COMPLETE BEAM DESIGN

 At the end of this lesson, students should be

able to:
1. To design the main reinforcement of a beam
(simply supported and continuous).
2. To design the shear reinforcement required.
3. To check the beam’s capacity against
deflection and cracking.
4. Draw the beam detailing in accordance to
the correct curtailment rules.
 Beam is a structural element that carries
loads in bending moments, shear and
torsion.
 In order to ensure beam behaves
satisfactorily when loads are applied, both
ultimate limit state (ULS) and serviceability
limit state (SLS) has to be taken into
consideration.
1. Determination of nominal cover
2. Calculation of the effective depth, d.
3. Design load calculation.
4. Moment & shear analysis – SFD and BMD
5. Design of main reinforcements.
6. Design of shear reinforcements.
7. Deflection check.
8. Crack check.
9. Detailing.
 The concrete cover is necessary to provide:
a) Safe transfer of bond forces
b) Adequate durability (protection against corrosion)
c) Fire resistance

 The value of cmin is influenced by: c

a) The exposure classification
b) Mix characteristics c c
c) Intended design life of the structure

c
Samples of spacer blocks
used to provide cover to
the reinforcement.
 Determined based on the:
a) Durability requirement (EC2-1-1)
b) Fire resistance requirement (EC2 -1-2)

Durability requirement EC2 pg 49

 0 0 0

Table 4.2 Table 4.4N Additive safety For use of Additional

element stainless steel protection
EC2: Page 48
EC2: Page 51
Fire resistance
requirement
(EC2-1-2)

Will be given in
the Design
Appendix

a
Fire resistance
requirement
(EC2-1-2)

Will be given in
the Design
Appendix
 d = distance from the compression face to the
centre of the tension reinforcement.
d’ = distance from the compression face to the
centre of the compression reinforcement.

d’ d = h – cover - link – bar /2

As’
d’ = cover + link + bar /2
d

As
 At ultimate limit state
(for reinforcement design)

Design load = 1.35 gk + 1.5 qk

 At serviceability limit state:

Design load = 1.0 gk + 1.0 qk

 Permanent actions, gk
a) Self-weight of the beam
= density of concrete x bw x h
= 25 kN/m3 x bw x h
b) Finishes / building services etc.
c) Point loads (from secondary beams)

 Variable actions, qk
= loads from moving objects / people
= can be obtain from EC1
 Compute and draw the shear force and bending
moment diagram for the beam.

 The maximum values of the shear forces and

bending moment will be used in the design
calculation.

 There are two types of beam;

i) Simply supported beam
ii) Continuous beam
Common equations for a simply
supported beam supporting UDL only.
 Will be given
in the Design
Appendix
 Consist of more than one span.
 Usually in cast in-situ structures.
 Can be obtained from Table 3.5 (BS8110)
Outer support Interior support 1st interior support
Interior support

+
+ + +

- - - -

1st interior support Interior support Interior support Outer support

1st interior support At interior support 1st interior support

Outer support - Outer support
- -

+ + + +

At middle of At middle of
Near middle of end Near middle of end
interior span interior span
span span
 - - -

+ + + +

At support: design as rectangular beam

At mid-span: design as flanged beam (L or T-
beam)
 Covered in previous topic.
 Type of beam:
i) rectangular beam 
ii) flanged beam (T-beam and L-beam) 
 Type of support:
i) simply supported 
ii) continuous
 Shear failure is another factor that has to be
considered in the design process.
 The shear stress that comes with the changes
in bending moment produces “corner/edge
tension”
 The tensile stress causes cracks near the
support of a beam.
 Tension cracks
Shear
reinforcement
(links)
There are 3 methods to resist shear:
i. Provide vertical shear reinforcement (the most commonly used)
ii. Provide bent-up bars (inclined bars)
iii. Combination of both vertical shear reinforcement and bent-up bars

Note: The shear reinforcement is also known as stirrups or links.

 Vertical link
(shear
reinforcement)

Main reinforcement
 Shear reinforcement design The equations
procedure will be given in
the Design
Appendix
VEd > VRd,c

Yes No
Shear reinforcement is Shear reinforcement is
required not required – provide
minimum reinforcement

Yes No
= 22 Minimum reinforcement
VEd ≤ VRd,max design

No
Design shear
= 45
reinforcement VEd ≤ VRd,max

Yes Increase size of

beam or use higher
concrete class
- redesign
Will be given
in the Design
Appendix
 Clause 9.2.2

For vertical links,  = 90

 Deflection can be categorized as one of the
elements that has to be checked for
serviceability limit state.

 “Extreme deflection” could cause defects to

finishes, partitions and etc.
 Section 7.4

 Compare ratios

(L/d) actual ≤ (L/d) allowable

 with,
 (L/d) basic = Expressions 7.16
 (L/d) allowable = (L/d) basic x Modification factor
 If (L/d) actual > (L/d) allowable

Suggested solutions:

 Increase the area of tension reinforcement.

- Service stress will be reduced thus increases
the modification factor.
 Calculate the actual value of deflection using
detail calculation.
 Increase the depth of beam – redesign.
Section 7.3
 Curtailment rules
For continuous beam
 Tension reinforcement (at support)
◦ All bars (100%) must be extended with a distance of 0.15L
or 45 from the side of support, whichever is greater.
◦ At least 60% of the bars must then be extended with a
distance of 0.25L from the side of support and,
◦ At least 20% of the bars have to be extended to the end of
span.
 Tension reinforcement (at mid-span)
◦ All bars at mid-span must be extended to a distance of
0.15L from the center of the interior support and 0.1L from
the center of the outer support.
◦ At least 30% of this bar has to be extended to the centre of
the support.