Effective Moment of Inertia for Computation of Instantaneous Deflections

Caitlin Mancuso, Short-term Deflections of Reinforced Concrete Beams

In a reinforced concrete member, flexural cracking occurs along the span where the
applied moment exceeds the cracking moment.

At these discrete locations the cracked moment of inertia applies.

Between cracks, the moment of inertia approaches the gross moment of inertia: this is widely
known as the tension stiffening effect (e.g., MacGregor & Bartlett 2000).

The effective moment of inertia is, therefore, intended to provide a transition between the upper
and lower bounds of the gross and cracked moments of inertia.

The two most familiar equations for calculating the effective moment of inertia were developed
by Branson (1965) and Bischoff (2005).

Current practice is to compute deflections idealizing the member as either a single element,
where an average effective moment of inertia is assigned to the entire member, or a number of
discrete elements, where the member is idealized as discrete elements, each with unique effective
moments
of inertia.

Branson originally proposed two equations for effective moment of inertia, a 3rd-power
equation for use in single-element idealization and a 4th-power equation for use in
discretized-element idealization. These two equations are based, however, on an
incorrect mechanical model that idealizes the stiffnesses of the cracked and uncracked
regions as springs in parallel, when they should be in series (Bischoff 2007). Therefore,
Branson’s method overestimates the tension stiffening effect and is unconservative,
especially for lightly reinforced members (CAC 2016).
Bischoff has proposed a single equation, based on the correct mechanical model, for use in the
single-element idealization only. It is necessary to determine a modification to allow use of the
Bischoff Equation to compute the deflection of a discretized member.

The process of member discretization requires consideration of element length and mesh
size. A finer element mesh will increase the accuracy of the results, but requires a greater
computational demand. It is therefore necessary, particularly for design office use, to
optimize the mesh size so that both satisfactory accuracy and computational demands for
analysis are achieved.

With any method of analysis, the accuracy of the deflection calculation depends upon the
accuracy of the analysis including the quantification of the input parameters (ACI 435
1995).

It is impossible to eliminate inaccuracy caused by the uncertainty of the input

parameters because the interaction between factors affecting concrete deflections is
highly complex.
The accuracy of the analysis can however be quantified, and it is necessary to do so for the
various alternative deflection calculation procedures.

Flexural members are subjected to tensile stresses due primarily to restraint of concrete
shrinkage. When using the Branson Equation, A23.3-14 (CSA 2014) requires that the
cracking moment, Mcr, be calculated using a reduced modulus of rupture, 0.5f beams, one-way
and two-way slabs.

When using the Bischoff Equation, Scanlon and Bischoff (2008) recommend that Mcr be
calculated using 0.67fr .

Therefore, these recommended modulus of rupture reductions must be considered when

quantifying the various procedures. There are therefore eight alternative deflection calculations
procedures, shown in Table 1-1, involving: the Branson or Bischoff Equations, the
single-element or discretized-element idealizations, and the full or reduced moduli of
rupture.

OBJECTIVES
To quantify the accuracies of deflections computed using the various alternative
deflection calculation procedures using experimentally observed values and to
also identify factors necessary to compute deflections accurately.
SIMPLY SUPPORTED MEMBER MESH
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS