My Notes

Doubly Reinforced Beams

Introduction

Beams containing steel reinforcement at the tension and compression sides are called doubly
reinforced sections. Doubly reinforced sections are useful in case of singly-reinforced sections being
unable to provide the required bending strength, even when the maximum reinforcement ratio is
used. Steel on the compression side increases the moment capacity of a given section, reduces long-
term deflection, improves ductility and eases fixing reinforcement.

Doubly reinforced section

Doubly reinforced beam is analysed by dividing the beam into two couples Mu1 and Mu2.
Mu1 – couple due to compression concrete and the part of tension steel As1
Mu2 – couple due to compression steel A’s and the other part of the tension steel area As2
Note:
 Tension steel must yield. The stress of tension steel (As) is always equal to fy
 The stress in compression steel (A’s) may either be fy or below fy.
fy
If the compression steel yields; then A’s = As2 ,
f y −0.85 f 'c
fy
otherwise A’s = As2
f 's−0.85 f 'c

Where f’s (stress of compression steel) = 600

c−d '
c

Reasons for Providing Compression Reinforcement

1. Reduced sustain load deflections.
2. Increased ductility.
3. Change of mode of failure from compression to tension.

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Doubly Reinforced Beams

Strength of Doubly Reinforced Rectangular Sections

For doubly-reinforced sections, two possible situations are possible depending on the compression
reinforcement, A’s.

Different Possibilities for Doubly Reinforced Concrete Beams

a. Compression reinforcement, A’s yields (ε’s≥ εy)

The resultant of the compressive forces in the concrete is given by

Cc = 0.85 f’c ab

The compressive force in the compression steel is given by

Cs = A’s(fy – 0.85 f’c)

The force in the tension steel is given by (assuming εt≥ εy)

T = Asfy

The first of equilibrium equation is written as

T = Cc + Cs

and a is evaluated as

f y ( A s− A's ) +0.85 A's f 'c

a=
0.85 f 'c b

The second equilibrium equation is given as

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Doubly Reinforced Beams

a
Mn = Cc (d – ) + Cs (d – d’)
2
where d’ is distance from extreme compression fiber to centroid of longtudinal compression
reinforcement.

and the design moment, Md is given as

a
Md = ø[Cc (d – ) + Cs (d – d’)]
2

b. Compression reinforcement, A’s doesn’t yield (ε’s< εy)

The resultant of the compressive forces in the concrete is given by

Cc = 0.85 f’c ab

The compressive force in the compression steel is given by

Cs = A’s(f’s – 0.85 f’c)

The strain in the compression reinforcement ε’s is evaluated from the following expression

ε 's x−d '

=
0.003 x

where f’s = ε’s Es

The force in the tension steel is given by (assuming εt≥ εy)

T = Asfy

The first of equilibrium equation is written as

T = Cc + Cs

and a is evaluated as one of the logic roots of quadratic equation in terms of a.

The second equilibrium equation is given as

a
Mn = Cc (d – ) + Cs (d – d’)
2
and the design moment, Md is given as

a
Md = ø[Cc (d – ) + Cs (d – d’)]
2

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Doubly Reinforced Beams

DESIGN PROCEDURE FOR DOUBLY REINFORCED RECTANGULAR BEAM, GIVEN Mu AND

OTHER BEAM PROPERTIES
1. Solve for R

Mu = øRbd2
2. Solve for ρ

0. 85 f 'c 2R
ρ=
fy √
(1 - 1−
0.85 f ' c
)

3. Check if the beam needs compression reinforcement by computing ρmax

'
3 0.85 f c β1
ρmax =
8 fy

If ρ ≤ ρmax beam may be single reinforced

ρ > ρmax beam is doubly reinforced

4. ρ > ρmax compression reinforcement is needed

5. Solve for As1

As1 = ρmaxbd

6. Solve for a and c

[C1 = T1 ] 0.85f’cab = As1fy ; a = _______

a = β1c ; c = _______

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7. Solve for Mu1, Mu2 and As2

a a
Mu1 = øT1 (d – ) = øAs1 fy(d – )
2 2
Mu2 = Mu – Mu1

Mu2 = øT2 (d – d‘) = øAs2 fy(d – d’)

As2 = _______

8. Solve for the stress in compression steel

f ' s/ Es 0.003 c−d '

= ; f’s = 600
c−d ' c c

If f’s ≥ fy proceed to Step 9

f’s < fy proceed to Step 10

9. f’s ≥ fy then use f’s = fy (compression steel yields)

fy
A’s = As2
f y −0.85 f 'c

10. f’s < fy then use f’s = f’s (compression steel does not yields)

fy
A’s = As2
f s−0.85 f 'c

PROCEDURE IN COMPUTING Mu OF A DOUBLY REINFORCED RECTANGULAR BEAM, GIVEN

As, A’s AND OTHER BEAM PROPERTIES (Investigation)

1. Assume compression steel yields (f’s = fy)

As2 = A’s
As1 = As – As2

2. Solve for a and c

[C1 = T1 ] 0.85f’cab = As1fy ; a = _______
a = β1c ; c = _______

3. Solve for the stress in compression steel

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Doubly Reinforced Beams

c−d '
f’s = 600
c

If f’s ≥ fy proceed to Step 4

f’s < fy proceed to Step 5

4. f’s ≥ fy, compression steel yields

a
Mu = Mu1 + Mu2 = øT1 (d – ) + øT2 (d – d‘)
2
a
Mu = øAs1 fy(d – ) + øAs2( fy – 0.85f’c)(d – d’)
2

5. If f’s < fy, assumption is wrong, compression steel does not yield.

From the stress diagram

C1 + C2 = T
0.85f’cab + A’s (f’s – 0.85f’c) = Asfy
c−d '
0.85f’c β1cb + A’s [600 - 0.85 f’c] = Asfy
c
Solve for c by Quadratic Formula
c−d '
Solve for f’s; f’s = 600
c
Solve for a; a = β1c
Solve for Mu:
a
Mu = Mu1 + Mu2 = øC1 (d – ) + øC2 (d – d‘)
2
a c−d '
Mu =ø0.85f’cab (d – ) + ø A’s [600 - 0.85f’c](d – d‘)
2 c

(End of Procedures)

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Problem 1

A rectangular concrete beam having a width of 250 mm and an effective depth of 400 mm is to carry
a factored moment of 272 kN-m. Compression reinforcement if necessary will be placed at a depth of
60 mm from the outermost compression concrete. Using fy = 345 MPa and f’c = 20.7 MPa, determine
the required tension steel area.

Problem 2

Design a rectangular beam to resist a dead load moment of 280 kN-m (including its own weight) and
a live load moment of 350 kN-m. The size of the beam is limited to 350 x 600 mm. Steel covering
(measured from bar centroid) is 65 mm for both tension and compression bars. Use f’c = 27.5 MPa
and Grade 60 steel with fy = 414 MPa.

Problem 3

Calculate the ultimate capacity of a reinforced concrete rectangular beam 280 mm wide with an
effective depth of 510 mm. the beam is reinforced for tension and compression with tension steel
area of 5089 mm2 and compression steel area of 2035 mm2. The compression steel is 65 mm from
the extreme compression concrete. Assume fy = 400 MPa and f’c = 35 MPa.

Problem 4

Determine the permissible ultimate moment of the beam shown below. Use fy = 345 MPa and f’c =
27.5 MPa.

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