WOOD & ARMER

Method of calculating plate and shell

reinforcement - Wood&Armer
You can use the Wood&Armer method (the European code supplement [ENV 1992-1-1
EC2 Design of Concrete Structures - Appendix 2, point A.2.8 Reinforcement in Slabs]).
The conception of determining equivalent moment is authored by Wood and Armer.
Details concerning the method can be found, for instance, in R.H.Wood, "The
reinforcement of slabs in accordance with a pre-determined field of moments",
Concrete, February 1968, August 1968 (correspondence)].

Calculation Procedure
When calculating reinforcement of a plate structure or switching on the option of panel
design for simple bending in a shell structure, design moments are calculated according
to the method by Wood and Armer.
For a selected directions x and y, two types of design moments M* are calculated: the
lower ones (positive, causing mainly tension in the bottom parts) and the upper ones
(negative, causing tension in the upper parts). The general procedure takes the
following form:
Determination of the 'lower' moments M xd *, M yd *.
M xd * = M x + |M xy |
M yd * = M y + |M xy |
However, if M x < -|M xy | (i.e. the calculated M xd * < 0)
M xd * = 0
M yd * = M y + |M xy *M xy /M x |.
Similarly, when M y < -|M xy | (i.e. the calculated M yd * < 0) (*)
M xd * = M x + |M xy *M xy /M y | (*)
M yd * = 0 (*)

If any of thus obtained moments M xd *, M yd * is smaller than zero, you should assume
zero (the design moments for tension in the upper layers are determined further on in
the text).
Determination of the 'upper' moments M xg *, M yg *.
M xg * = M x - |M xy |
M yg * = M y - |M xy |
If M x > |M xy | (i.e. the calculated M xg * > 0) (*)
M xg * = 0 (*)
M yg * = M y - |M xy *M xy /M x | (*)
Similarly, when M y > |M xy | (i.e. the calculated M yg * > 0)
M xg * = M x - |M xy *M xy /M y |
M yg * = 0.
If any of thus obtained moments M xg *, M yg * is bigger than zero, you should assume
zero (such moments would design the lower reinforcements, which is already
guaranteed by the formerly calculated 'lower' moments M xd *, M yd *).
Analogously, design forces are calculated from the formulas given below for a plane
stress structure or for the activated option of panel design for compression/ tension in a
shell structure.
For the selected directions x and y, two types of design forces N* are calculated: the
tensile (positive, causing main tension in a section) and the compressive (negative,
causing section compression). The general procedure takes the following form:
Calculation of 'tensile' forces N xr *, N yr *.
N xr * = N x + |N xy |
N yr * = N y + |N xy |
However if N x < -|N xy | (i.e. calculated N xd * < 0)
N xr * = 0
N yr * = N y + |N xy *N xy /N x |.

Similarly, if N y < -|N xy | (i.e. calculated N yr * < 0) (*)

N xr * = N x + |N xy *N xy /N y | (*)
N yr * = 0 (*)
If any of thus obtained forces N xd *, N yd * is less than zero, one should assume the zero
value (forces designing a section by reinforcement compression are determined further
on).
Calculation of 'compressive' forces N xs *, N ys *.
N xs * = N x - |N xy |
N ys * = N y - |N xy |
However, if N x > |N xy | (i.e. calculated N xs * > 0) (*)
N xs * = 0 (*)
N ys * = N y - |N xy *N xy /N x | (*)
Similarly, if N y > |N xy | (i.e. calculated N ys * > 0)
N xs * = N x - |N xy *N xy /N y |
N ys * = 0.
If any of thus obtained forces N xs *, N ys * is greater than zero, one should assume the
zero value (such forces design a section by reinforcement tension, which is already
guaranteed by the tensile forces N xr *, N yr * calculated earlier).
For complex stresses (shells with the activated option of panel design for bending +
compression/ tension) with bending moments (M xx , M xy , M yy ) and membrane forces
(N xx N xy , N yy) acting simultaneously, there is no simplified algorithm devised. Since it is
often the case that the modeled shells work almost as plates (with slight membrane
forces acting), therefore the possibility to calculate moments M xd *, M yd * according to
the method presented still remains and these design moments are superimposed with
longitudinal forces N xx , N yy .

Cracking of Plates and Shells Calculations

The width of cracking is calculated independently for two directions. They are defined by
axes of reinforcement and analogous to the simplified methods presented in relevant
studies. Implementation of the method not related to codes results from lack of relevant
recommendations concerning plates with cross reinforcement.
The algorithm of calculations is based on the formulas enabling calculation of cracking
width for beam elements. Calculations are carried out on the cross-section with
reinforcement resulting from the Ultimate Limit State (see: Reinforcement of plates and
shells - calculations). Moments recognized in calculations of Serviceability Limit State
are equivalent moments calculated according to the selected calculation method:
analytical, NEN or Wood&Armer. The analytical method for Serviceability Limit State
does not recognize actions of mxy moments. Due to the implementation of NEN or
Wood&Armer method, one may recognize the mxy moments in calculations by
increasing the moments mxx and myy. The Wood&Armer method is recommended for
calculations of plates with cross reinforcement among others by EN1992-1-1:2004
AC:2008 [Annex F (Informative) Reinforcement expressions for in-plane stress
conditions].
The calculated cracking width value which is presented in the table of results is the
maximum value obtained from all the analyzed load cases.
When Reinforcement adjustment is selected for calculations, the area of reinforcement
undergoing tension increases, reducing the cracking width. when it is not possible to
fulfill the user defined condition of the maximum cracking width, the table of results will
highlight the result cell in red. There are no non-code limits set on the reinforcement
ratio, so you should pay attention to the economic aspect of the solution provided.

Plate and Shell Deflections - Calculations

The algorithm for deflections of RC plates is based on the use of calculations of an
isotropic elastic plate made of an elastic material. Changes of material stiffness due to
cracking are considered. Displacements are calculated applying the Finite Element
Method (FEM), then they are modified.
Calculations are performed separately for each panel. Such an assumption is correct if
a panel can be identified with a structural element (span, floor segment), otherwise
stiffness values averaged within a panel may be distorted. This may result in the
influence of very distant elements on displacements of an analyzed FE. Influence of
such disturbances on extreme values is not very significant, however deformation
(deflection) maps should be treated with great caution.

It is recommended to model each floor segment where local extremes of deflections

may occur as a separate panel. That panel should be defined within the limits set by the
supports around it (similarly as spans which are limited by supports in the case of
beams). For a panel, these supports do not need to be continuous throughout the whole
panel contour.
Division to panels does not affect the results of verification using the With stiffness
update (FEM) method provided that loads, geometry and calculated reinforcement are
the same.
Calculations are performed for a selected combination (separate for the lower and
upper displacements) or a combination group, if that is required by the code (frequent,
rare and quasi-permanent combinations). That combination is chosen for calculations
for which there are maximum elastic displacements (positive and negative separately).
If a panel may not be treated as a structural element (it comprises more structure
elements), deformation (deflection) maps should be treated with great caution. It has,
however, no significant influence on extreme deflection values for a given panel.
Deflections may be identified with displacements only for non-deformed supports. While
calculating RC plate deflection in the shell module (3D), the displacement of the least
displaced support is subtracted from displacements of each element. Deflections are
measured from the plane parallel to the surface of the non-deformed plate that passes
through one support point of the deformed plate.
Note: This is done only for supports being vertical bar elements of for nodal supports
with advanced attributes that define their real sizes.
One should pay attention to displacements of the remaining supported corners of a
plate.
The calculation algorithm used in the Robot program is based on the assumption that
the total (real) deflections of an RC slab equal the product of its elastic deflections and
the stiffness coefficient D / B.

where:
- Real displacements of i-th calculation point of a slab which take account of cracking
and calculated reinforcement
- Elastic displacements of i-th calculation point of a slab
D - Slab stiffness assuming elasticity of the material (as in FEM calculations)

B - Equivalent stiffness of an RC plate, calculated considering element cracking,

rheological effects, adherence of calculated reinforcement, etc. and averaged for both
directions.
Such an approach comes down to linear scaling of individual elastic displacements by
the global coefficient of stiffness reduction.
The calculation algorithm for the equivalent stiffness (elastic) method is as
follows:
After performing the structure analysis using FEM and calculating the required
reinforcement area for the ultimate limit state, the serviceability limit state (as regards
cracking calculations, stress limits, or other issues that may be considered locally) and
the accidental limit state, stiffness for each finite element (FE) is evaluated in the
program. Stiffness calculations are carried out for two directions of reinforcement. The
scope and method of calculating these stiffness values depends on detailed
requirements of a given code. As a result of these calculations, two stiffness values
(different in most cases) are obtained for each finite element. For further calculations, a
weighted average of component stiffness values is used. The weight for averaging is the
ratio of moments acting on a given element in both directions.

where:
Bx, By - Real stiffness values calculated for two directions of reinforcement
cf - Weight coefficient calculated according to the formula.
1.

If | Mxx | / | Myy | > 4, then cf = 1

2.
3.

If 0.25 | Mxx | / | Myy | 4, then

If | Mxx | / | Myy | < 0.25, then cf = 0.

As a result of applying these formulas, in the case of large disproportion of moments

(the ratio of the larger to the smaller moment is greater or equal to 4.0), the stiffness
from the direction of action of the larger of the moments is taken into account. When
values of moments are similar, the thickness from a given direction is ascribed in
proportion to the moment ratio.
The next step is to evaluate the ratio of the elastic stiffness to the weighted average of
real stiffness values obtained as mentioned above. Such calculation is performed for
each finite element.

The slab coefficient (1 - n*n) is considered in calculations of the stiffnesses B and D.

Real stiffness values obtained in calculations may be viewed by switching on maps of
Stiffness factor.
Note: Stiffness factor X and Stiffness factor Y correspond to D/Bx and D/By,
respectively.
If properties of materials used during design are identical to those used in a model, then
the value of the coefficient D / B > 1.0. This coefficient can be interpreted (mainly for
slabs subjected to unidirectional bending) as an elastic deflection multiplier. If different
materials are used in a model and calculations (for example, with different classes such
as concretes with different Young's modulus or Poisson's ratio), the coefficient value is
corrected automatically. It may result in disturbing the earlier mentioned inequality.
The subsequent step is to calculate the average of the stiffness ratios evaluated earlier.
The final global stiffness ratio, used for calculation of real displacements of a slab (such
as linear scaling of elastic displacements) is an average of the average of stiffness
ratios (with the weight equal to 0.25) and the stiffness ratio recorded for an element in
which there is the extremum of the bending moment acting in any direction (with the
weight equal to 0.75).

The equivalent stiffness (elastic) method algorithm assumes averaging the stiffness for
all finite elements; a shape of the deflection line is, therefore, identical to the deflection
line multiplied by the stiffness coefficient.

The algorithm of the method with stiffness update (inelastic) is identical to the algorithm
of the equivalent stiffness (elastic) method until the calculated stiffness is ascribed
independently to each finite element (different stiffness for the X direction and the Y
direction). An anisotropic slab of various rigidity is obtained. For thus-determined
stiffness values the slab deflection is calculated.
In the method with stiffness update, stiffness of each element is calculated
independently, thus deflection lines may differ. A different stiffness is obtained for each
finite element for each direction.

If the Reinforcement correction option is selected on the SLS Parameters tab in the
Plate and Shell Reinforcement Parameters dialog during calculations, reinforcement
area increases (to increase the element stiffness), which reduces slab deflections.
Reinforcement in both directions is distributed in inverse proportion to stiffness. When it
is not possible to limit deflections below the user defined admissible deflection value
(when further correction of reinforcement due to the allowable reinforcement ratio is

impossible), then when calculations of the required reinforcemement area are

completed, a warning prompts that the admissible deflection value has been exceeded
for the panel.
There are no predefined limits set on reinforcement other than those in codes. Note the
economic aspect of the solution provided and that the more a deflection differs from
requirements, the less effective the used method is.