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Worked Design Examples Using Strut-and-Tie Method – Dapped-Beam End (ACI 318-02 Appendix A)

Example Design of A Dapped-Beam End Using Strut and Tie Method

per ACI 318-02 Appendix A

A dapped-beam end shown in Figure 1 is to be designed to transmit a factored vertical reaction

force of 60 kips and a factored horizontal reaction force of 12 kips to the support. The vertical
reaction is assumed to act 2 in. from the left end of the beam. The beam is 16 in. wide and made
from 6 ksi concrete (normal density) and 60 ksi steel reinforcement.

4" x 4" x 5/8"

angle

2052 k-in
16"

12 k
30"
Nu = 12 k

14"
60 k
Vu = 60 k

2" 4"
6" 30"
36"

Figure 1

Define the D-Region and Calculate the Forces acting on the Boundary of the Region:
The extension of the D-region is assumed to be one member depth plus the extended part, i.e.
30 + 6 = 36 in. The forces at the right end are a moment of 60(36-2) + 12(15-14) = 2052 k-
in., an axial tension force of 12 kips, and a shear force of 60 kips. Figure 1 shows the forces
acting on the D-region.

Determine the Bearing Plate Dimensions:

Choose a 4 in. × 4 in. × 5/8 in. steel angle placed across the width of the beam at the
support. The bearing plate area is Ac = 16(4 ) = 64 in., 2 and the bearing stress is
Vu 60(1000 )
= = 938 psi. Since this is less than the bearing stress limit, i.e.
Ac 64
( )
φ f cu = φ 0.85β n f c' = 0.75[0.85(0.80 )(6000)] = 3060 psi, the bearing size is adequate.

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Worked Design Examples Using Strut-and-Tie Method – Dapped-Beam End (ACI 318-02 Appendix A)

Establish the Strut-and-Tie Model:

The geometry of the assumed truss is given in Figure 2.
The location of strut BE centerline is dictated by the required compressive block height a at
midspan and is assumed to be 3 in. from the top of the beam. Similarly, the center of tie AD
is dictated by d at midspan and is assumed to be 3 in. from the bottom of the beam.
Tie BC is located just far enough from the dap face to distribute the steel reinforcement and
is assumed to be located 6 in. from the dap face. Tie EF is assumed to be 18 in. from tie BC.
Node D is the meeting point of struts BD, DE, CD, and tie AD.
Result
a
nt Line

B 19.5 k E 64.5 kE' 3"

56
k

k
.1
.6

75
4°
46.

k
82

48.
6°

A 68.7 k

60 k
2" D 24"
102 k

Nu = 12 k
7k

k
12

53.

4.9 45.00°
1°

8
Vu = 60 k 76.5 k 136 k
C F F' 3"
0.4"

2" 4" 6" 18" 6"

6" 30"
36"

Figure 2

Determine the Required Truss Forces by Statics:

The required forces in all the members of the truss are given in the following table. Note that
positive indicates tension, negative compression.

Member AB AD BC BD BE CD CF DE EF
Force (kips) -82.6 +68.7 +102 -56.1 -19.5 -127 +76.5 -75 +60

Design the Tie:

N AD 68.7
The area of reinforcement required for tie AD is As required = = = 1.53 in.2 Choose
φ f y 0.75(60)
4 #6 bars, As = 4(0.44) = 1.76 in.2

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Worked Design Examples Using Strut-and-Tie Method – Dapped-Beam End (ACI 318-02 Appendix A)

N BC 102
The area of reinforcement required for tie BC is As required = = = 2.27 in.2 Try to
φ f y 0.75(60)
use 4 #5 two-legged, closed stirrups at 2 in. o.c., As = 4(2 )(0.31) = 2.48 in.2
N CF 76.5
The area of reinforcement required for tie CF is As required = = = 1.7 in.2 Assume
φ f y 0.75(60)
that #8 bars are used for the midspan bottom reinforcement, use 3 #8, As = 3(0.79 ) = 2.37 in.2
N EF 60
The area of reinforcement required for tie EF is As required = = = 1.33 in.2 Try to
φ f y 0.75(60)
use 4 #4 two-legged stirrups at 4 in. o.c., As = 4(2)(0.20) = 1.60 in.2

Check the Struts:

The struts will be checked by computing the strut widths and then checking whether they fit
in the space available.
The stresses in all struts are conservatively limited to
φ f cu = 0.75(0.85β s f c' ) = 0.75[0.85(0.60 )(6000)] = 2295 psi. Hence, the required width for strut
N AB 82.6(1000 )
AB is = = 2.25 in. Choose a width of 3 in. for strut AB. The required width
φ f cu b 2295(16 )
N 56.1(1000 )
for strut BD is BD = = 1.53 in. Select a width of 2 in. for strut BD. The required
φ f cu b 2295(16)
N 127(1000 )
width for strut CD is CD = = 3.46 in. Select a width of 4 in. for strut CD. The
φ f cu b 2295(16 )
N 75(1000 )
required width for strut DE is DE = = 2.04 in. Select a width of 3 in. for strut DE.
φ f cu b 2295(16)
N 19.5(1000 )
The required width for strut BE is BE = = 0.53 in. Choose a width of 1 in. for
φ f cu b 2295(16 )
strut BE.
As shown in Figure 3, all the strut widths fit into the outline of the disturbed region. Thus,
this solution is accepted. Figure 3 also summarizes the strut stress demands and limits (in
brackets).

Design the Nodal Zones and Check the Anchorages:

To anchor tie AD, the steel is welded to the steel angle. To satisfy the stress limit in nodes A
and D, the tie reinforcement must engage an effective depth of concrete at least equal to
N AD N AD 68.7(1000 )
= = = 1.40 in.
φ f cu b φ(0.85β n f c )b 0.75[0.85(0.80)(6000 )](16 )
'

This requirement is easily satisfied since the nodal zone available is 4 in.

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Worked Design Examples Using Strut-and-Tie Method – Dapped-Beam End (ACI 318-02 Appendix A)

The required anchorage length for tie AD at the right end is

αβλ f y 1(1)(1)(60000)  6 
ld = db =   = 23.2 in. Provide l d = 24 in. beyond point D, which is
25 f c '
25 6000  8 
assumed as anchor point.
The steel provided for tie CF is 3 #8. The required development length for #8 bars is
αβλ f y 1(1)(1)(60000 )  8 
ld = db =   = 31.0 in., but the available development length is only
25 f c' 25 6000  8 
about 6 – 2.5 + 3 = 6.5 in. The force that can be developed in 3 #8 bars is
6 .5
(3)(0.79)(60) = 29.8 kips, which is less than the required tie CF force of 76.5 kips. Thus,
31
76.5
provide horizontal U bars to anchor the force. The area required is = 1.28 in.2 Use 2 #6
60
U bars placed above the #8 bars.A
1"

B 1216 psi E E'

(2295 psi)
17 95

5p i
(2

29 1 ps
5 psi

56 ps

s i)
2
i)

3"
ps
(2 721

ps i)

3"
6
15
i

2"
1
29

A
(2

D
5 si
i)
29 p
ps
(2 985
1

C F F'

Figure 3

Other Detailing Considerations:

To improve crack control and ductility, a minimum amount of horizontal reinforcement
parallel to and above tie AD will be provided. If the dapped end is treated as a corbel, the
required area of such additional reinforcement would be 0.5 As = 0.5(3)(0.44 ) = 0.66 in.2
Provide 2 #4 U bars, As = 2(2 )(0.20 ) = 0.80 in., 2 distributed over two-thirds of the effective
depth.

Summary of the Design:

The reinforcement details for the dapped beam end designed using the strut-and-tie model
according to Appendix A are shown in Figure 4.

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Worked Design Examples Using Strut-and-Tie Method – Dapped-Beam End (ACI 318-02 Appendix A)

2 #4 framing bars
2 #4 U bars
4 #6 Framing bars 2 #6
4 #5 two-legged, 4 #4 two-legged
closed stirrups at 2" stirrups at 4"

4" x 4" x 5/8"

angle
16" l d = 24 in

30"

14"

3 #8
2 #6 U bars
2" 4"
6" 30"
36"

Figure 4
Last Update: March 20, 2003

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