%0 Journal Article
	%A Jun Peng and  Johnny Ching Ming Ho
	%D 2011
	%J International Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering
	%B World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology
	%I Open Science Index 59, 2011
	%T Flexural Strength and Ductility Improvement of NSC beams
	%U https://publications.waset.org/pdf/2933
	%V 59
	%X In order to calculate the flexural strength of
normal-strength concrete (NSC) beams, the nonlinear actual concrete
stress distribution within the compression zone is normally replaced
by an equivalent rectangular stress block, with two coefficients of α
and β to regulate the intensity and depth of the equivalent stress
respectively. For NSC beams design, α and β are usually assumed
constant as 0.85 and 0.80 in reinforced concrete (RC) codes. From an
earlier investigation of the authors, α is not a constant but significantly
affected by flexural strain gradient, and increases with the increasing
of strain gradient till a maximum value. It indicates that larger
concrete stress can be developed in flexure than that stipulated by
design codes. As an extension and application of the authors- previous
study, the modified equivalent concrete stress block is used here to
produce a series of design charts showing the maximum design limits
of flexural strength and ductility of singly- and doubly- NSC beams,
through which both strength and ductility design limits are improved
by taking into account strain gradient effect.
	%P 575 - 581