Design and Analysis of RC Beams with Transverse Opening Using Ansys Software

Abstract

Service ducts in concrete buildings such as electrical cables, water and gas pipes, air-conditioning tubes can be passed through openings in the beams instead of suspending under them. The use of openings in reinforced concrete beams for this purpose is an ideal solution to save the dead area above the false ceilings, reduces the overall building height and the construction cost. And there are various types of shapes and sizes of beam opening can be adopted, and which are most commonly found near the supports only, where shear is most prevalent. The current study shows the results of a non-linear FEA analysis which is used to simulate the behavior of RC beams with and without opening. The model of control beam with reinforcement was modelled in Ansys modeler along with other beams with rectangular and circular openings at shear zones and at center. The FEA results of all beams were interpreted and compared with the control (beam). It was seen that with the increase in the shear stress the cracks were prorogated at the supports and beam with opening of circular shape at mid span that is at L/2 distance gives the better results in terms of load carrying capacity, maximum deflection and stresses as that of other openings.