Program Description:

"RECTBEAM" is a spreadsheet program written in MS-Excel for the purpose of analysis/design of rectangular

beam or column sections. Specifically, the required flexural reinforcing, ultimate moment capacity, bar spacing

for crack control, moments of inertia for deflection, beam shear and torsion requirements, and member capacity

for flexure (uniaxial and biaxial) with axial load are calculated. There is also a worksheet which contains

reinforcing bar data tables. This version is based on the ACI 318-05 Code.

This program is a workbook consisting of eleven (11) worksheets, described as follows:

Program Assumptions and Limitations:

1. This program follows the procedures and guidelines of the ACI 318-05 Building Code.

2. The "Complete Analysis" worksheet combines the analyses performed by four (4) of the individual

worksheets all into one. This includes member flexural moment capacity, as well as shear, crack control,

and inertia calculations. Thus, any items below pertaining to any of the similar individual worksheets

included in this one are also applicable here.

3. In the "Flexure(As)" worksheet, the program will display a message if compression reinforcing is required,

when the beam/section cannot handle the ultimate design moment with tension reinforcing only. Then a

doubly-reinforced design is performed.

4. In the "Flexure(As)" worksheet for a singly reinforced beam/section, when the required flexural reinforcing is

less than the Code minimum, then the program will use the lesser value of either 4/3 times the required value

or the minimum value as the amount to actually use for design.

5. In the "Flexure(Mn)", "Uniaxial", and "Biaxial" worksheets, when the calculated distance to the neutral axis, 'c',

is less than the distance to the reinforcement nearest the compression face, the program will ignore that

reinforcing and calculate the ultimate moment capacity based on an assumed singly-reinforced section.

6. In the "Uniaxial" and "Biaxial" worksheets, the CRSI "Universal Column Formulas" are used by this program

to determine Points #1 through #7 of the 10 point interaction curve. For the most part, these formulas yield

close, yet approximate results. However, these results should be accurate enough for most applications

and situations.

7. To account for the fact that the CRSI "Universal Column Formulas" originally utilized f =0.70 for compression,

which was applicable up through the ACI 318-99 Code, they have been factored by (0.65/0.70) to account for

the reduction in the factor f = 0.65 for compression beginning with ACI 318-02 Code and continuing with the

ACI 318-05 Code. This modification has been made to the equations applicable to Points #1 through #7.

8. In the "Uniaxial" and "Biaxial" worksheets, the CRSI "Universal Column Formulas", which are used by this

program, assume the use of the reinforcing yield strength, fy =60 ksi.

9. In the "Uniaxial" and "Biaxial" worksheets, this program assumes a "short", non-slender rectangular column

with symmetrically arranged and sized bars.

10. In the "Uniaxial" and "Biaxial" worksheets, for cases with axial load only (compression or tension) and no

moment(s) the program calculates total reinforcing area as follows:

Ast = (Ntb*Abt) + (Nsb*Abs) , where: Abt and Abs = area of one top/bottom and side bar respectively.

11. In the "Uniaxial" and "Biaxial" worksheets, for pure moment capacity with no axial load, the program assumes

bars in 2 outside faces parallel to axis of bending plus 50% of the total area of the side bars divided equally

by and added to the 2 outside faces, and program calculates reinforcing areas as follows:

for X-axis: As = A's = ((Ntb*Abt) + (0.50*Nsb*Abs))/2

for Y-axis: As = A's = ((Nsb*Asb+4*Atb) + (0.50*(Ntb-4)*Atb))/2

12. In the "Uniaxial" and "Biaxial" worksheets, for Point #8 (fPn = 0.1*f'c*Ag) on the interaction curve the

corresponding value of fMn is determined from interpolation between the moment values at Point #7

(balanced condition, f = 0.65) and Point #9 (pure flexure, f = 0.90).

13. In the "Uniaxial" and "Biaxial" worksheets, design capacities, fPn and fMn, at design eccentricity,

e = Mu*12/Pu, are determined from interpolation within the interaction curve for the applicable axis.

14. In the "Biaxial" worksheet, the biaxial capacity is determined by the following approximations:

a. For Pu >= 0.1*f'c*Ag, use Bresler Reciprocal Load equation:

1/fPn = 1/fPnx + 1/fPny - 1/fPo

Biaxial interaction stress ratio, S.R. = Pu/fPn <= 1

b. For Pu < 0.1*f'c*Ag, use Bresler Load Contour interaction equation:

Biaxial interaction stress ratio, S.R. = (Mux/fMnx)^1.15 + (Muy/fMny)^1.15 <= 1

15. The "Rebar Data" worksheet contains tables of reinforcing bar data which include various bar properties,

reinforcing bar areas based on spacing, and various plain welded wire fabric properties.

16. This program contains numerous “comment boxes” which contain a wide variety of information including

explanations of input or output items, equations used, data tables, etc. (Note: presence of a “comment box”

is denoted by a “red triangle” in the upper right-hand corner of a cell. Merely move the mouse pointer to the

desired cell to view the contents of that particular "comment box".)