Page |1 CE433-F2021

______________________________________________________________________________

T-Beams
1. Monolithic reinforced concrete slab floors results in a T-shaped cross-section, when
combined with support beams.

b = bf

t = ts = h
d
Overhang
(Shaded region) A
 bf − bw 
s

  bw
 2  Clear dist.
(Sw)
CL Centerline CL
dist.
However, the effective width of flange needs to be determined. If there is a wide flange, then the
slab elements in the central portion between the webs is stressed less than those over stem. Thus,
the ACI 318 makes use of an effective width (which is assumed to be uniformly stressed), which
depends primarily on beam span and slab thickness.
Page |2 CE433-F2021
______________________________________________________________________________

Problem: A 3 inches thick slab was constructed integrally with the support beams as shown below.
The support beams were simply supported over a span of 10’-8’’.
Determine the effective flange widths (beff) that should be used for the center beam and Left edge beam to
satisfy T-beam construction analysis according to the ACI 318.
Page |3 CE433-F2021
______________________________________________________________________________

T-Beam Design

1. All ACI requirements (clear cover, min. spacing between bars, As, min etc.) for rectangular
beams are applicable to T-beams.
2. The flange thickness and width are typically dictated by the slab dimensions and the beam
spacing.
3. In T-beam design, we need to arrive at web width and depth, area of tension steel;

Design Steps:

1. Establish the flange thickness (hf), which is same as the slab thickness. It will depend on
the flexural requirements of the slab.
2. Determine the effective flange width (be)-ACI 6.3.2.1 or ACI 6.3.2.2
3. Choose depth and width of the web in the similar fashion as rectangular beam
4. Estimate the Design moment (Mdesign)
5. Once all the dimensions are established, check if the Flange of the T-beam can develop the
required design moment. i.e., check if a = hf, will the ACI design capacity of the T-beam
will be more than Mdesign. If the flange can develop the Mdesign, Then Design the Beam as
RECANGUALR BEAM with Width be. If the flange can’t develop the Mdesign, go to next
step (designing it as T-beam)
 h 
i.e., if  0.85 fc' hf be  d − f   Mdesign Then use the same design steps as rectangular
 2 
beam design, with beam dimensions: beam width = be; effective depth = steel location = d;
6. If the flange can’t develop the Mdesign , then that implies that the neutral axis is located in
the flange.
Page |4 CE433-F2021
______________________________________________________________________________

Asf = area of steel, that when stressed to fy is required to balance the concrete compressive force in
the overhanging portions of the flange which are stressed uniformly at 0.85 fc'
Asw = area of steel, that when stressed to fy is required to balance the concrete compressive force in
the web which is stressed uniformly at 0.85 fc'
Asw = area of steel required to provide a design moment of  Mw (=  Mn − M f ) ;

 fc'   2Rn   Mw
Asw = 0.85  1− 1−  bw d ; where Rn =
 f y  0.85 fc'  bwd 2
  

As = Asf + Asw

7. Check of As is more than As,min

To prevent non-ductile failures, ACI requires minimum reinforcement in flexural members.
Section 9.6.1.2: As,min shall be the greater of (a) and (b), except as provided in 9.6.1.3. For a statically
determinate beam with a flange in tension, the value of “bw” shall be the lesser of bf, and 2bw.
3 f ' 
 c
bwd 
 f 
As,min = Maximum of  y 
 200 
 f bwd 
 y 
Section 9.6.1.3: If As provided at every section is at least one-third greater than As required by
analysis, 9.6.1.1 and 9.6.1.2 need not be satisfied.

8. Once the area of steel required is estimated, do the following

a. Selection of bars and bar spacing.
i. Normal bar sizes used in beams are #3 to #11; sometimes we may have to use mix of different sizes
of bars to get the required area. In that case, try to limit the variation of diameter to two bar sizes
ii. ACI section 25.2 provides minimum limits on spacing between reinforcement bars

 1 in. ACI 25.2.1


Smin =  db ACI 25.2.1
1.33 Max.aggregate size
 ACI 25.2.1
Section 25.2.2: For parallel nonprestressed reinforcement placed in two or more horizontal layers,
reinforcement in the upper layers shall be placed directly above reinforcement in the bottom layer
with a clear spacing between layers of at least 1 in.
iii. ACI section 24.3.2 provides maximum limits on spacing between reinforcement bars

  40000 
15  - 2.5cc
  fs (psi) 
Smax = min. of 
 12  40000 
  
  fs (psi) 
Page |5 CE433-F2021
______________________________________________________________________________

Where cc is the least distance from surface of deformed or prestressed reinforcement to

the tension face. fs = calculated stress in deformed reinforcement,
24.3.2.1 Stress fs in deformed reinforcement closest to the tension face at service loads
shall be calculated based on the unfactored moment, or it shall be permitted to take fs as
(2/3)fy.

b.Minimum cover requirements

o To provide adequate protection to steel from corrosion and fire minimum cover
requirements are provided in ACI 318-18, section 20.6.1.3
o Cover requirement depends on the exposure conditions also.

c. check the Minimum width required to place all the reinforcement

9. finalize the rebar details and estimate the Mn and check if Μ( φn) ≥ Mdesign and εs > 0.003+ εyt
Page |6 CE433-F2021
______________________________________________________________________________

Design Example
Design a beam shown in figure as a t-beam to resist a design moment of 470 kip-ft; use 4000 psi
concrete with ¾ in. aggregate and grade 60 steel.

Solution:

Step 1: given Information: bw =10 in.; h = 22 in; hf = 2.5 in.; span of the beam = 20 ft
f c' = 4000 psi; so, 1 =0.85 Grade 60 steel => fy = 60 ksi.
d = h-1.5 in. - 0.5 in. - 0.5 in. = 19.5 in. (See guidelines for estimating d in
rectangular beams)

Step 2: Estimating the design moment:

It is given that, Mdesign = 470 kip-ft = 5640 kip-in.

Step3: Estimate the Effective width of the T-beam:

As the slab is on both sides of the beam, we need to use ACI 6.3.2.1 to arrive at the effective width
(be).
   
   
 w ( )
b + 2 8 h  10 + 2 (8 x 2.5 in.)  50 in.
  sw    30 in.    
be = min bw + 2  = min  10 + 2    = min 40 in. = 40 in.
  2   2   70 in.
     
 bw + 2 ln    20 ft x12 in/ft 
10 + 2   
  8     8 

So, the dimensions of the t-beam are:

Page |7 CE433-F2021
______________________________________________________________________________

Step 4: Check if the flange can develop the design moment {note: this is nothing but assuming
the Whitney stress block depth (a) = hf and estimating capacity)

 hf 
i.e. check if  0.85 fc' hf be  d −   Mdesign ; we are going to assume  =0.9 as we want to design
 2
the beam as tensioned controlled section.

 h 
 0.85 fc' hf be  d − f  = (0.9) {0.85 x 4ksi x 2.5in x 40 in.} {19.5 in. – 0.5 x 2.5 in}
 2 
= 5584.5 kip-in < Mdesign = 5640 kip-in

Therefore, the equivalent stress block extends into the web of the section; and we need to
design the beam as a T-beam.
 hf 
Note: if  0.85 fc' hf be  d −   Mdesign is True, then design the beam as RECANGUALR BEAM
 2
with Beam Width be to resist the design moment (Mdesign)

Step 5: Designing as the T-beam: Estimating Asf and Asw

Finding Asf:

Cf = 0.85 fc' (be −bw)hf = 0.85(4ksi)(40 −10)(2.5) = 255kips = Tf {From Equilibrium}

Tf Cf 255 k
Asf = = = = 4.25in2
f y f y 60 ksi
 h 
M f = 0.85 fc' (be − bw )hf  d − f  = (0.9)(0.85)(4 ksi)(40 in-10 in)(2.5 in) (19.5in. -0.5 x 2.5 in.) = 4188.375 kip-in
 2 

Mw = Mdesign - Mf = 5640 kip-in – 4188.375 kip-in = 1451.625 kip-in

Page |8 CE433-F2021
______________________________________________________________________________

Finding Asw:

 Design a rectangular beam with Mdesign = Mw = 1451.625 kip-in and b = bw = 10

in.

 Mw 1451.625kip-in
Rn = = = 0.4242 ksi
 bwd 2 0.9(10)(19.5)2

 fc'    4 ksi   2 (0.4242 ksi) 

 = 0.85
2Rn
sw = 0.85  1− 1− 1 − 1 −  = 0.00758
 f y  0.85 fc'   60 ksi   0.85 (4 ksi) 
  
Asw = swbw d = 0.00758 (10 in.) (19.5 in.) = 1.48 in2

Total As,reqd = Asw + Asf = 1.48 in2 + 4.25 in2 = 5.73 in2

Use 6 #9 bars => Asteel, provided = 6 (1.0 in2) = 6 in2 > As,reqd = 5.73 in2 OK

3 f ' b d   3 4000psi(10")(19.5") 
 c w 
 
 0.62 in 
2
 fy   60000psi
As,min = max. of  =  =  2
=0.65 in2 <Asteel,provided = 6 in2 OK
 200bwd   200(10")(19.5")  0.65 in 
 f   60000psi 
 y 

Min. width of the beam to accommodate 6 #9 bars: =

Smin = Minimum spacing between bars = max

{1 in, db, 4/3 (aggregate size)}
= max {1 in, 1.128 in., (4/3) x (3/4)} = 1.128
in.

Minimum width required: =

2(clear cover) +2 (db)#stirrup+ 2 r + 5 (db)#9bar+
5 Smin

= 2 (1.5) +2 (3/8) + 2 (0.75)+ 5 (1.128) +5 (1.128)

= 16. 53 in > 10 in. (= bw)

NOT OK

So, try 6#9 bars in 2 layers!!

Minimum width required: =

2(clear cover) + 2 (db)#stirrup+ 2 r + 2 (db)#9bar+ 2 Smin.

= 2 (1.5) + 2 (3/8) + 2 (0.75) + 2 (1.128) +2 (1.128)

= 9.762 in. < 10 in. (=bw)  OK
Page |9 CE433-F2021
______________________________________________________________________________

Step 6: Check φMn > Mdesign

Assume Steel is yielded. i.e. stress in steel = fy

Ts = Ts1 +Ts2 = As1 fy + As2 fy
= 3 in.2 (60 ksi) + 3 in.2 (60 ksi) = 360 kips

a) Assume the stress block is within the flange:

 C = 0.85 f c a be = 0.85 (4 ksi) a (40 in.) = 136 a kips

360kips
C = T  a= = 2.65"  hf = 2.5"
(136)

 Stress block is not within Flange (our assumption is NOT OK)  Stress block extends into
the web
a) Now assume the stress block is in the web:

Cf = 0.85 f c (be-bw) hf = 0.85(4ksi) (40-10) (2.5) = 255 kips

Cw= 0.85 f c a bw = 0.85(4ksi) (a) (10) = 34 a
Ts1 +Ts2 = As fy = = 3 in.2 (60 ksi) + 3 in.2 (60 ksi) = 360 kips (Note that Steel yielded)
Now C = T  Cf + Cw = T 255+34a=360  a = 3.09 in.  c = a/1 = 3.09 /0.85 =3.64 in.

Checking the assumption (steel yields)

Now from the strain diagram, s) bottom = 0.003 (d2-c)/c = 0.003 (19.5-3.64)/3.64
= 0.013 > 0.005 > y = fy/Es = (60/29000 =0.002) OK.

s) top layer = 0.003 (d1-c)/c = 0.003 (17.4-3.64)/3.64 > y = fy/Es = (60/29000 =0.002) OK.

Estimation of Mn and  Mn:

Taking moments about N.axis,
Mn = 255k (3.64 – 1.25)+105.06k (3.64-1.545)+ 180k (19.5-3.64)+180k (17.4-3.64)= 6161 kip- in.
 -factor depends on the strain in the bottom most layer of tension reinforcement;
From Step 4, s = 0.013 >> 0.005 => Therefore the section is Tension Controlled!!   = 0.9
P a g e | 10 CE433-F2021
______________________________________________________________________________

ACI Capacity = φMn = 0.9 (6161 kip-in) = 5545 kip-in < Mdesign = 5640 kip-in NOT OK!!!!

Increase amount area of steel!!!

Try 4 #9 and 2 # 10 bars in two layers => Asteel, provided = 4 (1.0 in2) + 2 (1.27 in2)
= 6.54 in2 > As = 5.79 in2

Smin = Minimum spacing between bars = max {1 in, db, 4/3 (aggregate size)}
= max {1 in, 1.27 in., 4/3 x (3/4)} = 1.27 in.

Minimum width required: = 2(clear cover) + 2(db)#stirrup+ 2 r + 2 x 0.5 x (db)#9bar+ (db)#10bar + 2 Smin.

= 2 (1.5) +2 (3/8) +2 (0.75) + 2(1.128/2) + 1.27 +2 (1.27) = 10.188 in. > 10 in.(= bw)
 NOT OK

Try 4# 11 bars in two layers => Asteel, provided = 4 (1.56 in2) = 6.24 in2 > As, reqd = 5.79 in2

Smin = Minimum spacing between bars = max {1 in, db, 4/3 (aggregate size)}
= max {1 in, 1.41 in., 4/3 x (3/4)} = 1.41 in.

Minimum width required: = 2(clear cover) + 2 (db)#stirrup+ 2 r + (db)#11bar + Smin.

= 2 (1.5) +2 (3/8) +2 (0.75) + 1.41 + 1.41 = 8.07 in. < 10 in. (= b w)  OK
P a g e | 11 CE433-F2021
______________________________________________________________________________

Step 7: Now Check φMn > Mdesign

As the steel area is increased, from step 6, we can see that the stress block will be in WEB.
Ccf = 0.85 f ′c (be-bw) hf = 0.85(4ksi) (40-10) (2.5) = 255 kips
Ccw= 0.85 f ′c a bw = 0.85(4ksi) (a) (10) = 34 a
Ts1 +Ts2 = As fy = (6.24 in.2) (60 ksi) = 374.4 kips
Now C = T ⇒ Ccf + Ccw = T ⇒ 255 + 34a = 374.4 ⇒ a = 3.51 in.
⇒ c = a/β1 = 3.51 /0.85 = 4.13 in.

Checking the assumption (steel yields)

Now from the strain diagram, εs) bottom = 0.003 (d2-c)/c = 0.003 (19.42 – 4.13)/4.13
= 0.0111 > y = fy/Es = (60/29000 =0.002) OK.

s) top layer = 0.003 (d1-c)/c = 0.003 (17.01 – 4.13)/4.13 = 0.0094 > y = (60/29000 =0.002) OK.

Estimation of Mn and  Mn:

Taking moments about the Ccf, Mn = Ts1 (d1-0.5 hf) +Ts2 (d2-0.5 hf) - Ccw (0.5a-0.5hf)

Ts1= As1 fy = 2 (1.56) (60 ksi) = 187.2 kips;

Ts2= As2 fy = 2 (1.56) (60 ksi) = 187.2 kips;
Ccw = 34 a = 34 (3.51 in.) =119.34 kips
d2 = 19.42 in.; d1 = 17.01 in.
a = 3.51 in.; hf =2.5 in.
Substituting these in above equation, Mn = 6291.43 kip-in.

 factor depends on the strain in the bottom most layer of tension reinforcement;
From above, s = 0.00935 > 0.005 => Therefore the section is Tension Controlled!!   = 0.9

ACI Capacity = Mn = 0.9 (6291.5 kip-in) = 5663 kip-in > Mdesign = 5640 kip-in OK!!!!
P a g e | 12 CE433-F2021
______________________________________________________________________________

Final Design: