Project

Job
Version
Designer

Laurencekirk WWTW
33052
1.1
Miro Stefanko

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1/4
12/03/2014
17/03/2014

Continuous beam design (BS8110)

A typical floor plan of a small building structure is shown in Figure 1.1.2. Design All units are
continuous beams 3A/D and B1/5 assuming the slab supports an imposed load [kN, mm]
of 4kN m2 and finishes of 1.5kN m2 . The overall sizes of the beams and slab are
indicated on the drawing. The columns are 400400mm. The characteristic strength
of the concrete is 35N mm2 and of the steel reinforcement is 500N mm2 . The cover
to all reinforcement may be assumed to be 30 mm.

1.1

Loading

Figure 1.1.1: Beam cross-section at center line 3.

Figure 1.1.2: Floor plan layout.

Dead load, gk , is the sum of
weight of slab = 0.15 3.75 24
weight of downstand = 0.3 0.4 24
finishes = 1.5 3.75

=
=
=

13.5
2.88
5.625
22.0kN m

Imposed load, qk = 4 3.75 = 15kN m1

Design uniformly distributed load, = (1.4gk + 1.6qk ) = (1.4 22 + 1.6 15) =

Project
Job
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Laurencekirk WWTW
33052
1.1
Miro Stefanko

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12/03/2014
17/03/2014

54.8kN m1
Design load per span, F = ! span = 54.8 8.5 = 465.8kN
1.1.1

F = 465.8kN

Design moment and shear forces

From clause 3.4.3 of BS 8110, as gk > qk , the loading on the beam is substantially
uniformly distributed and the spans are of equal length, the coefficients in Table 3.19
can be used to calculate the design ultimate moments and shear forces. The results
are shown in the table below. It should be noted however that these values are
conservative estimates of the true in-span design moments and shear forces since the
coefficients in Table 3.19 are based on simple supports at the ends of the beam. In
reality, beam 3A/D is part of a monolithic frame and significant restraint moments
will occur at end supports.

Figure 1.1.3: Bending moment and shear forces

1.2
1.2.1

Steel reinforcement
Middle of 3A/B (and middle of 3C/D)

Assume diameter of main steel,

cover, c = 30mm. Hence
Eective depth,
d=h

/2

= 25mm, diameter of links,

c = 550

25/2

= 8mm and nominal

30 = 499mm
d = 499mm

The eective width of beam is the lesser of

(a) actual flange width = 3750 mm
(b) web width + bz /5, where bz is the distance between points of zero moments
which for a continuous beam may be taken as 0.7 times the distance between centres
of supports. Hence
lz = 0.7 8500 = 5950mm(critical)

lz = 5950mm

b = 300 + 5950/5 = 1490mm

b = 1490mm
6

K=

M
356.3 10
=
= 0.0274
2
fcu bd
35 1490 4992

K = 0.0274

Project
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Laurencekirk WWTW
33052
1.1
Miro Stefanko

z = d(0.5 +

x = (d

p
(0.25

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12/03/2014
17/03/2014

K/0.9)) 0.95d = 0.95 499 = 474mm)

z)/0.45 = (499

474)/0.45 = 56mm < f langethickness

z limited to 0.95d
= 474mm
x = 56mm

Area of steel reinforcement,

As =

M
356.3 106
=
= 1728mm2
0.87fy z
0.87 500(0.95 499)
Provide 4H25 (As = 1960mm2 ).

As = 1960mm2

Figure 1.2.1: Flexural reinforcement middle of 3A/B and 3C/D.

1.2.2

At support 3B (and 3C)

Assume the main steel consists of two layers of 25 mm diameter bars, diameter of
links, 0 = 8mm and nominal cover, c = 30mm. Hence
Eective depth,
0

d=h

c = 550

25

30 = 487mm

Since the beam is in hogging, b = 300 mm

d = 487mm

Mu = 0.156fcu bd2 = 0.156 35 300 4872 10

= 388.5kN m

Mu = 388.5kN m

Since Mu < M (= 435.5kN m), compression reinforcement is required. Assume diameter of compression steel, = 25mm, diameter of links, 0 = 8mm, and cover to
reinforcement, c = 30mm. Hence eective depth of compression steel d0 is
d0 = c +

z = d(0.5 +

p
(0.25

+ /2 = 30 + 8 + 25/2 = 51mm
p
K 0 /0.9)) = 487(0.5 + (0.25 0.156/0.9)) = 378mm

Depth to neutral axis,

x = (d

z)/0.45 = (487

378)/0.45 = 242mm

d/x = 51/242 = 0.21<0.37. Therefore, the compression steel has yielded, i.e.
fs0 = 0.87fy and
Area of compression steel,
A0s =

M Mu
(435.5 388.5)106
=
= 248mm2
0
0.87fy (d d )
0.87 500(487 51)

d0 = 51mm
z = 378mm

Project
Job
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33052
1.1
Miro Stefanko

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12/03/2014
17/03/2014

Provide 2H25 (A0s = 982mm2 ).

A0s = 982mm2

Area of tension steel,

Mu
388.5 106
0
As =
+ As =
= 2610mm2
0.87fy z
0.87 500 378
Provide 6H25 (As = 2950mm2 ).

As = 2950mm2

Figure 1.2.2: Flexural reinforcement at support 3B and 3C.

1.2.3

Middle of 3B/C

From above, eective depth, d = 499mm and eective width of beam, b = 1490mm.
Hence, As is
As =

M
277.2 106
=
= 1344mm2
0.87fy z
0.87 500(0.95 499)
Provide 3H25 (As = 1470mm2 ).

Figure 1.2.3 shows a sketch of the bending reinforcement for spans 3A/B and 3B/C.
The curtailment lengths indicated on the sketch are in accordance with the simplified
rules for beams given in clause 3.12.10.2 of BS 8110.

Figure 1.2.3: Bending reinforcement for spans 3A/B and 3B/C.

As = 1470mm2