PERMISSIBLE STRESSES

(CLAUSE B-2, IS456:2000)

PERMISSIBLE STRESSES (CLAUSE B-2, IS456:2000),Permissible Stresses in
Concrete ( IS 456), Permissible Stress in Steel Reinforcement ( IS 456)

PERMISSIBLE STRESSES (CLAUSE B-2,

IS 456:2000)
The working stress method is based upon the concept of permissible stresses.
Permissible stresses are obtained by dividing the ultimate strength of concrete or
yield strength of steel (0.2% proof stress) by appropriate factors of safety. The
factors of safety used in working stress method are:

(i) For concrete (a) in bending compression – 3.0

(b) in direct compression – 4.0

(ii) For steel – 1.78

There are greater chances of variation of strength of concrete due to improper

compaction, inadequate curing and variation in the properties of concrete. The
chances of variation in the properties of steel are less as it is fabricated in factories
where good workmanship and better quality control is possible. So, lesser value of
factor of safety is used for steel as compared to concrete.

The values of permissible stresses for various grades of concrete are given in Table
2.1 and for steel are given in Table 2.2.
TABLE 2.1.

Permissible Stresses in Concrete (Refer to

Table 21, IS 456)
Permissible Stress in
Permissible Stress in Compression
Bond (Average)
Grade of
Concrete For Plain
For HYSD
Direct Bars in
Bending σ cbc(N/mm )
2
Bars
σcc(N/mm2) Tension
(N/mm2)
τbd(N/mm2)

– – – – –

M15 5.0 4.0 0.6 0.96

M20 7.0 5.0 0.8 1.28

M25 8.5 6.0 0.9 1.44

M30 10.0 8.0 1.0 1.6

M35 11.5 9.0 1.1 1.76

M40 13.0 10.0 1.2 1.92

M45 14.5 11.0 1.3 2.08

M50 16.0 12.0 1.4 2.24

Notes:

(i) The bond stress given above for tension is increased by 25% for bars in
compression.

(ii) The bond stress for plain bars is increased by 60% for deformed bars.
TABLE 2.2.

Permissible Stress in Steel Reinforcement

(Refer Table 22, IS 456)
Permissible Stresses in N/mm2
High yield
Mild steel strength deformed
Type of Stress
S. bars Medium tensile bar (HYSD)
in Steel
No. conforming steel conforming to IS
Reinforcement
to Grade I of conforming to 1786 (Grade Fe
IS 432 (Part IS 432 (Part I) 415)
I)

Tension (σst or 140 230

Half the
σsv )
guaranted yield
stress subject to
1. (i) Upto and maximum of
including 20mm 190

190
(ii) Over 20mm 130 230

Compression in
2. column bars 130 130 190
(σsc)

Compression in
bars in beam or
slab when
compressive
3.
resistance of
concrete is
taken into
account