Different types of beam section in RCC structures

In this construction video tutorial, you will gather information on different types of beam section in RCC structures. Usually, there are three types of beam sections which range from balanced beam section , under reinforced beam section and over reinforced beam section.

It is known that a beam comprises of two components i.e. reinforcement and concrete.

Balanced Beam Section: If the ratio of steel to concrete in a section prevails in such a manner that the strain in steel and strain in concrete attain their maximum values all at once, the section is identified as a balanced or critical section and the percentage of steel in this section is defined as critical steel percentage.

Under-Reinforced Beam Section: Under-reinforced section: A section that contains steel percentage below the critical percentage is called as under-reinforced section. As steel lacks to adjust compression in concrete, the tensile strain in steel attains yield value whereas the highest compressive strain in concrete is under its ultimate crushing value.

The section undertakes large rotational deformations from the preliminary phase of yielding of steel to the final stage of crushing of concrete, providing adequate warning of impending failure.

Given below, an extensive lists of different types of basic geometry formulas :-

Yielding of steel in under-reinforced beam section does not signify that the structure has failed, because if steel yields, extreme deflection and cracking in beam will happen prior to failure which provides sufficient time to occupants to escape ahead of the section fails.

The failure in under-reinforced beam section occurs as the concrete attains its ultimate failure strain of 0.0035 prior to steel attains its failure strain which is greater than 0.20 to 0.25.

Over-Reinforced Beam Sections: Reinforced concrete beam sections, in which the failure strain in concrete is attained sooner than the yield strain of steel is obtained, are known as over-reinforced beam sections.

If over-reinforced beam is designed and loaded to complete strength then the steel in tension zone will not yield much prior to the concrete attains its ultimate strain of 0.0035. It happens because of little yielding of steel, the deflection and cracking of beam does not happen and provide enough warning prior to failure.

Failures in over-reinforced sections happen suddenly. This type of design is not approved in practice of beam design.

To get more in-depth information, go through the following video tutorial.

Video Source: Tutorials Tips

Different types of beam section in RCC structures