Effective depth of a Structural Member

Fig.1. Cross- Section of a R.C.C Beam

From the above figure, b is the breadth of the beam and d is the effective depth. It is measured from the outer end of the beam to the centre of the reinforcement as shown in figure.

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The distance measured from the top of the structural member to the centroid of the tensile reinforcement is found as the effective depth of that structural member. The structural member can be either a beam,slab,footing..etc. The figure below shows the cross section of a beam, where reinforcement in tension side is provided. In the same figure, the overall depth D and effective depth d is depicted.

The effective depth d = Overall depth - clear cover- half the bar diameter

If effective cover is given d = Overall depth -effective cover

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