Concrete Structures

Temesgen Wondimu, PhD

Chapter 2: Strain-compatibility Analysis of RC Sections under

Bending

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 Flexure Theory
Basic assumptions of flexure theory
a. Plane sections before bending remain plain after
bending
b. The strain in the reinforcement is equal to the strain
in the concrete at the same point
c. The stresses in the concrete and reinforcement can
be computed from the strains using stress-strain
curves

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 Linear Bending Theory
Hooke’s constitutive law is generally assumed to be
applicable to both concrete and rebars up to the
yielding of steel and, therefore, up to the service load
stage. Bending theory based on Hooke’s law is called
the linear bending theory.
The constitutive laws of concrete and reinforcement
are definitely nonlinear at the ultimate load stage.
Bending theory based on a nonlinear stress–strain
relationship of concrete will be called the nonlinear
bending theory.

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 Linear Bending Theory
Assumptions:
 The local stress–
strain relationship
of steel at the
cracks is assumed,
rather than the
smeared stress–
strain relationship.
 The tensile stress of
concrete is
neglected in the
bending analysis.

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 Linear Bending Theory
Depending on the given variables, bending problems
are generally categorized into five types as shown in
the following table:

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 Linear Bending Theory
Solution for First and Second Type of Analysis
Problem

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 Linear Bending Theory
Bending Rigidities of Cracked Sections
By definition, the bending rigidity of a member is the
bending moment per unit curvature M/φ. Hence, we
can write (for singly reinforced section)

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 Linear Bending Theory
Bending
Rigidities of
Cracked doubly
reinforced
section

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 Nonlinear Bending Theory

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 Nonlinear Bending Theory
For a parabolic concrete stress-strain diagram:

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 Nonlinear Bending Theory
Analysis problems to find moment are posed as
follows:

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 Nonlinear Bending Theory
Examination of the unknowns in the four equations points indicates
two methods to solve these equations:
 Method 1. (Trial-and-error method)

 Step 1: Assume a value of depth a (c = a/β1) and calculate the

compression steel strain ε from the compatibility condition
 Step 2: Calculate the compression steel stress f from the
stress–strain relationship of compression steel
 Step 3: Insert f into the force equilibrium equation to
calculate a new value of the depth a. If the new a is the same
as the assumed a, a solution is obtained. If not, assume
another value of a and repeat cycle. The convergence is
usually quite rapid.
 Step 4: Once the depth a and the compression steel stress f
is solved, insert them into the moment equilibrium equation to
calculate the moment Mu.
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 Nonlinear Bending Theory
 Method 2. (Solve quadratic equation)
 Step 1: Insert the compression steel strain ε’s into compatibility
Equation and express the compatibility of compression steel by
a new equation in terms of the compression steel stress f ‘s
and the depth a.
 Step 2: Solve the new compatibility equation simultaneously
with the force equilibrium equation to obtain the stress f ‘s and
the depth a. This is the process of solving a quadratic
 equation. If f ‘s ≥ fy , then use f ‘s= fy and recalculate the
depth a.
 Step 3: Substitute the stress f ‘s and the depth a into
Equilibrium of moment Equation to determine the moment Mu.

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 Nonlinear Bending Theory
Moment–Curvature (M–φ) Relationships

Yield Point

Cracked-elastic range

Cracking Point

Uncracked elastic region

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 Nonlinear Bending Theory

Effect of
increasing
tension
steel area

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 Nonlinear Bending Theory

Effect of
increasing d,
b, A’ s , f’c
and f y

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 Nonlinear Bending Theory
Two requirements are satisfied throughout the flexural
analysis and design of reinforced concrete beams and
columns:
1. Stress and strain compatibility. The stress at any
point in a member must correspond to the strain at that
point. Except for short, deep beams, the distribution of
strains over the depth of the member is assumed to be
linear.
2. Equilibrium. Internal forces must balance the external
load effects

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 Nonlinear Bending Theory
The analysis procedures discussed above are restricted to
problems involving:
a. Elastic-plastic reinforcement with constant yield strength
b. Tension reinforcement and compression reinforcement in
two groups of bars that can be represented by compact
layers at the centroids of the respective groups
c. All concrete of the same strength
d. A rectangular, T, or other easily definable cross-sectional
shape

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Nonlinear Bending Theory
If any of these restrictions do not apply, a trial and error solution based on
strain compatibility must be used. The following steps may be followed:
1. Assume a strain distribution defined by a strain 𝜀𝜀𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 0.003 in the extreme
compressive fiber and an assumed value of the depth, c, to the neutral
axis
2. Compute the depth of the rectangular stress block, 𝑎𝑎 = 𝛽𝛽𝛽𝛽
3. Compute the strains in each layer of reinforcement from the assumed
strain distribution
4. From the stress-strain curve for the reinforcement and the strains in
step 3, determine the stress in each layer of reinforcement
5. Compute the force in the compression zone and in each layer of
reinforcement
6. Compute 𝑃𝑃 = 𝐶𝐶 − 𝑇𝑇. For no axial load, P = 0
7. Sum moments of internal forces

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 Applications
Moment Resistance of Wall Assemblies, Walls with Flanges,
and Walls with Boundary Elements

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 Applications
Biaxially Loaded Colmns/Walls

See Example
4.9 of Park &
Paulay

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 Applications
Analysis of
unsymmetrical
beam/column

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 Example

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Analysis Based on Strain Compatibility

Assignment:
a. Pb. 2& 3 MacGregor (1997) Pbs 5-11 & 5-
12
b. Same as example but use the following
stress-strain relation for concrete.

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