Graphs and tables for the analysis and design of curved concrete beams

Abstract

This thesis presents an investigation and derivation of the expression: fer bending moment, torsional moment, and shear at the ends and at any intermediate point along a circularly curved beam. The investigation includes both cantilever beams and fixed ends beams, loaded with a uniformly distributed load, concentrated loads or a combination of the two. The solutions of the equations have been presented in a graphical form for the case of the uniformly distributed load, and a tabulated form representing the ordinate of the influence lines for the case of the concentrated loads. The graphs and tables cover a series of beams whose arcs are subtending central angles of 50, 45, 60, 75, 90, 120, 135, 150, 165 and 180 degrees and whose stiffness ratio: (K) are 1.33, 2, 4, and 10.67. Special emphasis has been given to reinforced concrete curved beam design as based on the theories and experiments presented in the literature by Timoshenko and Gowan. The investigation shows that many questions still remain to be answered in the design of reinforced concrete beams subjected to bending moment, torsional moment and shear; and there is a need for the ACI Code to give some criteria for such designs in the near future.