IStructE RoI Branch

Use of Points of Contraflexure

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;

Sway Columns: PoC at mid-height usually.

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Analysis for Preliminary Design

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-
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

Typical internal span

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

Assuming only MA and MB are known, take moments about B to give:

wL M A MB VA
VA ; sum the vertical forces to get VB wL VA . Therefore, a and
2 L w

VA2 VA2 2wM A

so M max MA. Defining d , then the distances to the points of
2w w
contraflexure are, b b a d and c L a d .

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IStructE RoI Branch

Load Patterning

For design of any continuous structure, it is necessary to consider load patterning to

determine the design envelope for shear and moment etc:

MIN = 0.9Gk MAX = 1.4Gk + 1.6Qk

This presents problems with our moment formulae previously. A way around this is
to do the following:

MIN + (MAX-MIN)/2; i.e. 1.15Gk + 0.8Qk

(MAX-MIN)/2; i.e. 0.25Gk + 0.8Qk

Why is this better?

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Qualitative Assessment for Moments

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 RC
Structure 2 Column

A w B

Full steel
250×500 RC
Column
Structure 3

A w B

Full steel
Shear wall
Structure 4

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Simply Supported Rectangular Plate

The exact analysis of plates is considerably difficult. Some simplifying assumptions

lead to easier methods of analysis that are reasonably accurate.

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
5wxlx4 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 wx w .
1 r4 1 r4
The moments taken in each direction are then:
wxlx2 1 r4 wy lx2 1 1
Mx wlx2 2
x wl x M y wl y2 y wl y2
8 8 1 r4 8 8 1 r4

where x and y correspond to those of BS 8110, Pt. 1: 1997, Tb. 3.13.

Other support conditions can be used, and a similar approach using compatibility of
displacement can be used.

55 Dr C. Caprani