Concrete T Beam Design ACI 318-08

This example walks through the design of a concrete T beam with the depth of
the compression block less than the depth of the flange
Given:

fc = 4,000 psi

fy = 60 ksi

Required:

Determine the moment capacity, Mn of the section

Assumptions:

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1.

Plain sections remain plain (ACI 318-08 section 10.2.2)

2.

Maximum concrete strain at extreme compression fiber = 0.003 (ACI

section 10.2.3)

3.

Tensile strength of concrete is neglected (10.2.5)

4.

Compression steel is neglected in this calculation.

Concrete T Beam Design ACI 318-08

Lets start by constructing the stress and strain diagrams:

Next, well calculate d, the depth from the extreme compression fiber to the center of reinforcement in the tensile zone.

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Concrete T Beam Design ACI 318-08

Next, we want to use equilibrium to solve for a, the depth of the Whitney stress block
From the rules of equilibrium we know that C must equal T, C = T

First, lets determine if a is less than tf by calculating C for a = tf and comparing it to T:

- C = 0.85 x fc x b x tf = 0.85 x 4 ksi x 12in x 4in = 163.2 kip

- T = As x fy = 3 x 0.44 in2 x 60 ksi = 79.2 kip (this assumes the steel yields)
- C is greater than T for a = tf, therefore we know that a must be less than tf

The calculations for this t beam will now resemble those of a rectangular beam with b=24

- C = 0.85 x fc x b x a

Defined in ACI section 10.2.7.1

b = width of compression zone

a = depth of Whitney stress block

- C = 0.85 x 4,000psi x 24 x a = 81,600 lb/in x a

- T = fs x As

fs = stress in the steel (we make the assumption that the steel yields, and will later
confirm if it does).

As = area of tensile steel

- T = 60000psi x (3 x 0.44 in2) = 79,200 lb

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Concrete T Beam Design ACI 318-08

Solve for a:

Now that we know the depth of the stress block, we can calculate c, the depth to the
neutral axis.

81,600 lb/in x a = 79,200 lb

From ACI 318 section 10.2.7.1 a = 1 x c

a = 0.971 (which is in fact less than tf = 4)

1 is a factor that relates the depth of the Whitney stress block to the depth of the
neutral axis based on the concrete strength. It is defined in 10.2.7.3
1 = 0.65 0.85 - ((fc 4000psi)/1000)) x 0.05 0.85
1 = 0.85 ((4000psi 4000psi)/1000) x 0.05 = 0.85
c = a / 1 = 0.971/0.85
c = 1.14
With c, we can calculate the strain in the extreme tensile steel using similar triangles.
With this strain calculated, we can check our assumption that the steel yields, and
determine if the section is tension controlled.

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Concrete T Beam Design ACI 318-08

Determine if the section is tension controlled:
Per ACI section 10.3.4 a beam is considered tension controlled if the strain in the extreme tension steel is greater than 0.005.
The calculated steel strain in our section is 0.054 which is greater than 0.005 therefore this beam section is tension controlled.
= 0.90

Determine the strain at which the steel yields and check our assumption that the steel in fact yielded:
E = fy/y
E = Youngs modulus which is generally accepted to be 29,000 ksi for steel
fy = steel yield stress
y = yield strain
y = 60ksi / 29,000 ksi = 0.00207
0.054 is greater than 0.00207 therefore our assumption is correct and the steel yields prior to failure

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Concrete T Beam Design ACI 318-08

Next, lets determine if the beam section satisfies the minimum steel requirements of ACI:

Per ACI section 10.5.1, the minimum steel required for flexural members is as follows:

Therefore we satisfy the minimum steel requirements of ACI

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Concrete T Beam Design ACI 318-08

Using Moment Equilibrium, Lets Calculate the Moment Capacity of the Section

Calculate the moment about the center of the compressive force to determine the
nominal moment capacity:

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Concrete T Beam Design ACI 318-08

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