Design of Reinforced Concrete

- Introduction

CE 4108 – Concrete Structures Design

Concrete and Reinforced Concrete

• Concrete = Mixture of aggregates held

together in rocklike mass with a paste of
cement and water. Sometimes admixtures are
added.
• High compressive strength. Low tensile
strength.
• Reinforced concrete = Concrete with steel
reinforcement. The reinforcement provides
tensile strength, but can also be used to add
to the compression strength.
Advantages of Reinforced Concrete

1. Considerable compressive strength

2. Great resistance to the actions of water and fire
3. Structures are very rigid
4. Low-maintenance material
5. Long service life
6. Usually only economical material available for
underground structural components.
7. Can be cast in a variety of shapes.
8. In most areas is the most inexpensive material, even if
steel reinforcement and cement needs to be shipped.
9. Lower grade of skilled labor is needed.
Disadvantages of Reinforced Concrete

1. Very low tensile strength.

2. Formwork is required.
3. Low strength per unit weight.
(Important for long span and tall
structures).
4. Properties of concrete vary widely.
Placing and curing needs to be
carefully controlled.
Compatibility of Concrete and Steel
• The advantages of each material compensate
the disadvantages of the other
• Concrete has low tensile strength, steel has
high tensile strength
• The two materials bond together vey well
• Concrete provide protection to steel against
corrosion and fires
• They work together in thermal changes
– αc = 0.000004 to 0.000007/oF
– αs = 0.0000065/oF
Most Important Design Code
• American Concrete Institute – Building
Code Requirements for Structural
Concrete
• It’s not itself a legally binding
document.
• Still various governments adopt it
Types of Portland Cement
• Type I – The common all-purpose cement used for
general construction work
• Type II – Lower heat of hydration than Type I and
can withstand some exposure to sulfate attack
• Type III – High early-strength cement. It has a
higher heat of hydration (Heat causes concrete to
expand and then to shrink too much after cooling,
causing cracks)
• Type IV – Low-heat cement. Used for very large
concrete structures
• Type V – Used for cements that are to be exposed
to high concentrations of sulfates
Aggregates
• ACI 3.3.2 limits the size of aggregates:
“one-fifth of the narrowest dimensions
between the sides of the forms, one-
third of the depth of the slabs, or three-
quarters of the minimum clear spacing
between reinforcement.
Admixtures
1. Air-entraining admixtures – to increase
resistance to freezing and thawing
2. Accelerating admixtures
3. Retarding admixtures
4. Superplastizicers – Improves
workability and strength without
increasing cement
5. Waterproofing materials
Compressive strength (f’c)
• Determined by testing a 28-day old, 6-
in by 12-in cylinder
• Most concretes fall in the 3000-7000 psi
range
• Ordinarily, 3000 to 4000 psi is used
• Roughly straight from
zero to about 1/3 to
1/2 ultimate strength
. Beyond its
nonlinear.
• All reach their
ultimate strengths at
about a strain of
0.002.
• No definitive clear
yield strength
• Weaker concretes are
less brittle
Static Modulus of Elasticity
• Concrete has no clear modulus of elasticity
• Theoretically, it can be calculated in several ways
• ACI 8.5.1: For concretes weighing 90 to 160 pcf:
1.5
Ec wc 33 f 'c
Ec modulus of elasticity, psi
wc weight of concrete pcf
f 'c 28 - day compressive strength, psi
• For normal weight concrete (145 pcf):

Ec 57,000 f 'c
• For high-strength concretes (f’c > 6000
psi), studies from Cornell University
suggest the following formula:
1.5
6 wc
Ec [40,000 f 'c 10 ]
145
Dynamic Modulus of Elasticity
• Corresponds to very small
instantaneous strains
• Obtained by sonic tests
• Generally 20-40% higher that static
modulus
• Used when structures are analyzed for
impact or seismic loads
Poisson’s Ratio
• 0.11 (higher strength) to 0.21 (lower
strength), average about 0.16
• It has to be considered in the analysis
and design of arched dams, tunnels and
some other statically indeterminate
structures
Shrinkage
• As water evaporates concrete shrinks and this can
cause cracking, which can reduce shear strength
and its detrimental to appearance. Cracks can also
exposed reinforcement to the weather
• It can continue for many years, but about 90%
occurs in the first year
• To reduce shrinkage: keep mixing water to a
minimum, cure the concrete well, place concrete of
large elements (walls, floors) in small sections, use
construction joints to control the position of cracks,
use shrinkage reinforcement, use dense and
nonporous aggregates
Creep or Plastic Flow
• Under a compressive load, a member will have
an instantaneous deformation (shortening). If
the load is sustained, the member will continue
to deform. This is called creep.
• Creep deformations can reach up to 3 times
the initial deformation.
• 75% of creep occurs in the 1st year.
• If load is removed, element will recover most
of its elastic strain and little of its creep strain
Tensile Strength
• About 8 to 15% of the compressive strength,
probably because of fine cracks
• Measured with the modulus of rupture and
the split-cylinder tests
• Neglected in design calculations
Shear Strength
• Difficult to obtain pure shear failures
unaffected by other stresses. Tests
have yielded shearing strengths from
1/3 to 4/5 the compressive strength
Reinforcing Steel Bars
(Rebars)
Nominal
Bar Size Nominal Area Nominal Weight
Diameter
Designation [inch2] [lb/ft]
[inch]
#3 0.11 0.376 0.375

#4 0.20 0.668 0.500

#5 0.31 1.043 0.625

#6 0.44 1.502 0.75
#7 0.6 2.044 0.875
#8 0.79] 2.67 1
#9 1 3.4 1.128
#10 1.27 4.303 1.27
#11 1.56 5.313 1.41
#14 2.25 7.65 1.693
#18 4 13.6 2.257
Rebars Grades
• Rebar is available in different grades and specifications that vary in
yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, chemical composition, and
percentage of elongation.
• The grade designation is equal to the minimum yield strength of the
bar in ksi. For example grade 60 rebar has a minimum yield
strength of 60 ksi. Rebar is typically manufactured in grades 40, 60,
and 75.
• Common specification are:
– ASTM A 615 Deformed and plain carbon-steel bars for concrete reinforcement
– ASTM A 706 Low-alloy steel deformed and plain bars for concrete reinforcement
– ASTM A 955 Deformed and plain stainless-steel bars for concrete reinforcement
– ASTM A 996 Rail-steel and axle-steel deformed bars for concrete reinforcement