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Department of Civil Engineering
Computational Assignment #7
set cell vertical height

 

"If you can't explain something simply, you don't know enough about it."  -  Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

Objective

The purpose of this assignment is twofold: first, to further develop your engineering spreadsheet skills, and second, to develop analysis tools that will complement your concrete beam design project. Assignment #7 should complement and enhance capabilities of the spreadsheet you developed in Assignment #6.

You must hand in the cover sheet for the assignment, printouts of your spreadsheet for Parts 1 and 2. Also, submit your spreadsheets for Parts 1 and 2 to Canvas. You must follow the Excel format.

Part 1: Develop a spreadsheet to predict the strength-to-weight ratio (SWR) of rectangular reinforced concrete beams subjected to tension and shear forces. Input parameters should include the height and length of the beam, the amount of reinforcement (both tension and shear), the compressive strength of the concrete, the yield stress of the reinforcement, the unit weight of the concrete, the minimum concrete cover for the reinforcement, the minimum spacing between rebars, and the shear reinforcement spacing.

From these inputs, you should compute the minimum width of the beam, the depth to the center of the reinforcement, the area of steel in As in both tension and shear, the b1 constant, depth to the neutral axis, the moment capacity, the ultimate force due to both tension and shear, the weight of the beam, and the SWR. Verify whether the given reinforcement allows the beam to be controlled by tension, compression, or is in the transitional zone (see class notes). Also, compute the development length of regular and hooked reinforcing bars.

Click here for a template copy of the following rectangular reinforced concrete beam analysis spreadsheet.

Based on the value c/d, determine whether the beam is controlled by tension or compression, or is in a transitional area. The predictive value for P is the minimum of the tension, shear, and compression values. 

If a > d, then write "a>d" next to the cell and write "NG" in the SWR cell.

If the required width of the beam is computed from the concrete cover, the diameter of the tension rebars, and rebar spacing is greater than 8 inches, then write "Too Wide" next to the beam width cell.

If the development length is greater than 8 in. then then write "ld>8" next to the cells.

An example of conditions that fail to satisfy the rebar yielding and spacing conditions is shown below.

Predict the SWR for the reinforced concrete beam in the sample interface sheets above.

Part 2: Use your spreadsheet to determine the nominal flexural strength and SWR of the rectangular section given: L = 30 inches, h = 6 inches, f'c = 7,000 psi, fy = 60,000 psi, As = one #4 bars in tension, one #3 rebar in shear, concrete cover = 1 inch, tension bar spacing = 1 inch, and shear bar spacing = 2 inches. 

 

 

Requirements

Lastly, a web page describing the CIVL 1112 homework policy is available. Read it before you turn in this assignment. You will be graded throughout the semester according to the policy outlined in it.

 

 

Cover sheet for homework


This website was originally developed by Charles Camp for CIVL 1112.
This site is maintained by the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Memphis.
Your comments and questions are welcomed.

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Department of Civil Engineering | 104 Engineering Science Bldg |Memphis, TN 38152 | Phone: 901/678-2746 | Fax: 901/678-3026 | Last updated: 03/19/2025