Module Name: REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Module Code: CET 06102

Module Credits: 12

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Module Objective:

To provide Students with wide

knowledge and skills in Design of
Reinforced Concrete Structures
using the prevailing design codes.

1.2. Sub Enabling Outcomes:

Describe basic concepts of reinforced concrete
design
Design simple reinforced concrete structural
elements
Prepare structural drawings

1.3 Learning Contents:

Basic Terms in structural reinforced concrete

The importance of reinforced concrete as building

materials

 Design philosophy for reinforced concrete works

Requirements for reinforced concrete works

Codes of practices for design and construction of

structural reinforced concrete works

Ultimate limit state theory

Serviceability limit state theory

 Design of structural reinforced concrete elements

Design of simple beams

Design of slabs

Design of columns for simple structures

Design of pad and strip foundations for simple structures

Preparation of detailed drawings

Preparation of detailed drawings

1.4

Pre- requisite course/s: CET 05105 and CET 05101

1.5 Learning context:

This course will be taught through Lectures, Tutorials and
Assignments

1.6 References
1.6.1 British Standards Institution (1997): BS 8110 Part 1: Structural Use of
Concrete: Code of Practice for Design and Construction, British
Standards Institution, London
1.6.2 CP3: Chapter V, Loading Part 2: Wind Loads(1970)
1.6.3 British Standards Institution (1984): BS 6399: Loading of Buildings: Part
1: Dead and Imposed Loads. BSI, London
1.6.4 T. J. McGinley and B. S. Choo, Reinforced Concrete Design and Theory,
2nd Edition, 2003: Spon Press

References cont.

1.6.5

1.6.6

C.E. Reynolds, J.C. Steedman, 2003, Examples of the Design of

Reinforced Concrete Buildings to BS8110, Fourth Edition, CRC
W. H. Mosley and J. H. Bungey, 1999, Reinforced concrete
design, 5thEdition, Palgrave Macmillan

1.7 Integrated methods of Assessment:

Continuous
End

Assessment

of semester Examination

40%
60%

2.0 Fundamentals of Reinforced Concrete

Concrete is a mixture of sand (fine aggregate) and stones (course
aggregate) with the paste of cement and water.
Sometimes one or more admixture is added to change or improve
certain characteristics of the concrete such as its workability,
durability, and time of hardening. Concrete has a high compressive
strength and a very low tensile strength.
Reinforced concrete is a combination of concrete and steel
(reinforcement) where the reinforcement provides the tensile
strength lacking in the concrete. Steel reinforcement is also capable
of resisting compression forces and is used in columns as well as in
other situations .

Advantages of concrete:
It is a low maintenance material
It

has great resistance to the action of fire provided that there

is adequate cover over the reinforcing steel

special nature of concrete is its ability to be cast in to a

variety of shapes from simple slabs, beams, and columns to
great arches and shells

lower grade of skilled labor is required for erection as

compared to other materials such as structural steel

In

most areas, concrete takes advantage of inexpensive local

materials (sand, stones and water) and requires a relatively
small amount of cement and reinforcing steel.

Disadvantages of Concrete
Concrete

has a very low tensile strength, requiring the use of

tensile reinforcing

Forms

are required to hold the concrete in place until it hardens

sufficiently. Forms could be expensive

The

properties of concrete could vary widely vary due to

variations in its proportioning and mixing. Furthermore, the
placing and curing of concrete is not as carefully controlled, as is
the production of other materials such as structural steel

Generally,

reinforced concrete members are relatively large, as

compared to structural members, an important consideration for
tall buildings and long span bridges.

Reinforced Concrete
It

is well-known fact that concrete is strong in compression and

very weak in tension. The tensile strength of concrete is about onetenth its compressive strength. As a result, a plain concrete beam
fails suddenly as soon as the tension cracks start to develop.
Therefore, reinforcing steel is added to in the tension zone to carry
tensile stresses, this is called a reinforced concrete beam.

Concrete

and steel can work together well in reinforced concrete

structures, their material advantages seem to compensate for the
disadvantages of the other.

The

great shortcoming of low concrete strength is compensated for

by high tensile strength of the steel.

 The

tensile strength of the steel is approx. equal to 100-140

times the tensile strength of the usual concrete mix. Also, the
two materials bond together very well with no slippage, and
thus act together as one unit in resisting the applied loads.

The

disadvantage of steel is corrosion, but the concrete

surrounding the reinforcement provides an excellent protection.

Again,

the strength of exposed steel subjected to fire is

reduced to zero and the enclosure of the reinforcement in the
concrete produces very satisfactory fire protection

Further,

concrete and steel work very well together in

temperature changes because their coefficients of thermal
expansion are almost the same.

The coefficient of thermal expansion for steel is 6.5x10exp-6,

while that for the concrete is about 5.5x10exp-6
The addition of steel reinforcement that bonds strongly to
produces a relatively ductile material capable of transmitting
tension and suitable for any structural elements, e.g, slabs,
beams, column. Reinforcement should be placed in the locations
of anticipated tensile stresses and cracking areas .

Structural Elements and Frames

The

complete building structure can be broken down into the

following elements:

Beams
Slabs

horizontal members carrying lateral loads

horizontal plate elements carrying lateral loads

Columns

vertical members carrying primarily axial load but

generally subjected to axial load and moment

Walls

vertical plate elements resisting vertical, lateral or in-plane

loads
Bases

and foundations pads or strips supported directly on the

ground that spread the loads from columns or walls so that they
can be supported by the ground without excessive settlement.
Alternatively the bases may be supported on piles.

2.0 STRUCTURAL DESIGN

The first function in design is the planning carried out by the architect
to determine the arrangement and layout of the building to meet the
clients requirements. The structural engineer then determines the best
structural system or forms to bring the architects concept into being.
Construction in different materials and with different arrangements and
systems may require investigation to determine the most economical
answer. Architect and engineer should work together at this conceptual
design stage.
Once the building form and structural arrangement have been finalized
the design problem consists of the following:

 Idealization

of the structure into loadbearing frames and

elements for analysis and design

Estimation

of loads-(Dead and Imposed Loads)

Analysis

to determine the maximum moments, thrusts and

shears for design

Design

of sections and reinforcement arrangements for

slabs, beams, columns and walls using the results from 3

Production

schedules

of arrangement and detail drawings and bar

FAILURES IN CONCRETE STRUCTURES

Incorrect selection of materials

Errors in design calculations and detailing (An independent

check should be made of all design calculations to ensure

that the section sizes, slab thickness etc. and reinforcement
sizes and spacing specified are adequate to carry the worst
combination of design loads.)

Poor construction methods and inadequate quality control and

supervision (incorrect placement of steel, inadequate cover to rebar, incorrectly made construction joint, grout leakage, poor
compaction, segregation, poor curing, too high water content),

Chemical attack (chlorides, sulphates, carbonation-carbon

dioxide from the atmosphere slowly transforms calcium
hydroxide into calcium carbonate in concrete-harms
reinforcement), alkali-silica- reaction-take place between
alkali in cement and certain forms of silica in aggregate. The
reaction produces a gel which absorbs water and expands in
volume, resulting in cracking and disintegration of the
concrete), Acids-Portland cement is not acid resistant and acid
attack may remove part of the set cement. Acids are formed by
the dissolution in water of carbon dioxide or Sulphur dioxide
from the atmosphere. Acids can also come from industrial
wastes. Good dense concrete with adequate cover is required
and sulphate-resistant cements should be used if necessary.

External physical and/or mechanical factors

(Restraint against movement)-Restraint against movement causes
cracking. Movement in concrete is due to elastic deformation and
creep under constant load, shrinkage on drying and setting,
temperature changes, changes in moisture content and the settlement
of foundations.
The design should include sufficient movement joints to prevent
serious cracking. Cracking may only detract from the appearance
rather than be of structural significance but cracks permit ingress of
moisture and lead to corrosion of the steel.

The contraction joint may be a complete or partial joint with

reinforcement running through the joint. There is no initial gap and
only contraction of the concrete is permitted.
The expansion joint is made with a complete discontinuity and gap
between the concrete portions. Both expansion and contraction can
occur. The joint must be filled with sealer.
There is complete discontinuity in a sliding joint and the design is such
as to permit movement in the plane of the joint.
The hinged joint is specially designed to permit relative rotation of
members meeting at the joint.

The settlement joint permits adjacent members to settle or displace

vertically as a result of foundation or other movements relative to each
other. Entire parts of the building can be separated to permit relative
settlement, in which case the joint must run through the full height of
the structure

Abrasion
Abrasion can be due to mechanical wear, wave action etc. Abrasion reduces
cover to reinforcement. Dense concrete with hard wearing aggregate and
extra cover allowing for wear are required.
Wetting and drying
Wetting and drying leaches lime out of concrete and makes it more porous,
which increases the risk of corrosion to the reinforcement. Wetting and
drying also causes movement of the concrete which can cause cracking if
restraint exists. Detail should be such as to shed water and the concrete may
also be protected by impermeable membranes.
Freezing and thawing
Concrete nearly always contains water which expands on freezing. The
freezing thawing cycle causes loss of strength, spalling and disintegration of
the concrete. Resistance to damage is improved by using an air-entraining
agent.

Overloading
Extreme overloading will cause cracking and eventual collapse. Factors of
safety in the original design allow for possible overloads but vigilance is
always required to ensure that the structure is never grossly overloaded.
Structural alterations
If major structural alterations are made to a building the members
affected and the overall integrity of the building should be rechecked.
Settlement
Differential settlement of foundations can cause cracking and failure in
extreme cases. The foundation design must be adequate to carry the
building loads without excessive settlement.

Fire resistance
Concrete is a porous substance bound together by water-containing
crystals. The binding material can decompose if heated to too high a
temperature, with consequent loss of strength.

CONCRETE COVER (section 3.3.1)

Mild- concrete is protected against weather
Moderate- concrete is sheltered from severe rain concrete under water
concrete in non-aggressive soil
Severe- concrete exposed to severe rain or to alternate wetting and
drying
Very severe- concrete exposed to sea water, de-icing salts or corrosive
fumes
Extreme- concrete exposed to abrasive action

Nominal cover to all reinforcement including links to

meet durability requirements

Nominal cover to all reinforcement including links to

meet specified periods of fire resistance