Advanced Reinforced

Concrete Design

CH1 : Introduction to Reinforced Concretes

materials

Dr.Amorn Pimanmas
Sirindhorn International
Institute of Technology (SIIT)

What is Reinforced Concrete ??

Reinforced Concrete sometime shortly called
RC
RC is a composite material of steel bars
embedded in a hardened concrete matrix.
Concrete carries
the compressive
forces, while Steel
mainly resists the
tensile forces.

RC beam

Casting of RC foundation

Advantages of Reinforced Concrete

The advantages include the following :
It has considerable compressive strength as
compared to other materials.
RC has great resistance to action of fire & water.
RC structures are very rigid.
It is a low-maintenance material.
RC ability to be cast into an extraordinary variety of
shapes.
A lower grade of skilled labor is required for erection
as compared to structural steel.

Example of RC structures

Dome : CMU

Waffle slab : Don Muang airport

Building : Chang building

Bridge: Pridi-Dhumrong Br.

Monument : Buddha Statue

Hypar Roof : MU

Disadvantages of Reinforced Concrete

To use concrete successfully, the designer must be
completely familiar with its weak points as well as
its strong ones.
Concrete has a very low tensile strength.
Forms are required to hold the concrete in place
until it hardens sufficiently.
The low strength/unit weight of concrete leads to
heavy members.
The properties of concrete vary widely due to
variation in its proportioning and mixing.

Example of RC structural failures

Earthquake

Acid attack

Fire attack

Gravity load collapse

corrosion

Heavy load VS Bad foundation

Compatibility of Concrete and Steel

The advantages of each material seem to
compensate for the disadvantages of the other.
The shortcoming of concrete is its lack of tensile
strength; but tensile strength is the great
advantage of steel.
The two materials bond together very well because
of chemical adhesion.
Reinforcing bars are subject to corrosion, but the
concrete surrounding them provides them with
excellent protection.
Concrete & steel work together in temperature
changes. (close Coef. of thermal expansion)

Design Codes
The most significant reinforced concrete code in the
US is Building Code Requirement for Reinforced
Concrete.
Concrete
This code available from the American Concrete
Institute, generally referred to as ACI318 Code.
In this course the design
procedures of the ACI318-08M
(2008) code is adopted.
Note : RC Codes in Thailand
are based on ACI318-89.
89

Design Philosophies
Two philosophies of design have been prevalent.
The Working Stress Method (WSM),
WSM focusing on
conditions at service load was the principal method
used from the 1900s until 1960s.
Now, this method is called Alternative Design
Method (ADM).
ADM
Today (2009) the Strength Design Method (SDM)
SDM is
used, focusing on conditions at loads greater than
service loads when failure may be imminent.
SDM is deemed conceptually more realistic to
establish safety.

Working Stress Method

In the WSD,
WSD a structural element is so designed that
the stresses resulting from the action of services
loads.
The stresses are computed by mechanics of elastic
and do not exceed some predesignated allowable
values.
F <= fallow
F
= Elastic stress computed under service load
fallow = Allowable stress prescribed by a code

Strength Design Method

In the SDM,
SDM the service loads are increased by
factors to obtain the load at which failure is
considered to be imminent, called factored load.
load

The structural element is then proportioned such

that strength is reached when the factored load is
acting.
Strength reduced by >= Factored load

Where is reduction factor prescribed by code.

Material Properties - CONCRETE

Traditionally, Concrete has been produced by

mixing portland cement, water,
sand, and crushed stone,
in appropriate proportions
Pozzolanic
material

Graded fine &

coarse aggregate

Wet mixing

Dry mixing

May be
added

Natural
fibers

Slump check
Steel fibers

+
Cement

Superplasticizer
Adding water

Curing

Concrete structure & Hydration

Hydration:
Hydration Chemical process in which the cement
powder reacts with water and sets and hardens
into a solid mass, bonding the aggregates together
Concrete phase : Micro

Harden Concrete Mixture : Marco

CSH

Ca(OH)2 Ettringite

Aggregate Transition Zone Cement paste

Failure Mechanism of Concrete

Shrinkage Microcracks are the initial shrinkage
cracks due to carbonation shrinkage, hydration
shrinkage, and drying shrinkage.

Failure Mechanism of Concrete

Bond Microcracks are extensions of shrinkage
microcracks, as the compression stress field
increases, the shrinkage microcracks widen but do
not propagates into the matrix. Occur at 15-20 %
ultimate strength of concrete (fc).

Failure Mechanism of Concrete

Matrix Microcracks are microcracks that occur in
the matrix.
The propagate from 20% fc of concrete. Occur up
to 30-45 % fc of concrete.
Matrix microcracks start bridge one another at 75%.
Aggregate microcracks
occur just before failure (90%).

Mechanical properties of Concrete

Unit weight
Poissons ratio
Compressive strength
Modulus of elasticity
Tensile strength
Combined Stress
Confined concrete
Shrinkage
Creep
Thermal

Unit weight of Concrete

Normal concrete have a density of around
2,300 to 2,600 kgf/m.3.
For calculating dead loads, the weight if
structural concrete is often taken to be
24 or 25 kN/m.3, which includes an allowance
for presence of steel reinforcement.

Compressive strength

The Compressive strength (fc) of concrete is

determined by test to failure 28-days-old 150 mm.
by 300 mm. concrete
cylinder at a specific
rate loading.

Compressive failure test

Stress-strain
relationship

Rate of loading
It should be noted that the shape of the
stress-strain curve for various concretes of the
same cylinder strength under various condition of
loading, varies considerably.

Cylinder strength
fc = 21 MPa
at 56 days

Repeated Compressive Load

Repeated high-intensity compressive loading
produces a pronounced hysteresis effect in the
stress-strain curve.
Monotonic compressive load

From tests indicted that the envelope curve was

almost identical to the curve obtained from
monotonic load application

Concrete Class
The concrete is classified by compressive strength
as follows:
Low strength concrete : fc <= 20 MPa
Moderate strength concrete : 20 < fc < 40 MPa
High strength concrete : fc => 40 MPa

In order to reduce the member section and

size of foundation of Baiyoke tower2,
High Strength Concrete was selected.

Compressive Strength in Thailand

Compressive strength at 28 Day
(MPa)
Cube : 150x150x150 mm.

Cylinder : 150x300 mm.

18

14

21

18

24

21

28

24

(British standard)

32

Cylinder = (approx.) 0.87*Cube

28

35

30

38

32

40

35

42

38

45

40

(American standard

Modulus of Elasticity
The figure represent a typical stress-strain curve for
concrete.
In the figure, the initial modulus (tangent at origin), the
tangent modulus
(at 0.5fc), and the
secant modulus
are noted.
Usually the secant
modulus at from
25-50% of fc is
Concrete strain, mm./mm.
considered to be
the modulus of elasticity of concrete

Modulus of Elasticity
For many years the modulus of elasticity of
concrete was approximate adequately as 1,000fc
by ACI code.
Recently ACI318 proposed the modulus of
elasticity for normal weight concrete as
Ec = 4,700(fc)0.5

(MPa)

ACI363 proposed the following equation for High

strength concretes :
Ec = 3,320(fc)0.5 + 6,895

(MPa)

Poissons Ratio
The ratio between the transverse strain and the
strain in the direction of applied uniaxial loading,
referred to as Poissons ratio.
ratio
For concrete, it is
usually found to be
in the range 0.15 to 0.20.
0.20
At high compressive
stresses the transverse
strains increase rapidly,
rapidly owing to internal cracking
parallel to the direction of loading.

Tensile Strength
The tensile strength of
concrete varies from
about 8 to 15% of its
compressive strength, fc.
The tensile strength of
concrete doesnt vary
in direct proportion to
its compressive strength.
It does, however, vary
approximately in proportion
to the square root of fc.

Tensile Strength
Tensile strength is quite difficult to measure with direct
axial tension loads because of problems in gripping,
stress concentrations and aligning the loads.

Direct tensile test

Modulus of rupture

Splitting Test

As a result of these problems, two rather indirect tests

have been developed to measure concretes tensile
strength.
These are the modulus of rupture and the split-cylinder
test.
test

Tensile strength
Table shows approximate formulas for tensile strength
obtained from three different approaches.
Normal weight
(MPa)
Direct test

0.33(fc)0.5

Splitting test

0.53(fc)0.5

Modulus of rupture

0.50(fc)0.5

Based in hundreds of
tests, the code provides
a modulus of rupture
fr = 0.5(fc)0.5

fr = 0.5(fc)0.5

Strength under Combined Stress

In many structural situations, concrete is subjected
simultaneously to various stresses acting in various
directions.
directions
By methods of mechanic of materials, these stresses
can be transformed to the principal stresses,
stresses tension
or compression.
P1

P2
M

Uniaxial
C

Biaxial
C
C

T
C

Triaxial

C
T

C
C

Biaxial Stress

In this case, the stresses act in one plane and the third
principal stress is zero.

Kupfer, H. et al (1969) concluded that strength of

concrete subjected to biaxial compression may be as
much as 27% higher than uniaxial strength.

The strength of biaxial tension

is approximately equal to the
uniaxial tensile strength.

However, the combination of

tensile & compressive loads
reduce both the tensile &
compressive stresses at failure.
In the picture, fu = fc

Triaxial compressive stress behavior

The strength and ductility of concrete are greatly

increased under conditions of triaxial compression.

Richart, F. E. et al. (1928) found the following

relationship for concrete cylinder loaded axially to
failure while subjected to confining fluid pressure.

Where
fc
fl

fcc = fc + 4.1fl

fcc = Confined compressive strength

= Unconfined compressive strength
= Lateral confining pressure

Triaxial compressive stress behavior

The figure shows the axial stress-strain curves
obtained by compression of concrete cylinder
confined by fluid pressure.
pressure

Concrete confined by reinforcement

In practice, concrete may be confined by transverse
reinforcement, commonly in the form of closely spaced
steel spirals or hoops.
hoops
At low levels of stress in the concrete, the transverse
reinforcement is hardly stress; hence the concrete is
unconfined.
unconfined
Reinforced concrete
Column confined by
various techniques

The concrete becomes confined when at stresses

approaching the uniaxial strength.
strength

Concrete confined by reinforcement

Iyengar et al. (1970) tested three sets of concrete
cylinder confined by circular spirals, each set was for
a different unconfined compressive strength.

The increase in strength

and ductility with content
of confining steel is significant

Concrete confined by reinforcement

Tests have demonstrated that circular spirals
confine concrete much more effectively than
rectangular or square hoops.

Tie Column Spiral Column

Concrete confined by reinforcement

The reason for the difference between the confinement by

spirals & hoops is illustrated by Fig.

Circular spirals, because of their shape, are in axial hoop

tension and provide a continuous confining pressure
around the circumference.

In contrast, square hoops can apply only confining

reactions near the corners of the hoops tends to bend the
sides outwards.

Confined Compressive strength

In a recent study by Kappos, A. J. (1991) the
confined compressive strength can be obtained by
multiply K.
K = 1 + (w)b
where w = wfyw/fc
a = 0.55, b = 0.75 for
a = 1.00, b = 1.00 for
a = 1.25, b = 1.00 for

fc

fcc = Kfc

fcc
fc

Shrinkage of Concrete

Unless kept under water or in air at 100% relative

humidity, concrete loses moisture with time and
decrease in volume, a process known as shrinkage.
shrinkage

Influence of amount
of water on shrinkage

125
1.2

Shrinkage strain x 103

The amount of shrinkage

depends strongly upon the
composition of the concrete,
with the total amount of
water in mix being especially
important.

kgf./m.3
150

175

200

225

250

1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2

250

lb

300

of water per yd3

350

400

of concrete

Shrinkage of Concrete
In lieu of specific information on the shrinkage
properties of the concrete, the following
approximate expressions for shrinkage can be
used.
sh = [t/(35+t)](sh)u
t
(esh)u

= times (days) after moist curing

= ultimate shrinkage strain

= 0.000415 0.00100 mm./mm.

Branson, D. E. (1977) recommended about 0.0008

Creep of concrete
Creep is the properties of concrete by which it
continues de deform with time under sustained loads
within elastic range (say below 0.5fc).
Frequently creep is associated with shrinkage.
In general, true elastic strain
strain decreases since the
modulus of elasticity is a function of concrete
strength which
increases
with time.

Creep of Concrete
Accurate prediction of creep is complicated
because of the variables involved.
Branson, D. E. (1977) gives a standard creep
coefficient equation.
Ct

= creep strain/initial elastic strain

= [t0.60/(10+t0.60)]Cu

t is duration of load (days)

Cu is the ultimate creep coefficient = 2.35

Effect of Temperature Change

The effects of such volume

changes are similar to those
caused by shrinkage.

2
Compressive
(MPa)
, fstrength
c (./. )

Like most material, concrete expands with increasing

temperature and contracts with decreasing temperature.
temperature
40

T = 70C
T = 400C

30
T = 200C

T = 600C

20

T = 800 C
The coefficient of thermal
10
expansion () and contraction
0
0
0.01
0.02
0.03
0.05
0.04

(./.)
varies somewhat, depending
Stain, c (mm./mm.)
upon the type of aggregate and richness of the mix.

It is generally within 10x10-6 /Co.

Mechanical properties of Steel

Steel size available in Thailand

Modulus of elasticity
Tensile strength
Reversed loading
Repeated loading

Deformed bars
Various types of rib

Material Properties - STEEL

Generally, two types of reinforcing bar have been
used :
(1) Round Bars (RB)
: Grade
SR24 = fy = 240 MPa
(2) Deformed Bars (DB)
: Grade
SD30 = fy = 300 MPa
SD40 = fy = 400 MPa
SD50 = fy = 500 MPa

Bars in Thailand

Size of bars (In Thailand) : RB

Code
RB6

Diameter
(mm.)
6

Perimeter
(mm.)
18.86

Mass
(kgf/m)
0.22

Area
(mm.2)
28.3

RB9

28.29

0.50

63.6

RB12

12

37.71

0.89

113

RB15

15

47.14

1.39

177

RB19

19

59.71

2.23

284

RB25

25

78.57

3.85

491

Size of bars (In Thailand) : DB

Code
DB10

Diameter
(mm.)
10

Perimeter
(mm.)
31.40

Mass
(kgf/m)
0.62

Area
(mm.2)
78

DB12

12

37.71

0.89

113

DB16

16

50.29

1.58

201

DB20

20

62.90

2.47

314

DB25

25

78.57

3.85

491

DB28

28

88.00

4.83

616

DB32

32

100.6

6.31

804

Modulus of Elasticity and strength

The modulus of elasticity of the steel is given by the
slope of the linear elastic portion of the curve.
The modulus of Elasticity (Es) for steel is 2.0x105 MPa

Tensile strength
Yield strength

Tensile test of steel by UTM

Repeated Stress behavior

If the load is released before failure, the specimen will

recover along a stress-strain path that parallel to the
original elastic portion of the curve.

If loaded again, the specimen

will follow the same path up
to the original curve with
perhaps a small hysteresis
and/or strain-hardening effect.

Reversed Stress Behavior

If reversed axial loading is

applied to a steel specimen
in the yield range, a stress-strain
of the curve of the type are
presented.

The figure shows the Bauschinger effect,

effect in which under
reversed loading the stress-strain curved becomes
nonlinear at a stress much lower than the initial yielding
strength

Fig (b) show Elastic-Perfectly Plastic Idealization for

reversed loading.