AL–NAHRAIN UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

R.C DESIGN
Continuous Beam Design

Prepared by: Abdulaziz Hazem

1
Continuous Beam Design

INTRODUCTION
A beam is generally supported on a hinge at one end and a roller bearing at the
other end (Simply Supported Beam). The reactions are determined by using
static equilibrium equations. Such as beam is a statically determinate structure
(Continuous Beam). If the ends of the beam are restrained /clamped /encastre
/fixed then the moments are included at the ends by these restraints and these
moments make the structural element to be a statically indeterminate structure
or a redundant structure. These restraints make the slopes at the ends zero
and hence in a fixed beam, the deflection and slopes are zero at the supports.

A continuous beam is one having more than one span and it is carried by
several supports (minimum of three supports). The end spans may be cantilever,
may be freely supported or fixed supported. At least one of the supports of a
continuous beam must be able to develop a reaction along the beam axis.

• The advantages of a continuous beam as compared to a simply

supported beam are as follows.
1. For the same span and section, vertical load capacity is more.
2. Mid span deflection is less.
3. The depth at a section can be less than a simply supported beam for the
same span. Else, for the same depth the span can be more than a simply
supported beam.

➢ The continuous beam is economical in material and the most used

in buildings and bridges
2
Continuous Beam Design

Fig. (1) - (a) A three spans Simply Supported Beams and the their diagrams for 10 kN/m load

(b) A three spans Continuous Beams and their diagrams for 10 kN/m load
3
Continuous Beam Design

1- IN (FIG1), CASE(A):
• the load is carried by the case (a) then the reactions of individual beams can be
obtained by equilibrium equations alone, the beam deflects in the respective span
and does not depend on the influence of adjacent spans
.
• Each Beam does not affect the Beam next to it, whether moment values, shear
forces, or even deflection’s
• There is no continuity in the steel rebar. Fig (2) (No structural continuity for multi
span beam). Fig (2)

Fig (2) Steel rebar details

in Simply Supported Beam

2- IN THE CASE (B):

• the equilibrium equations alone would not be sufficient to determine the end
moments. The slope at an interior support B must be same on either side of the
support. The magnitude of the slope can be influenced by not only the load on the
spans either side of it but the entire loads on the span of the continuous beam.

• Each Beam affects the Beam that is adjacent to it by the moment values, shear
forces, and even deflection’s
• And there is continuity in the steel rebar. Fig (3) (structural continuity for multi
span beam is provided)
4
Continuous Beam Design

Fig (3) Steel rebar Details in Continuous Beam

DESIGN
To compute Moment and Shear in Continuous Beam there are many methods
the following are some of theme:
1- Elastic analysis, such as slope deflection, moment distribution, and matrix
method.
2- Plastic analysis

3- Simplified method of analysis for nonprestressed continuous beams and one-

way slabs (ACI moment coefficients).
5
Continuous Beam Design

❖ ACI Moment and Shear Coefficients

ACI (318M-19) 6.5.1 moment and shear coefficients can be used to calculate the
moment and shear envelopes for continues beams that meet the following
criteria:
(a) Members are prismatic
(b) Loads are uniformly distributed
(c) L ≤ 3D
(d) There are at least two spans
(e) The longer of two adjacent spans does not exceed the shorter by more
than 20 percent

• FIG (4) shows (ACI (318M-19) Table 6.5.2—Approximate moments for nonprestressed
continuous beams one-way slabs) in a simpler way:

FIG (4) Approximate ACI Moment Coefficients

6
Continuous Beam Design

- To calculate negative moments, ℓn shall be the average of the adjacent clear

span lengths.

• ACI (318M-19) Table 6.5.4—Approximate shears for nonprestressed

continuous beams and one-way slabs:

❖ Bar Cutoffs And Development length of Flexural Reinforcement

Some of the flexural reinforcement bars can be cutoff where they are no longer
needed to resist tensile forces or where the remaining bars are adequate to do
so. In a continuous beam of constant cross section, if the areas of steel required
at the sections of maximum moment are made continuous throughout each region
of positive or negative moment, the beam will be over-designed at most sections.
It is often desirable to terminate a portion of the steel when the moment
decreases significantly. Reducing the area of reinforcement in regions of low
bending moment in a concrete element lowers the cost of the element.
Furthermore, for heavily reinforced elements, the reduction in a number of
reinforcement bars improves concrete casting and compaction operations.
There must be sufficient extension of each bar, on each side of every critical
moment section to develop the force in that bar at that section.

Tension bars, cutoff in a region of moderate shear force, cause a major stress
concentration which can lead to major inclined cracks at the bar cutoff. Thus, bar
cutoffs should be keptto a minimum, particularly, in zones of tension for ease of
design and fabrication.
7
Continuous Beam Design

EXAMPELS
Ex1: Find the required reinforcement steel at all critical position of the continuous
beam of two spans shown below. The beam support on the columns. The beam
carry service loads. given f’c=25 Mpa , fy=414 Mpa . Use bar 16 mm.

Solution:

Wu= 1.2 x DL + 1.6 x LL = 1.2 x 10 + 1.6 x 26 = 52kN/m

1- Design For Flexure
𝟓𝟐∗𝟔𝟐
Mu Left End -ve = = 117 kN.m
𝟏𝟔

𝟓𝟐∗𝟔𝟐
Mu Mid Span +ve = = 133.7 kN.m
𝟏𝟒

𝟓𝟐∗𝟔𝟐
Mu Right End -ve = = 208 kN.m
𝟗

𝟓𝟐∗𝟔𝟐
Mu Left End Other Spans -ve = = 208 kN.m
𝟗

𝟓𝟐∗𝟔𝟐
Mu Mid Second Span +ve = = 133.7 kN.m
𝟏𝟒

𝟓𝟐∗𝟔𝟐
Mu Right End Second Span +ve = = 117 kN.m
𝟏𝟔
8
Continuous Beam Design

𝟏
−
𝟎.𝟖𝟓∗𝑭𝒄 𝟒∗𝑴𝒖 𝟐
𝒑= ∗ (𝟏 − (𝟏 − ) )
𝑭𝒚 𝟏.𝟕∗ɸ∗𝑭𝒄∗𝒃∗𝒅𝟐

ɸ = 0.9
As = P*b*d
No. of bars = As/A(16)
A(16) = 201 mm²
Location P AS No. of bars
Left End -ve 0.0059 770 3.83=4
Mid Span +ve 0.0068 888 4.42=5
Right End -ve 0.01101 1437 7.15=8
Left End Other Spans -ve 0.01101 1437 3.83=4
Mid Second Span +ve 0.0068 888 4.42=5
Right End Second Span +ve 0.0059 770 7.15=8

2- Design for Shear

1- Vu For All except First interior support = Wu*L/2 = 156 kN
Vu at Distance D = Vu – Wu*D = 134
9
Continuous Beam Design

2- Vu For First interior support = 1.15 Wu*L/2 = 180 kN

Vu at Distance D = Vu – Wu*D = 157.4

𝑭𝒄−𝟏 /𝟐
ɸVc (1) = 0.75 * *b*d = 70 kN
𝟔∗𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎
𝑭𝒄−𝟏 /𝟐
ɸVc (2) = 0.75 * *b*d = 101.2 kN
𝟔∗𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎

𝟏𝟑𝟒−𝟖𝟏.𝟓 𝟏𝟓𝟕.𝟒−𝟖𝟏.𝟓
Vs (1) = = 70 kN , Vs (2) = = 102 kN
𝟎.𝟕𝟓 𝟎.𝟕𝟓

= 435 So ok

Use ∅10:

Av = 2* 𝞹/4 *10² = 157 mm²

= 401 mm, Maximum S =217.5 mm

1

= 277.2 mm, Maximum S =217.5 mm

2

➢ USE ɸ 10 at 20 cm for all

10
Continuous Beam Design

Computer Solution
1- Check if ACI method Can be Application

2- Inter Data

3- The design is Done.

11
Continuous Beam Design

References:

1- Building code requirements for structural concrete (ACI 318M-19)

and commentary

2- CSI SAP2000–V20

3- Basic Structural Analysis, 3ed (Kindle Edition) by K.U. Muthu, Azmi

Ibrahim, M. Vijayanand, Maganti Janardhana

4- “Design of Reinforced Concrete” Dr. Munther

5- Microsoft excel in computer solution