A continuous beam shall be deemed to be a deep beam if the ratio of effective span to overall depth, is

Answer: Option D

In reinforced cement concrete (RCC) design, beams are classified as shallow or deep based on the ratio of their effective span to overall depth.

A deep beam is one in which the span is relatively short compared to its depth, leading to significant shear deformation and nonlinear strain distribution.

According to IS 456:2000 (Indian Standard for RCC design), a continuous beam is considered a deep beam if the ratio of effective span to overall depth is less than 2.5.

This classification affects how the beam is analyzed and designed, as deep beams do not follow conventional beam theory and require special design considerations.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Less than 2.5 (Option D).