Downstand Beams, Ribs, T-Beams: Specifics in Design

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Figure 01 - Effective Flange Width Parameters ([1], Figure 5.3)

Figure 02 - Window 1.4 Ribs in RF-CONCRETE Members: Adjusting Effective Widths

Figure 03 - RF-CONCRETE Surfaces: Considering Integration Width for Surface Design

Figure 04 - Window 1.6 of RF-CONCRETE Members: Settings of Relevant Internal Forces for Concrete Design

Technical Article

001444 30 May 2017 Technical Article Adrian Langhammer Add-on Modules RFEM RF-CONCRETE Concrete Structures Eurocode 2

In the case of combined FEM structures (surface and member elements) as well as folded plate structures, it is possible to attribute a beam structure for the design on a member to a fictitious T-beam cross-section, whose geometry depends on the effective width. When using the 'Rib' member type in RFEM, the stiffness is represented by a slab component (surface element) and a web component (member element). This approach has some design specifics, which are explained in this article.

Effective Width

In the case of bending stress and a compression zone on a slab side, it is assumed that the slab participates in the load bearing effect. The effective width is a geometric size, which can be used for the application of approximately constant, maximum concrete compression stress.

The rib defined in RFEM is transferred to the RF-CONCRETE Members add-on module in such a way that b_eff,_i = b_i is set.

Figure 01 - Effective Flange Width Parameters ([1], Figure 5.3)

If b_eff,i does not correspond with b_i, a user-defined adjustment is possible. Generally, the effective width b_eff,i is a size that is not determined automatically in the program and thus has to be specified by the user. The effective widths can be adjusted in Window 1.4 of RF-CONCRETE Members after selecting the check box 'Show rib effective widths for determination of internal forces’ (see Figure 2).

Figure 02 - Window 1.4 Ribs in RF-CONCRETE Members: Adjusting Effective Widths

Both the integration width and the effective width can only be constant in RFEM for each member. This corresponds to the requirements of EN 1992-1-1 provided in Section 5.3.2.1 (4). If a special accuracy is required for the determination of internal forces, it would be necessary to split the downstand beam into individual members, depending on the different areas of the effective widths.

If the rib is designed in RF-CONCRETE Members, and the structure is to be designed additionally in RF-CONCRETE Surfaces, the internal forces considered in the member design by using the integration widths can be neglected in the surface design. The respective setting can be done in Details of the RF-CONCRETE Surfaces module (see Figure 3).

Figure 03 - RF-CONCRETE Surfaces: Considering Integration Width for Surface Design

Torsion Design

The torsional resistance is to be distinguished according to its cause.

If the torsion in statically indeterminate structures is caused by the compatibility of deformations (compatibility torsion), it is not necessary to perform the torsion design, according to EN 1992-1-1, 6.3.1 (2). Related to this paragraph, MT should not be taken into account for the rib design. You can deactivate MT in Window 1.6 of RF-CONCRETE Members (see Figure 4).

Figure 04 - Window 1.6 of RF-CONCRETE Members: Settings of Relevant Internal Forces for Concrete Design

If the torsion is caused by static equilibrium conditions, the torsion design is required, otherwise the structure without torsional stiffness would be unstable (equilibrium torsion).

Reference

[1]	Eurocode 2: Design of concrete structures - Part 1-1: General rules and rules for buildings; EN 1992-1-1:2004 + AC:2010
[2]	Zilch, K. & Zehetmaier, G. (2010). Bemessung im konstruktiven Betonbau - Nach DIN 1045-1 (Fassung 2008) und EN 1992-1-1 (Eurocode 2) (2nd ed.). Berlin: Springer.