Reinforced concrete design

Reinforced concrete has had a close relationship to Civil Engineers going back 1000's of years. The combination of steel and concrete provides strength and durability few other materials can offer at an economic price. It is a versatile and popular construction material due to its ability to withstand various loads and environmental conditions.

Whilst Engineers are designing reinforced concrete design, their primary goal is to ensure that the structure can safely carry and distribute any future envisioned applied loads. The design process therefore involves determining the appropriate dimensions of the structural elements, such as beams, columns, and slabs, as well as the density, spacing and diameter of any rebar within the concrete.

Eurocode 2 (EC2), officially known as "Eurocode 2: Design of concrete structures," is a European regulation which provides Engineers with guidelines and requirements for the design of concrete structure. It is part of the Eurocode suite of design standards developed by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) to promote uniformity and harmonization in structural design across Europe.

Eurocode 2 covers various aspects of reinforced concrete design, covering topics such as material properties, structural analysis, durability, and detailing requirements. It provides designers with a comprehensive set of rules and procedures for designing concrete structures that are safe, serviceable, and economically viable.

The main sections of Eurocode 2 can be summarised as follows:

1. Material properties: The code specifies the characteristics and properties of concrete and reinforcement materials to be used in design calculations.

2. Structural analysis: Eurocode 2 outlines methods for analyzing the structural behavior of reinforced concrete elements under various loads, including dead loads, live loads, and environmental actions.

3. Design principles: The code establishes design principles and limit states for different types of structural elements, considering factors such as strength, stability, and serviceability requirements.

4. Durability: Eurocode 2 addresses the durability of concrete structures, including provisions for ensuring resistance to corrosion, chemical attack, and other environmental factors.

5. Detailing requirements: The code provides guidelines for the proper detailing of reinforcement, including bar spacing, cover requirements, and development lengths.

6. Shear and bending provisions: Eurocode 2 offers specific provisions for designing reinforced concrete elements subjected to shear forces and bending moments, ensuring their structural integrity.

It's important to note that Eurocode 2 is continuously updated and improved based on research, technological advancements, and feedback from the engineering community. Designers and engineers are encouraged to consult the latest version of the code and any national annexes or local regulations that may apply to ensure compliance with current design practices and standards.

Have you tried our free reinforced concrete calculator? Use it to check the resistance of your concrete sections against applied bending and shear forces and find the neutral axis location. Try it out here