CM Exam Prep Notes PDF
CM Exam Prep Notes PDF
CM Exam Prep Notes PDF
Rev. 2011.1
1 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Contents
1. Introduction ......................................................................................................... 4
1.1 The CM Exam................................................................................................... 4
1.2 Explanatory Notes: Standard terms and phrases .............................................. 5
1.3 Suggested CM Examination Timetable ............................................................ 8
1.4 Example Letter .................................................................................................. 9
2. Overall Structural Behavior ............................................................................. 11
2.1 Stability of Buildings ...................................................................................... 11
2.2 Allowing for Movement ................................................................................. 15
3. Structural Form ................................................................................................. 24
3.1 Key Principles in Choosing Structural Form .................................................. 24
3.2 Choice of Form ............................................................................................... 26
4. Precedence Studies ............................................................................................ 29
4.1 Patera Building System................................................................................... 29
4.2 Pompidou – General ....................................................................................... 31
4.3 Torroja – Madrid Racecourse ......................................................................... 34
4.4 Torroja – Half-Mile Viaduct, Unbuilt, 1956 .................................................. 36
4.5 Torroja – Operating Theatre, Madrid University ........................................... 37
5. Preliminary Analysis ......................................................................................... 38
5.1 Preliminary Loading ....................................................................................... 38
5.2 Preliminary Structural Analysis ...................................................................... 46
5.3 Tributary Areas ............................................................................................... 56
5.4 Table of Fixed-End Moments ......................................................................... 61
5.5 Table of Displacements .................................................................................. 62
6. Preliminary Design ............................................................................................ 63
6.1 Reinforced Concrete ....................................................................................... 64
6.2 Prestressed Concrete ....................................................................................... 68
6.3 Steel – Non-composite .................................................................................... 72
2 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
3 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
1. Introduction
General Advice:
Read all the paper including the preambles;
Note the marking percentages and allocate time accordingly;
Read the reminder from the examiners;
Read all the questions to assess what is being asked, to determine how difficult the
problem really is.
Specific Advice:
Take the Henry Kissinger Approach… know your answer and find the question for it.
This approach has its dangers though!
4 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Design appraisal
A detailed description of a viable structural solution for the schemes. This will
normally include consideration of a number of ideas and a reasoned argument to
demonstrate the evolution of the candidate‘s preferred solutions. Reference should be
made to stability, economy, robustness, buildability, durability and safety. Candidates
will be expected to consider a broad range of alternative materials and structural
forms. In addition, the challenges posed by the CM examination questions require an
innovative, less standard approach.
Appropriate sketches
It is expected that these will be freehand sketches that are approximately to scale.
They should normally have sufficient detail to clarify the main points referred to in
the design appraisal.
These are economical structures that comply with the client‘s brief and that can be
constructed safely. Two distinct and viable solutions are required. It is expected that
distinctly different solutions will involve the use of different structural arrangements
and action to transfer all the applied loads to the supporting ground. It will not be
acceptable to propose two solutions with relatively minor differences, e.g. the use of
reinforced concrete flat slab floors instead of beam and slab floors. Similarly,
replacing structural steel beams and columns with insitu reinforced concrete beams
and columns in a building frame would also not be considered to be distinctly
different as the basic structural arrangement and actions are very similar in both
cases.
5 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Functional framing
Load transfer
How loads from any direction and source (e.g. dead, imposed, wind, thermal, wave,
seismic, etc, as appropriate) are distributed through the structure from their point of
application to the supporting ground.
Stability aspects
This refers to both global and local stability of the structure and its elements.
This is not intended to be a very detailed set of calculations to satisfy every clause in
a code of practice! It is expected that the candidate will identify the principal
structural elements (see below) and produce calculations to verify the resistance of
each to the major load effects such as bending, shear, axial load, torsion and
buckling, as appropriate. It is expected that the candidate will use and justify
approximate methods of analysis to determine the major load effects. Candidates
should not waste time producing repetitive calculations. They should identify the
critical parts of their proposed structure and concentrate on demonstrating adequate
strength and stiffness.
6 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
The principal structural elements means all the main structural members, e.g. beams,
columns, slabs, trusses, frames, foundations (including piles, where appropriate), etc.
7 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
1000 Scheme 1 40 45
1045 Scheme 2 45
1130 Recommendations 30
1200 Letter 10 30
1230 Calculations 20 30
1300 Lunch - 30
1330 Calculations 45
1645 Recheck - 15
8 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
19 February 2007
Mr. B. F. Client,
Isère House,
Ballsbridge,
Dublin 4.
We have received with interest your request to remove the structural column denoted
C3 on the scheme drawings sent to you. As you may appreciate this column is a
critical element in the scheme presented. The implications of its removal are many,
and I outline some herein:
Design Issues:
Essentially, a complete redesign of the roof structure would be required. This is
because the depth of the trusses, as currently proposed, would be inappropriate for the
suggested revision. Approximately, trusses T1 would need to be about twice as deep
as they are at present, at about 4.2 m. This has implications for planning permission
as the roof height would need to increase. Also, the supporting structure would need
to be redesigned due to the increase in load (which had been taken by column C3).
9 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Given the current position of the design programme, we envisage that such redesign
and drafting would add approximately 6 to 8 weeks to the design programme.
Construction Issues
Presently, it is possible for the trusses T1 and T2 to be fabricated off-site, transported
to the site, and then craned into position. Given the removal of column C3, the trusses
increase in both length and depth and could not be transported or erected in one
piece. Significant temporary works would be required in this case to enable the
erection of truss segments.
We estimate the impact on the construction programme of the proposed change to the
scheme to be a doubling of the time required to construct the roof. Given that the
supporting structure is taking more load and has bigger elements, their construction
will also be affected, though not significantly. In total, we estimate the increase in
construction program to be about 8 to 10 weeks.
Sincerely,
10 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Introduction
Gravity → Columns
y
x
11 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Even without loads in the lateral directions, bracing is required due to the
inaccuracies of actual construction: buildings may not be perfectly plumb.
Some ways to stabilize a single-bay frame are:
In this, (a) and (b) are termed ‗braced‘ frames whilst (c) is referred to as a ‗sway‘, or
unbraced frame. A single braced bay can stabilize a row of bays:
Definitions:
- Braced Frame:
o load resisted through bending of large in-plane elements.
- Unbraced or Sway Frame:
o load resisted through moment connections of framework –
generally not used unless absolutely necessary due to the expense
of the moment connections and the larger deflections.
12 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
x, y
x, y
13 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
14 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Important: Advice on joint spacing can be variable and conflicting, but here goes:
50 m 50 m
Concrete 60 – 70 m
25 m: exposed RC 25 m: exposed RC
Simple: 100 m
Steel – commercial 50 – 100 m
Continuous: 50 m
Masonry 40 – 50 m
15 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Extracts
16 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Corus
17 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
18 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
19 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Movement joints
Used to divide structural elements into smaller elements due to local effects of
temperature and moisture content.
Material Spacing
Clay bricks On plan: up to 12 m c/c (6 m from corners);
Vertically: 9 m or every 3 storeys if h > (12 m or 4 storeys)
Concrete blocks 3 m – 7 m c/c
Steel roof sheeting 20 m c/c down the slope
Effect on Stability
―The positions of movement joints should be considered for their effect on the overall
stability of the structure‖ – Cobb
20 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
21 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Example
40
110
A B
40
55 55
22 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Note:
Double columns at interface – there are now 2 separate structures built very
closely beside each other;
Stability of each structure – clearly structure A is stable, whilst B is not.
A B
40
55 55
Case Study
Beaumont Hospital car park is an excellent example of lateral stability design, car
park design, and building control joints. Similarly to the two walls that are very close
together in the building just above, two X-braced frames either side of the control
joint are clearly visible.
23 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
3. Structural Form
1. Technical Requirements
Structure Scale:
Stability in all directions – Vertical and Orthogonal Horizontals
Accommodation of movement – either by joints or stress design
Global load paths are identified
Special foundation conditions, sewers, ducts etc.,
Large clear areas required (e.g. hotel lobby)
Restrictions on column placing by walls etc.,
Plant, track, car parking restrictions,
Provision for passageways, corridors, circulation
Overall height or floor to floor heights affecting structural depth,
Special requirements for performance of structure for fire, vibration
or effect of adjoining structure
Element Scale:
Proportional sizes, e.g. span/d ratios or N/20 etc.
Global actions are allowed for in the element scheme
Limits on column sizes
2. Economic Requirements
Materials (Refer to the handout):
24 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
3. Functional Requirements
Building Service Integration:
Expect holes in beams – allow for it early on
Flat soffits are beneficial in heavily serviced buildings
Air conditioning, false floors etc.
Client‘s focus:
Speculative commercial will require clear spans for example
Landmark headquarters will possibly mean a dramatic structure
Architecture:
Complement the architecture if possible
Get involved as early as possible in the design
Planning:
Minimise structural depths if required
Drainage schemes to be appropriate to site and local drainage
Environmental considerations
Again, where does sustainability fit into the above decision-making process?
25 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
The second chart gives a comparison of the weights of structure required for various
spans and types of construction for single-storey steel buildings. These buildings tend
to be extremely well engineering economically.
26 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
27 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
28 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
4. Precedence Studies
29 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
30 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
31 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
32 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
33 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
34 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
35 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
36 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
37 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
5. Preliminary Analysis
Imposed Loading
38 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
39 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
40 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
41 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Dead Load
Dead loads are derived from the densities of materials to be used. However, usually
the dimensions of the elements are not known prior to preliminary sizing.
Reinforced concrete 24
Structural steel 77
Timber – softwood 4–6
Timber – hardwood 6 – 10
Blocks – solid 21
Blocks – hollow 12
Bricks 22
Designers usually build up a list of the dead loads for common build-ups – two sets
of build-ups are in the following pages.
After calculation of dead and imposed load, determine the composite gamma factor.
This provides insight into the governing type of load (dead or live) and is also very
useful after the full load takedown when only service loads are to be designed for in
the foundation dedsign.
42 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
wser Gk Qk
wult G Gk Q Qk
wult
Comp
wser
Values of Comp nearer 1.4 indicate dead load is governing; those nearer 1.6 indicate
live load is governing. To reduce loads overall if there is a problem, try change the
governing load first.
43 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
44 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
45 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
These are the basis of more complicated analyses: the usual cases need to be known.
w
A B
C
L
VA VB
wL wL2 5wL4
VA VB , MC , C
2 8 384 EI
A B
C
L
VA VB
P PL PL3
VA VB , MC , C
2 4 48EI
MA B wL2 wL4
A VA wL , M A , B
2 8EI
L
V
A P
MA B PL3
A VA P , M A PL , B
L 3EI
VA
46 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
w
MA MB
A B
VA L VB
wL4
C
wL2 384 EI wL2
MA MB
12 12
w
MA B
A
L 3
5
VA wL VB wL
8 8
2wL4
C
384 EI
wL2
MA
8
47 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Continuous Beams
The reactions have been considered previously, so only moments are done here.
w
A C
B
L L
VA VB VC
2
wL
MB
8
w
A D
B C
L L L
VA VD
VB VC
wL2 wL2
MB MC
10 10
48 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
w
A E
B C D
L L L L
VA VC VD VE
VB
For more spans, the moments over the first interior supports are as shown, and the
wL2
moments over other internal supports are taken as .
12
49 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
50 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Any indeterminate structure can be made determinate by inserting hinges where the
Points of Contraflexure are estimated to occur:
Continuous Beams: PoC usually occur 20-25% of span length into each span;
51 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
To get a rough idea of the rebar required for your scheme, it is usual to take the
largest moment in your section:
1. What is your configuration – propped cantilever, 3-span beam etc…
2. Take the maximum value of moment (i.e. smallest value of denominator).
wL2 wL2
So for a 3-span beam take , for a fixed-fixed beam take etc.
10 12
For more detailed design, or to find the positions of the points of contraflexure, the
following is helpful:
MA w MB
A B
L VB
VA
MA d d MB
b c
52 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Load Patterning
This presents problems with our moment formulae previously. A way around this is
to do the following:
53 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Consider the beam shown in the figures, should the RC beam (250W×300Dp.) be
designed for moments at support B? And if so, what value would you take?
Remember that large amounts of cracking are not desirable.
Moment
A w B
RC-detailed
pin connection
Structure 1
A w B
Continuity
250×250 steel
RC
Structure 2 Column
A w B
Full steel
250×500 RC
Column
Structure 3
A w B
Full steel
Shear wall
Structure 4
54 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Take a rectangular plate, simply supported on all sides, loaded with a uniformly
distributed load, w, and consider two central unit-width strips:
ly
lx
The load on the strip in the x-direction is wx; likewise, wy. Also, w = wx + wy. The
5wx lx4 5wy l y4
deflection of each strip must be identical at the centre point: . Hence,
384 EI x 384 EI y
ly
assuming I x I y , and letting r , then wx wy r 4 and as r 1 the load taken in the x-
lx
1 r4
direction is greater than that in the y-direction. Further, wy w and w w .
1 r4 1 r4
x
Other support conditions can be used, and a similar approach using compatibility of
displacement can be used.
55 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
A B
L
RA RB
wL
As the reactions RA RB , they have an TL of L 2 .
2
RA RB RC
56 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
3L 10 L 3L
TL for RA = TL for RB = TL for RC =
8 8 8
w
A
B C
L L
3wL 3wL
RA RB
10wL RC
8 8 8
For more than two spans, the intermediate spans have a TL of L. The end support has
3L 5L L 9 L
a TL of , whilst the second internal support has a TL of :
8 8 2 8
3L 9L
TL for RA = TL for RB = TL for RC = L
8 8
w
A
B C
L L L
3wL
RA 9wL RC wL
8 RB
8
57 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Load Width
For beams, the UDL arises from the loads applied to the flooring system.
The simple case is a one-way spanning simply-supported flooring system (say precast
units):
w (kN/m2)
The load-width is the same as the TL for the ―beam‖ of the floor system.
58 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Tributary Area
The combination of the loadwidth (transverse to a beam) and the tributary length
(longitudinal to the beam) result in the tributary area for a beam support. Fill in the
lengths for following floor plate layout:
Note that the lengths indicated depend on the type of spans – continuous or simply
supported, and result from application of the loadwidths and tributary lengths.
59 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
For two-way spans, the load is shared between the supports on all sides:
Beams on
all sides
Beam A
Beam B Beam C
Beam D
But, for the internal columns, the tributary areas remain rectangular.
60 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
wL2 A B wL2
12 12
2 A B
Pab Pa 2b
L2 L2
3PL A
-
16
2 A
wL
-
8
Pab 2 L a A
-
2 L2
Displacements
MA Configuration MB
B
A
6EI 6EI
L2 L2
A
3EI
2
-
L
61 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
5wL4 wL3
C A B
384 EI 24 EI
PL3 PL2
C A B
48EI 16 EI
Pa L a
3a 3
A 2L a
a
3
PL 6 LEI
C 4
48EI L L B
Pa
6 LEI
L2 a 2
2
A
ML
6 EI
3a 2 6a 2
ML
C a 1 a 1 2a
3EI B
ML
6 EI
3a 2 1
wL4 wL3
B B
8EI 6 EI
PL3 PL2
B B
3EI 2 EI
ML2 B
ML
B EI
2 EI
62 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
6. Preliminary Design
Structural design and analysis is often an iterative process. Section sizes may be
needed before an analysis can be carried out to determine the load effects that
sections must be designed for (which in turn dictates the size of the section).
Preliminary sizes are obtained from experience and rules of thumb (other people‘s
experience). These are used in the preliminary analysis.
The results of the analysis are used to obtain more refined approximate designs.
In preliminary design, these steps are only carried out once. In detailed design the
process can take many iterations.
For the usual materials and forms of construction we considered both of these stages.
63 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Preliminary sizing
Bending members
Sized through span-effective depth ratios:
Flat
Construction One-way Two-way
slab
Imposed
Simply- Simply-
load Contin. Canti. Contin.
supported supported
(kN/m2)
5 27 31 11 30 40 36
Slab
10 24 28 10 28 39 33
Beam -
any 10 12 6
Rectang.
Beam –
any 12 15 6
flanged
The breadth of a beam is around d/3 but not always. Fire resistance requirements
stipulate minimum widths, but for ease of construction, 200 mm is a rough minimum,
giving about 2 hours fire resistance.
64 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Columns
These rules only apply for stocky braced columns for which the minimum horizontal
dimension is clear height/17.5.
Very roughly: Acol N 50 (in mm2) where N is the ultimate axial load in kN. Or
assume an average stress across the column of about 25 N/mm2.
Loads from other floors may be considered fully axial; sketch these requirements:
65 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Bending members:
Percentage area of steel for a singly reinforced section:
M
s 2
bd
The is to make it look fancy! Any number from 3.1 (for a loose design) up to about
s
4.3 (for a tight design) can be used. Note that As bd . Combining these two
100
expressions leads to a very quick estimate of:
M
As
300d
Columns:
Given an area of column, its resistance can be got by considering a mean ‗resistance
stress‘ as:
0.35 fcu
100
0.67 f y 0.35 fcu
N Acol 14
Alternatively, roughly:
3
Derive this:
66 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Punching shear:
The column reaction, Vt , is modified as follows to take account of moment transfer:
Internal Columns: Veff 1.15Vt ;
where a and b are the plan dimensions of a rectangular column and is the
perimeter multiplier of d: in this case, 1.5 . If:
v vc : No shear reinforcement required.
v 2vc : Link reinforcement may be used.
v 2vc : Alternative proven system to be used.
For preliminary design, it is sufficient to pass Step 1 and to know that v 2vc at the
critical perimeter.
vc 0.7 s
1
3
N/mm2
67 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
68 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Hollowcore Slabs
69 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Composite Hollowcore
70 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Table for Composite Hollowcore floors tells us that a 200mm deep slab with a 50 mm
structural screed will carry an imposed (SLS) load of 11.5 kN/m2. Therefore, try a
200 mm deep hollowcore slab.
ULS load,
wu = 1.4(4.3) + 1.6(5) =14.0 kN/m2
The 1.2 m is the width of the precast unit; hence the line load on the unit is 1.2×14
kN/m. The ultimate moment capacity of the composite floor is 188.3 kNm/m hence
the floor has ample ultimate capacity.
71 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Typical span
Element Span/depth ratio
(m)
Floor UBs 4 – 12 15 – 18
Slimfloor 6–9 25 – 28
Castellated beams 4 – 12 14 – 17
Transfer beams 6 – 30 10
Trusses supporting floors 6 – 30 10
Plate girders 10 – 30 10 – 12
Parallel chord roof truss 10 – 100 12 – 20
Pitched roof truss 8 – 20 5 – 10
Light roof beams 6 – 60 18 – 30
Lattice roof truss 5 – 20 12 – 15
Space frame (w/ pre-camber) 10 – 100 15 – 30
Columns: UC: single storey 2–8 20 – 25
: multi storey 2–4 7 – 18
Columns: hollow sections: single storey 2–8 20 – 35
: multi storey 2–4 7 – 28
Columns:
72 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Deflections
Some nice rules for deflections which take care of all the unit conversions are:
I reqd 3.75PL2
cm 4 # kN m
I reqd 2.3wL4
cm 4 # kN/m m 4
73 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Slab:
RC: 125-150 mm thick
Metal deck: 115-175 mm, spanning 2.5 to 3.6 m.
Precast units: 75-100 mm with 50-200 mm topping can span 3 to 8 m.
A 150 mm deep overall slab with 60 mm decking spans about 2.8-3.5 m depending
on mesh and concrete density.
Beam:
Initially size as 80% of non-composite.
For a better check, size beam with Z = (non-composite Z)×(1.6 to 2).
74 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Translating this into the metric system doesn‘t lead to quite a succinct rule, but one
that is quite useful nonetheless:
42 mm per m span + 50 mm
And that‘s it! If your joists sizes are very different from this rule of thumb, check you
calcs!
75 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
7.1 Introduction
Car park layout design usually falls to the structural engineer. This is because the
structural layout and car-park design are integral to one another. Simply put, you
can‘t put a column in a driving lane. Balancing the car park and structural layout is
important for the floors overhead. Often two different structural layouts are used for
the car park and for (say) overhead offices. A transfer structure is needed in between
to link these two layouts.
Defintions
Bay: the parking space for a single vehicle.
Aisle: the driving lane adjacent to the parking bays.
Bin: A ‗unit‘ comprising bays on both sides of an aisle.
Usage
The layout of a car park depends critically on its foreseen use:
• Short or long stay;
• Regular or irregular users;
• Small or large scale parking.
76 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Notes:
77 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Note: Width includes wing mirrors, Height excludes roof bars/boxes etc. Taken
from a 1999/2000 UK Review.
The actual design criteria (given later) are governed by the swept path of a large car.
In the case of special design, outside the limits of the recommendations, the figure
below must be used to verify the design‘s adequacy. Using CAD software, the figure
below can be superimposed on any part of a proposed layout to verify that there are
no clashes. This is not necessary for usual standard designs, however.
78 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Notes:
79 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
For driving lanes we allow for the largest of vehicles. However, the individual
parking bays can be designed for a more reasonable vehicle size. Lanes must also be
designed to allow cars back out of a space. Therefore, 1-way and 2-way lanes are of
similar width. Applying the swept path configuration, the recommendations for
parking dimensions are given as:
80 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
The next figure illustrates the implications for the bin layout. For 3 spaces, the 2.4 m
bay width allows for 300 mm extra (over the minimum width of 2.3 m) in which the
column can be placed.
In the figure above, the dimension A is usually about 0.9 m to the column centre line.
81 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
A 2×B A
L
y
Lx = 7.2 m
Ly Ly Ly Ly
By applying the requirements for A and B, we can relate the inset to the spacing Ly:
8.6
8.4
1-way
Column Spacing (m)
8.2
EvenTransverse
2-way
8
7.8
7.6
7.4
7.2
0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5
Inset to Centre Line of Columns (m)
82 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Lines of
1-way structure
system
This layout also works for post-tensioned RC floor-slabs (e.g. Dublin Airport).
83 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
In such cases, transition ramps are used at the start and end of each ramp:
84 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
The storey height is related to the headroom required as shown in the next figure. The
minimum headroom is 2.10 m and this will allow for all MPVs and 4×4s. Where
provision is required for high-top converted vehicles for disabled people, the
minimum headroom is 2.60 m.
85 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
7.5 Ventilation
Car parks must be adequately ventilated due to noxious fumes. To save on
mechanical ventilation, natural ventilation is used as much as possible. For this,
openings should have an aggregate area of 2.5% of the area of the parking space at
that level and be distributed so as to provide effective cross ventilation.
This requirement often results in ‗planters‘ around single-storey basement car parks.
86 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
7.6 Miscellaneous
Durability requirements for car parks are usually more onerous than other
structures as chlorides can be brought in by the vehicles.
Fire protection of structures needs to be considered, especially for structural steel
elements, though uncased steel elements are usual in car parks.
Traffic management can be difficult for large car parks; adequate design is
essential.
The car park surface is usually sloped for drainage: the minimum fall is 1:60, the
maximum, 1:20.
Expansion joints need to be detailed to avoid water ingress.
87 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
8. Examples
Problem
Do a complete preliminary design for slabs, beams and columns of this 4-storey
office building. There is no basement car-parking.
30 m PLAN
11 m N
The building is stabilised with shear walls. Assume an in-situ slab spanning onto
beams and (continuous) beams spanning onto columns.
6m
88 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Solution
In the following each element is considered in turn. For each element identify the
four steps just described.
Dead load:
24×0.3 (slab s.w.) + 0.5 (ceilings + services)
= 7.7 kN/m2
Imposed load:
2.5 (occupancy) + 1 (partitions) = 3.5 kN/m2
89 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
w = 16.4 kN/m
A C
B
7 4
76 kNm
The spans are uneven and so we cannot assume that the moment at B is wL2/8
because we don‘t know which L to take. Conservatively, we could take the large L
and design for it:
wL2 16.4 72
M B AB 101 kNm
8 8
which is much bigger than the same moment for the span BC:
wL2 16.4 42
M B BC 33 kNm
8 8
M B AB M B BC
MB 67 kNm
2
The smart way is to split the difference in inverse proportion to the lengths (why?):
90 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
1/ 7
M B AB 101 68 76 kNm
1/ 7 1/ 4
1/ 4
M B BC 33 68 76 kNm
1/ 7 1/ 4
As the answers are the same it means the joint is balanced ( Moments about B = 0 ).
This is also the exact answer from a ‗fancy‘ analysis.
76 106
s 2
0.327
1000 272
s
As bd
100
0.327
1000 272
100
890 mm 2
91 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
approximate design we will ignore it. Hence we can determine the moments etc, first
(which is our preferred route).
Using the load widths we have:
4 7
PLAN
Hence the loadwidth on the spine beam is 2.5 + 4.4 = 6.9 m and the load per meter is:
wu 16.4 7 115 kN/m
The load to the N-S beams is appears to be zero as they span in the same direction as
the slab. However they do attract load as they must deflect the same as the adjacent
slab. So we take maybe 0.5 × loadwidth of a 2-span bay. Hence a 45 load-spread
gives a loadwidth of 3 m (for the 6 m column spacing); hence use a 1.5 m loadwidth
giving w = 25 kN/m.
92 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
w = 25 kN/m
w = 25 kN/m
w = 115 kN/m
w = 25 kN/m
w = 43 kN/m
The actual values from a full analysis are 14 / 119 / 47 kN/m. The differences are
caused by the uneven spans. Even still though, our values are good enough.
The spans in the spine beam are all even and so the approximate formulae for
moments and shears apply:
wL2 wL2
MB MC
10 12 w = 115 kN/m
6
3wL 9wL
VA VB VC wL
8 8
93 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
If we had carried on the more exact results, allowed for the downstand, and carried
out a full ‗proper‘ analysis the moments would be 474 / 354 kNm. Hence our
approximate design is still ‗ballpark‘.
Note that to check the worst shear force we do not choose the highest support
reaction value.
94 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
To determine the breadth we will examine the maximum shear stress and limit it to
2.0 N/mm2:
V V 431103
2.0 bw 532 mm
bw d 2.0d 2.0 405
This is very wide. We can reduce it by increasing d. A breadth of 300 would fit in
nicely with the preliminary column dimension, hence:
V V 431103
2.0 d 716 mm
bw d 2.0bw 2.0 300
725 425
300
This is drawn to scale (more or less!): the important point is that it looks in
proportion and this is usually as good a guide as the numbers.
For the main tension steel we use the quick formula:
95 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
M 414 106
As 2026 mm2
300d 300 681
3 T32 bars provide 2413 mm2. Choose this to give that extra little bit of ‗room‘ in our
design.
Beam N and Beam S will be the same dimensions as this beam but will have different
steel (and probably each have the same) to this beam for ease of construction.
Also note that having the width of the beam the same as that of our column eases the
formwork at the beam/column junctions.
96 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
3/8×4
4m
5/8×4
5/8×7
7m
3/8×7
PLAN
For the roof load assume steel roof trusses spanning the full 11 m. Hence, use the
same roof loading as per the Load Takedown example:
97 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
The façade columns will not be critical in this case (Why? Check one).
Thus a square column is: h 123650 352 mm , which is significantly greater than the
300 square columns. The next level of detail is:
N Acol 14
3
3
0.35 40 100 0.67 460 0.35 40 350 2473 10
2 3
So the columns are acceptable at this level of design. The area of steel required is:
3
Asc 3502 3676 mm2
100
98 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Problem
Using the building example from the load takedown Design Exercise:
Edge Beams 300×400 Dp.
50
Plan
Lightweight roof
No internal
4@ columns
100-100-100 cavity wall
3m 40% glazing
c/c
Section
Do the following:
1. Check the slab is adequate, without detailed analysis;
2. Check that punching shear is adequate for the slab and columns shown;
3. Check that the columns as shown are adequate.
In all cases propose appropriate design changes as required.
99 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Solution
Assemble the pertinent information first: from the load takedown solution:
E-W spacing is: 50/8 = 6.25 m;
N-S spacing is: 20/3 ≈ 6.7 m.
wult = 17.24 kN/m2;
Pult = 2770 kN.
Check that punching shear is adequate for the slab and columns shown
Internal Column:
Vt 6.25 6.7 17.24 722 kN
830 103
vmax 2.92 N/mm2
1200 237
100 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
830 103
v1.5d 0.87 N/mm2
4044 237
If we conservatively take vc 0.5 N/mm2 , then vc v1.5d 2vc and shear
reinforcement is to be provided.
Check next perimeter, 1.5d + 0.75d = 2.25d from column face:
u2.25d u1.5d 8 0.75d 5466 mm
830 103
v1.5d 0.64 N/mm2
5466 237
Again, vc v1.5d 2vc and a second perimeter of shear reinforcement is to be
provided. It is not necessary to check the next perimeter as it is clear it will be
below the conservative value vc 0.6 N/mm2 , or the actual value, which should
be around vc 0.65 N/mm2 .
Result: expect 2 perimeters of shear reinforcement.
Perimeter Column:
722
Veff 1.4 505 kN
2
Maximum shear at face of column:
u0 3 300 900 mm
505 103
vmax 2.37 N/mm2
900 237
101 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Thus a square column is: h 138500 372 mm , which is significantly greater than the
300 square columns.
2848 2770
So again the columns are just acceptable at this level of detailed design. This is too
tight for preliminary design, therefore increase column size. Note that this does not
adversely affect the punching shear calculations. The shear perimeter is now longer,
reducing the shear stresses on all perimeters.
Result: increase column size to 350 square, at least for internal ground floor.
102 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Problem
The architect informs you that two WC/fire-escape-staircore blocks are required on
each floor, as well as two other fire-escape staircores (as shown in the figure); you
are required to integrate these elements into your scheme and to advise the architect
as to their location. In doing so, you should pay due regard to lateral stability, any
expansion joints and travel distance in deciding your layout.
(b) Assuming a reinforced concrete solution, size the principal members (beam,
slab and column) for a typical floor, choosing the most probable critical
element in each case. For each element, indicate the approximate areas of
reinforcement required.
(50%)
103 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
104 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Solution
105 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
106 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
107 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
108 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
109 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
110 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Problem
An architect has sent you preliminary sketches of a 4-storey (3.5 m floor to floor)
development as shown in Figure Q.2. The client wants flexibility in the use of the
building:
Initially the building is to be used as apartments with the layout shown in Figure
Q.2. Sound and fire isolation of dwellings is important. The building will be
masonry clad with 25% glazing.
The use may change to open-plan offices with fully glazed elevations.
The client understands that there are cost implications for this and that works would
be necessary to change the use. Also, the Architect understands that some structural
elements may be necessary in the larger apartments.
Part (a)
Propose a structural scheme for the building, giving sufficient information on:
1. The provision of lateral stability when the building is to be used as apartments,
taking any expansion joints into account, if deemed necessary.
2. The layout of the vertical load transfer structure; the floor plate; beams, and;
structural walls, as applicable to your scheme. This should reflect the possible
change of use.
3. The works necessary to achieve lateral stability if in the future the use is to change
to open-plan offices.
(50%)
Part (b)
Important: In Part (b), only consider the loading appropriate when the building is
used as apartments.
111 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Assuming a reinforced and/or precast concrete solution, size the principal members
(beam, floor slab, and column) for a typical floor, choosing the critical element in
each case. For each element, indicate the approximate areas of reinforcement
required.
(50%)
112 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
30000
10000
10000
Stairs and lift
Entrance
27500
6000 6000 6000 6000 6000
7500
Corridor
20000
12000 15000
3000
PLAN
(All dimension in mm)
FIGURE Q.2
113 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
Solution
114 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
115 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
116 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
117 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
118 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch
119 Dr C. Caprani