BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, PILANI

First Semester 2022-23; CE F320: Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures

Practice problems: Analysis and Design of Doubly Reinforced Beams
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Note: The solutions are provided for reference purposes only, in case of any discrepancy follow the
procedure as discussed in the class.

Q.1 Calculate the ultimate moment capacity for a doubly reinforced section of dimensions 300 x 550 mm
with a cover of 40 mm. The section is reinforced at the bottom with 6-25T bars and 4-20T bars at the top. The
grade of steel and concrete to be used are 415 N/mm2 and M25 respectively.

Solution
Effective depth = Depth of Section – Cover = 550 – 40 = 510 mm
Step 1: To check if the beam is under-reinforced or over-reinforced
xu,max = 0.48 x 510 = 244.8 mm
εc (d− xu,max ) 0.0035 (510− 244.8)
εst = xu,max
= 288
= 0.00322
fy 415
The yield strain of Fe 415 bars = 1.15 E + 0.002 = 1.15 x 2 x 105 + 0.002
s

= 0.0038 > 0.00332

Therefore, the beam is over-reinforced.
Step 2: Determine Mu,lim and Ast,lim
xu,max xu,max
Mu,lim = 0.36 ( ) (1 – 0.42 ) bd2fck
d d
244.8 244.8
= 0.36 ( 510 ) (1 – 0.42 ) (300) (5502) (25) (10-6) kNm
510

= 313.00 kNm
From the table given below, for fck = 25 N/mm2 and fy = 415 N/mm2
 1.19 x 300 x 510
Ast,lim = = 1820.7 mm2
100

Step 3: Determine Ast2 and Asc

Ast2 = Ast – Ast,lim = 2945.22 – 1820.7 = 1124.52 mm2
Asc will have compressive force equal to the tensile forces of Ast2
Ast2 (0.87fy )
Asc = (fsc − fcc )

For fsc, calculate εsc:

0.0035(xu,max − d′ ) 0.0035(244− 40)
εsc = xu,max
= 244
= 0.002926

Using table given below, calculate fsc by interpolating between stress levels 0.975 fyd and 1.0 fyd

(360.9 − 351.8)(0.002926−0.002760)
fsc = 351.8 + = 353.25 N/mm2
(0.00380−0.00276)
1124.52 (0.87 x 415)
Asc = (353.25 −(0.446 x 25)) = 1186.81 mm2

Step 4: Determine Mu2, Mu and Ast

Mu2 = Asc(fsc – fcc)(d – d’)
= 1186.81 (353.25 - (0.446 x 25)) (510-40) (10-6) kNm
= 190.82 kNm
Mu = Mu,lim + Mu2 = 313 + 190.82 = 503.82 kNm
Check:
Ast = Ast,lim + Ast2 = 1963.5 + 981.72 = 2945.22 mm2, the required Asc = 1186.81 mm2 is less than the provided
Asc that is equal to 1256.68 mm2

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Q.2 The size of a beam is restricted to 250 × 500 mm. It carries a super imposed load of 25kN/m over a span of
6m. Design a doubly reinforced beam by LSM. Concrete = M20, Steel = Fe415. Effective cover = 40 mm on both
sides. Self-weight of the beam is to be considered.
Solution
Self-weight of the beam = 25 × 0.2 × 0.5 = 3.125 kN/m
Total w = 25 + 3.125 = 28.125 kN/m.
Bending Moment = 189.84 kNm.
𝑀𝑢𝑙𝑖𝑚 = 0.36 𝑓𝑐𝑘 𝑏𝑥𝑚𝑎𝑥 (𝑑 − 0.42𝑥𝑚𝑎𝑥 )
700
𝑥𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 1100+0.87𝑓 𝑑 = 0.48 𝑑 = 220.8
𝑦

𝑀𝑢𝑙𝑖𝑚 = 145.96 kNm

0.36𝑓𝑐𝑘 𝑏𝑥𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝐴𝑠𝑡1 = = 1100.79 mm2
0.87𝑓𝑦

(189.84−145.96)×106
𝐴𝑠𝑡2 = = 289.36 𝑚𝑚2
0.87𝑓𝑦 (𝑑−𝑑′ )

Total Ast = 1390.16 mm2

Provide 7 nos. of 16 mm dia bars
(189.84−145.96)×106
𝐴𝑠𝑐 = (0.87𝑓 ′)
= 296.78 𝑚𝑚2
𝑦 −0.45𝑓𝑐𝑘 ) (𝑑−𝑑

Provide 3 nos. of 12 mm dia bars in compression

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Q.3 A beam located in a building in a town, simply supported by masonry walls of 230 mm thickness, 6 m apart
from each other on both sides, has to carry an imposed load of 12 kN/m, dead loads of 4 kN/m and 20 kN located
at the midspan of the beam. The sizing has to be restricted to 250 mm x 450 mm with a cover of 30 mm. Design
the beam for maximum bending moment at mid span. Assume Fe 415 and M20 as grade of steel and concrete
respectively.
Solution
Dead load of beam = 4 + 0.25(0.4)(25) = 6.5 kN/m and Wconcentrated load = 20 kN
Imposed Load = 12 kN/m
Factored loads = 1.5 x (12 + 6.5) = 27.75 kN/m and
Wf1 (factored concentrated load) = 20 x 1.5 = 30 kN
62 6
Mu = 27.75 x + 30 x = 124.875 + 45 = 169.875 kNm = 169.875 x 106 N mm
8 4

Step 1: Determination of Mu,lim and Ast,lim

xu,max xu,max
Mu,lim = 0.36 ( ) (1 – 0.42 ) bd2fck
d d

Assuming cover d’ = 30 mm, d = 450 – 30 = 420 mm

xu,max
= 0.48 and hence, xu,max = 0.48 x 420 = 201.6 mm
d
201.6 201.6
∴ Mu,lim = 0.36 ( 420 ) (1 – 0.42 ) (250)(4202)(20)(10-6) kNm
420

= 121.68 kNm = 121.68 x 106 N mm

Mu,lim
Ast,lim =
0.87 fy (d − 0.42xu,max )

121.68 x 106
So, Ast1 = 0.87 (415) (420 − 0.42 x 201.6) = 1005.03 mm2

Step 2: Determination of Mu2, Asc, Ast2 and Ast

Mu2 = Mu – Mu,lim = 169.875 – 121.68 = 48.195 kNm = 48.195 x 106 N mm
d′ 30
Here, d
= 420 = 0.07

From table given below, by using linear interpolation, we get

355−353
fsc = 355 - = 354.6 N/mm2
5
Mu2 48.195 x 106
Asc = (f ′
= (350.8− 0.446(20))(420− 30) = 361.46 mm2
sc − fcc )(d− d )

Asc (fsc − fcc ) 361.46(354.6− 8.92)

Ast2 = = = 346.07 mm2
0.87fy (0.87)(415)
Ast = Ast1 + Ast2 = 1005.03 + 346.07 = 1351.10 mm2
Step 3: Check for minimum and maximum tension and compression steel
(i) In Compression
0.2
(a) Minimum Asc = 100 (250) (450) = 225 mm2

4
(b) Maximum Asc = 100 (250) (450) = 4500 mm2

Thus, 225 mm2 < 361.46 mm2 < 4500 mm2. Hence the calculated value of Asc is valid.
(ii) In Tension:
0.85bd 0.85 x 250 x 420
(a) Minimum Ast = = = 215.06 mm2
fy 415

4
(b) Maximum Ast = 100 (250) (450) = 4500 mm2

Thus, 215.06 mm2 < 1351.10 mm2 < 4500 mm2. Hence calculated value of Ast is valid.
Step 4: Selection of bar diameters and numbers:
(i) For Asc: Provide 2-16T bars (= 402 mm2)
(ii) For Ast: Provide 2-25T + 2-16T bars (= 981.74 + 402.12 = 1383.86 mm2)

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