Design Notes for Deep Beam.

Steps:
1.. Check the beam, if it is a deep beam. According to ACI, clear span to depth
ration (ln /h) < 4, to be considered as deep beam.
2. Find factored load and support reactions.
3. Check max. shear strength of the beam x-section, based on ACI code, as.
Vn = 10fc' bw d

(Ref: ACI Code, Section 11.1.30

where,
Vn = nominal shear capacity of beam section, lbs
bw = web width, in
d = effective depth of section(= 0.9h) , in
Vn > max. shear load in the beam. If not, change the x-section of the beam. =
0.75
4. Select a strut and tie model, and calculate the load in the strut and tie.
Model requirement:

Equilibrium of forces should be maintained, forces in strut and ties should be

uniaxial
Strut must not cross or overlap each other. They can cross or overlap only at
nodes.
Ties can overlap struts or other ties.
Min angle between strut and ties should be 25 .
Tie should yield before strut crush (ductility).
Tension in concrete is neglected.
External forces should apply at nodes. If uniform load is present, that should
resolve in concentrated load to apply at nodes.
Prestressing is external load.
Reinforcement should be adequately anchored and provide sufficient
detailing.

5. Design of nodal zones based on the strength of nodal zone ,and strut and tie load
according to model chosen.
Concrete comp. stress, fcc at C-C-C = 0.85 c fc'
fcc at C-C-T = 0.75 c fc'

fcc at C-T-T = 0.65 c fc'

(Ref: CSA Cl. 11.4.4.1)
6. Design of Tie:
From C = T, area over which reinforcement is distributed , l = 1.13a
where a = height of conc. stress block
Tie reinforcement, As,tie > Tie load / (s . fy)
7. Design of strut.
Check capacity of conc. strut at top and bottom of strut.
a. Compressive stress at top:
f2,top = Load in strut /(x - sec of strut at top) < 0.85 c fc'
b. Compressive stress at bottom:
f2,bottom = Load in strut /(x - sec of strut at bottom)
due to presence of tie, the limiting compressive stress is reduced. Hence,
Tensile strain in concrete in the direction of tension tie, s = Tie load /(Ast fy)
l = s + (s + 0.002) cot2 s
f2,bottom < fcu = c fc'/(0.8 + 170 s)
8. Design of Horizontal and Vertical Reinforcement
-> Vertical reinforcements provided must be at least:
Av =0.0025bs
-> Vertical reinforcements provided must be at least:
Avh =0.0025bs
spacing for both horizontal and vertical reinforcement shall not exceed d/5 or
12"
a. For vertical bars, find {Asi/(bs)}sin
a. For horizontal bars, find {Asi/(bs)}sin
9. Design the tie anchorage.
10. Check min. steel requirement according to CSA.

Example: Strut and Tie model according ACI method

Design the reinforcement for the laterally supported transfer girder shown below.

Normal Density concrete

fc'= 25 MPa
fy = 400 MPa

Solution:
1. Check, if this is a deep beam:
ln /h = 8800/400 = 2.2 < 4

=> The beam is a deep beam

2. Compute support reaction:

VA = WL/2 = 950 x 11.3 /2 = 5367.5 kN
VB = 5367.5 kN
3. Check, shear strength of x-section:
Vn =10fc' x b x d (all in US units)
= 10 3625 psi x 15.75 in x (0.9 x 157.48 in) = 1344012 lbs = 5978 kN
Vn = 0.75 x 5978 = 4483.5 kN < VA = 5367.5 kN => Not OK

The x-section should be increased. For exercise purpose, we continue with present
x-section.
4. Select strut and tie model:
Consider to resolve UDL as concentrated load and applied at the node.