Minimum Standards for

Structural Design | RCC

Structures
October 9, 2011 by Designer

Thumb rules for Structural Design | RCC Structures

I highly recommend use of advanced structural design software like ETabs or

Staad Pro for design of structures. This is very important. There are so many
variables in design of a structure that no minimum standards can be accurate.
This guide can be used for design of very small structures, maybe up to G+1
floors. But I would still recommend use of professional software. Every structural
designer should learn these software. Use of manual methods is outdated.
Manual method is only used for checks. Real design is done with the help of
computers, with very advanced design concepts like pushover analysis, seismic
analysis, wind loads simulation and many advanced methods.

You can hire me for your structural design need.  Contact me.
Design of RCC Structural Components

In this article, I will discuss the minimum standards that can be followed for the
design of RCC structural components of a structure, such as columns, beams, slab
and foundation. We will also discuss the minimum safe standards for the
reinforcing bars that are to be used for the design of the above mentioned
Structural Components.
Minimum cross-sectional dimension for a Column: is  9″x 12″ (225 MM x 300
MM) which is the minimum recommended size. I have designed hundreds of
buildings, and never had the misfortune of any structural component ever failing
due to loads. I always use M20 grade concrete for construction, as it is the
minimum recommended grade of concrete is IS 456:2000. Please don’t skimp on
the quality of concrete. The minimum steel in a 9″ x 9″ column is 4 bars of 12 MM
with stirrups of 8 MM steel rings at a distance of 150 MM centre to centre. In a 9″
x 12″ column, I add two more bars, to take the total to 6 bars of 12 MM diameter.
This design can be safe for up to G+1 floors. But there are a lot of other factors
involved.
Also check out:
Thumb rules for making a Column Layout

Construction on Site | Design of RCC Structures[/caption]

Minimum RCC beam size should not be less than 9″x 9″ (225MM X 225MM),
with an additional slab thickness of 125 MM. I generally use a minimum of 4 bars,
with 2 bars of 12 MM thickness in the bottom of the beam, and 2 bars of 10 MM
at the top of the beam. I maintain a concrete cover of 40 MM. I recommend use
of M20 grade of concrete (1 part cement : 1.5 parts sand : 3 parts aggregate : 0.5
parts water).
Minimum thickness of RCC slab I recommend is 5″ (125MM) because a slab
may contain electrical pipes embedded into them which could be 0.5″ or more
for internal wiring, which effectively reduces slab depths at certain places, causing
cracking, weakening and water leakage during rains. So, a minimum thickness of
5″ should be maintained.
Minimum size of foundation for a single storey of G+1 building, where soil safe
bearing capacity is 30 tonnes per square meter, and the oncoming load on the
column does not exceed 30 tonnes, a size of 1m x 1m should be used. Minimum
depth of footing should be atleast 4′ below ground level. It is recommended to
go to depths up to had strata.
Reinforcing bar details (minimum)

1. Columns: 4 bars of 12mm steel rods FE 500

2. Beams: 2 bars of 12 mm in the bottom and 2 bars of 10 mm on the top.
3. Slab
a) One Way Slab: Main Steel 8 MM bars @ 6″ C/C and Distribution Steel of 6
mm bars @ 6″ C/C
b) Two Way Slab: Main Steel 8 MM bars @ 5″ C/C and Distribution Steel of 8
mm bars @ 7″ C/C
4. Foundation: 6″ of PCC layer comes first. Over than, a tapered or rectangular
footing of 12″ thickness is minimum. Steel mesh of 8 mm bars @ 6″ C/C should
be laid. In a 1m X 1m footing, this would consist of 6 bars of 8 mm on both
portions of the steel mesh.
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Related
RCC Building Design and Construction | Structural DesignAugust 4, 2011In "Civil Projects"
Guide to Design of RCC ColumnsMay 27, 2010In "Building Construction"
Thumb rules for designing a Column layout | Civil EngineeringSeptember 9, 2011In "Building
Construction"
CategoriesCivil ProjectsTagsBuilding Components design, Design of RCC structures, Minimum
RCC beam size, Minimum RCC column size, Minimum size of foundation, Minimum standards
for reinforcing bars, One way slab reinforcement details, Standards for RCC
Components, Standards for RCC construction, Structural Design of a Building, Two way Slab
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