Design of Continuous
Beams and the Codes
ARSTRUCTS | Chapter 5
NSCP 2015 Sec. 406.5 Simplified Method of Analysis for Non-Prestressed
Continuous Beams and One-way Slabs
● It shall be permitted to calculate Mu and Vu due to gravity loads in accordance with this
section for continuous beams and one-way slabs satisfying (a) through (e)
(a) Members are prismatic;
(b) Loads are uniformly distributed;
(c) L ≤ 3D;
(d) There are at least two spans;
(e) The longer of two adjacent spans does not exceed the shorter by more than 20 percent.
Approximate Moments for Non-Prestressed Continuous Beams and One-Way Slabs
Moment Location Condition Mu
Discontinuous end
𝑤𝑢 𝑙𝑛2 /14
integral with support
End span 𝑤𝑢 𝑙𝑛2 𝑤𝑢 𝑙𝑛2
Discontinuous end 𝑤𝑢 𝑙𝑛2
Positive unrestrained 𝑤𝑢 𝑙𝑛2 /11 11 14
16
Interior
All 𝑤𝑢 𝑙𝑛2 /16
span
Approximate Moments for Non-Prestressed Continuous Beams and One-Way Slabs
Moment Location Condition Mu
Member built integrally with
𝑤𝑢 𝑙𝑛2/24
supporting spandrel beam
Interior face of
exterior support
Member built integrally with
supporting column 𝑤𝑢 𝑙𝑛2/16
Exterior face of Two spans 𝑤𝑢 𝑙𝑛2 /9
Negative first interior ● To calculate negative
support More than two spans 𝑤𝑢 𝑙𝑛2/10
moments, 𝑙𝑛 shall be
Face of Other
All 𝑤𝑢 𝑙𝑛2 /11 the average of the
supports
adjacent clear span
a) Slabs with spans not
Face of all
exceeding 3 m. lengths.
b) Beams where ratio of
supports
sum of column stiffnesses 𝑤𝑢 𝑙𝑛2/12
satisfying (a)
to beam stiffnesses
and (b)
exceeds 8 at each end of
span
Approximate Shears for Non-Prestressed Continuous Beams and One-Way Slabs
Location Vu
Exterior face of first interior
1.15𝑤𝑢 𝑙𝑛 /2
support
Face of all other supports 𝑤𝑢 𝑙𝑛 /2
Problem 1
A three-span continuous beam is subjected to 2 kN/m dead load and 3 kN/m live load. The
columns are 400 mm x 400 mm.
B C D E F G H I Calculate the following:
A ● Factored moment at B.
● Factored moment at C
𝑙𝑛1 𝑙 𝑛2 𝑙 𝑛3 ● Factored moment at D
● Factored moment at E
5m 6m 5m ● Factored moment at F
● Factored moment at I
● Factored shear at C
● Factored shear at D
Problem 1
A three-span continuous beam is subjected to 2 kN/m dead load and 3 kN/m live load. The
columns are 400 mm x 400 mm.
B C D E F G H I Factored Loads:
A 𝑤𝑢 = 1.2𝐷𝐿 + 1.6𝐿𝐿
𝑤𝑢 = 1.2 2 + 1.6 3
𝑙𝑛1 𝑙𝑛2 𝑙𝑛3 𝒘𝒖 = 𝟕. 𝟐 𝒌𝑵/𝒎
5m 6m 5m Clear spans:
0.4
𝑙𝑛1 = 5 − = 4.8 𝑚
2
0.4 0.4
𝑙𝑛2 = 6 − − = 5.6 𝑚
2 2
0.4 0.4
𝑙𝑛3 = 5 − − = 4.6 𝑚
2 2
Problem 1
A three-span continuous beam is subjected to 2 kN/m dead load and 3 kN/m live load. The
columns are 400 mm x 400 mm.
B C D E F G H I ● Factored moment at B.
A
4.8 𝑚 5.6 𝑚 4.6 𝑚
5m 6m 5m
𝑤𝑢 𝑙𝑛2 7.2 4.8 2
𝑀𝐵 = =
11 11
𝑴𝑩 = 𝟏𝟓. 𝟎𝟖 𝒌𝑵 − 𝒎
Problem 1
A three-span continuous beam is subjected to 2 kN/m dead load and 3 kN/m live load. The
columns are 400 mm x 400 mm.
B C D E F G H I ● Factored moment at C.
A
4.8 𝑚 5.6 𝑚 4.6 𝑚
5m 6m 5m
2
4.8 + 5.6
𝑤𝑢 𝑙𝑛2 7.2 2
𝑀𝐶 =
10 = 10
𝑴𝑪 = 𝟏𝟗. 𝟒𝟔𝟖𝟖 𝒌𝑵 − 𝒎
To calculate negative moments, 𝑙𝑛 shall be the average of the
adjacent clear span lengths.
Problem 1
A three-span continuous beam is subjected to 2 kN/m dead load and 3 kN/m live load. The
columns are 400 mm x 400 mm.
● Factored moment at D.
B C D E F G H I
A
4.8 𝑚 5.6 𝑚 4.6 𝑚
5m 6m 5m
2
4.8 + 5.6
𝑤𝑢 𝑙𝑛2 7.2
2
To calculate negative moments, 𝑙𝑛 shall be the average of the 𝑀𝐷 = = 𝑴𝑫 = 𝟏𝟕. 𝟔𝟗𝟖𝟗 𝒌𝑵 − 𝒎
11 11
adjacent clear span lengths.
Problem 1
A three-span continuous beam is subjected to 2 kN/m dead load and 3 kN/m live load. The
columns are 400 mm x 400 mm.
B C D E F G H I ● Factored moment at E.
A
4.8 𝑚 5.6 𝑚 4.6 𝑚
5m 6m 5m
𝑤𝑢 𝑙𝑛2 7.2 5.6 2
𝑀𝐸 = =
16 16
𝑴𝑬 = 𝟏𝟒. 𝟏𝟏𝟐 𝒌𝑵 − 𝒎
Problem 1
A three-span continuous beam is subjected to 2 kN/m dead load and 3 kN/m live load. The
columns are 400 mm x 400 mm.
● Factored moment at F.
B C D E F G H I
A
4.8 𝑚 5.6 𝑚 4.6 𝑚
5m 6m 5m
2
5.6 + 4.6
𝑤𝑢 𝑙𝑛2 7.2
2
To calculate negative moments, 𝑙𝑛 shall be the average of the 𝑀𝐹 = = 𝑴𝑭 = 𝟏𝟕. 𝟎𝟐𝟒𝟕 𝒌𝑵 − 𝒎
11 11
adjacent clear span lengths.
Problem 1
A three-span continuous beam is subjected to 2 kN/m dead load and 3 kN/m live load. The
columns are 400 mm x 400 mm.
● Factored moment at I.
B C D E F G H I
A
4.8 𝑚 5.6 𝑚 4.6 𝑚
5m 6m 5m
7.2 4.6 2
𝑤𝑢 𝑙𝑛2 =
To calculate negative moments, 𝑙𝑛 shall be the average of the 𝑀𝐼 = 16 𝑴𝑰 = 𝟗. 𝟓𝟐𝟐 𝒌𝑵 − 𝒎
16
adjacent clear span lengths.
Problem 1
A three-span continuous beam is subjected to 2 kN/m dead load and 3 kN/m live load. The
columns are 400 mm x 400 mm.
● Factored shear at C.
B C D E F G H I
A
4.8 𝑚 5.6 𝑚 4.6 𝑚
5m 6m 5m
1.15𝑤𝑢 𝑙𝑛 1.15 7.2 4.8
𝑉𝑐 = =
2 2
𝑽𝑪 = 𝟏𝟗. 𝟖𝟕𝟐 𝒌𝑵
Problem 1
A three-span continuous beam is subjected to 2 kN/m dead load and 3 kN/m live load. The
columns are 400 mm x 400 mm.
● Factored shear at D.
B C D E F G H I
A
4.8 𝑚 5.6 𝑚 4.6 𝑚
5m 6m 5m
𝑤𝑢 𝑙𝑛 7.2 5.6
𝑉𝐷 = =
2 2
𝑽𝑫 = 𝟐𝟎. 𝟏𝟔 𝒌𝑵
Problem 2
A two-span continuous beam is subjected to 5 kN/m dead load and 6 kN/m live load. The
columns are 500 mm x 500 mm.
A B C D E F Calculate the following:
● Factored load.
● Factored moment at A.
● Factored moment at B.
8m 7m ● Factored moment at C.
Problem 2
A two-span continuous beam is subjected to 5 kN/m dead load and 6 kN/m live load. The
columns are 500 mm x 500 mm.
A B C D E F Factored Loads:
𝑤𝑢 = 1.2𝐷𝐿 + 1.6𝐿𝐿
𝑤𝑢 = 1.2 5 + 1.6 6
𝑙𝑛1 𝑙𝑛2
𝒘𝒖 = 𝟏𝟓. 𝟔 𝒌𝑵/𝒎
8m 7m Clear spans:
0.5 0.5
𝑙𝑛1 = 8 − − = 7.5 𝑚
2 2
0.5 0.5
𝑙𝑛2 = 7 − − = 6.5 𝑚
2 2
Problem 2
A two-span continuous beam is subjected to 5 kN/m dead load and 6 kN/m live load. The
columns are 500 mm x 500 mm. 𝒘𝒖 = 𝟏𝟓. 𝟔 𝒌𝑵/𝒎
A B C D E F
● Factored moment at A.
𝑤𝑢 𝑙𝑛2 15.6 7.5 2
𝑀𝐴 = =
24 24
7.5 𝑚 6.5 𝑚
𝑴𝑨 = 𝟑𝟔. 𝟓𝟔𝟐𝟓 𝒌𝑵 − 𝒎
8m 7m
Problem 2
A two-span continuous beam is subjected to 5 kN/m dead load and 6 kN/m live load. The
columns are 500 mm x 500 mm. 𝒘𝒖 = 𝟏𝟓. 𝟔 𝒌𝑵/𝒎
A B C D E F
● Factored moment at B.
6.5 𝑚 𝑤𝑢 𝑙𝑛2 15.6 7.5 2
7.5 𝑚 𝑀𝐵 = =
14 14
8m 7m 𝑴𝑩 = 𝟔𝟐. 𝟔𝟕𝟖𝟔 𝒌𝑵 − 𝒎
Problem 2
A two-span continuous beam is subjected to 5 kN/m dead load and 6 kN/m live load. The
columns are 500 mm x 500 mm. 𝒘𝒖 = 𝟏𝟓. 𝟔 𝒌𝑵/𝒎
A B C D E F
● Factored moment at C. 2
𝑤𝑢 𝑙𝑛2 7.5 + 6.5
15.6
𝑀𝐶 = 2
9 =
7.5 𝑚 6.5 𝑚 9
𝑴𝑪 = 𝟖𝟒. 𝟗𝟑𝟑𝟑 𝒌𝑵 − 𝒎
8m 7m
To calculate negative moments, 𝑙𝑛 shall be the average of the adjacent clear span lengths.
