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Analysis and Design of Deep Beams

(Traditional ACI design method)

DEEP BEAMS

Flexural members should be designed as deep beams if the ratio of the clear span
(Fig.1.), ln to the overall depth, h, is less than 4 ( ≤ ).

The members should be loaded on one face and supported on the opposite face so
that compression struts can develop between the loads and supports (Fig.1.).

Examples of deep beams are short-span beams supporting heavy loads, vertical
walls under gravity loads, shear walls, and floor slabs subjected to horizontal loads.

The ACI Code, Section 9.9.1 defines deep beams as structural elements loaded on
one face and supported on the other face so that compression struts can develop
between the loads and the supports, and have either:
a) Clear spans, equal to or less than four times its overall depth ; ( l ≤ 4h)

Figure 2 a shows the elastic stress distribution at the misspend section of a

deep beam, and Fig. 2 b shows the principal trajectories in top-loaded deep
beams.

Solid lines indicate tensile stresses, whereas dashed lines indicate compressive
stress distribution.

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Horizontal and vertical reinforcement is needed to resist principal stresses, and

tensile flexural reinforcement is needed within ( to ) of the bottom and to the

supports.

(a ) Elastic stress distribution,

(b )Stress trajectories (tension, solidlines, and compression, dashed lines)

Fig. 2 Stress distribution (Uniformly loaded deep beam

 Flexural Reinforcement Design (As) :

The flexure reinforcement of deep beams can be determine using the following simplified
approach, ∅ M = ∅A y f where y is moment arm

0.6h for = 1
b) Determine the moment arm =
0.8h for =2

c) Determine the main tension reinforcment A

.
A = b d for f` ≤ 30 MPa
A = and A ≥ `


A = b d for f` > 30

l M A f
If > 2 A = a and a =
h ϕ f d − 0.85f` b
2

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Shear Reinforcement Design :

0.15 ≤ .
 Critical section for shear design (X)
0.50 ≤
 Determine shear force (Vu and Mu) at critical section
 Determine max. nominal shear strength, (∅V )

⎧ ∅(0.66) ` < 2
(∅V ) = ( )
⎨∅ 1 10 + ` 2 ≤ ≤ 5
⎩ 18

or (∅V ) = ∅ 0.83 ` ( )

≤ (V ) ℎ
if
∅ > (V ) ℎ

Determine concrete shear strength, Vc

Calculate at critical section , ≤ 1 ρ =

 ∅V = ∅ 0.17 ` ( ) or
 ∅V = ∅ 0.16 ` + 17 ρ ≤ 0.50 ` ( )
 Shear reinforcement is required when:
∅
≥
∅
2

 Determine, Vs :
∅
 V = if vs =0 use minimum shear reinforcment
∅

/ /
 V = + f , ≤
300
 Check min. ℎ :
 ≥ 0.0025 ℎ ≥ 0.0015

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 Prepare neat design drawings showing beam dimensions and provided reinforcement.

Reinforcment Details
Example
Determine the required reinforcement for the simply supported deep beam shown.
The beam supports an 500 mm squre column carring a dead load = 570 kN and a live
load = 910 kN. Given: f`c=30 MPa, fy=420 MPa, concrete cover =30 mm, db =25 mm2
(flexure), db = 14 mm2(shear).

Column
P 500x500mm
A

2m

A
500mm
1.5 m 3.5 m A A

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