Ambo University

Hachalu Hundessa Campus

School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Department of Civil Engineering
Reinforced Concrete Structures-I (CEng 3121)

Prepared by: Asfaw B. (MSc. in structural engineering)

Contact address: Email: [email protected]
Phone: +251939475305

Telegram: @AsfawBelay

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 RC-I
Highlights for Exit

05/12/2024
Exam
Compiled by: Asfaw B. (MSc.) 2
 Objectives / Contents

➢ Understanding Mechanical Properties of concrete and

reinforcing steel
➢Applying Design Philosophy
➢Developing analysis and design of beam for flexure and shear
➢Developing analysis and design of slabs for flexure and shear
➢Apply Ethiopian Building Code Standards for design of RC
members.
➢Questions

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Understanding Mechanical Properties of concrete and reinforcing
steel
➢ Concrete may be defined as any solid mass made by the use of a
cementing medium; the ingredients generally comprise cement,
sand, aggregate, water and admixtures if necessary.
➢Concrete is strong in compression, but weak in tension.

➢As a result, cracks develop whenever loads, restrained shrinkage, or

temperature changes give rise to tensile stresses in excess of the tensile

strength of the concrete.

➢ Plain Concrete is concrete without steel bars embedded in it.

➢ Reinforced Concrete is concrete with steel bars embedded in it.

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 Cont’d
Properties Concrete Steel

Strength in Tension Poor Good

Strength in Good Good, but slender bars will buckle

Compression
Strength in Shear Fair Good

Durability Good Corrodes if unprotected

Fire resistance Good Poor, suffers rapid loss of strength
at high temperature
➢ In a reinforced concrete beam, reinforcing bars are embedded in the

concrete in such a way that the tension forces needed for moment

equilibrium after the concrete cracks can be developed in the bars.

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 Cont’d

What are the advantages of the steel bar embedded in RC?

➢ Compensate for the concrete’s incapacity for tensile resistance, effectively
taking up all the tension, without separating from the concrete
➢ The bond between steel and the surrounding concrete ensures strain
compatibility, i.e., the strain at any point in the steel is equal to that in the
adjoining concrete.
➢ The reinforcing steel imparts ductility to a material that is otherwise
brittle.
How do tensile stresses occur?
Directly by direct tension or flexural tension.
Indirectly by Shear, Temperature and shrinkage effects.
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 Cont’d

Advantages Disadvantages

➢ Fire resistant. ➢ Low tensile strength

➢ Rigidity. ➢ Low ductility(toughness)

➢ Low maintenance cost. Makes it ➢ Volume instability

Economical
➢ Availability of materials. ➢ Low specific strength

➢ Ability to be casted in to variety of ➢ Form work is needed

shapes ➢ Long curing time
➢ Durable ➢ cracks
➢ On-site fabrication

➢ Ambient temperature hardened

material

➢ Ability to work with reinforcing steel

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 Cont’d

BEHAVIOR OF CONCRETE UNDER COMPRESSION

Compressive strength of concrete

• Concrete strength is the uniaxial compressive strength as measured by a standard

compression test cylinder which is used to monitor the concrete strength for quality
control or acceptance purposes.
• For convenience, other strength parameters, such as tensile or bond strength, are
expressed relative to the compressive strength.

Factors Affecting Concrete Compressive strength

✓ Water/Cement ratio ✓ Moisture conditions during curing.

✓ Type of cement ✓ Temperature conditions during curing
✓ Aggregate ✓ Age of concrete
✓ Mixing water ✓ Rate of loading

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 Cont’d
BEHAVIOR OF CONCRETE UNDER COMPRESSION

Stress-Strain Curves
• The curves are somewhat linear in
the very initial phase of loading;
• The non-linearity begins to gain
significance when the stress level
exceeds about 30% to 50% of the
maximum.
• The maximum stress is
reached at a strain
approximately equal to
0.002; beyond this point, an
increase in strain is
accompanied by a decrease in
stress.
• For the usual range of concrete
strengths, the strain at failure is in
the range of 0.003 to 0.005.
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 Cont’d
BEHAVIOR OF CONCRETE UNDER TENSION
• Tensile stresses develop in concrete members as a result of flexure, shrinkage and
temperature changes.
• Cracking in concrete is a result of the tensile strength (or limiting tensile strain) being
exceeded.
• Flexural tensile strength of concrete is necessary for estimation of the ‘moment at
first crack’, required for the computation of deflections and crack widths in flexural
members.
• concrete is very weak in tension, the direct tensile strength being only about 7 to 15
percent of the compressive strength.
• It is difficult to perform a direct tension test on a concrete specimen. Hence, indirect
tension tests are resorted to, usually the cylinder splitting test or the flexure test.

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 Cont’d
BEHAVIOR OF CONCRETE UNDER TENSION

1. Cylinder Splitting test

• The cylinder splitting test is the
easiest to perform and gives more
uniform results compared to other
tension tests.
• In this test, a ‘standard’ plain
concrete cylinder is loaded in
compression on its side along a
diametric plane.
fsp = 2P/𝜋 Ld
• Failure occurs by the splitting of
the cylinder along the loadedCompiled
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plane.by: Asfaw B. (MSc.) 11
 Cont’d
BEHAVIOR OF CONCRETE UNDER TENSION
2.Flexural test

▪ The flexural tensile strength or the modulus of rupture is

determined by loading a prismatic concrete beam specimen
in flexure at third point of a span, until it fails due to
cracking on the tensile face.

▪ The flexural tensile strength (modulus of rupture) fr from

this test is calculated from (fr = M/z), as

fr = 6M /bh^2 or fr = pL /bh^2

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 Cont’d
BEHAVIOR OF CONCRETE UNDER TENSION
2.Flexural test

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 Cont’d
BEHAVIOR OF CONCRETE UNDER TENSION
2.Flexural test

P/2 P/2

M=Pl/6
bd3
I=
12
d
c

b
(Pl/6) (d/2) Pl
σ = = 2 B. (MSc.)
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bd3/12 bdAsfaw
Compiled by: 14
 Cont’d
BEHAVIOR OF CONCRETE UNDER TENSION

Stress-Strain Curves

• Concrete has a low failure strain in uniaxial tension. It is found to be in

the range of 0.0001 to 0.0002.
• The modulus of elasticity in tension is taken to be the same as that in
compression.
• As the tensile strength of concrete is very low, and often ignored in
design, the tensile stress-strain relation is of little practical value.

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 Cont’d
BEHAVIOR OF REINFORCING STEEL

Stress-Strain Curve

• The stress-strain curve of

reinforcing steel is obtained by
performing a standard tension
test.
• For all grades, there is an
initial linear elastic portion
with constant slope, which
gives a modulus of elasticity
that is practically the same
for all grades.
• The Code specifies that the value
of Es to be considered in design is
2 ×105 Mpa or 200 GPa.

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 Stress‐Strain relations for the design of cross‐sections
• For the design of cross‐sections, the following stress‐strain relationship may be used.

1. Parabolic‐ Rectangular

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 Cont’d
2. Bi – Linear stress‐strain relation

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 Cont’d
3. Rectangular stress‐strain relation

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 Cont’d

Reinforcing steel

Stress‐Strain relations for the design of cross‐sections

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 Purpose of codes

➢ The codes serve at least four distinct functions:

✓ ensure adequate structural safety, by specifying certain essential

minimum requirements for design.

✓ render the task of the designer relatively simple; often, the results of
sophisticated analyses are made available in the form of a simple
formula or chart.

✓ ensure a measure of consistency among different designers.

✓ have some legal validity, in that they protect the structural designer
from any liability due to structural failures that are caused by
inadequate supervision and/or faulty material and construction.

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 APPLYING DESIGN PHILOSOPHIES

➢ Design philosophy is a set of assumptions and procedures which are

used to meet the conditions of serviceability, safety, economy and
functionality of structures.
Some of them are:
• The earliest codified design philosophy
• based on linear elastic theory,
1. Working stress • Factor of safety is applied to materials only.
method (WSM) • Fails to discriminate between different types of loads
• The stress in steel is linearly related to that in the
adjoining concrete [by Modular ratio].
• The design usually results in relatively large sections
which satisfy the serviceability requirement but
uneconomical.
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 Cont’d

• The non-linear stress−strain curves of concrete

and steel are used.
2. Ultimate load
• Factor of safety is applied to loads only.
method (ULM)
• This method generally results in more slender
sections, and often more economical designs

▪ However, the satisfactory ‘strength’ performance at ultimate loads does

not guarantee satisfactory ‘serviceability’ performance at the normal
service loads.
▪ The designs sometimes result in excessive deflections and crack-widths
under service loads
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 Cont’d

• Aims for a comprehensive and rational

3. Limit states solution to the design problem, by
method (LSM) considering safety at ultimate loads and
serviceability at working loads.
• Factor of safety is applied to both material
and load.
▪ The LSM philosophy uses a multiple safety factor format which
attempts to provide adequate safety at ultimate loads as well as
adequate serviceability at service loads, by considering all possible
‘limit states’

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 LIMIT STATES METHOD (LSM)
LSM

Ultimate limit states Serviceability limit states Special limit states

• involve a structural • involve disruption of the • involves damage or
collapse of part or all of functional use of the failure due to abnormal
the structure. Such a limit structure, but not collapse conditions or abnormal
state should have a very Because there is less loadings and includes:
low probability of danger of loss of life, a a) Damage or collapse in
occurrence, because it may higher probability of extreme earthquakes
lead to loss of life and occurrence can generally b) Structural effects of fire,
major financial losses. be tolerated than in the explosions, or vehicular
It includes: case of an ultimate limit collisions
a) Loss of equilibrium state. It includes: c) Structural effect of
b) Rupture corrosion or deterioration
c) Progressive collapse a) Excessive deflections d) Long – term physical or
d) Formation of a plastic b) Excessive crack widths chemical instability
mechanism
e) Instability c) Undesirable vibrations
f) Fatigue
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 Developing analysis and design of beam for flexure and shear

Analysis vs Design

Analysis: is the process of computing and determining the effects of loads

and internal forces on the structure. Given a cross section, concrete
strength, reinforcement size and location, and yield strength, compute
the resistance or capacity. In analysis there should be one unique
answer.
Design: is the process of deciding dimensions and reinforcements of
structural members with detailed drawings based on analysis findings.
Given a factored design moment, select a suitable cross section,
including dimensions, concrete strength, reinforcement, and so on. In
design there are many possible solutions.
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 Cont’d
▪ A beam is a structural member that supports applied loads and its
own weight primarily by internal moments and shears.

▪ The conventional elastic beam

theory results in the equation
σ = My/I which, for an
uncracked, homogeneous
rectangular beam without
reinforcement, gives the
distribution of stresses shown
in the figure.

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 Cont’d

✓ The elastic beam theory is not used in the design of reinforced concrete
beams, because the compressive stress-strain relationship for concrete
becomes nonlinear at higher strain values
✓ The theory of bending for RC assumes that the concrete will crack in
the regions of tensile strains and that, after cracking, all the tension is
carried by the reinforcement.
✓ It is also assumed that plane sections of a structural member remain
plane after straining, so that across the section there must be a linear
distribution of strains.

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 Cont’d
1 2 3

1. The triangular stress distribution applies when the stresses are very nearly
proportional to the strains, which generally occurs at the loading levels
encountered under working conditions and is, therefore, used at the
serviceability limit state.
2. The parabolic-rectangular stress block represents the distribution at failure
when the compressive strains are within the plastic range, and it is associated
with the design for the ultimate limit state.
3. The equivalent rectangular stress block is a simplified alternative to the
parabolic-rectangular
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 Cont’d

BASIC ASSUMPTIONS FOR FLEXURE AT THE ULS

✓ Sections perpendicular to the axis of bending that are plane before

bending remain plane after bending.

✓ The strain in the reinforcement is equal to the strain in the concrete at

the same level.

✓ The stresses in the concrete and reinforcement can be computed from the
strains by using stress-strain curves for concrete and steel.

✓ The tensile strength of the concrete is ignored.

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 Cont’d
The possible range of strain distributions given in EN 1992-1-1-2004 is:

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 Cont’d
The possible range of strain distributions given in EN 1992-1-1-2004 is:

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 Cont’d

LIMITING COMPRESSIVE STRAINS AT ULS

▪ For concrete strengths not exceeding Fck of 50MPa, the Eurocode

adopts values of 0.0035 for flexure and 0.002 for axial compression .
▪ For combined bending and axial load where the neutral axis remains
within the section, the limit is between 0.0035 and 0.002.

TYPES OF FLEXURAL FAILURES

There are 3 types of flexural failures of RC sections:
✓ Tension failure…………….. (Under reinforced section)
✓ Compression failure………. (Over reinforced section) and
✓ Balanced failure…………… (Balanced reinforced section)

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 Tension failure
✓ the steel will reach fyd before the concrete
reaches its maximum strain, εcu (0.0035 or 3.5‰
✓ .the depth of the N.A decreases from balanced,
which results in the increment of the lever arm z.
✓ Is more ductile.

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 Compression failure

✓ the concrete reach its capacity before steel yields.

✓ the depth of the N.A increases

✓ The section fails suddenly in a brittle fashion.

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 Balanced failure
✓ both concrete and steel reach their capacity at the same time.

✓ Steel reaches fyd and concrete reaches εcu (0.0035 or 3.5‰)

simultaneously

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 ANALYSIS OF BEAMS FOR FLEXURAL RESISTANCE AT ULS
Two requirements are satisfied throughout the flexural analysis and design
of reinforced concrete beams and columns:

1. Stress and strain compatibility: The stress at any point in a member

must correspond to the strain at that point.

2.Equilibrium: Internal forces must balance the external load effects.

ANALYSIS OF SINGLY REINFORCED BEAM SECTIONS

The general procedure of analysis of singly reinforced concrete beams for

its flexural resistance according to EN 1992-1-1-2004 is as follows.

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 Cont’d

Step 1: Assume the type of failure.

✓ Tension Failure
-Rupture of steel εs=25‰
-The strain in the steel exceeded the yield strain and the most compressed
concrete has reached the crushing strain. εcm=3.5‰ and εs > εyd.

✓ Compression Failure
-Assume εcm=3.5‰ and εs < εyd.

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 Cont’d

Step 2: Draw the strain profile corresponding to the type of failure and use
the similarity of triangles to develop a relationship between the unknown
strain and the neutral axis.

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 Cont’d

Step 3: Take any of the three possible stress-strain relationships for

concrete described in chapter 1 to define the stress block

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 Cont’d

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 Cont’d

Step 4:Apply condition of equilibrium to the given stress block and

conditions of compatibility to the strain profile to estimate the neutral axis
depth.

Step 5: Calculate the unknown strain and check if the assumed type of
failure is correct.

Step 6: If the assumption is correct, apply the moment equilibrium to the

stress block and estimate the moment capacity.

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 Cont’d
2. Using bi-linear stress-strain r/ship
1. Using parabolic rectangular stress block

3. Using simplified stress block

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 ANALYSIS OF DOUBLY REINFORCED BEAM SECTIONS

✓ Beam sections designed to have both tension reinforcement and

compression reinforcement are referred to as doubly reinforced
sections.

Compression reinforcement is provided to:

✓ Reduce sustained-load deflections

✓ Increase ductility
✓ Change of mode of failure from compression to tension.
✓ Fabrication ease.

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 ANALYSIS OF FLANGED SECTIONS

Spandrel beam with Interior beam with

flange on one side flange on two sides

The slab serves as the top flange of the beams.

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 Cont’d

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 Effective flange width
According to EN 1992-1-1-2004, in T-beams the effective flange
width depends on:
✓ web and flange dimensions,
✓ type of loading,
✓ support conditions and
✓ the transverse reinforcement.
The effective width of flange should be based on the distance
“l0” between points of zero moment.

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 Cont’d
Effective flange width parameters

The effective flange width beff for a T-beam or L-beam is:

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Procedure of analysis of flanged beam for flexure
1. Flanged beam subjected to –ve moment
For a flanged beam with a negative moment, the compression zone will be
the bottom rectangular part of the web, thus following the procedures for
analysis of rectangular sections (taking bw) will be appropriate.

2. Flanged beam subjected to +ve moment

If a flanged beam is subjected to positive moment, the neutral axis might
remain within the flange of the beam or it might be in the web of the beam.
✓ If neutral axis remains in the flange, the section may be treated as a
rectangular (taking beff) section.
✓ If the neutral axis is in the web of the beam, a different approach for
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analysis Compiled
is necessary as shown onby:next
Asfaw B. (MSc.)
slide. 49
 Cont’d
✓ Divide the section into two parts: Beam W and Beam F to simplify the
design process.

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 DESIGN OF BEAMS FOR FLEXURE AT ULS
Singly reinforced design

sd ,lim for concrete grade of C12/15-C50/60 with 0%, 10% and
20% moment redistribution is 0.295, 0.252 and 0.205
respectively.
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 DESIGN OF BEAMS FOR FLEXURE AT ULS
Doubly reinforced design

sd ,lim for concrete grade of C12/15-C50/60 with 0%, 10% and
20% moment redistribution is 0.295, 0.252 and 0.205
respectively.
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ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF ONE-WAY SLAB SYSTEM

✓ Slabs are surface plane elements that bear loads

transverse to their plane.
✓ Most of the times, slabs are statically indeterminate
elements that consequently redistribute the stresses
applied to them.
✓ This ability makes them highly secure against bending
and shear failure.

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1. One-way slabs: They are 2. Two-way slabs: 3. Cantilever
those either supported on They are those slabs: They are
the two out of four opposite supported on all four those with a
sides or the longer span to sides and the longer fixed support on
short span ratio is at least span to short span only one out of
equal to 2. ratio is less than 2 four sides
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 One-way slab supported by two beams

In the design and analysis of one

way slab systems a 1m strip of
slab along the load transfer
direction is considered.

Addis Ababa institute of Technology April 21, 2016

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For one-way slab sections with under both a
negative and positive bending moment follows the
procedures of rectangular sections. The only
exception is that the width of the slab
considered is 1m as previously pointed out.

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Reinforcement Detail
1. Primary reinforcement: In a
one-way slab the need for
reinforcement appears mainly
in the span and towards the
bending direction. The
necessary bars are placed
based on the amount of the
calculated required
reinforcement..
2. Secondary reinforcement or
distribution reinforcement:
Are provided in the other,
secondary direction.
3. Free edge reinforcement: The
free edges of slabs are more
susceptible to stresses and
therefore, in these areas
hairpin reinforcement is
Addis Ababa institute of Technology placed. Its proper position is
April 21, 2016
secured by means of two bars
placed inside its corners.
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 Cont’d
▪ Secondary transverse reinforcement of not less than 20% of the principal
reinforcement should be provided in one-way slabs
▪ In areas near supports transverse reinforcement to principal top bars is
not necessary where there is no transverse bending moment in one-way
slabs
▪ Ribbed slabs are more economical than solid slabs for long spans with
relatively light loads
▪ Two principal methods of construction are:
1. Ribbed slabs without permanent blocks,
2. Ribbed slabs with permanent hollow or solid blocks

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 Cont’d

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 Cont’d
✓ When loaded, two-way slabs bend into a dished surface rather than a
cylindrical one/two-way action
✓ The slab must be reinforced in both directions, by at least two layers of bars
perpendicular, respectively, to two pairs of edges
✓ In some cases, the bending moments at a common support, obtained by
considering the two adjacent panels in isolation, may differ significantly
(say by 10%), because of the differing edge condition at the far supports or
differing span lengths or loading
✓ For curtailment of reinforcement, the point of contra flexure may be
obtained by assuming a parabolic distribution of moments in each panel

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The ULS Design of Beams for Shear
▪ The ULS of shear is characterized by either diagonal compression failure
of concrete or failure of the web reinforcement due to diagonal tension.

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DESIGN OF BEAMS FOR SHEAR ACCORDING TO EN 1992-1-1-2004

For the verification of the shear resistance the following symbols are defined:
✓ VRd ,c is the design shear resistance of the member without shear reinforcement
✓ VRd ,s is the design value of the shear force which can be sustained by the yielding
shear reinforcement
✓ VRd ,max is the design value of the maximum shear force which can be sustained by
the member, limited by crushing of the compression struts.
✓ VEd is the design shear force in the section considered resulting from the
external loading at d-distance.
❖ In regions of the member where VEd  VRd ,c , no calculated shear reinforcement is
necessary. When, on the basis of the design shear calculation, no shear
reinforcement is required, minimum shear reinforcement should nevertheless be
provided. The minimum shear reinforcement may be omitted in members such as
slabs where transverse redistribution of loads is possible.
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 Cont’d

Asw
w = s * b 𝜶=90 degree for vertical stirrups
w *sin 

w,min = 0.08f f ck

yk

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 Cont’d

The maximum longitudinal spacing between shear assemblies should not exceed sl ,max .

sl ,max = 0.75d (1 + cot  )

𝜶=90 degree for vertical stirrups
cot𝜶=0

In regions of the member where VEd  VRd ,c , sufficient shear reinforcement

should be provided in order that VEd  VRd .

For members with vertical shear reinforcement, the shear resistance

is:

VRd ,s = Asw * z * f ywd *cot 

s
V =  c * bw * z * v * f cd
(cot  + tan  )
Rd ,max
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 Cont’d

z=0.9d

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 Cont’d

Asw,max f ywd 1
 * c * v * f cd
bw * s 2
PROCEDURES OF DESIGN FOR SHEAR
Step 1. Calculate the reactions and draw SFD.
Step 2. Calculate VEd (Shear at d-distance from face of support).

Step 3. Calculate VRd,c by using the following formula and

compare it with VEd.
 1

[CRd ,c k (100 l f ck ) + k1 cp ]bw d 
3

VRd ,c = max ...........or 

 
[vmin + k1 cp ]bw d ...................... 
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 Cont’d

0.18
CRd ,c =
Where:
c k1 = 0.15
200
k = 1+ 2 N Ed
d  cp =  0.2 f cd
Ac
Asl 3 1
l =  0.02 vmin = 0.035k f ck 2 2
bw d

f ck .....in...MPa

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 Cont’d
Asl is the area of the tensile reinforcement, which extends ≥ (lbd+ d) beyond
the section considered

bw is the smallest width of the cross-section in the tensile area [mm]

NEd is the axial force in the cross-section due to loading or prestressing [in N] (NEd > 0 for
compression). The influence of imposed deformations on may be ignored.

Ac is the area of concrete cross section [mm2]

Fig. Definition of Asl

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 Cont’d
If VEd ≤ VRd,c no need to calculate shear reinforcement [just, provide minimum shear
reinforcement].

If VEd > VRd,c proceed to the following steps and calculate shear reinforcement.

Step 4. Determine, VRd,max assuming 𝜭=22o ,cot𝜭=cot22=2.5

VRd ,max =
 cwbw zvf cd

cot  + tan 
If the design stress of the shear reinforcement is below 80% of the characteristic yield stress
fyk , v1 may be taken as:
0.6........................... for.. f ck  60MPa 
 
v= f ck 
 0.9 − 200  0.5....... for.. f ck  60MPa 
𝜶cw =1 for non-prestressed structures.
05/12/2024 Compiled by: Asfaw B. (MSc.) 69
z=0.9d
 Cont’d

If VRd,max @ 𝜽=22° > VEd assumption is OK and calculate shear reinforcement by using:

𝐴𝑠𝑤 𝑉𝐸𝑑
=
𝑠 𝑧𝑓𝑦𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑡𝜃

If VRd,max @ 𝜽=22° < VEd assumption is NOT OK and try assuming 𝜭=45o ,cot𝜭=cot45=1.
If VRd,max @ 𝜽=45° < VEd assumption is NOT OK and RESIZE the section.

If VRd,max @ 𝜽=45° > VEd assumption is OK and calculate the angle,𝜽 by using:

 2VEd 
 −1
= 0.5sin   22    45
o o

 c bw zvf cd 

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 Cont’d

Step 5. Design shear links check maximum spacing

Asw  V 
= Ed 
s  zf ywd cot  
 

Step 6. Minimum shear links and check maximum spacing

Asw = 0.08bw f ck
s f yk

smax = 0.75d (1 + cot  )

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 Cont’d

Step 7. Shear resistance of minimum links

 Asw 
Vmin = 0.78 f yk d cot   
 s 

Step 8: Determine location of Vmin

Step 9: Detail

05/12/2024 Compiled by: Asfaw B. (MSc.) 72

DESIGN OF BEAMS FOR FLEXURE AT ULS
Concrete cover
The concrete cover is the distance between the surface of the
reinforcement closest to the nearest concrete surface and the
nearest concrete surface.
It is necessary to have cover for the following reasons:
✓ To bond the reinforcement to the concrete so that the two
elements act together.
✓ To protect the reinforcement against corrosion.
✓ To protect the reinforcement from strength loss due to
overheating
05/12/2024 in the case of fire.
Compiled by: Asfaw B. (MSc.) 73
 Cont’d
Concrete cover according to EN 1992-1-1 and EN 1992-1-2

is minimum cover

is an allowance in design for deviation

05/12/2024 Compiled by: Asfaw B. (MSc.) 74

 Cont’d
Concrete cover according to EN 1992-1-1 and EN 1992-1-2

1. Minimum cover for bond, min,b c

✓ The minimum cover to ensure adequate bond should not be less than the bar diameter.

✓ If the aggregate size is over 32 mm, cmin,b should be increased by 5mm.

2. Minimum cover for durability Cmin,dur

✓ The value of Cmin,dur depends on the “structural class”, which has to be determined first.
✓ If the specified service life is 50 years, the structural class is defined as 4.

3. Minimum cover for fire resistance

✓Most
05/12/2024 1st twoby:dominates.
of the time the Compiled Asfaw B. (MSc.) 75
MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM AREA OF REINFORCEMENT
Minimum and Maximum area of reinforcement according to EN 1992-1-1-2004

✓ The area of longitudinal tension reinforcement should not be taken as less

than As,min.

Spacing of bars according to EN 1992-1-1-2004

✓ The clear distance (horizontal and vertical) between individual parallel bars or horizontal
layers of parallel bars should be not less than:

The recommended values of

k1 and k2 are 1 and 5mm
respectively.
05/12/2024 Compiled by: Asfaw B. (MSc.) 76
05/12/2024 Compiled by: Asfaw B. (MSc.) 77
 Choose the best answer from the given alternatives.
1. Which one of the following is TRUE about the difference between plain
concrete and reinforced concrete?
A) Reinforced concrete is a homogeneous material and plain concrete is a
composite material.
B) Plain concrete contains no rebars while RC contains at least minimum area
of rebar.
C)Comparing to RC, plain concrete has better strength in compression.
D)Plain concrete has a constant density while RC has a varying density.

2. One of the following is NOT among the advantages of concrete over steel.
A)Fire resistance C) Strength in tension and shear
B) Economical D) Durability under hostile environment
05/12/2024 Compiled by: Asfaw B. (MSc.) 78
 Choose the best answer from the given alternatives.
3. Strain compatibility of RC members is described as:
A)The strain at any point in in the steel is inversely proportional to that in the
adjoining concrete
B)The strain at any point in in the steel is greater than that in the adjoining
concrete
C)The strain at any point in in the steel is less than that in the adjoining concrete
D)The strain at any point in in the steel is equal to that in the adjoining concrete

4.Which one of the following is not true about the stress-strain curve of concrete
A)The higher the concrete grade the larger the peak value of the curve
B)The higher the concrete grade the steeper is the initial portion of the curve
C)The lower the concrete grade the sharper the peak of the curve
05/12/2024 Compiled by: Asfaw B. (MSc.) 79
D)The lower the concrete grade, the higher the failure strain
 Choose the best answer from the given alternatives.
5. What is the expected maximum area of flexural reinforcement for a
300mmx500mm beam in non-overlapping region?
A. 6,000mm2 B. 12,000mm2 C. 39,000mm2 D. 60,000mm2

6. Which one of the following is true about the design philosophies?

A)WSM considers the degrees of uncertainty of different load types on structural
members
B)Design in accordance with WSM results in relatively larger sections
C)The non-linear part of the stress-strain curves of concrete and steel is used in
WSM
D) ULM uses multiple format factor of safety to consider ultimate load and
service load
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 Choose the best answer from the given alternatives.
7. Choose the correct combination of the limit state with its corresponding
structural effect
A)ULS: rupture, fatigue, instability
B)SLS: fatigue, excessive deflection, instability
C)ULS : loss of equilibrium, progressive collapse, excessive crack
D) Special Limit State: undesirable vibration, explosion, fire

8. One of the following is not among the key parameters to increase the capacity
of concrete?
A)Increasing the span length C) Increasing effective depth
B)Increasing concrete and steel grades D) Controlled increment of area of steel

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 Choose the best answer from the given alternatives.
9. One of the following is not considered as a basic assumption for flexural design
at ULS
A)Plane section remains plane after bending
B)The strain in reinforcement is equal to the strain in the concrete at the same level
C)The tensile strength of concrete is ignored
D)Since concrete is good in compression, no need of reinforcement in the
compression zone

10. Which one of the following strain profiles indicates section with zero strain at
the least compressed face?

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 Choose the best answer from the given alternatives.
11. One of the following is not true about the neutral axis depth and flexural
failure types in rectangular RC sections.
A) Compression failure results in larger neutral axis depth
B) Under tension failure, the neutral axis depth decreases
C) The lever arm is independent of the failure type
D) All of the above.

12. As an Engineer, which failure type is preferred to apply during the design of
RC beam for flexure?
A)Tension failure C) Balanced
B)Compression failure D) A and C

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 Choose the best answer from the given alternatives.
13. Choose the correct expression about the width of a flanged RC beam (T-beam)
to be considered in analysis and/or design.
A)For a T-beam subjected to negative moment, take the web width (bw)
B)For a T-beam subjected to positive moment, we always take the flange width
C)If a T-beam subjected to negative moment, the neutral axis might be in the
flange or in the web, and the width in calculation depends on the location of the
neutral axis
D)The width used for analysis and/or design is the average of the bw and beff
14. One of the following is not the use of concrete cover
A)Protect the reinforcement against corrosion D)None
B)To protect the reinforcement against overheating in case of the fire
C)To provide additional tension strength at the most stressed end fiber
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 Choose the best answer from the given alternatives.
15. Why do we need doubly reinforced RC beams?
A)When increasing depth is restricted
B)To make compression failure ductile
C)To reduce long-term deflections
D)All

16. Diagonal tension in concrete is the result of

A)Flexure C) Temperature and shrinkage
B) Direct tension D) Shear

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 Choose the best answer from the given alternatives.
17. Considering rectangular stress block of a rectangular RC section, which one
of the following is the correct expression for the neutral axis depth?

18. For a rectangular RC beam section, the maximum shear stress occurs at
A)The top fiber C) one third of the depth from bottom
B)The bottom fiber D) Mid-height

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 Choose the best answer from the given alternatives.
19. Shear cracks
A) are characterized by their diagonal nature
B) are characterized by their vertical nature
C) occur at the point of maximum bending moment
D) are results of compression stress
20. One of the following is not correct regarding the factors affecting the shear
strength of beams without stirrups
A)The concrete tensile strength affects the shear strength
B)Longitudinal reinforcement is provided for the flexural capacity and doesn’t
affect the shear capacity
C)The shear span to depth ration (a/d) affects the shear capacity
D)Larger aggregates increase the shear strength
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 Choose the best answer from the given alternatives.
21. Horizontal cracks occur in RC beams
A)When bond failure between concrete and flexural reinforcement occurs
B)When bond failure between concrete and shear reinforcement occurs
C)When maximum shear force and maximum bending moment occurs at the
support
D)All

22. One of the following is not true about slabs

A)One-way slabs theoretically require supports in one direction only
B)Secondary reinforcements are not necessary in one-way slabs
C)Ribbed slabs are one-way by default
D) The support condition of two-way slabs affects the design calculations
05/12/2024 Compiled by: Asfaw B. (MSc.) 88
 Choose the best answer from the given alternatives.
23. Assume yourself as structural designer, to achieve safe and economic concrete
structures, which design philosophy you are going to use for designing of the
structural members?
A) Working Stress Design philosophy (WSD)
B) Ultimate Strength Design philosophy (USD)
C) Limit State Design philosophy (LSD)
D) All
24. What is the flexural capacity of the following beam section? Use C25/30
concrete and steel S-400MPa.

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 Choose the best answer from the given alternatives.
A) 85.4kNm C) 105.5kNm
B) 95.5kNm D) None

25. What is the depth of neutral axis for question 24 above?

A) 115.64mm C) 105.5mm
B) 110.62mm D) None

26. What is the type of failure for question 24 above?

A) Tension failure C) Balanced failure
B) Compression failure D) None

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 Choose the best answer from the given alternatives.
27. Given two reinforced concrete section A and B with the same section;
concrete and steel strengths. If steel bar is provided only in tension zone and
section A is provided with larger amount than section B,
A. A is stronger and more ductile than B
B. A is stronger but less ductile than B
C. B is stronger and more ductile than A
D. Both A and B have the same strength and ductility
28. In reinforced concrete section
A. Steel bar is provided only in tension zone
B. Steel bar is never provided in compression zone
C. Steel bar can be placed both in tension and compression zone
D. None of these
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 Choose the best answer from the given alternatives.
29. An under-reinforced section means:
A. Steel is provided at the underside only C. Concrete will crush first
B. Steel provided is insufficient D. Steel will yield first

30. Which of the following statement is correct?

A. Negative bar is provided at the support on the tension side.
B. Negative bar is provided at the support on the compression side.
C. Negative bar is provided in the span on the tension side.
D. Negative bar is provided in the span on the compression side.

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 Answers

1.B 2.C 3.D 4.C 5.A 6.B

7.A 8.A 9.D 10.B 11.C 12.A
13.A 14.C 15.D 16.D 17.D 18.D
19.A 20.B 21.A 22.B 23.C 24.A
25.A 26.A 27.B 28.C 29.D 30.A

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05/12/2024 Compiled by: Asfaw B. (MSc.) 94