Initial Sizing of Structural Members

The following guidance is only for an approximate

first step in member design.

Steel
Restrained Universal Beams (UB)

Overall depth D = Span/20 Choose a section depth at least equal to D from

the middle of the serial size weight range.

Deflection: Limit to Span/360 with W (live) unfactored

• Simply supported UDL Ixx = 2.3WL2 cm4

• Simply supported PL Ixx = 3.7WL2 cm4
• Continuous UDL Ixx = 1.8WL2 cm4

Bending (Elastic theory): Assume py = 275 N/mm2 W factored

• Simply supported UDL Zxx = 0.45WL cm3

 WL 
 
 8 

• Continuous UDL Zxx = 0.36WL cm3 Note: W in kN

 WL  L in m.
 
 10 

• Cantilever UDL Zxx = 1.82WL cm3

 WL 
 
 2 

Bending (Plastic theory): Assume py = 275 N/mm2 W factored

• Simply supported UDL Sxx = 0.45WL cm3

 WL 
 
 8 

• Continuous UDL Sxx = 0.23WL cm3

 WL 
 
 16 

1
Universal Columns (UC)

This guidance applies to braced buildings where column ends have positional
restraint but not directional restraint.

Effective Length: Dependant upon the degree of directional restraint.

Assume pinned ∴ LE = 1.0 L

LE
Slenderness: λ= Max. allowed = 180, initially try 100
r

D
Classification: Use only class 3 sections, ie ≤ 39 ,
t
Do not use UB’s where axial loads predominate.

Fc
Axial load: Keep axial stress to about 0.6pc : A g = mm 2
0.6p c

2
Restrained Castellated Beams

Most commonly used in simply supported spans carrying a UDL.

Elastic theory is used.

Deflection: Limit to Span/360 with W (live) unfactored

• Simply supported UDL Ixx = 3WL2 cm4

Allows for shear deflection of up to 30% of simple

elastic deflection.

Bending (Elastic theory): Assume py = 275 N/mm2 W factored

• Simply supported UDL Zxxnet = 0.48WL cm3

Note: W in kN
 WL 
 
 8  L in m.

• D/t < 19, b/T < 13, ie. section must be at least class 3

3
Plate Girders

Used for spans >18m. where UB’s are uneconomic or have insufficient capacity.

Post-buckled web strength may be used to resist bending and shear.

Typically Span/depth = 10 to 12

Bending and Shear:

)
M
• Assume flanges resist all bending: Af = mm 2

D .p y
• b/T < 8.5, ie. class 2

Fv
• Web takes all shear and may be slender, d/t = 150 say: Aw = mm 2
q cr
d/t < 250 if no stiffeners provided

Deflection:

• Check Ixx required from UB formulae and compare with Ixx provided by initial
proportions.

4
Reinforced Concrete

Beams

d h

Overall depth (h) from basic Span/effective depth (d) ratios:

• Simply supported Span/d = 20

• Continuous Span/d = 26
• Cantilever Span/d = 7

Breadth (b) typically 0.5 – 0.8h

1000V
b= - limiting shear stress to 2.0 N/mm2 and assuming fcu > 30 N/mm2
2d

Columns

Effective height
Use stocky sections where: ≤ 15
smaller lateral dim ension (b or h)

Ensure that b and h ≥ 200 mm

Applied Factored Load

Initial guide to gross cross sectional area Ag =
0.35fcu

A more refined estimate of the column capacity N, may include the reinforcement
area ∆:

N = 0.35fcu A c + 0.67fy A sc

 ρ
N = A g  0.35fcu + (0.67fy − 0.35fcu )
 100 

A sc
Note: Ag = Asc + Ac and ρ= .100
Ag

5
The following tables are based on the above expression.

Ultimate Loads for Stocky Columns

kN
fcu fy
30 460

Column Size Cross Sectional Area Reinforcement Percentage (')

h mm b mm mm2 1% 2% 3% 4%
300 300 90000 1212 1480 1748 2016
300 350 105000 1415 1727 2040 2352
350 350 122500 1650 2015 2380 2744
400 350 140000 1886 2303 2720 3137
400 400 160000 2156 2632 3108 3585
400 450 180000 2425 2961 3497 4033
450 450 202500 2729 3331 3934 4537
450 500 225000 3032 3702 4371 5041
500 500 250000 3369 4113 4857 5602
600 600 360000 4851 5923 6995 8066

fcu fy
40 460

Column Size Cross Sectional Area Reinforcement Percentage (')

h mm b mm mm2 1% 2% 3% 4%
300 300 90000 1524 1789 2054 2319
300 350 105000 1778 2087 2396 2705
350 350 122500 2075 2435 2796 3156
400 350 140000 2371 2783 3195 3607
400 400 160000 2710 3181 3652 4122
400 450 180000 3049 3579 4108 4638
450 450 202500 3430 4026 4622 5218
450 500 225000 3811 4473 5135 5797
500 500 250000 4235 4971 5706 6442
600 600 360000 6099 7158 8217 9276

Any cross sectional shape that provides the minimum cross sectional area, may be
used instead of the rectangular examples shown in the table.

6
Slabs
Solid Slabs: Treat these in the same way as rectangular
beams, using the same Span/d ratios.

Ribbed and Waffle Slabs: Treat these in the same way as rectangular
beams, using the same Span/d ratios.

Typically treated as simply supported.

1000V
rib width bw =
0.6d

- limiting shear stress to 0.6 N/mm2 and

assuming fcu > 30 N/mm2

Precast Prestressed Slabs: Typical Span/d ratios 30 to 40

Treat as simply supported, one-way units.

Walls Treated as columns:

Use stocky sections where:

Effective height
≤ 15
thickness

Minimum practical thickness 200mm. – although

you will see less! Never < 150mm.

Shear walls will need to be designed as vertical

cantilevers to resist horizontal forces, in addition to
carrying vertical loads.

7
Piled Foundations

Bored Cast in Place Piles in clay:

d
1

Shaft capacity Q s = ∑ 0.45c n . πd . L

n

or = 0.45c ave . πd . L

L πd 2
End bearing Q b = 9c b .
4

Ult. capacity Qult = Qb + Q s

Qb Q s Qb + Q s
Working capacity = + or =
3 1.5 2.5

Pile Caps

Centre line pile spacing = 3 x pile diameter

Cap depth = 2.5 x pile diameter

Cap projection beyond piles = 150mm

8
Retaining Walls

H
t=
12
k a . γ . H3
M=
M 6
H

2
H
3