Abstract:
Keeping the deflection within acceptable limit and making a structure
serviceable is the most important design criteria after meeting the
strength requirement. Code equation (B.N.B.C 1993, ACI 1997) enables
one to estimate deflections of structural components like beams, under
service load condition using semi-empirical equations. These equations
usually produce too conservative results, which sometimes, results in
un-economical design. In this project, a computational investigation
based on finite element analysis has been undertaken to study the
deflection characteristics of cantilever and continuous RC beams. The
investigation includes determination of the optimum type of FE modeling,
vanous geometric and material parameters influencing the deflection,
etc.
A detail sensitivity analysis has been performed to identify the most
important parameters controlling the deflection. The study also reveals
that the deflection given by FE method is highly dependent on the FE
modeling. The results of FE analysis are compared with the va-lues given
by code equations, which establish the relative accuracy of the FE
analysis. In most cases it has been found that FE analysis produces
deflection smaller than that estimated by code equations. The findings of
the present study will draw attention of the researchers and will help to
incorporate necessary modifications in future.
