete surrounding them provides them with excellent protection

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Factors Affecting the Strength of Concrete

• Water-cement ratio (by weight) – one of the most important factors that can affect the strength of concrete. To completely hydrate a given
amount of cement, a water-cement ratio of 0.25 is required. A water-cement ratio of about 0.35 or higher is needed to make the concrete
mixture workable which corresponds to approximately 4 gal of water per 50 kg sack of cement in which a compressive strength of 42 MPa
may be achieved. A water-cement ratio of 0.5 to 0.7 may produce a concrete with compressive strength nearly 35 MPa and 21 MPa,
respectively.

• Properties and proportions of concrete constituents – the strength of concrete may also vary depending on the proportion of cement, sand,
gravel and water. The properties of each material will also affect its strength. An increase in cement content and use of well-graded
aggregate will also increase the strength of concrete.

• Mixing and curing – mixing the concrete with the use of mechanical concrete mixers proper time of mixing both have considerable effects
on the strength of concrete. Others use vibrators to lessen air voids and produce a much denser concrete. A void ratio of 5% may reduce
the concrete strength by about 30%. Factors such as moisture and temperature may also influence the curing condition of the concrete. If
the curing temperature is higher than the casting temperature, the 28-day strength may be reached earlier than 28 days.

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Properties of Concrete
CONCRETE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH, 𝑓’𝑐 – is the maximum stress a concrete specimen can sustain in compressive axial
loading. It is also the primary parameter used in ordering concrete. It is determined by testing to failure 28-day-old 150 mm
(6-in.) diameter by 300 mm (12-in.) concrete cylinders at a specified rate of loading. For the 28-day period, the cylinders are
usually kept under water or in a room with constant temperature and 100% humidity. Although concretes are available with
28-day ultimate strengths from 17.5 MPa (2500 psi) up to as high as 70 MPa to 140 MPa (10,000 psi to 20,000 psi), most of
the concretes used fall into the 21 MPa to 49 MPa (3000 psi to 7000 psi) range. (See Section 405, NSCP 2010)

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Properties of Concrete
CONCRETE STATIC MODULUS OF ELASTICITY, 𝐸𝑐 – is defined as the ratio of stress to strain in the elastic region. Unlike steel, the modulus of
elasticity of concrete varies with compressive strength. Since the slope of the stress-strain curve varies with the applied stress, there are
several ways of calculating the modulus of elasticity. Concrete has no clear-cut modulus of elasticity. Its value varies with different concrete
strengths, concrete age, type of loading, and the characteristics and proportions of the cement and aggregates.

For normal weight concrete:

(Section 419.2.1.1b, NSCP 2015)

For values of 𝑤𝑐 between 1500 and 2500 kg/m3:

.
(Section 419.2.1.1a, NSCP 2015)

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Properties of Concrete
Concrete Modulus of Rupture, fr
- indirect test developed to measure concrete’s tensile flexural strength.

in MPa (Section 419.3.1, NSCP 2015)

Values of 𝜆 is to take account the use of lightweight concrete.

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Properties of Concrete

• Linear interpolation between 0.75 and 0.85 shall be permitted,

on the basis of volumetric fractions, when a portion of the
lightweight fine aggregate is replaced with normal-weight fine
aggregates

• Linear interpolation between 0.85 and 1.0 shall be permitted, on

the basis of volumetric fractions, for concrete containing normal-
weight fine aggregate and a blend of lightweight and normal-
weight coarse aggregates.

• If average splitting tensile strength of lightweight concrete 𝑓 , is

specified:

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Properties of Steel

Steel yield strength, fy

- depends on its grade such as Grade 40, Grade 50, Grade
60 and so on, where Grade 40 means the steel has a specified yield
point of 40,000 psi (276 MPa), Grade 50 means 50,000 psi (345
MPa), Grade 60 means (414 MPa), and so on.

The available bar sizes in the Philippines

with nominal diameters are 10 mm,12 mm,
16 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm, 28 mm, 32 mm,
36 mm, 42 mm, and 58 mm.
(Table 407-2, NSCP 2010)

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Properties of Steel

TYPES OF REINFORCING STEEL – basically round in cross-section and manufactured according to ASTM specifications
which specifies dimensions and certain chemical and mechanical properties. (Section 403.6.3.1, NSCP 2001 and 2010)

a. ASTM A615M – carbon steel

b. ASTM A706M – low-alloy steel

BAR SIZES OF REINFORCING STEEL – the available bar sizes in the Philippines with nominal diameters are 10 mm, 12 mm,
16 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm, 28 mm, 32 mm, 36 mm, 42 mm, and 58 mm. (Table 407-2, NSCP 2010)

STEEL YIELD STRENGTH, 𝑓𝑦 – the specified yield strength of non-prestressed reinforcement will depend on its grade such
as Grade 40, Grade 50, Grade 60 and so on, where Grade 40 means the steel has a specified yield point of 40,000 psi
(276 MPa), Grade 50 means 50,000 ksi (345 MPa), Grade 60 means (414 MPa), and so on.

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Design Objectives and Processes

• A structural engineer is a member of a team that works together to design a building, bridge, or other structure. In the case of a
building, an architect generally provides the overall layout, and mechanical, electrical, and structural engineers design individual
systems within the building. The structure should satisfy four major criteria:

Appropriateness – the arrangement of spaces, spans, ceiling heights, access, and traffic flow must complement the
intended use. The structure should fit its environment and be aesthetically pleasing.

Economy – the overall cost of the structure should not exceed the client’s budget. Frequently, teamwork in design will
lead to overall economies.

Structural adequacy – involves two major aspects. (a) A structure must be strong enough to support all anticipated
loadings safely. (b) A structure must not deflect, tilt, vibrate, or crack in a manner that impairs its usefulness.

Maintainability – a structure should be designed so as to require a minimum amount of simple maintenance

procedures.

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Design Objectives and Processes

The design process is a sequential and iterative decision-making process. The three major phases are the following:

• Definition of the client’s needs and priorities. All buildings or other structures are built to fulfill a need. It is important that the owner
or user be involved in determining the attributes of the proposed building. These include functional requirements, aesthetic
requirements, and budgetary requirements. The latter include initial cost, premium for rapid construction to allow early occupancy,
maintenance, and other life-cycle costs.

• Development of project concept. Based on the client’s needs and priorities, a number of possible layouts are developed. Preliminary
cost estimates are made, and the final choice of the system to be used is based on how well the overall design satisfies the client’s
needs within the budget available. Generally, systems that are conceptually simple and have standardized geometries and details that
allow construction to proceed as a series of identical cycles are the most cost effective. During this stage, the overall structural concept
is selected. From approximate analyses of the moments, shears, and axial forces, preliminary member sizes are selected for each
potential scheme. Once this is done, it is possible to estimate costs and select the most desirable structural system. The overall thrust
in this stage of the structural design is to satisfy the design criteria dealing with appropriateness, economy, and, to some extent,
maintainability.

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Design Objectives and Processes

• Design of individual systems. Once the overall layout and general structural concept have been selected, the structural
system can be designed. Structural design involves three main steps. Based on the preliminary design selected in
phase 2, a structural analysis is carried out to determine the moments, shears, torques, and axial forces in the
structure. The individual members are then proportioned to resist these load effects. The proportioning, sometimes
referred to as member design, must also consider overall aesthetics, the constructability of the design, coordination
with mechanical and electrical systems, and the sustainability of the final structure. The final stage in the design
process is to prepare construction drawings and specifications.

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Introduction to Loads

One of the most difficult part in designing structures is to provide an accurate value of the loads that may be applied to a structure during
its life. No loads that may possibly occur could be overlooked and neglected. After these loads are determined, the next step is to decide
the worst possible combination of these loads that might occur at any time.

• Dead loads – consists of the weight of all materials of construction incorporated into the building or other structure, including but not
limited to walls, floors, roofs, ceilings, stairways, built-in partitions, finishes, cladding and other similarly incorporated architectural and
structural items, and fixed service equipment, including weight of cranes. (Section 204, NSCP 2001 and 2010)

• Live loads – loads that may vary in magnitude and location. It may include occupancy loads (caused by the weight of people, furniture,
and goods), warehouse materials, construction loads, overhead service cranes, equipment operating loads, etc. (Section 205, NSCP
2001 and 2010)

• Rain Loads – if water on a flat roof accumulates faster than it runs off, the result is called ponding because the increased load causes
the roof to deflect into a dish shape that can hold more water, which causes greater deflections, and so on. (Section 210, NSCP 2010)

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Introduction to Loads

• Roof Live Loads – roofs should be designed for certain minimum live loads to account for workers or construction
materials on the roof during erection or when repairs are made. (Section 205, NSCP 2001 and NSCP 2010).

• Wind loads – pressure that is exerted by the wind to the structure is dependent to the velocity of the wind. (Section
207, NSCP 2001 and NSCP 2010).

• Earthquake loads – many areas of the world are in earthquake territory, and in those areas, it is necessary to consider
seismic forces in design for all types of structures. The provisions are used to design seismic-resistant structures to
safeguard against major structural damage that may lead to loss of life and property. These provisions are not intended
to assure zero-damage to structures nor maintain their functionality after a severe earthquake. (Section 208, NSCP 2001
and 2010)

• Soil lateral loads – basement, foundation and retaining walls shall be designed to resist lateral soil loads. (Section 206,
NSCP 2001; Section 209, 2010)

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Symbols and Notations

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

FLEXURAL
ANALYSIS
OF BEAMS

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph
 Chapter 1 FLEXURAL ANALYSIS OF BEAMS (ALLOWABLE STRESSES)

Reinforced Concrete Stages and Behavior

1. UNCRACKED STAGE
• when the flexural stress at the tension side of the concrete is less than the
modulus of rupture, the entire cross section of the concrete will resist
bending.

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

 Chapter 1 FLEXURAL ANALYSIS OF BEAMS (ALLOWABLE STRESSES)

Reinforced Concrete Stages and Behavior

2. CRACKED STAGE
• when the tensile stress is exactly equal to the
modulus of rupture, the moment induced to
the section is referred to as cracking moment,
.

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

Chapter 1 FLEXURAL ANALYSIS OF BEAMS (ALLOWABLE STRESSES)

(Uncracked) Stage

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

 Chapter 1 FLEXURAL ANALYSIS OF BEAMS (ALLOWABLE STRESSES)

Reinforced Concrete Stages and Behavior

3. BEAM FAILURE STAGE or ULTIMATE STRENGTH

STAGE
• if the load is further increased such that the
flexural stress in the compression side of the
concrete exceeds the allowable concrete
compressive stress, the cracks on the tension side
will move further along with the neutral axis, and
the compressive stress on the concrete will begin
to change from straight line to curve as shown in
the figure.

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

 Chapter 1 FLEXURAL ANALYSIS OF BEAMS (ALLOWABLE STRESSES)

Problems: (UNCRACKED) STAGE

(1) A beam section shown has the following

dimensions: b = 300 mm; d = 430 mm; h = 500 mm.
a. Assuming the section is uncracked, and if the beam
is subjected to a bending moment of 35 kN-m,
compute the flexural stress in the extreme fibers of the
beam. The concrete is normal weight with a strength of
4000 psi.

b. Determine the cracking Moment of Inertia of the

section.

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

 Chapter 1 FLEXURAL ANALYSIS OF BEAMS (ALLOWABLE STRESSES)

Problems: (UNCRACKED) STAGE

(2) a. A T-beam has the following properties: 𝑏𝑓 = 1500

mm, 𝑏𝑤 = 300 mm, ℎ𝑓 = 125 mm, ℎ = 800 mm (a) If the
section is uncracked, calculate the stress in the concrete
at the top and bottom extreme fibers under a positive
bending moment of 108.5 kN-m;

b. If 𝑓’𝑐 = 21 MPa and normal weight concrete is used,

what maximum uniformly distributed load the beam
can carry if it is used as a simple beam with 7.3 m span
without exceeding the modulus of rupture of the
concrete?

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

 Chapter 1 FLEXURAL ANALYSIS OF BEAMS (ALLOWABLE STRESSES)

Problems: (CRACKED) STAGE

(3) a) Calculate the bending stresses in the beam using

the transformed area method given the following
properties: 𝑓’𝑐 = 21 MPa, 𝑀 = 95 kN-m, 𝑏 = 300 mm, ℎ
= 500 mm, 𝑑 = 425 mm, 𝐴𝑠 = 3 – 28 mm;

(b) If the allowable stresses are 9.31 MPa for concrete

and 138 MPa for steel, determine the allowable
resisting moment of the beam.

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

 Chapter 1 FLEXURAL ANALYSIS OF BEAMS (ALLOWABLE STRESSES)

Problems: (CRACKED) STAGE

(4) Calculate the bending stresses in the concrete and

the reinforcing steel, using transformed area method:
𝑓’𝑐 = 21 MPa, normal weight concrete, 𝑛 = 9, 𝑀 = 339
kN-m. The beam has a following properties: 𝑏𝑤=300
mm, 𝑏𝑓=1500 mm, ℎ𝑓=125 mm, 𝑑=700 mm, 𝐴𝑠=6−25
mm.

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L

 Chapter 1 FLEXURAL ANALYSIS OF BEAMS (ALLOWABLE STRESSES)

Problems: (CRACKED) STAGE

(5) Compute the bending stresses in the beam section

shown in the figure using the transformed area
method; 𝑛 = 8, 𝑀 = 149.14 kN-m. All dimensions are in
mm.

daarol_michelle@umindanao.edu.ph BCE 323/L