Type I: Determination of Limiting or Ultimate Moment Carrying Capacity

of a Beam Section.
The steps involved are:
1. Find the position of actual neutral axis Xu from the known values of b,
d, Ast, fck and fy
2. Find the position of critical neutral axis Xu,max
3. Compare Xu, with Xu,max to determine the type of beam section:
(a) if Xu > Xu,max, the section is over-reinforced.
(b) if Xu < Xu,max, the section is under-reinforced.
4. Calculate the moment carrying capacity for the appropriate type of
beam section.
For the over-reinforced section
Mu,lim = (0.362fck .Xu,max .b)(d- 0.4 l6 Xu,max)
And,
For the under-reinforced section:
Mu,lim = T x z = 0.87 fy (d 0.416 Xu)

Example 1 . Determine the limiting moment-carrying capacity of a

reinforced concrete rectangular section of size 250 X 550 mm deep
(effective) reinforced on the tension side with four 20 mm dia bars. The
concrete used is of grade M20 and reinforcing steel is mild steel of grade
Fe250.
Solution For the given section and materials:
b = 250 mm, d = 550 mm, Ast = 4 x x 20 = 1257 mm2,

fck = 20 MPa and fy = 250 MPa

Equating tensile and compressive forces,
0.362 fck .b. Xu = 0.87 fy Ast
Xu

(0.87 fy. Ast )/ 0.362 fck .b

= (0.87 x 250 x 1257)/ 0.362X20X250

= 151.05 mm
The maximum permitted value Xu,max is given by
Xu,max = 0.531d (for f 250 MPa)
= 0.531 x 550 = 292.05 mm.
Since Xu < Xu,max. the section is under-reinforced, and hence
Mu,lim = T x z = 0.87 fy (d 0.416 Xu)
= 0.87 x 250 x 1257 x (550 0.416 x 151.05)
= 133.19 X 106 Nmm = 133.19 kNm

Type II: Determination of load carrying capacity of a beam section. If in

Type-I problems, effective span and support conditions of the beam are
known, load-carrying capacity can be computed.
Example.2 A reinforced concrete rectangular section of size 300 x 600
mm (effective) is reinforced by 3 bars of 20 mm dia. Determine the safe
uniformly distributed load that the beam can carry over a simply
supported effective span of 6 m. The concrete mix and steel used are of
M20 and Fe415 grades, respectively. For the given environmental
exposure the effective cover to reinforcement is 50 mm.
(Do it yourself)

Limit state of serviceabiity

Conditions ofdesign for limit-state of collapse will ensure that the section will
not collapse under the design loads.But that is not a sufficient condition to
ensure serviceability. The member shall not deform to such an extent

as to

cause problems to the performance of the building element not only its
structural functions. Cracks, deflection that causes separation of finishes,
plastering etc. shall also be prevented along with structural stability. And this
shall be ensured for the entire life of the member. This is done by limitting
deflection.
From IS- 456: 2000
23.2 Control of Deflection
The deflection of a structure or part thereof shall not adversely affect the
appearance or efficiency of the structure or finishes or partitions. The deflection
shall generally be limited to the following:
a) The final deflection due to all loads including the effects of temperature,
creep and shrinkage and measured from the as-cast level of the supports of
floors, roofs and all other horizontal members, should not normally exceed
span/ 250.
b) The deflection including the effects of temperature, creep and shrinkage
occurring after erection of partitions and the application of finishes should not
normally exceed span/350 or 20mm whichever is less.
23.2.1 The vertical deflection limits may generally be assumed to be satisfied
provided that the span to depth ratios are not greater than the values obtained
as below:
a) Basic values of span to effective depth ratios for spans up to 10 m:
Cantilever

Simply supported

20

Continuous

26

b) For spans above 10m, the values in (a) may be multiplied by 10/span in
metres, except for cantilever in which case deflection calculations should be
made.
c) Depending on the area and the stress of steel for tension reinforcement, the
values in (a) or(b) shall be modified by multiplying with the modification factor
obtained as per Fig. 4.
d) Depending on the area of compression reinforcement, the value of span to
depth ratio be further modified by multiplying with the modification factor
obtained as per Fig. 5.
e) For flanged beams,thevalues of (a)or (b) be modified as per Fig. 6 and the
reinforcement percentage for use in Fig. 4 and 5 should be based on area of
section equal to bf.d.