CIE 525 Reinforced Concrete Structures Instructor: Andrew Whittaker
Module 06 Page 1
6. STRUT AND TIE MODELS
6.1 Recommended Reading
1. MacGregor, J., Reinforced Concrete, “Mechanics and Design”,
Prentice Hall, Third Edition, Chapter 18
2. Schlaich, J., Schafer, K., and Jennewein, M., “Toward a Consistent
Design of Structural Concrete”, Journal of the Prestressed Concrete
Institute, Vol. 32., No. 3, May-June 1987, pp 75-150.
6.2 Introduction
Strut and tie models are seeing increased used for the design and detailing of components
that must resist gravity and earthquake effects. Such models are presented at this stage in
CIE 525 because they will be used in the following lectures to aid in the design of
Beam-column joints in moment-resisting frames and bridge bent caps
Shear walls with substantial penetrations or openings
Footings of bridge piers
End zones or end blocks of pre- and post-tensioned beams.
We introduce strut and tie models in this and the following lecture by reference to gravity load
design of deep beams, corbels, and beam-column joints. The presentation will be extended
in subsequent lectures to cover the bulleted items listed above.
Strut-and-tie models are introduced indirectly in ACI 318 in
§10.7 (Deep flexural members)
§11.8 (Special provisions for deep flexural members)
§12.6 (Rebar anchorage)
Schlaich et al. note that reinforced concrete components resist applied loads through
Compressive stress fields (concrete compression stress fields)
Tensile ties (rebar, prestressing tendons, concrete tensile stress fields)
For analytical purposes, the strut-and-tie models condense all stresses in
compression and tension members and join them by nodes.
CIE 525 Reinforced Concrete Structures Instructor: Andrew Whittaker
Module 06 Page 2
6.3 Discontinuity Regions
6.3.1 Introduction
In the following discussion on strut-and-tie models, a structural component such as a beam
or a corbel is divided into two regions
B-region (B stands for Beam or Bernoulli)
D-region (D stands for Discontinuity or Disturbance)
In B regions, beam theory applies, namely, that plane sections remain plane. Internal
stresses in such regions can be easily derived from section forces (bending and torsional
moments, shear and axial forces).
If the section is uncracked (e.g., cr M M in previous presentations), internal stresses are
calculated using section properties such as cross-sectional area (A) and second moment of
area (I),. If the tensile
stresses exceed the tensile strength of the concrete ( cr M M ), the truss model applies.
The Bernoulli hypothesis underpins much structural engineering analysis and design and has
been the basis for most of the discussions to date in CIE 525. The hypothesis is not valid in
regions of a structure
or component where the strain distribution is substantially nonlinear. Examples of such
regions are
Near concentrated loads (including reaction points)
Corners and joints of frames
Near openings
These regions of highly nonlinear strain distribution are termed D regions. If the D regions
are uncracked,
they can be analyzed by linear elastic stress methods. However, in most cases the D regions
will be
cracked and linear theory no longer applies. Strut-and-tie models have been developed for
the analysis and design of cracked D regions.
Sample D regions with nonlinear strain distributions due to (a) geometric discontinuities, and
(b) statical
(load) discontinuities are presented below from Schlaich et al.
CIE 525 Reinforced Concrete Structures Instructor: Andrew Whittaker
Module 06 Page 3
Prior to discussing methods of analysis and design for B and D regions, it is instructive to
present a
method to partition a component such as a deep beam into B regions and D regions. To this
end it is
worthwhile to assess the response of the component assuming uncracked behavior.
Consider one half of a
beam supporting a central point load as shown below (from Schlaich et al.). Shown in this
figure are the
stress trajectories assuming linear elastic material.
In B regions the stress trajectories are smooth. In the two D regions shown, the stress
trajectories change
rapidly.
CIE 525 Reinforced Concrete Structures Instructor: Andrew Whittaker
Module 06 Page 4
For proper classification of B and D regions both geometry and loading must be considered;
geometry
alone is insufficient. The figures below from Schlaich illustrate the partitioning of components
into B and
D regions based on both load and geometry.
a. Identification of regions in a
column
b. Identification of regions in beams of
varying depths and T beams
