A Design Rationale For Helicoidal Stair Slabs: Master of Science in Civil Engineering

(
A DESIGN RATIONALE FOR

,
"..;..
HELICOIDAL STAIR SLABS
,
.' .,;
~,
1 'i
i :t '.\
~i ••
--" A THESIS
.. BY ,'_ -:I-,
Submined to
the Departmcnt of Civil Engineering
Bangladesh University of Enginecring & Tcchnology, Dhaka ,
ill partial rulfillmcllt or thc rcquiremcnts
reir the denree
b
of
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CIVIL

ENGINEERING
blJ.4-. /11
\ 99/
MOD
A DESIGN RATIONALE FOR

HELICOIDAL STAIR SLABS
A THESIS
BY
SUKOMAL MODAK
Approved a;; 10 Ihe style and content by:-
Dr. Sohrabudclin Ahlllad C h a i rm an

Profes;;or.
Dcpartlllcnt of Civil Engincering
I3UET. Dhab.
___
M~ _
Dr. M. Ferozc Ahmed Melllber
I'rofe;;sor and llead
Dep,lrtmcnt of Civil Engineering
13U ET. Dhal-;;1.
JL.u1 I
-----------_.~-------
Dr. M. Azadur R;i1l1n;ln Mcmber
I'rofc.ssor
Dc6ilrtlllcnl of Civil Engincering
I3UET. Dhab.
Dr. Md. Wahha' Uddin Member

Professor and Head (External)
Departlllcnt of Mechanical Engineering
I3UET. Dhak,1.
DECLARATION
I do hereby declare that the work
embodied in this thesis tS the result

oj' investigation carried out by me
and this has nol been submitted Ilor
is being concurrently submitted til
candidature for any degree at any
other university.
SUKOMAL MODAK
.,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The author wi shes to ex press his si ncercst grati tude to Dr. Sohrabuddin
Ahmad, Professor of Civil Engineering, I3UET for his continuous guidance,
valuable suggestions and encouragement at all stages of this study.
The author IS indebted to Dr. Alamgir Mojibul Haque, Professor,

Department or Civil Engineering, I3UET ror his continuous inspiration
during the progress or this work and making valuable suggestions at
many stages of this sludy.
Thanks are due to Dr. Azadur Rahman. Professor of Civil Engineering,

BUET for his constructive and valuable suggestions during this study.
Particular appreciation is expressed 10 all the staffs of. the BUET

Computer Cenler, for their support.
Sincere thanks are expressed 10 Mr. Nurul Amin, Mr. Md. Fakrul Islam,
Mr. Md. Abdus Salam for their services in typing and drafting this thesis.
IV
CONTENTS
Declaration I II
Aek nowl edgcmcn I IV

Abslraet IX
Notations X
CHAPTER I Inirodlll~tioll
1.1 GCIlc-I;~1I InlrodUClioll
1.2 Background or [he Research

-'
1.:1 Objeclive and Scope of the Researcb 5
1.4 Scope and Metltodolo~y 6
1.5 Organi/,alioll or lhe Thesis 6
I
I
CHAPTER 2: Litcraturc I{c\"iew
2,'1 Introduction
7.
2.2 Analytical Approaches 7
2 ..1 Helicoidal Stair Slab Under Study 8
2A Analysis or <I Helicoidal Girder as iI Plane Curved Be,am 10
Analysis of a Helicoidal Girder as a Space Siruciure 15
2.5.1 Analysis 17
2.5.2 Resulls for Redundants al Midspan 19
2.5.3 Corrcclioll 1'01' Eccentricity or Loading 20
V
2.5.4 Shol'icoming 01' Ihe Apporach 21
CHAPTER 3 : Genl1lelric Properties of a Helicoid
3.1 General Inlroduclion 22

3.2 Paramelric Reprcsenlalion 01' a Helicoidal Surl'ace. 22
3.3 Unit Vcclor, •.• along Tangen!.s and Normal 24
. 34 Correlalion helween Local and Glohal linil VeCIOI'S 26
35 Correlatioll hetweell I,OCtII Unit Vectors and their Derivatives 27
:1 (1 Elelllentary .c-tlgths alld Areas or ;1 I-kliroid;ll Shell Senioll 27
CHAPTER 4: Anal."lical Apprnach.
4.llnlrodllCliOJl 3I
4.2 Eqilibriulli l:qu,lliollS 32
4.3 DClenllin:llioll or IIlJc.rnal Forces 34
431 (ie-Dille! ry 01 I Ill' Struclllre 35
4.3.2 Dc-gr-cc () r i ndell',rlll i tl ;ICY 35
43 ..' Choice. or Unknowlls 1'01' Analysis 35
43.4 AnalySiS lor Helicoidal Girder 37
4.3.4. I I\olh ends F'ixcd 37
4..,.4.:' 130lh en,fs I-linged 40
4.4. Inlernal hJHT-Slrc-s<.; Relation 44
4.4.1 Sl.ressc;-. due 10 Bending about Binormal Axis 45
4.4.2 l11pl,II1(' Slic.;lrin,!; SIITSS and Radi;ll Norlll;lI SI rcss 51
4.4.3 I3cnding ab"ul Radi;d Line 54
4.4.4 Out of PialH'. Sl1carilli! Slre-sses 56
4.4.5 Torsional SIITSSC,'"
57
4.4.6 A:\.ial SIITSS
58
4.'1 DccouJllill~ "I Siress Resllll""ls 59
61
~.'
VI
CHAPTER 5: Finitc clcmcnt An,,'."s;s of Hclicoid,,1 St"ir SI"b
5./ Gencral 63
5.2 Finite Elemcnt Method 63
5.3 Features or Ihe Finite E1c.1llCIl1 COlllpUlc.r Pro~r<llll Used 63
5,4 FUrll1c,r Dl',Vl'lOPllll'tll or lile CompUler Pr0t:J'ilJn 63
.';.4.1 Modifications ill lhe PrO~r<llll. 64
5.4.2 Basil' \Vorl-:ill); Procl'durc. 65
5.4.3 InpLit Data. 66
5.4.4 Choivc 01 Element lor the Problem 67
S.4 ..1 Division or ll1e S[;lir inlo ElclllCllls 67
5.4.6 ElelllClll l\lulllhrring Scheme 67
5.4.7 Nodt'- NlIlllbcrill.!~ Schellle 6H
5.4.1) General inn of" Nod;lI Coordinate 69
5.4.9 1)Cll'rlllinalioll oj' I{ollndar)' Poillls 7.1
5.4.IIJ Simpk Nodal Rvprvscntation 01 th,' Stair 71
5.4.11 Dcrillill~ [lelilenl Topolo1;Y 72
5.4.12 I:mnl widll1 and ordc:r or Elimination 72
.5.4.13 Dl'lcnnitl<llioll or ;HI.iu,Slcd unil wei~llI 73
5.4.I-t TLlIl.sforlll:llioll or Siress 76
5.4.1.~ l)clrnllinallOIl or IlIOlllCll(S and she;lrs 1'1"0111stress n
.5.5 lJcsi~1l E:xalllpk 80
5,(1 PrCSl'1l1tlliOll or Rl'sullS
80
CHAPTER (,; Inl""""l'tal;o" of l{cslIIIs
6.1 (;"Ileral
103
VI.
6.2 Behaviour 01" Hclicoids 103
6.2.1 Ddlcelion Characterislics of Helicoids 103

6.2.2 Axial Force and Shear Forces 104
6.2.3 Varialions of Moments 104
6.3 Comparison of Results oblained b)' dillercnl Melhods 105
6.4 Proposal for Design Guide 107

6.4.1 COlllpulcr progralll f.'or Design 01" a Helicoidal Siaircasc 107
6.4.2 Anal)'t iell Approach 110
CHAPTER 7 Conclusions
.1
7.1 General 116
7.~ Findings I'rOfl1 tht'- Investigation 116

I
7.3 Design R~llionale
I I~
7.4 Scope or FU1ure Sludy 1I 8
RcCcrcllces 120
Append i, A 123
fl 125
C 127 I
I
D 128
E 1.29
,. 133
G 136
V II I
!
ABSTRACT
Owing to the architecturally fascinating appearance, helicoidal staircases as

well as ramps arc increasingly being used in almost. every important building. The
increasing architectural usc or helicoidal staircase has created the need for a
simple but tho.rough and exact analysis of helicoids for the mOSI common casc of
loading. A vigorous mathematical analysis ill t.erms general enough to include any
unsymmetrical case of loading IS available, but the lrc-allllcn( IS abstract and
becomes so elaborate lhal it is or lillie usc- 10 the design engineers. On the other
hand some approxilllaic methods arc so approximalc and conservative that those
fail 10 lake into consideration the beneficial structural behaviour of certain types
01' helical bC;lms thaI allows morc ambitious use. of this highly pleasing
architcctural Irom.
In the presellt Sl.udy. attempls havc beell made- to investigate the behaviour of
helicoidal stair. eilher fixed or hinged at its ends, lindeI' uniformly distributed
load. The classic;lI approach to analyse the behaviour of helicoidal staircases with
bol.h ends fixed has bCC-ll eXlended further to deal with the hinged ended conditil)IL
General equatiolls for delerminal.ion of redulldanls. moment and shear, at midspan
of a uniformly [oade-d helicoidal girder eilher fixed or hinged at its ends have been
derived. Tabulaled results for Ihese redundants have been presented for a wide
range or design variables: selllicentral angJc. 011 projection, angle or slope, and
cross-seclional dililensions. The clTects or these. variables on the redundant. have
been discussed.
A cOll1putc,r progralll for Ihe analysis and design or helicoidal staircase has
bcen developed adopting thick shell finite clcmcnts of Ahmad. Thc cffcCls of
varialions III IlOIl-dillH.',IlSional geomctrical parJIllCICrS 011 thc behaviour of
helicoidal stairca:..;e have be,ell studied uSing IIH.: program. The relation bct wccn
stress and stress-resultants has beell established for this spc-ciJI case of space heam
having: skewed re,ctangular section. It is found that lhcse relation is coupled. To
delcrmillc stresses. de-coupling or strcss-rcsullants is required firsl. The resulLs of'
study of fixed ended helicoidal stair slabs with uniformly distributed load by using
finite elcmcnt lCl"hniquc have becn presented in this thesis.
Tile resulls or tile """lyses by Ihe two difrcrcnt methods, analytical and
nUlllcrical, have been compared and good "agreements arc round. Based on the
findings 0[' lhc IHCSC-Ill sl.udy. and distinctive rc..lIures or hclicoids, a new dcsign
ralionale- 1l,IS hel'l! sll!:!~l'strd"
IX
Nota tions
b widlh 01 Ihe slai,. slab.

CI, C2 Ihe Holmes conlanls in Ihe general equations 01 a panieu!ar helix ..
c eccelltricity or lIllil uniform load from hc.lix.
E ll1odulu\ of C!,lSlicily.
1",. [lie I",Hli;ll she;l!' i"orcc ;11 any poinl P.
I,": ~ the birl10rrlltll SllL',;Il" force til allY point P.
1", tile axial force ;11 any point P.
G modulus or she,ll" ::: E/2 (I + POiSSOll"\ r,llio)
II Sll[lpon II) support hi.!2l11

h, the Il1ickllC-SS or (ile slaircasc.
I ,. 1II0111CIlI III incrli,l about lhc. normal ;1.\IS,
Is IllOlllCtll Ill' inertia ,1IwUI the billorlll;1l ;t\l.S.
J, a 111oc!iriecl polar IllOll1l'.1l1 01" inertia. the IllG<lsure or. rcsislancc to torsional
de r 0 rill ;11 I 0 11.
I< [ljEI,
"'M,. [()J".SiOll
1ll0lllCnl
COllsl,llll.
;11 P :thoul radial ax is.

M, Il]Olllcnl ;11 I' ahout a LllIgclllial aXIs.
M", M s III 0 llle-Ill ;11 P about a hinormal aXIs.
Mil IIlOlllell1 :11 P ,lholll

" horizonlal ;L'\i s.
M, IllOlllcnl al I' :llHlll I \T-rlical

0 Ihe of
" aXIs.
nlidpoillJ 111 c- 11('1 i .\.

r ,Ill) poinl Oil llie helix CClllc,I"-linc de-f"ined hy <-Ill art' Q> III radians) as
scell ill [he pl;lll VIC\\'.
Ri llie [",HI i 11:-- (ll" llie Illller helix as scell I he pi"

Ro Ihe radills
"' II VI(',W.
01 Iii e oj c r helix as SCCll Ihe pi "n view.

"'
f{ llie radius oj" Iii e CqUiv,llcll1 helix ,n
;lS scell llie VICW,
pi ""
R Ihe rad i ll' or II", inslallll'1l01lS hel i x ;IS scell ill Iii e vicw.
pi ""
.S llie I rue ICll~lh 01" llie hel i x cenl CI -I i II c.
x
w unit uni!"orm load per unit projected length o!" helix.
I. thc vertical heigh I o!" any point P above (+) or below (-) the midpoint O.
~ hal!" are o!" the helix as seen in the plan vie.w.
a. the slope the langent 10 the helix center-line makes with any horizontal
plane.
Ps ElriEls
PI Elr/G.I,.
q, the arc (ip radians) as seen in the plan view which defines the location of
any POilll P with rckrcllcc 10 the midpoint O.
XI
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 General Introduction

A helicoid or a helicoidal surface consists or a warped surface generated by
moving a straight lint' touching a 'helix so that the moving line IS always
perpendicular 10 tile a\IS or the helix. Although III mosl cases the generating line
intersects (he ;l\is oj" tile helix. the definitioll docs nol require il. In an oblique
helicoid [he gCIll'.raling line maintains a fixed UIl!;lc wilh the axis. Helicoidal
surfaces arc widely ll.scd as staircases and ramps. This architecturally fascinating
structure lllay be vislialii'.cd as being a circuLI!' bow girder with one end
displaced vinic,lIly oul of plane or lhe other. as showl1 in Fig. "1.1.
During
helicoid-al
,he- rcccni
sl~lirc<lscs'
ye;lrs.
sllpporled
a lIu11lber of' staircases
al both lOp
with
and
helicoidal
hOI 10m edges
surfaces
have
called
been
r\ '_."
.'":".::t.....•'I'';!.
cOllstruc[ed in B~IIl~Lldcsh tiS well as in other couJllrics rcgardless of the facl that ),-/
lheir proper desi~1l as well as conslruclion IS nol all casy task. Lack of well
derille.d and IHCCISC procedure 1'01' bot!l analysis and design !las resulled in oycr
dc.sign or helicoidal . .;lair slah ill almosl every l:ase. Considerable- dinefences
persist alllOll~ I Ill.'. Jlr;lclicill~ cnglneers III lhcir opllllon regarding design or
,'.well slair slabs. 1.lo",c-\'Cr. owillg 10 1l1eir aesthetic ,lppcarance and utilily as
ramps, these al"l'hillTturally fascinating slruclures are increasingly being
r~lVOllI'ed by planners so as 10 rind a pl~lCC ill Ihe. plan or cvery important
building.
\Vhilc all analysis or Ihe. longiludinal elaslic axis or the helicoid as a three
dimcnsiollal slruelurl' IS Hul dillicull III cOHcept. the formulas involved during
Ill{: cakul:lliolls an: quile lenglhy and complex, and Ihus are subject 10
c.ollsiderahk pos~ihililic.s 1'01' computational errors. A vIgorous mathemuticul
analysis ill ICI"III."; t;cllcral l'-1l011~h to includc- any unsymmetrical case IS available,
hul the- lrCalllll'1l1 is ;lhslr;lCt ;Iud heeolllcs so c.Jahor;l1c- 111;11il is 01" lillie lISC 10 lhe
design ell~lnc(.'.rs. On Ihe oliler hand some. "approximatc mcthods" arc 'So
approxilllaic :11](1 consl'rv~llivc llial those fail [0 lakl. ,inlo consideralion thc
bencficial slructural behaviour of CC-rlain l.ypes of' helical beams Ihal allows more
ambilious use or Ihis highly pleasing architectural form.
Z B
T
T
J
H
T
N ------l--
T
0(
::::::---....
I N
-
~
I .
I .
\ Midpoint
"0
J I
R /
, I /
"V---- ------- -- _//

Figurl' 1, 1
Pl'rspl'ctivl' Skl'tch
Hl'licol Bl'om with (3 =180°
3
r~
The increasing archilectural usc of helicoidal Slaircases has created a need for """
a simple but thorough and "exact" analysis of helicoids for most common case of
I () ad i 11 g.
Bccaqsc oj" the complexity 01' curvature, any cross-section (the minimum
section) is skc\vcd 10 sOllle extent. In such a case, sl rcsscs can not be calculated by
simple formulas such as those used for a normal rectangular section.
However recent research on helicoidal stair slab, as reported by Holmes(l) and

Scordefist2.:;.4.:i) " indicative of the possibility of rationalizing the design
~,
chantclCi"istics or stair slabs. Their investigations concerning the actual.~ (\ .
behaviour of the slair slab upbeld Ihe fact that Ibe helicoidal Slair slabs of smaller 1,\
" ,-
thickness show the greater structural cflicicilcy. Their findings arc undoubtedly \~'.
fascinating in so rar as slruClural suitability as well as economy arc concerned.
1.2 Background of the Research

The first heli""idai staircase buill in l'JOg was analFed as open coiled helical
spring and dcsi);llcd primarily as a torsion member. The subsequent mcthods or
analysis developed by various aulhors indicaled il 10 be a structurc carrying
bending and torsion besides dire-c[ and shear forces. The design of" the seclion \\las
in 1110S[ cases gO\'C-l"I1cd primarily by small allowable shear stress III concrctc,
al[llough bending. <lnd dilTt'.1 stresscs were also ilnporlant.
Helicoidal stairs have. received the attention 01' a llulllbl:r 01' researchers. Thcy.
moslly involved Ihemselves In finding nul tile s!re-ss-resultants developed in any
sectioll 01" helicoids which "rc supp0rled and complelely fixed at the ends and
~LJbjecl In L1llil"orrlllv dis[ribuled load throughout lhe enlire length.
Bergman(fJ) has analysed projection or helicoid I"or unil"ormly dislributed load.

On the olher Iland EnglesO) has analY/,ed the same struclure for twelve load cases.
HlII1/"iI,ntX) ""d Fuchsstciller(9) had both published exposilions of the "exact"

thcory and CJedi/.li(]O) had publishcd coellicicnls servIng to simplify somewhat
applicatiol1 or Ihe FlIchsstc.inc.r equations.
In faCI. man)' problem s In helicoidal slairs require shell solulion. Menn( 11)
has outlined the mel hod ()j" sOlul iOIl of hel icoid"l shell problems ineluding edge
pC1"lubatiolls or edge conditiolls. While Ihe. analysis or a helicoidal shell ror
5
Obviously thc determinalion of Ihe end reactions IS only one step in Ihe design
of Ihis type of a slructurc. Once Ihe end reaclions arc known the intcrnal forccs
and moments at any cut seCI ion Illay be obtained, hut i.l knowledge of stress
distribulion along the widtb is slill lacking. This later problem reqlllres furthcr
siudy.
AI BUET Islam(IR) and Salauddin(19) inilialed thc analysis of helicoidal slairs

using thick shell finile elemenl program of Ahmad(20). Subsequcntly, the author
and Il11l"an(21) adapted the thick shell finite clement program of Ahmad to analyze
the stair slab.
In the present sludy, ~lllclllpis have been madc. 10 invcstigate thc bchaviour 'of
helicoidal slair. either rixcd or hinged al its ends. undcr uni formiy distributcd
load. This would t-'Cllcrale III () rc accurate dislribution or internal force along the
longitudinal direction. and sl rcss-d i s [ri bu I i Oil along the lalcrOJI direction.' It is
expected thai [his siudy \\'0 ul d be able 10 suggest definit.e guidelines for
ascertaining [ he distinctive rca t 11 res of iIs behaviour. and would providc
guideline ror ;1 specific design procedure for hc.licoidal stair slab.
1.3 Objectives of the Research

The objcclivl'-s or this study ;1I"e as 1"01I()\I,/S:
a. Illvesrig;llj/l~ lhl' actual behaviour or helicoidal slair slabs by classical

approach as well ,I."i hy Fillile EIc.1llent Method or analysis using the Ahmad
shell CICmetll
b. Carrying o uI S01lle paramcl ric study. such as
I. 11l\'Cslig;lling ," e l' Ileet s of height/celliral radius rat io.

,
••.
Invest igal ing
II. [Ill' l' ITel:t s or \vidth/central rad i us rat in. and
111. InVl',Slig<l[illg ," e clleCls or t01a I angle .
c. f)cvclop1llCI11 or a r;llional design procedure. I.e. 10 formulatc speciric

guideline,s rcg:lrding tile design of helicoidal slair slabs.
6
1.4 Scope and Methodology

In order to attain the desired objectives. the stair slabs arc analyzed adopting
thick shell fi 11 i te clement com puler program of Ahmad. The effects of variations
in non-d iIllcnsi Oil ,II geometrical parameters a. [l. and b(R on the behaviour of stair
slabs arc studied.
Method or consistent deformation is used to obtain rhe analytical solution. In

this case a modiricd version or "Engineer's Theory of Bcnding~a skewed section
/)(Iore hending 1l'i/l rem.oin sJ.:.nved arter hem/i II ,l.:' , is used 10 establish the stress
dislritHllioll for dirrc.rcnl stress resultants. The results arc presented in the
~r;lphic:d forlll ;1\ fUllctions or V;JnOtls IlOll dillll'llsioll;l! parameters.
Subsequcntly. al\alylil~al solutioll is cornp;lI"Cd with 1l1al obtained by the Finite

Elemenl Method.
1.S Organization of the Thesis

In an atlcillpi 10 ill\'esr-i~;lte 11le behaviour or helicoidal slair slab and 10 come
oul willi ;1 IT-COllll11c-nd;llion ror a ralional (ksi~1l procedure. a survey of related
lill'ralures has Iwell 11lade. A brieI' c01l1p<lrisotl or the analytical approaches IS
P H.',selll cd In order tn delincale the- remarkahle di frere-nces of those approaches

and the correspond i ng resull.": thus making ;1 relalivc comparison with the
f'indings oj' lhe, present sl udy.
Comprchcnsive ;lIlatyscs or fixed ended hc.licoidal slaircases have been made

using rinilc elCmetll program I'or mosl common case or uniformly distributed load.
The results of "1I"I)'sis or elasli,' line (heli,l. b)' classic,,1 method. have also been
prescnted. Tilc results (lIT cOllipared.
The Sl'-nSilivil), analyses for Ihe parameters or slair slab have been carried oul
and the results (11' this paramelric study <Ire helpful in envisaging lhe structural
response or Illc helicoidal stair slab.
On the basis or lhe findings frolll the prescnl sludy. suggesliolls have beell
made reg;lrding: Ihe design or Iwlicoidal slair slah:->.
CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction
In the desi~n of' the helicoidal slaircses. the shell theory IS generally not
applied since Ihis leads 10 considerable complexities in the mathematical analysis.
Also ill view or IIH: rael thai (he aClual rixity al the supports Illay be quite
different fro/ll [Ill' asslIllled condition of' fixity. ~rca( exactiludes in analysis may
not be justified. Howc-vcr, if 011('. wishes 10 r('sort 10 the same, reference may be
made [0 MCI1Il's papcr( I J). I-Ie. in conclusion. adlllits that the analysis IS
lll<ltllclll<ltically extremely complex :lnd sugt!CSls lhal in most casc-s lhe "Helicoidal
Cirdcr" Solution lila)', he considered <ldcquate.
2.2 Analytical Approaches

The- analyses or helicoidal slairs have. be-cil made so far by Iwo basic analytical
approaches. Onl' is by. considering the structure as a fixed ended curved beam and
the other IS considering the helicoid as ;1 helical girder in space. Vic to r
Bcrgm:ln(6). En~ds(7) rollowcd the first approach. while Scordclis(2), Morgan(13),
Holmcs(l) ct 'al j"ollowcd the second. In the subsequent articles some of these
appro;lehcs along- wit Ii 1l1c.ir special assumptioJls. analysis procedures, and design
cxamples arc- (k.scribed in brie,r.
The g.lobal assumptions pertaining. to lhc analyses arc as follows:
I. The Illall...',rial IS tinearly c,!astic and IHlmog.cncolis .
.2. The bcnding. and torsional slilTnesscs or a warped girder ((here fore a
helicoidal surface) 11lay he derined bv Ihose 01" slraight prismatic member.
.). The Ullil Inad is distributed Ullil'Ol"lllly over Ihe \vidth oj" the girder.
4. The slrUclUrl'. Ilia)' be. sludied neglecting. any slab effects.
5. The corss-scclion is considered symllletrical about lwo principal axes of lhe

cross-scclioll.
6. DerOrm;lliolis due 10 shl'.ar and di reet j"oru's arc negligible- since these arc
small c01llpared 10 the dcformatiolls caused hy twisting and bending
1ll0Illents.
2.3 Helicoidal Stair Slab Under Study
As an example in the analysis or a helicoidal staircase we can arrange the data
in the following manner (Fig. 2.1)
I. Total subtended angel. 2~ ~ rr radians
II. Semicentral angle, [l ~ rr/2 radians
"11. Height 01" the stair case (l"Ioor to floor height). H ~ 10.5 I"t.
I v. Width 01" Ihe stair "ase, h ~4 I"t.
V. Minimulll width or a tread = 6 inches = n.s fl.
VI, Number or treads = 20
vii. From data ill step :) and step 6
... R'I __ 20XO.5~ O'

III Illi IIIlllll IJlIH:~rmdltls. . .~.I()II.
rr
Outer radius RO ~ :'-1 X + 4 ~ 7.1 X I"t.
Center line radius ~ 5 1X 1"1.

H
VIII. Slope 01" Ihe helicoid.
2[lR
IX. Thicklle.' 01" the slab, h ~ 10 illches
X. Rise == () inches
XI. TOlal load.
(a) Dead load

10
Thicklless 01" the slab III vertical direction = =11.9 inches.
('os 32.8~o
Contribution 01" fiSC ill thickness (average on horizontal projection) =

6/2= 3 im:hes.
Dead load ~ (11.9 +.1) X (150/12) = lX6.25 psI"
(b) Live load is assumed to be 100 psI" Oil hor;wnlal projection.
Total load. W = (I X6.25 + 1(0) X 4= 1145 Ib/I."

Top
(a) Isometric view Bottom
Top Bottom
(bl Plan projection
I. 4- o"--~.I
I~ II
(cl Section A-A
Fig. 2.) Geometry of helicoidal stair case

10
2.4 Analysis of a Helicoidal Girder as a Plane Curved

Beam
The simplest solut ion or the helicoidal stair cases has been proposed hy
Bergman, Engel's el al. They reduced Ihe helicoid 10 its hori/.ontal projection. A
hel ieoidal sl ab, projeCied on a horizonlal plane, becomes analogous to a fixed
ended curved beam Oil :I plane loaded normal 10 its plane of" curvature.
13ergman(6) simplified Ihe problem 10 a circular how girder. a ring beam, the
horizontal projection or the helicoidal girder (Fig. 2.~). AI any cross-section of the
slah there will exist, in general, a bending momenl about radial axis, a torsional
Illumcnl about !lori/,ollial [;lIl~l'lllial axis. and a vertical shear. However. under I he
customary desig.n conditiol\ 01" uniform loading covering the entire span.
SYllllllclry or IO;lding and symllletry or slruclulT dictates that the torsional
mOlllenl and the verlical shear mllsl vanish at the midspan cross-section. This
leaves only lhc delerminalion of lhe bending momenl at lhal seclion 10 render the
remainder or lhe analysis statically delerminate insofar as the calculations of
bending: and lorsional 1110111cnts and shc.ar- force arc concerned.
Application or [lie metliod or least work (or using Ihe Flexibilil)' Method) 10 a
rixcd-cnded curvcd healll or constanl cenlerlinc radius R. leads to Ihe following
expression ror !VIl >, , tile. midspan bending mOlllenl.
M" = WR2 [~£~~~L~L.:,

21<Jl cos Il - 1J (2. I a)
(K+ II[l - (K-l) sinll cosll
=WR2ILJ-11 (2.1 b)
where
LI - [.2(K+JJ~L- 21<Il cosll J (2,2 )
- (K+ Illl - IK-I.1 sinillosil
1O_'r ( 1+ ul
K il" b> Ii, 11"01' helicoidal ""ir slahl. (2.3" )
G I, (,k [
o
(1 +U)
(,k t
. ('-I', 'l- il" b< h (2.3b)
kl _l[ I 192
-3
C)L
b n=1
n)
I>
•J ).
(fs) . tan h (~nl~')j h.
={I 3 IT)
11::; I l ) n5
l a 11 h ("2nl:~)l h> (2Ab)
--------
(a) Id~alization as fix~d ('nd~d

horizontal curv~d b~am.
Mlc
~
o
(b) Positiv~ dirHtions
of r~dundants.
12
Values Of K for Rectangular cross seclions wilh width hand deplh h and shown in
the Table (2.1).'
T"hle 2.1
h>h h> h
h/h K h/h K
1 . 1111 1.39 I .() 1. 39

1 . 211 I. I ~ 1.2 I .70
1.';0 I .()() I.'; 2.2';

2.011 0 ';6 2.11 l.42
2. '; 0 0 79 2.'; 4 92
~.()(J () 7'; 2.() 6. n
4.00 0 70 2.0 I I . t ';
.'i.O() 0 6X 6.() 16.X:;
7.00 () 6'; ... .. .....
10.110 0 63 ..... .....
~ () .'9 ..... .....
II is seen Ihal II is a funclion of only K and fJ. For any particular slab cross-
section. K Illay he cithc-r computed using Eq. 2 ..~ or oblained from Tablc-l.l which
have been constructed I"or D = 0.175. an average possion's ratio ('or concrete Fig.
2.3 may be used 10 facililale cilllpulalioll or K. The_ U corresponding to this K and 10

a given f) Inil)' then he read from the curves or Fi~-2.4. or else C0111pUlCd using Eq.
') ')
Wilh II knoll'n. Me is rcadily delermined. So also arc M and T, Ihe bending
moment and torsion'a1 moment respectively at any cross-section located at n n
angular distance or ql fro III midspan by mealls or expressions given below.
M - WR2 (li l"(1S 'I' -1.1 (2.5a)
T = WR2(lJ sin h

(1+ u) (h/b)2/(6k ) b < h
j
0.10
01234 5 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
Width-Depth Ratio , b/h
Fig.2.3:Torsion constant for rectangular sections.
The computed values are the mBginitudes of T and V in vertical planes ..and not in the
actual- inclined planes of normal cross-section. It is therefore permissi1>le for the designer
to reduce both Tand V by multiplying with cos 0: .
Then
" Mr = WR2(U cos40-1} (2.6a)
Mt = WR 2(U sin40- I) cos c< (2.61>)
F" = WR {o.cos 0: (2.6c)

FIXED ENDED HELICOIDAL STAIRCASES
Loading: Uniform over entire span.
120 150 180

1.5
1.4
1.3
0.65 1.2
K
1. 39
K ~
U
1.1
2.25
1.0
0.9
0.8
o 30 . 60 90 120 150 180
Semi central ang1e,f (degree)
Fig. 2.4: U versus f3 for various K values.

15
Following this approach an analysis or Ihe helicoidal slaircase under study,

given in Art 2.3 and Fig. 2. 'I, is carried oul and the resultant internal forces arc
shown in Ihe Table below.
Table 2.2
Mr V
(Ib.n (I b)
~ [, -30723 + 7M3 J
~ 0 X3X7 0 II
~.fJ -30723 + 7(,<)11 - 7M3 I
2.5 Analysis of Helicoidal Girder as a space structure
The solulion DI' the helicoidal staircase has been proposed by
Morgan. Holmes el 'II. In this analysis,. as a helical girder, Ihe helicoid

[0 irs clastic line having the same slif"fncssc.s as [!lose or original slurClure. 0 n 1y
drawback is that the bending and torsional slillnesses or a warped girder were
defined by lho;.;c of' a Slfilighl prismatic members. This simplification neglects the
aelual vari:llion or bellding and shearing stresses along lhe width. The solution of
Ihe helicoidal staircase bas been proposed by Scordelis, Mor/!an, Holmes et 'II. In
Ihe subsequent articles Scordclis approache is disnibed in del ails.
In this approilch llw helicoidal girder is' considered as a space slructure; it is

assumed to be fixcd at the two cnds and is statically indelerminale to Ihe sixth
degree. By slc.cling tJ,lC rcdUlld:lllls at mid spall, o,nl'y two redundants remain to he
solved, oillcrs beill!! equal lo I.ero due 10 symllletry or loading and symmetry of the
struclure. ScorLielis has investigated the internal forces III uniformly loaded
helicoidal girder. In case, the ralio RIb is less than 3, a runhcr consideration 0 f
torque loadin~ is nece,",ary and this has been subsequently included by Seordelis.
The geomelry of a helicoidal girder Illay be del'ined. as snown in Fig. 2.5 in

lerms or tbe cenlerlinc radius R, semicenlral an/!Ic fl, an~le or slope a, width b,
and depth h. The helicoid may be either left-handed or right-handed as shown in

Fig. 2.5.
:, ..
Left-Hand Helicoid Right-Hand Helicoid

.. "
Fig. 2.5: Positive direction of redundants.

(Scordelis' Approach)
'It .'
17
2.5.1 Analysis
The helicoidal girder analysis is presented here ror a unirorm vertical load or
Ib per lineal n or horizontal projection or the girder longitudinal axis. The
girder, which is rixc~1 at the ends, is statically indclcrninalc 10 the sixth degree.
By selecting the redundants at midspan, and using principles or symmetry. all but
two or the redundants become equal to zero. This greatly simplifies the problem.
The two redundants at the midspan cut arc: Xx, a horizontal roree in the direction
or the x-axis (~ F,. at ~ 0); and X,., a moment acting about the x-axis (~ Mr at ~ 0).
These arc showll with their positive directions in Fig. 2.5. A moment vector is
showll with a d()ublc arrowhead. The vector indicates the axis about which" the
moment aels and the right hand rule should -be used to dele-,rmine the dircction~' of
the moment. "
Using the principle or superposition the displacclllclllS III lhe direction or lhe
redundants ma)' he wrillen as follows:
OX\\' + Xx 0xx + X,. O,.r ~ 0 (2.7)
Orw + Xx l;"'x + Xr 8,..,..~ 0 (2. X)
In lhe above cqualiolls llie tcrms indicale. re.lalivc displaccments of thc 1w 0

ends or the girdcr al the midspall cut:
D,,\W = relative lincar displacemcnt in the dircction or the x-axis due to a

t1ni form load or III per lineal rt or hori/Ontal projection with the
redundants equal 10 I,crn,
Drw = relative angular displacemcnl about the x-axis due to a uniform load of I
Ib per fl or horizolllal projection with lhe rcdulldanis equal to zero,
0xx = relative lincar displacemcnt in thc direclion or x-axIs due to Xx =1,
Orx = relalive anpJlar displacemcnl aboul the x-axis duc 10 Xx= 'I,
OX!' = relalive linear displacemenl ill lhe direclion of x-axIs duc 10 Xr= 1.
Orr:::: rc-l:lli\'l~ angular displacc-menl aboul lhe x~axls due [n Xr= 1.
By Maxwell's 'aw or reciprocal displacements. 8,.x ~ 8.\1'. To solve Eq. (2,7) and
Eq. (2.X) 1'01' the redulldanis. rive displaccmenls which" must be detcrmined arc
18
Any method may be used to determine the displacements, one of the most direct being the
method of virtual '\\'01'1;.for example:
~
R eoe "d'I' +
r
• -0
II\!:
GT
"'w
.l
R .oe "d.} (2.9)
Vertical line
t
//
.# )
Horizontal line
'--1'
s
Left-Hand Helicoid Right-HaJld Helicoid
j'lg. 2.b: 1'osltive ai:rectu)l\ ot bending and torslonal moments.l
mrw, m""" and mlw represent bending 811d torsional moments in the girder due to the
uniform load of lib per lineal f1 of horizontal projection T,i1h the redundants equal to zero.
RefeI'ring 10fig. 25 end fig. 2.6, at any lo.~a.lion-I.from midsp811,these may be expressed I>y
statics as fol1oi'!S:
m fW = - R. l.0 'I -cos .•.

I,. Il"J (2.10a)
m.w = - R 2 (,~- sins -10) sin" (2.101»
(2.10c)
mrX, m.x • and ml:{representl>ending 811dtorsion81 moments in the girder due to X:( = I.
(2.11a)
(2.111»
mIx = - R. ( sin ,~)sin" + R (oj. cos i/.) sin" (2.1lc)

19
III IT, m sr, and Illir represelll bending and torsional moments in the girder due 10 Xr
= I.
III rr = cos ep (2.12a)
Jl1sr = sill </'lsill a (2.12b)
1ll1!" = sin ep cos o. (2.12c)
E I rand Eis represenl [he bending stirrlll'.SSl'S ~lb()lIl the r-and s-axes,
respeclively, and Ci.l1 represents the l,orsi<lJlal slillness about the I-axis. For
re-clangul:lr cross Sl',l'.lioJ]s Ell' and Eis can he c:lsily l'alt:ulatcd. G can he taken
equal 10 10/12(1+")1 alld .It call he calculated hy "":;llS or the expressioll .11= k] hh' .
III which k r is:l constant depending Oil the bill ralio or the cross seclion. Values
or kl are glVl'll by TilllOSl1l',llko and (;00di<.:,.(22), and arc plotted in Fig. 2.3 ror
convenience.
Gelleral forlllulas for "ach of the five displa,'cllIellts needed in Ihe solution 01"
Eq. (2.7) and Eq,(2XI have heell derived and arc given in Ihe Appendix-A. These
arc expressed III tcrms oj" the horizonlal angle f3. angle 'of slope n, cenlerlinc
radius R. and Ihe hellding and tors;onal sli.r:fnesses Els. Elr. 'lI\d G.lt.
Once X oS alld Xr have hcen delcrmined by Eq. (2.7) and Eq. (2.8). the /"inal
bending and lorsional Illolllcnis at any scclion or Ihc girder may he found by
superposilion. Lltili/.in~ Eq. (2.() linn Ihe Eq. (2.12l.
Mr = Illr\\" + X,xll1r.\ + Xrlllrr (2.12)
(2.13)
1'v11 =- Illl\\' + XxllllX + Xrlll1r (2.14)
2.5.2 Results fnt- Redundants at Midspan

An inspeCliotl or f"orlllulas given in Ih e Appendix-A for Ihe displacemenls,
needed In dctL'.rminillg the redundants will indicate Ihal they arc lengthy and
complex. III ;Ill llulllcrical case, . C.\Ir<,'IIIl'- must he laken 11\ the
com pu t a I i Oil a I work to 'tvoid m i sl akes. To eliminate this dilTiculiy numerical
20
valucs 1'01' t.hc redundants were obtained for a wide range of variables, like tile
sc-miccnlral angle II. tile angle 01' slope f1. . and widtll to deptll ratio b/h.
Results 1'01' Xr/R2 (=Cr) and Xx/R (=Cxl arc gIven III Appendix-B I'or SIO
dil'l'erent cases. Angle ~ range I'rom 30 to 360 deg. the latter representing a
helicoid gOlllg througll two complete revolutions. Five angles of a were used
ranging I'rom 0 to 40 deg. f1. = 0 deg represents a Ilorizontal bow girder. Finally six
values 01' blh arc represented whicll include a beam cross section 01' blh = 0.5 al
one ext.reme 10 a slab cross section 01" b/h = 16 at the other extreme. By proper
inlerpolation, I"L',dullclanls for almost all practical cases c;in he found.
2.5.3 COITcction 1'01' ccccntricit.v of loading

Scordetis aJon~ willi Lee have. suggested tilat for !!inicrs having high width-
('enter linc radius ralios b/R. ;111 analysis due to a uniform torque per lincal foot
01" horil.ollial projectioll shoutd he- made and the internal forces produced should
be added In t!lose ohlaincd for the 1I1lil'Ol"lll load case discussed in the above
:Jrliclcs. This torque loading n.:sulls form the I'act tlIal a unil'orm vertical load
such as dead load which IS distributed OVCT the widlh of the girder, has an
eccelltricity willi rc,spccr to the cenler line or Ihe girder. This eccentricity can be
ex pressed by
(2.14 )
They h;lVl' eh('-cked for several cases ;1I1d tlIen II;I\T concluded that 1'01' b/R
greater than 1/3 the conlrihution of' this torque loading Illay be important and
should be included ill de[ermining 10[al internal I'orccs and Illolllents.
To racilit;llc the inclusion of tht.: contribution of the lorque loading. Appcndix-

c: gives rcsnlts I'm X,./R (=Crc) and X,(=C.,cI I'm a wide rangc 01" variables. These
rcdundanls. after hcing nlultiplied by the value of c in Eq. (1.14), may be added to
those obtained for a vertical load of Ib pcr lincal n. of horizolltal projection
gl\'cn in Appcndix-B. TOlal IllOlllents due to hOl.h c.rrc.cts may [hen be found by:
(2.15a)
(2.15b)
(2.15e)
2I
'Eq. (2.10) Ihrough Eq. (2.12) should be uliii/,cd in the above equations
together with:
m.., ~ R(I. cos GI) (2.16a)

I11SI = R sin 4> sin o. (2.16b)
III 11 = R sin 1> cos o. (2.16c)

III rl • m xl and 11111
represellt bending and torsional Illomellis in the girder due
10 a uniform torque loading of ft.lb pCI' linealI'I of horizonlal projection wilh
the redundants equal 10 1.('.rO. 1\1 every poinl along the longitudinal ceilier line or
the girder Ihis diSl.riblJled torque aels aboul a horizontal axis lange-ill to the center
lin c.
Foll()\Vin~ Scorc!elis appro;l\:.h :In analysis or the helicoidal staircase under

study. ~ivcn III An. 2.3, is carrid oul and thl'- H'-sull,llli internal forces arc shown
in the Table 2.2.
Tabll' 2.2
Mr Ms M,
(lb.!"t) (I b. ft ) (I b. ft )
<1>~ 13 -4776 145HH 2016
<1>= 0 '9"4 0 0
<1>~ --13 -4776 -145HH -2016
II IS ovscrbcd Ihal torsional and bending 1ll01l1(.~.Il[S obtained by the Bergman's

Sollllion IS vcr\, lIluch highe,r lhan those by Scorde.lis' solution.
2.5.4 Sortcomings of the approach

The re-sulls oblainc-d by tbis approach IS some what approximate for the
followill1; re;ISOIlS.
I. Helcoid"j staricasl' is sharply rved lIlelll be r for which bend i ng

lorsional ri1;idilics arc
"
computed as
Cli
Ihou~h the
and
mcmber is straight. and il IS
concclltraled wil Ii l()n~iILidifl<l1 ax is.
2. This Silllplilicalioll Ilcglects tilc sl"h ellel't of the helicoidal surface-i.c .•
neglecls the :lctual variation or bending and shearing siresses. along the
wid t il.
3. The claslic line. i.c-. the equivalcnt helix. is takcn as tbe centerline helix of
the helicoidal staircase wilhout :lilY proof'. But due 10 skcweness of Ihe
helicoidal sectioJl. lhc clastic line moves ncarcr to thl' axis of the helix.
CHAPTER 3
GEOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF A HELICOID
3.1 General IntJ'oduction

III Ihis chapler equalioll 01' Ihe middle surl'ace 01' Ihe helicoidal staircase,
direction cosines oj' the langcllls and normals, correlation between global and
local unil vectors, correlalion hetween glohal unit vectors and lheir derivctivcs.
expressions of l',lcllllary areas oj' :l helicoidal shell sections have been derived for
I'u!ure usc "' Chap. A alld Chap.-5. The erllll'IIls "I' diITer,,"I;al geomelry 01' the
11liddk. surface or tlil' helicoidal staircase whicll ll;lVl' hl'.(,11 de-rivcd ill this chapler
:Ire rcquiycd i'or L;aJcLlI:tlioll of coordinates of pOlnls Oil helicoidal surface, stress
I r:lIlSfOI"Ill111iOll, dc,riv;\liOlls oj' equilibriulll ('-<-Illatiolls. integration over helicoidal
sl'Cliolls c'/c. /3eclllsc or its clcg~IJlCe and brevity, vector analysis is employed in
Ihis tre<ltlllclll.
3.2 Parametric representation of a helicoidal surface

A helix is a SP;ICC curve gencralcd by llloving a poinl so thaI the moving point
IS always al ,1" fixed distance (R = constant) from a straight line called the axis of
the helix and t:lngelll. or which always makes a fixed <Ingle with the orthogonal
plane 10 Ihe axis.
The helix III cylindrical coordinales R, (I), Z is
r =
(3. I a)
(3.1h)
z ~ c~, ~ (11('ll} 'I' ~~, R lall n (3.1 c)

and in c.artcsioll coordin;llC-s
.\ ~ R l'OS 'I' (3.2a)

y = R sin $
(3.211)
1.~",Rlalln.
(3.2c)
23
.,
The position VlTlor I Ill:!)' he defined :IS
r. = (R cos (Il) i -I- (I{ sin ql) i+ «I) R lall u) k. (3.3 )
A right helicoid has a warped surface gCllcl"aled by nlOvlllg a straight line

louching a he/i,\. so lhal the 1I10ving linc IS always perpcndicular 10 the axis of the
helix. All hough III 1I\0sl applicalions lile gCllcralill!! lilll' illtersects Ihe aXIs or lhe
helix. the definition docs not requIre it. III :III ohlique helicoid the gCllci'aling
lillC lliainiaills :l ri.\l"d :lllgk wilh IIll' a.\ls. Till' wn!"d "helicoid" rerers 10 "right
helicoid" ill lliis chapler ;1Il(1 ill llll' slIhseqlll'lll l'1t:qlll'l"S eiIIH:.r III gcollletrical or
ill struClt!!";!1 aspn"ls.
I."
1\ surrace rnay be defined as rill' (oells of a point WilDS •... position vector!. III U Y
he defined :IS a "tlllclioJl or l\\In v:lriahles hOllrldl'd hy ;1 region. 1\ helicoidal

SUrJ':Il'C Illay I!lus Ill' <kl'illL'd hy llit, following. llin't' p:ll'allll~lri(,~ equations ill a
polar C()Or<!ill:lll' "YSlt'lIl.
r ::::::R,
(3.4a)
'I' ~ 'r. (3.4b)
z:::::: (II R [:Ill (/
(3.4e)
Wllere
Ri $; R :~ Ro
R lall lJ. ~ 111/211) -- rOllslall1.
- II '" q, '" II
til a cartesiall coordiJl<llt' SYSIl'lll
X :::::: R l'I)S til

(3 . .:e)
y ::::::R si II (11
(3.5b)
Z ::::::(/) R 1;111 0
(J.5e)
\Vhere
Rj ::; R <; Ro
-II '" q, <: 11
TIll' POSilioll \'tTltlr r 111:1)' he wri[It'-1I ;IS
L ~ (R cos tl') i + tR sill '1'1i + ('I' R Ian n) 1. (3.6)

Wile IT
24
The slope of a helix wilh Ihe horizontal axIS IS determined in the following
Illanner. The helix fils on a cylindrical surface. When the cylindrical surface
along wilh thc helix is developed in to a plane, the helix hecomes a straight line
making angle a wilh the horizolltal aXIs.
H
Then slopc. tan o. ~ (3.7)
2[m
and curve IcngJh. S ~ 2~R sec 0.
= H cosec n.
~1t~2~R)~-+
(H)2
3.3 Unit vectors along tangents and nO"'llal
The vectorial l'qutlliotl or IiiI..'. helicoidal surl";lcc. IS gl\'('_11 b) ill Eq. 3.3 as
~ RI(Cos '1'1 i + (sin 'IJii + (q, I,,,,.n) kl
~ (I< (OS 'I') i + (R sin <1» i + (I-1/2rl) '~k
In the slIhSC'<IllCl11 articles R and (~ will he In~;llcd as the' firsl ilnd the second"
parametric vari,lhl\.~s rcspeclivcly and will be represen!ed by 0.1_ and ("1.2.
'II =R (3.Sa)
,.
(3.:9b)
By fixing olle or the :II..: and varying the Ol.her. we gel a family of paramelric
curves Oil lhe sllrr~ICC. Tile langenl vector or the parametric lille for which ClZ =
co,,,tanl will be ,'alled Li a"d il aClually represenls Ihe direclion of n I. Similarly
[he langenl v('('.(or of" tile parametric line ror which (ZI == constant will be called !.I.
1\ unit veclor which i.'i perpc-l1diullar 10 both 11 <Il1d. 1~ I.C-. IS normal 10 the surrace
tS called binormal unit veclor and will be represenled by unil vcclor !l.
o
25
Tile first derivatives or the vector I arc
1.1 =cos<l>i+sinq'1
1. 2 = - (R sin <1»i + (R cos <1»1 + (H/2P) 

k
= - (R sin <1»i + (R cos <1»1 + (H/2P) 

k
= - (R sin <1»i + (R cos <1»1 + (R Ian a) k
= + RI(-sin <1»i + (cos ,p).i + (tan a.) kl
Now r.. 1.. r. ') IS a veCI(1I' which is perpendicular to holh I. I and r.. 2
! 1
I,I X L2 COS ~l sin o

cos 1 an 'p
R(sill (11 LIIl ~l i-cos ~) Ian 0. i + hJ
Now. we C.;lll ohlain 1l1l'. rollowing constants.
I:' = 1.1.1.1
F=L.1.1 ..;
G=I')[ . .?
,") . '1 '1 ').., ,") ')

H =1 L.t. X L.2 :::: I{..:- (Sill":' (P [<111":'o. + C()S~ ql lan- fJ. + I) = f{- sec"" o.
AI = vI:' = I
/\2:::: \!G = R set: c/.
E. F alld G ;IIT (":1111,'.<1 Jill' firsl rlllld;lI11CI1[,l! lIl<lt!lliludes. Sinc\..' F = O. lhc pararnclric'
lilles aloll); I.. I ;lIH! r. ,:2 ;11\', orthogonal.
26
The unit tangent vector along the radial i,c. along thc paramctric curve 0.2 =
constant is dcfincd by
t J = (I ..J./ A I) = cos i+ sin i. (3.10a)
The unit langenl vector along langent or a helix i.e., along the parametric curve.
a I ::: constant is defined by
12 = (I .1/A2)= - (sin cos a.) i + (cos cos a.) i+ (sin <1>11. (3.10b)
The unit bino1llial vector along the normal 10 [he sllri'acc is defillcd by
I.~c2
!!. = H = (sin sin a.) i -(cos sin u) i. + (cos u) 1. (3. ](~c)
The above ,Inec cqu:lIioJls involvill~ unit vectors can be represented by the
following malrix equation
[ ,,,' sin (I) (I

,]
[i:] ::: - si.n ~)cos(J.
sJn(~slll('f
COSql
-l'osep sin u.
cosu. sin o.
cos 0.
] .I
~
(3.10)
The- directions or the orthogonal unit vectors L'l. 1.2 and !l arc represented by r,
I. and S (solllclirncs b) respectively in the subsequent chapters. II can be noted
frolll the equations Ihal 1.1 is radially outward. L2 IS moving upward along the
lan!!Cnl or the 1Jcli:.....alld !l is oulward drawn normal 10 lllc surface from Ihe top of
the surface.
3.4 Correlation between global and local unit vectors

The correlation betwcen Ihe Ihree constanl ~Illbal unit vc-ctors 1.1 and .l. and
,he ,hrec ""ri"ble 10c,,1 lInil VeCI(HS Li, 12, "nd !!. h"s heen represcnlcd in thc Eq .
(3.10). This c<[lI"lion represenls Li .12 "nd !l in lenns of i. i and k.. To obtain
.' .
1,!, and
1.. in Ie-rms or L1, U and 11. we should revcrse- the relatioll as follows:
'!
27
] IJ [~
cos", sin'" 0
cosepcosa sina
[- si,n <pc~)sa
Sin <jlSHl O. - coscjlsin a rosa
COS'" - sin <pcosa

sin $sin ex 1 [-\
sin <p cos<jl coso. - cosepsin 0. _t
[ z
o sin o. cos 0. II
(3.11)
(Note. IllverSl', or ;1 transformation matrix equals transpose or the same.)
3.5 Correlation between local unit vectors and their

derivatives
From Eq. r~.l()). laking derivatives
1 '- sill (Il COS~)
 cos " - sill qlensa OJ

o
[

l COS<pS11l 0, + sin epcosa o
r- sin'l' l
[~
cosq) - sill Sin,,]
co."1'
::::,-- cos qIC~)S (Y. - sin epC()so. OJ
0 SJIl q) C()sq)('osn. - COSepSIIl a
COS(IISJIl 0: + sin qH.:oso: 0 0 si 11 a. cosa
o
- co.'ifY.
sill 0.
n
(3.12 )
3.6 Elementary lengths and areas of a helidoidal shell

section
The helicoidal shell is a three dimensional body. Any arbitrary point on this
body is dcl'ined by lhe three. curvilinear coordinatcs R (=: 0.1). (= fl.2), and y. Rand
 define the middle surface of Ihe helicoidal shell, aDd y derines the
perpendicular distance or Ihe point rorm the middle surrace. y is positive if the
point is above Ihe middle surrace and negalive ir it is below the middle surrace.
Then for an arbitrary point within the Shell, we define the positive vector
where. [ is Ihe position veclor 10 a point on Ihe surrace.
!l IS unil vector normal 10 the surfaces. and
y is a coordinate mease-red !'rom the r(',ference surface. through the

thickness. along !l (0: I. (!-2). The I"y.J .0.2 and y arc bound by some values that derine
the shell boundaries.
The magnitude- of a differential clement 01" length is then given by
= d9, . d,l, = (dr + ydn. + dyn.) . (d[ + ydn. + dyn.1
= (dr. d[) + y-7 (dn. . dn.) + (dy)2 (n. . n.1 + 2l' (d[. dn.) + 2y dl' (dn. . n.)
+ 2dy (dr. n) (3.13)
We can rind Ihal
d[ d[ = E (d" [12 + 2F (do. 1 d"2) G(d" 1)2

7
= A 12 (dUI )" + A2(du])2 Isince F = 01
d[ dn. = L (du.I)2 +2M (dul d'X2.1 N(d,x 1)2
= 2M (du]d(X2) Isince L =N = 01
tiL. elI. = (11, I dUI + ll, 2dU2) .(11. J do.[ +!l, 2 <1(2)
= (11. I n I) (d,x 1)2 + (n. ,2 n -. ~

?)(dr,?)2_. + 2 (11, I n,2)(duldu2)
=(~~ LL + -
M
A~ u) C~ AI
LI
M
;\2
L2 ),(dul)-
N N
A-;-
+ (M LL +
....
A:2 L2 ). (M
Al
LJ +
A2
L2 ) (do.1)2
+ ?~ A
.
(L I
LJ +
M
A2 u). (~I LJ +
A2
N
L2 ) (dul dU2)
29
=[(~S~ (:s }d<1iJ2 +[(~ f + (:s~ ]cd(12)2
+ [(LM? + M~)l (d<1ld<12)

A]- A2 j
=(:S(d<1I)2 + (:,f (d<1,)2 I Since L = N = 0]
!l.11=
d!l.n=O [Since d!l lan~enl 10 surface, !l normall
dL . n = 0 (Since d[ lall~CJ1l to surface, Ii normal]
Thus it .(o'/ows Ihl
+ tdy)" + 2y [2M(da tdrI2)] + 0 + ()
+ (4My)(d<11 t!(12)
Now rccoglllzrllt! lhe rael lhal
A2=Rsccn
M = sill CI.
{It" R
+ 4 Y sin <1 dRd</J
[1+ Iy sin 2a/2R)21 dR2 + R2 sec" a [I + Iy sin 2<1/2R)2 I + (dy)2
+4 Y sin CI. d.Rdq)

30
+ (dy)2 + 4 y sin 11 dRd<j> (3.14)
From the definition of (ds)2. if is ciear that if we isolale a shell clement of

thickness dy al an aliilude y from th middle surface, the lenglhs of the edges or
the clemelll arc t!ivcn by
d s, (y 1 =\1 [f + .' (.sin

:I R-. 211)2.1
I(d R ) - "]2
I I
2 4
+ L
2 (.'-'-.)
2 4I (L 'i"-ly.)4
R + ..... ] (I R
ysill2o:"'-
( .. _;;-_._) "] dR
( Neglecting higher terms)
(3.15al
d S2 (y) = R sec a [I (3.1511)
ds~ = dl'
(3.15c)
and the COITcspolldillt! area c1emellts of 1ill' rOITCS ar('
=[ I
" sin
+ ~ ( ~-I;-'-
2 ,,)2] dR d/.
(3.16" )
=[ I + ~ (~--R---)']
\'sI1l2c1.-
. .
R sec rt d<j>d/. (3.161»
CHAPTER 4
ANALYTICAL APPROACH
4.1 Introduction:
Although the computer program, developed hy the author adopting thick shell
("illite clement computer program of Ahmad. and presented III the following
chapter. can analyse and design a helicoidal staircase. rhe program IllUY not be
avajJ~lhJc 10 everybody all the limes. So an analytical solulion ror analysing the
helicoidal staircase IS warranted.
An analyticlli solutioll for internal forces (and lllOlllents) ill a f'ixcd ended
helicoidal slaircasL~ with uniformly distributed load has heell given by Scordclis.
In rile prcscill cl1aplcr analytical solution or the SHme ror hinged-ends has been
developed and prCsl'lllcd.
The cross sC,l'lioll or a IJelidoidal staircase IS a skewed rCl:langlc. The usual

forlllulas for a,\ial, hending, shearing, and torsional stresses III a rectangular
section are nOl applicable 1'01' precise determinalion or stresses in a helicoidal
staircase. Till' formulas for determining stresses have also been de ri ved and
prcselllCd in the presell! chapter.
The Assumplions perlaillill& to Iile analysis arc as follows
'1. The malerial is lincarlv elastic and hOJllo~eneoLJs.
2. The bClldill~ :lnd torsional slif'f'ncsses 01' a warped girder (Ihcre('orc 0(' a
helicoidal surfacc) may be defined by thoSl~ or slrait!llI rriSmHtic member.
3. The unit load is distributed uniformly over the width or lhe girder.
4. The slrUClllrl' may be studied neglecling ~lIlY slab cl'f'ccis.
5. The cross-sl'-Clioll IS considcred symillctrical ;i1HHlt two principal axes of the

c ross- sect i'oll.
6. DCrOrlll<llions due to shear and direct forces arc negligible slIlce these arc
smallellJnpared 10 IIH' deformations caused by I\\'islin~ and bending moments,

32
4.2 Equilibrium Equations

In this article equilibrium equations for a helix element are being developed. These
equations are required to determine shearing stresses in the subsequent articles. fig.'!.!
represents a helix element "'f!ithloa.js as '!'ell as fones and moments acting at the ends
along their positive directions.
Projection
line
Fig. 4.1: Equilibrium of a helix element.

33
Taking eqllalibrilllll of all force veclors we gel,

,
(f'I12 + d(F112 1) + [Ps!l + dCFs!l») + (f',.ll + d(F,.lt ») .. [FI121 .. (Fs!l)
(FdT) - qRd<p!s. = 0
f1 {
dn dFs dll d F,.
{Fl~~2 d [dFt d Fs dl-'-'J [!~] + IF, Fs F I

oo
0 0
.cosa.
sill a.
J[ I' ]
-~ ~
d {(~I:~'+ F,l'oS " . qRsin" ) (~~s. F,.sinn .. qRcow X':~:. F,l'OS n + Fssin n )}[ ~] =0
So t!le .l'.qU:llioIlS arc

dF
_I:::: -Frc()s(J.+q/{sillu
d,p (4,1 a1
elF"
/-";']'sin 0: + ql< COs 0.
d,p (4. I b)
dF,.. .. .
-;::: 1.\ ens u - r.s Sill {Y.
d'l' . (4.1 c 1
TakiJl~ all [lie mOIllC-1l1 \'cclors as well as IlHHllCnls or all forces aboul A and
neglecting all tenllS or derivalives or order higher [han one, we gel.
Rcd<p12= 0
=> J[dM,
!~~.dq' d~1..o. d~!..r: l[!~]I +
M 1 M s M,. I
. dl2ld,p
dn/d
drj> tlrj>
s
(~I 11
s r
LO>doJ [ ,
o 0 sina !l
=> [(dM(1rj>+ Mr
t
cos 0. + liRe)" ("dMh
tlrj>
+ Mr sin CJ
-F,RSCC")
(
d~
-
tll~
- M1cos ('f + Ms "-' CI.
Sill + I.s R seeD:. )J [~]=()
"
So Ihe ('quatiolls are
(4.2a)
(4.2b)
(4.2c)
4.3 Determination of internal forces
In Ihis '''''''ysis. Ihe helicoidal slaircase has heen ,,,sumed as a helicoidal

girder i.c. a helis del'ined by Ihe ciaslic line or Ihe helicoidal surface. II is assumed
Ihal the elaSlie line has Ihe same bending and torsional slillness as those of
original slrUClure. [3ul Ihe elaslic line is nol dcJ'ined by Ihe cenlerline of the
skewed reclangul"r seclion. II has been del'ined as Ihc locus or a point on the
middle surface or Ihc helicoidal slaircase seclion where Ihc bending slress due to
tile binormal bending momenl Ms as \VeIl as radi:lI bending mOlllcnl Mr, is zero, .
The eccenlricily of load h"s "Iso been calculaled from Ihis line.
35
In Ihe present anicle analytical solulion for internal forces (and moments) at
botb ends binged about radial supp0rl line (i.e. Mr,6 = L II = 0) will be developed.
Similar so!ulioll ror internal forces (and moments) in fi .xed ended belicoidal
staircase wilh uniformly dislributed load bas been given by Scordelis.
4.3.1 Geolllctl'Y of thc StructUI'c
The gC{-~I-l'l'ellry or the helicoidal girder Illay he defined. as shown ill Fig. 4.2a. in
le-rllls o~r j'ls ('c,lIle,dine radius R. horizontal <Ingle. f{ . angle of slope n . width b. and
dcpl'h h. The 'tlc'lieoid Illa)' he c.ilhcr lert-hand or l"igl1l-I1;IIHI as shown III Fig. 4.2a.
Sign cOllvc-llsioll for (~, alld in!c'rnal rorees IS taken different from those of
Sl:ordcl is.
4.3.2 Dcgrecs of indctcnninacy
(a) Bol h l'nels fi",e1:
To!al Illlllllwr or unknown reactive forces (;ilol11; \viih IllOIllCllIS) is sh at each

support. Tot,1I !lu11lher or unknown reactioll IS twelve. For a space structure,
11 lllllbcr or independelll equations availahle IS SI.\. SO Ihe structure is

indelcrminatc. 10 six dc~recs.
(il) 110111 enels Ilingeel:
Total lIumher or ullknowtl reactivc I'orces (including moments) IS nve al

each support. To[;l1 !lullIber of unknown reactioll IS Il'll. For a space structure.
!lulilber or il}(it'pendc!ll cqualiolls available IS SI.\. SO [he structure IS

indetermina[c. [n four degrees.
4.3.3 Choicc of Unknown for Analysis

Thl' SlrUC[lll"C ;IS \Veil as Ihe load IS symmetric aboul the centerline (a radial
Iinl' al = 01 Dill' 10 Ihe symllletry it can be COIlCluded t hat at the center ( al = 0)
Ihe binormal shl' ar F\, the hinormal momenl M,. Ihe axial force FI, and I he
twisting mOIllGnlS M1 are IT.ros (Appendix-D.
By sciccling. [ile rcdulldanls al [he mid span or a fixed ended uniformly loaded
he-licoidal ~irdcr. only [wo redundants Mrc and Frc among. the six rcmuin 10 he
.'1~-
Left-Hand Helicoid
Z2
lUght-Hand Helicoid
(a )
x
xx
/~E
(b)
Fig. 4'.2. Positive direction of rcdunctants.
37
solved. olhers heing eqllal 10 zero dlle 10 symmclry. Blil for a helieoida' girder
hinged aholll l\\'oeXlrcme radial lincs at suppons. only onc addilional condition is
given Ihal Mr. (, =:t. [\ = 0 (Ihen by symmclry Mr,o =:t. 1\ = 0). This eiondilion givcs
the rclalionship hetween Mrc and Pre. and only one remains to he solved.
4.3.4 Analysis of helical girder
4.3.4.1 Both ends fixed
The helicoidal ~irder IS :Jlla!Y/.cd for a LJlliforili vC'r1ical load 01" I Ib per lincar
1', or !lori/ol!!:tl projection of Ihe girder longitudinal aXIs. By selecting the
redundanls al llIidspan, '1I11[ lIslng prinl:ipks of s)'llInll'lry. a[1 hUll\\'O of III e
redundants bCCOllll' l',qllal 10 I.e,ro. The Iwo n:'<!1I1HI,11lIS ;11 lhe midspan cui arc: Xx a
horizontal I'orce ill the direction of the X-axis (= Fr at (I) = 0); and X r a moment
acting aboul 1111..'X-axis (=Mr al tP = 0). ThcSl' ,Ire shown with their positive
direclions in Fig. 4.2b. J\ JllOllle1i1 vector is showlI with a double arrowhead. The
vector in<!ic;lIl'S Ille ;I.\is aboltl which Ihe 1ll0llil'IIt acl'-; and the right hand rule
should he- t1sc,d In detcrminc tile direction or the 11I01lll'll\. The vectors arc along
the. positive loc;iI unit \'ect(HS. This Slgll COI1\'C,IlSiOll IS also used 10 derive
equilibriulll cqu;lliolls. and llle given Fig. 4.3.
The hl'lldin~ and IOrsional lllOIlle-llls at ~ln\, seclion or the. girder Illay be found
by using Ihc cqualions givcll helow,
Mr = W 11111"\\ + X.,lllr:.;: + Xrllln + e I11rll (4.3'1)
Ms:::: \\' [Ills". + X:.;:IllS\ + Xrlllsr + e IllS[[ 4.3 b)
M( ::::W [Illl\\" -t- X.\111["-t- Xrlll[r + e Ill!!! (4.3<:)
where
III rw- Ills\\,. and llll\\" represent hending and torsional mOIllCllls ill lhe girder d 1Ie
to lhe uniform load or Ih pCI' lincal rl or horizontal projcctii)ll wilh Ihc

redulldanis equat 10 I,e-ro. Al allY localioll rrolll midspan these may be expressed
by sIal ics as rot lows:
III rw = -I{ 2( 1- cos (1)) ( 4.4a)
Ills\\' = -R~(- sin ql) sin (j
(4.4b)
o
Ill!\\, = -t-R-((Il- Sill «11) ens ('/ (4.4c)
- ;:~:
.
.','- .
:;
I
I
t
//
. )
Hori"ontal line
.1' ._- r
!fl!'
~ b
Left-!land !lelicoid lhglJt-!l:lnd !lelicoid
Fig, 4.3 Po~itive direction of bending and torsional moments.

39
m r;.;. IllS,,_ and IllIX represent bending and torsional momenls in the girder due 10
Xx ~ 1.
Il1rx R( sin <1» lall a (4.5a)
Ill" ~ + RI(sin <1»cos a. +(<1>cos <1»sin a Ian a.J (4.5b)
IllIX ~ + RI(s;n <1» sin a. - (cos <1» sin 0.1 (4.5e)
III rr. illSI" and Illlr represelll bcdnillg and lorsional moments ill the girder due 10 X r
::::I.
III IT + COS l)l

(4. 6a)
illSI' ~ + Sill 'I> Sill

" (4.6b)
III I\\' = - sin (I) cos o.

(4.6e)
III n. IllSI- and Ill; I represent bending and torsional mOlllents in the girder due 10
uniformly distributed uni[ torsion I~HOllgholil Ihe girder and Xl' and Xx arc the
solutions or till' I.:qu:lliolls
1l1r[= -R(I-n)s(!)"j
(4.7a)
tnSI +Rsin1llsinCl.
(4.7b)
(4.7e)
(4.ga)
(4.gb)
where (;'s ;lIT tile relative displaceillents between two ends of the cu! section () f
the belical C~IIJ1jJc\'cr ~j rdcr.
o.w ~ III -fl

R sec 0. t1q> + III
-Il
Ills.\
EJ;
111~\,.
R sec" t1q> + III -Il
IllIX
-oj
InLW
I R sec (Y. d<l>. ele.
General fOrlllUJ;ls for each or the rivc displacelllcnlS or a helicoidal cantilever

girder needed in Ihe_ solulion or Eqs.(4.Xa) and Eq.s.!4.7hl have been derived and
arc given ill till', /\ppctldix J\. They arc expressed in lerlllS of' the scmiCCnlri.l1
40
angle ~. angle or ,slope fY., centerline radius R", and the bending and torsional
stillnesses. Using these formulas Scordclis solved Xx and X,.. and prcsented thcm in
tabular form which is given in Appcndi-x-B. and Appendix-C.
4 . .1.4.2 Both ends hinged
By selecting the redundants at the midspan of a hinged ended uniformly

loaded helicoidal ~irdcr, only Iwo redundants Mrc :::: Xr . and Fn: ::::Xx among the six
ones remain 10 he solved, others being equal 10 I.eros due 10 symmetry of structure
,IS \VL:II as S)'1111111'lry or load J\ppendix-B. But for a helicoidal girder hinged uooul
[wo extreme radi:ll linc.s as supports, only Dill' ;l(ldilional condition IS given lhal
M r, (l ::::.:t. I~ (l (1'v1r.(') ::::- I) =M r, (l :::: f) ror sYIl'llIll'lry). This condition gives the
I"C-Ialiollsilip between XI and Xx. Then the structure remains statically
illdetennin<lle 10 nile dl'-~rcc.
In order 10 solve Ille problem. the. 1lll',ll1od 01" COl1sislenl deformation is

followed. The. structure IS madc slatically dctcnllinatl' hy cutling thc helicoid at
the midspan in such a way tllat no radial 11101lll'Il1 call (kve.lop in the midspan.
Theil the redUlldallt III Ollll',n I is only Mrc (;:' X rl. Xx will appear as a f"ullclioll 01" Xr,
The displacclllcllts were calculatcd using lllClhod or virtual work and were
exprcsscd ill lerms or displaccl1lcnt of a helicoidal cantilever girdcr.
Analysis '1'1". lielieoidal girder IS allalY/cd for a ulliform vertical load of I III
lincar n or !l()rilolll~lI projection or the girder longitudinal aXIs.
The aelu:II loael Ull the rele:lsed structure Whell the aClual ulliformly
distribuled load is applicd on Ihe released structurc (hingcd at midsp[l1l such that
M rc = 0). only ~l llorilOlllal rc.aClion Xx\\.' dcvclop al midspan in sucil an amount lhat
il in addition 10 tlie actual load develops a radial moment at support equal to zero.
= _R211_ cos <pi + X,,,, I-R(<iJ- sill <iJ1 tall" I
I«sill~ Eq. (4.4al. alld Eq. (4.5a)

41
Mr, $ =:t [I = _R2(1_ cos 11) + Xxw (-R([l sin Il) Ian (X ) = (J
(l-cos[l)
=> Xxw =::; - R
(0 sin 0 tan a ) (4.9)
(l-cosll)
Assuming Xx\\, = exw R, Where Cxw = -
(fl Sill 0 tan a )
We c:ln conclude Ihal each of Ihe helicoidal cantilever girder, made by

separating the helicoidal girder of Ihe- problem al the midspan. is subjected 10 a
uniformly distributed load of ullity. and a radial reactive force al the rrcc end (at
rile midspan of' aClu:d girder). Under this load. the <lellial bending moments of the
released helicoid;ll ~irdcr arc:
1'tnv = I1lrw + C'x\\' R Illrx
J1.sw ::::Ills\\' + ex\\' R Illsx
The virttlal loa cI on the releasee! structure: When the 1Inil positive
III o III C III IS appl ied Oil Ihe bOlh sides of Ihe i III C- I'll aI hinge of Ihe released
helicoidal girder. Oil Iy a horil.ollial force X.\1ll develops al midspan in such an
amount Ihal it. III addilioll 10 the lIllit mOlllelll, develops a radial momenl at
support equal 10 I.cro,
rtr ::: III rr + XXIll III rx
::: cos ) ([l Ian Il Ian <1.)
I
Where ex III = -- '--~----------
II I an fl Ia" "
We- cOllc-luck lhal each 01" the helicoidal carllilcvcr girder made by separating
the. helicoidal girder of the problelll al the 1I1idsp.ln is subjected to a unit moment
and a radial rl'-;lClivc force at Ihe free end (al midspan of "the girder). Under this
load. Ihe bending rllOnlGllls of Ihe released helicoidal girder ;IIT as follows:
,
42
rtrm 0:: Illr]' -I- (CxmJR) Illrx
11.sm ::::Illrr + (Cxl1l/R) msx
1"t.tlll =lllrr+(CXJII/R)1111X
C<llcul:ltion of disll'<ICclIlcnts Rcl •.lIivc angular displacement between

two ends .al the inlcrnal hinge of Ihe released helicoidal girder due 10 actual load
IS
R sel' " d,~ + III -fl

rt.Lw1"tlm
GJ, R s"" a d<l>
(4.1 J)
Relative <1I.1gular displacement between two ends al Ihe internal hinge or the
due 10 the un it virtual load is:
11.11ll-_
[I,
,
R Sl'l' " d,p +
fll
-fl
.)
Rscc"dq,+
f ll
-fl
R sec a dq,
( III rr -I- (~.'\lll III rx /R l~

----- --!~------- R sec a d<l> + .
o! r
[lllrr1llrr + 2(CxlIl jR). Illrr I1lrx -I- (Cxm/R)2(lllrx Ill,x)!

--. R sec a dq,
(4.12)
43
Condilion 0(' COlllpatibility: The relative angular displacement at the cut

section s"holiid he zero. Using the principle or superposition. we get
=> Xl"= ~ (fI.,w/fl.rr)
Assuming CI = X, / R2
We can ~el C, - ex\\' + C,,CXIl1 (4. I 3)
II IS casy 10 observe Ihal [he above solution bCCOlIlCS a trivial solution when p =
IT, 2][, etc. and/or (I. = (). Theil another solution should he obtained in a different
way. In Illal case. the rl~dlllldani is assulIled Xx instead of Xl"' and Xr is expressed in
lerms 01' Xx. Following the Pr('ViOLIS procedure. the following results arc found.
C,W = (sec Il - I)
Crm = Ifl tall 11 tan 0:)
~r\\ = 0xw + Rerlll 0rw + R2 Crw orx + R:; Crill Crw Orr
I~r\\' = 0xx + 2(Cnll R) Oxr + (CrlllR)2 Orr
Xx = Cx R
She:,r ('orces and .IX ia I forces: The equations for radial shear Fr.
tangential thrust Fl' and hinormal shei.!," Fs al any point are obtained by resolving
the two forces 011 (he helix ill [heir respective dirccliollS.
44
The two rorces VI = 'P wR and Frc = CxwR arc resolved into
F, = sin ,> - Cx sin cos <>1

wR 1<1> (4.14a)
cos ,> + Cx sin sin

Fs = wR 1<1> "'.1 (4.14b)
Fr = wR I o + Cx cos <1>1 (4.14c)
Tabulated values ror the redundants a' midspan or a unirormly loaded

hc.lic(,)ic!a! girder hinged ;11 i,t:s ends have heen presl'-llIcd for a varily of design
variable 'L Il. alld b/u III Append is-E.
Once values oj" XI' and Xx have been known, it is easy to dci"crminc the inlcma!
momenl and i'()l'Cl.....; frolll the. expressioJl s givell helow.
Mr = w Imrw + Xxlllrx + Xrlll IT (4.15,,)
Ms = w lms\\' + Xxil1sx + X rill Sf (4.15b)
M, = w Im[ '" + .\;-.;1111.\ + XrJl1lr" (4.15c)
Where tbe v,dlles or llI.s arc g,vcn by Eq. 4.). EllA,!,. a"d Eqw. 4.7. It is 10 be
noted that ir Rib is small. eccentricity or load should be taken into account.
4.4 Internal force-stress relation

The cross~sl',cljoll having tlte minimum seclional arC~1 of a helicoidal staircase
IS a rectangular olle. The usual j'orm'-lulas I'DI' axial. hending. shearing and
torsional slrc-ssC'-s III a rectangular section arc not applicable ("or precise
determinalion or stresses III a helicoidal slaircasl.:. [n the following articles
formulas for stresses have been derived I'or dirrcrcnt shear n:sullants"
For dc!crlllill;llion of bending and shearing siresses III any prismatic beam
either straight or curved, il is assumed in S"trcngth of materials books thai plane

scction through a hewn taken normal lO its (/xis rl'H1aills i)/UI/C l~/ler the beam i.,"
\
45
suhjCClcd to bendinl{ (Navicr"s hypothesis) and also assullled Ihal matinal is
Iwmo~cnfous lind lil/fllrly elastic. (Hooke's law).
Similar to thl'- above mentiolled assumption for a 1H.'licoidal staircase section it

IS assumed thai
1. A skewed section lhrough a helicoid taken 110rl11:11 10 its middle surface

remains similarly skewed after the helicoid is subjected to bending.
2. The material is homogeneous and linearly elastic and the clsutic modulus is the
same ill tension and compression.
The above J1lc-nt'ioned Navicr's hypothesis IS a special case or Ihe firsl
assumptioll. I3ecause when skewness reduces 10 /cro. the skewed section becomes
pianc-. The second assulllption is the Hooke's law.
4.4.1 Stresses due to bending about binol"lllal axis
The I'lcxure thenry ror space curved skewed rcctangular hal' is developed in
this <Ir1icle. Ollly lhe elastic CiISC is tre:lled. \villl lIsu:lI provision thai Ihe claslic
modulas is thL", S;lII1C III lension and comprcssioll.
Consider all elclIlcnl or helicoidal staircase projeclion 011 horizontal surrace as

shown III Fi~. 4.4. Till' oliler ribers arc al a dislal"'c R" frolll Ihe cenler or
curvature o. Tile IlltH:1" fibers are at a distance Ri. The distance frorn 0 to \hc
nulral axis. IS I~ (nOI yel kno\\'Il), The solution or this prohlem is based on the
assumption !\ skewcd scuion will remain same skc\vc,d artcr application or the
bending [\lomcnt Ms. This is diagrallllllalically rcprcsellted ill Fig. 4.4 by the line
ef In relation 10 all C!c,1l1Cllt or the, beam abcd. The cklllcni IS dinned by the
celltral :Ingle.
46
Fig. 4.4: Bending about a binormal.
Al1hough the ti.l$ic <leforroation 8.5Suroption is the same 8.5for staight team. a <lifficul1y
is encountered. The initial length of a team fiber such 8.5 gh depen<ls upon the ra<lial
<listance R. Thus, though the total deforro8.tion of teatll fiters (<lescrite<l ty the Sro8118llgle
<l.j.)follows a line8J' la,,'. strains <lonot.
I ' <ls2 -Ro','

- ". ""1:; •..... « II + {I""'v~.,'.
'. ,'1.1 .• \.-.. ",111 0;:( "',\2]j!
J".•. ' " "
The elong8.1ion of 8.generic fiber gh is y d8. ".There
(R - R)
/
47
The strain f of any arbitrary riber is
<'.1 (R-R)dO
£ -I
R sec a. d<l>
The normal stress of' any arbitrary ribcr is
dO
. cos 0..
d<l>
For futurc rd"crcllcc it is noted that
tan a. = (H/2[l) R
=> R = (H/2ll) col a.
silllilarly I{ = (H/2I\1 col 0.
c. (R/R) = (COl 0.1 col a) (4.16)
)
and dR = 111/21\,1 (- COSl'C- 0.) (4.17)
."=EC:~) ( I ~!i)
R
cos 0.
BI
' COlO..') cos 0. (4.IX)
::::0
( I - ----,.
COl. IX
dO
Where BI = E constant ror a specified value or Ms-
d'I'
Eq. 4.'IX gIves the normal slress distribution aClill~ 011 the cross section of
space curved skl'-wcd rectangular beam. The location or the neutral axis follows
from the conditioll lhal the sUlllmation or the forces acting perpendicul.ar 10 I h c
seclioJl at the location or the ltelilral axis must be l:qual to I.ero. i.e.
4X
IF, = 0,
L (J cos (0: - 0:) ciA
f R=RO
R=Ri
(I
.
_ col
--- ex.) cos
cola
0: cos (0: - 0:) clR cly
(
I _ COlO:,
cOla )
cos 0: cos (0: - 0:) (- ~1) cosce2 a cia
,
cosec"'" 0. do:
ai
. I ) sin20. {COl a - 20.} - 2cos20.111 Isinal
]
(2'" i 11 (1
[
0.0
[ sill 2uleol tJ.i - eO!fxo}
___ .__ 111(sin !J.o/sino.j)'l

=> ti.\n2o.
(COl 0:1 - cOl au) + 1 (o.j - (lo)
I I In (sin rtO/~illO:i)2
.'. 0. = 21:\11-1 oj (4.19)
(col CI.j - col 0.0) + 2 «(Xi - ao)
H
and R COl n. (4.20)
2[1
Check.
-- ::!.(Ijsin '"Xi) l'osaj 2sin fY.jCOSOj

I jill tall 2rz = 1,]11 2CJ:j
- l'osec2fY.j + 2 1- 2sin2 CY.j
49
Now the location or the neutral aXIs is known. [he equation for the stress
distribution is obtained by equaling Ihe external moment 10 the internal resisting
momenl buill lip by Ihe slresses given by Eq. 4.1 X. The summation or moments is
III ade arround the binormal axis, s-axis to gel Bl.
= fA cr cos (a - a.) .(R . R) dA
= Y=I/2 fRO HI( I .. COla.)

-- cos a. cos (a. - a)(R. R) dR dy
f
=(H~:l~2f. a" R=('I{i. ~o~c) ~~:Isaocos 1"_ "I (.~II(Y._.. 1.)('_ ii.)' coscc2o.do.
cOIn. C() 10. 2[3
(:13III{ 2~.; lano ('~~~_t

2s
_.._-)'Ja.
111f1 (;0"';0.
i
{sin2l'1:c()[:\ 0. - C:~('os~()'.+ sin2acoL a) CO\2 0.
0.0
+ (2coslu cow. - Sill In.) colO. + sin 2aco[o.ldlJ.
+ (sln.\o.+ cos20.sin 0.) cot a
0.,
+ (CIlS ~O_) III [ sill 'luI -+ 12sin ~o:)(1] do.

a11
= lB11R2) I'PI!"., "it. 'PliO., a.o)1

M, (4.21 )
:. HI ::O:~~2 ' _ ------ ~--
I'p I (0.. a.i). 'P I I", "0) I
M, "'I - co I
=;R2' I 'P I I" 'J;) . ,P-;-I ';~';.;;)I ( col U ") cos 0.
= M~ ("Sill (u - 0, )') t
(4.22)
IR""' ~ill o. I{PI(o.,(J.j)-CPI«(J.,uo)1
I , ,
Whne I(PI(u., fXi)::.: '1 \l'C,:,ul- {sin2cxcos 0.) CO(Lo. + (sill~(J.+ cos2o.sill fl.) COl 0.
+ (cos.1rd III I sill 2a! + (2sin ~(i)(2rY.) I (4.21)
Tile. equalioll 4!! show, lilal lhc. [l(HIll~11 slress due 10 binormal bending IS
dist'ribulcd sinusoidaly along the width or tlle- helicoidal staircase. The ncutral axis
is Ileal' tlic celliral helix, hul at the inncr sidc. The 1ll<l,Xilllllm normal strcss is
50
developed al the oilier periphery of Ihe helkoidal staircase. It should he

mentioned Ihal the direction of norlllal stress at any point makes an angle (a - a)
wilh Ihe tangclllial direclion of the helix through Ihe cenler of the neutral axis.
Thlls Ihe normal slresses develop torsional moment M( and out or plane shear
force Fs in addition 10 bending moment about binormal aixs Ms. But no radial
shear force 'lxi-II ron:c. and bending mOlllenl around radial axis develop.
= f~ 'cr~in (0: - 0:) (R - R) ciA
=f l/2 fRIl Bt(1 - ~.:..) COs 0: SIll (0: - 0) R (CO((!_ -I') dRdy
-1/'2 R I coin COlO:
f'" (I '0'--'.') ('I"" ,'h". - co,,,. - I) coscc20:do:
'",'","","J'" , ,,,,,:'"':":,",,
,, ,,""
(Iltl R ) ( ~:;) co' " ,in ,,) (COlO:.
o.{l
= ill I III 2 ) C-<lSU.[ 1:",:1" { -~ COl2 0. -In lsi nu.t} - .11",,2u.I-coI0: - "J + 3Lan" lin isino.! J -0_]
("Xi
M, (4.24)
"2I,COl""' O. - In IsinO'1 } - .~liln2C1.{~C()IO: - (J. J + 3Lano: lin
(4.25)
ISif'l: -01..
= a Sill (fJ.-CJ..) dA
A
col
--~
CJ.) cos a sin (0. - (1) dR dy
cOla
. 011
=Bll (I
COlO:)
--- cos o. sin (n. - (1)
(. 1-1)
- -
,
(cosee--- a) do.
O'.j
colO:. . 2fJ
51
aO
(1311) CDSO [ !S""o {COl ('I. + 0.1 - 21<lna~ln IsinuI}-C1.
]
o.i
= (13rIR) I'p",(". ai) - 'P)(". ao)1
Ms ['P)(u. ail - 'P)(o"' all) ] (4.26)

MI = Z;;-:-;;I~I
R- ~rl(,' ~-';~)~'r-I
\Vhc.rc (P3(a, 0.) = co:-;o. 1I<111'2(y'(colO. + 0:) + 2 l,-Ill O. I In Isino.l t -0.1 (4.27 )
4.4.2 Inplane shearin:,: stress and radial nnrmal slress due In bend in:,:
~,ho1J1 hinormal axis
Ir I Ill'- e1C-Il11'tll. shown III Fi~. 4.5 is subjecled 10 a bending mOlllent Ms at an
cncl. and Ms ...• elMs al the olher end, bending stresses an: developed. From the
clement in Fi~ 4.S:\ a plank IS isolelecl III Fig. 4.Sh. Tht'. ('orc-cs acting Oil the plank
along: IhC-fDund"r)' arc F "nd F + "dF.
F = (j SIll (u ~ 0.) ciA

/\
= IFill fR=RO M ;;it,(a-a)

"
I
-----dR ely
y=-I/2 R=R' IR2 Sill (J. I'PIIO. 0,) - 'PliO. ,,")1
M, I-=-'~),-I 'P4(0~: -) - 'P4(a. ao)1 +sin ,,-I 'P,(),~:I

- 'P,(a. ao) JI
=- It Sl'.C 0.
'P I (a. a.i) - (P I (0. ()1I1
_~ S ,-:r d M.~ IC<lSO-I'P4Ia. a-) - 'P4(". "oil +si" ""'I 'p,(!'. ,,') - 'P,(O, ao)r1
P + tiP = SCt' (Y. ------"--------------"------------
R 'PI(o. oil - 'PlIO. Oil)
__ .. _ dM~ ..cos
~~. __ C1. 1
R sec" el4' eI(P CDS () RRI
I CD S " 'I 'P4i,r'. 0') - 'P4Ie" "II) I + sin a"'1 'P, I". () ',1 - (0. all)) I
'P:>
'PI(O. "i) - 'PI(a, a" II 1
52
Mrs in Ct. + Fr R sec Ct. Cos ex

.. Tn = TIT RRI cos ex
leos ,Y,'{'P4(a" a:) - 'P4('I, a,o)1 +sin a'['Ps(a, a-) - 'ps(a, ao)) I
(4,2H)
'P I (a" ail - 'PI (a, ao)
Where <PLl(O., 0.) = sin a(a + col O~)+ cos aln Isin aI (4,29)
<rs(a. , a.) = sill 0.(0: + COlO:) - sin aln lsin aI + cos Ct.. (1 (4,30)
The Eq. 4.2X reveals l11at Tlr nOI only depends 011 Fr. bul also depends on a
component or Mr. This componen[ becomes /.el"O for ('J. = n.

. ' Mr sin Ct. + Fr R.sel' l~
Tn, nW.\i = ttl', IlLl:>; =:; tIl" (0. = a) =:; - - I~R (
leo s a I (P 4 (ex, C'l ',) - (r..j (0. , 0. () I + sin a. { (r 5 (C'l , ex ') ~ (r 5 «(1. , Cl (» I J
,--------,- ._---- ----
'PI(O, 'Ii) - 'PI(O, (0)
MIs i 11 0: + 1\ R sec a 'P6la" a,il - 'P"l<l, a,o) ]

(4,31 )
RRI [ I'p I (a" ai) - 'P Ila" 'IO)
(4,32)
21tj~~-"i<'J d'r/2IJ
(R S('l' 0. dql L) cos C!.
__ r- ~.'2sa <I<{>
R sec 0: cos 0. d<jl I
F ('.os u.
RI
Ms cos (J
-RRI co s 0.
leos '1-{'P4Io., a:) - 'p~(o., "oil +s.o o.-{'Ps(o., 0.',- 'PSla, o.o)} I
--_ ..._--------~---------_ .. _._ .._._---- (4,33)
'P I (u, ail - 'P I (u, 0.0'
,
\
\
\
\
M
s
( \
\
\
\
(a)
F +. dF b
Fig. 4.5: Determinat ion of 'Jl't and Or.
/
54
4.4.3. Bending about a radia1line
Consider a helicoidal staircase segment as shown in Fig 4.6. The element is subjected to
bending about raJia1a,:is under the momen1 J.ilr. Determination of bending stress is the
present prol>1em.
----
dR
(t/2-y)
o (a)
Fig. '4.6: Rotation about radial line.
/
55
Displascc-IllCIlI or any point P due 10 the radial hcndin!!- . 61 yd9
The original length or the nbcl"
I = R sec <X d<l>
. . ~l y dO
slr:.un. f ::: I
R seca d<l>
y dO
stress, (Jt ::: Ef ::: E
R sceo. <1<1>
\' d ()
---_._--~--_.
=E
(11/21\) col n sec n. <lq'
= ( E (1I/2rn 'ill \ l' sin 0.

tltl) )
::: 82 Y sin e1-
\Vhcrc 13'2 IS a cnslanl for all" Mr.
Taking sum or llie stresses aloll!,! lhe tangential direction or the helix
=> CT cos (0. - f1.) dJ\ ::: ()
= fRO fY=I12.+L' Il2 sin 0. cos (0. -- 0.) dR dy ::: 0

Rj y=-l/~+c
This condition shows thai c ::: 0, which me-ans, !leutral axis passes through the
111 i d die SLi ri'acl'. () r [he hel icoidal girder.
= f 0', Y <lA = ()
=B2
f f Ro
Rj
1/2
-1/2
)'2 dy sill U dR
56
=~ B2
.
or -
fRO
Rj
sin C1. <lR
Ui
Ian 0-
S 0.0
COSCCCf. dR
_ il2 lJ coSel~ ao + coL an

R tan 0. In -~--~---
- 12 cosec o.j + coL D:j
M,
(R l.:'jt2) [<Ill C1. 11I((c()Sl~L' 0.0 + col O.())/(r.OSCC tY.i + co! Uj) I
_~_~ .._ .._'~. -- ..--.---- ... ------ ----------,-,.- . Mr Y sin (X (4.34)

(R ,: /l~l [;III n. 11\ ((COSl;C 0.0 + col U.O)/(l'OSl'-C O.i + cOl fZj) I
K Mr Y sin o.
The. cqu<llioll 4.34 shows lhal the normal stress at c,ilhcr lOp and bottom plane
IS distributed sinusoidally along the width. Stress IS also propotional 10 y.
MaxilllulIl sln.'.ss develops al lOp or hottom 01" inller periphery.
4.4.4 Oul of pl:lne shearing stresses
II is easy 10 observe Ihal
(4.35)
On a plale like clemen I as shown ill Fig. 4,6h Slim of hending slress is F1
= J A "I <lA = f l/2
Y
K Mr Y sill o. <lR .<ly
<lFI (K/21 <1M, 1(12/4) - y21 sin C1. dR

(Rseca. <It!» <IR R sec C1. <It!><IR
57
( 1\1I cos a. - M s sin ex - Fs R sec a)

(R" /12) I"n a. In ((cosec a.o + col 0o)/(cos['e OJ + COl ail}
sin 20..') ,., (4.36)

X 4R (1"/4 - d
Taking sum or shcari'ng: stress lIS
~ fIn fRO KI------

sin a cos ex
2R
-1/2 -Ri
______ ~(I~~sn sec (Y. + Ms sill ("'1 - M[ cos (Y.)

(o.i . (0) (4.37)
2R tall C/. III 1 (cosec 0.0 + coL ao)/(coscc fli + eol ().i) I
4.4.5 Torsional slrcss
In dcrivin1! torsional slress, it is astltll1lcd thaI Ihe rcl:nivc rOlation of 'any
fiber between \\Vp cross sec-lions IS same. The twisting angle 'of any longitudinal
fiber 01' Ic-ngth tis = R sec (l liq) is same and equals dO. Since the ribcr 01' the inner
has less I h '111 [h "I or ouler edge. S" Ihe reI! i vc rotal ion "I' longitudinal
c-dg.c 1e1lg.lh
fi hers <.IrC'- I,H~cr Ih an [h", or ouler fibers. I[ IS al so assumed thaI stress
distributioll silllilar 10 Ih"l or 1011 g: rectangular scclioll.

IS
dO
"
=R~z-(I~
=c
R sec Cl
~ C"-(~~)l'
= c '-.~-----'_!_--------- l'
(R I a 11 (Y. lO 0 I 0.) ( sec (Y. )
= 133 Y sin u
Where
"-
13' - --_'C.. ---
R 1" 11 r,
dM =
S 11:' <lA. Y
-_.JI/2 B, )'sin (Y l' dl'. dR

-1/2
58
=
f
B3,3
2 Sill
.
dMcDS(U-a.)
a. d R
(4.38)
Where 13:-; is l,:Ollslalll and depends on Iwisling IllOIllCIlI
alld (P7::;:: sill O'.lll ISlT U I + sill (J. Ian 0.. 0: (4.39)
elM sin (0. - 0.)
i'px(u, Ui)' 'px(u, uo)1 (4.401
\Vhcrc <px(o .. (1)::;:: sin 0.. (l - sill fY. Ian o.ln Isill 0.1 (4.41)
.'
4.4.6 Axial Siress
ASSUlllc (J ::;::n.:.t.
This wiH be altained Linder a displacemellt stich thai the section will rotate and
lranslate. as tIll'. generator helix.
(J cos (U --, 0.') d A
B4 t R I'PX(<>, o.il . 'P9(U, u.o)1 (4.421
,
59
Where 34 is a cOllslanl depending on the llxial force
and
'1'9(0:,0:) sin 0.. cosec a + sin a. Ian aln Icoscc O. -- col 0: I (4.42)
= f cr cos (0: - 0:) (R - R) d A
(4.41)
Where 'PIO = cos20 .. cosec Cf.- sin2o: (cosc-c a COl fJ.
+ 3 In Icosec C1. - col 0.1) (4.44)
= f "sin (II -- II.) (R R) di\
.,
Slll- 0.
Where (PII:::: - co: ..;2 0: In Icosec rz - COlO. n - --,- { (cos('.C fY. cot (Y.
+ I" Icoscc 11- col 0.1)) (4.4(,)
Gsin (n--n} d/\
= 134I R I'PI:'I". "-i) - 'PI:'IU, un)1 (4.47) .
\Vherc <PI2(o.. Cf_j) == lall ri..leos 0. In Icosec (1. - COl 111 + sill 0: cosec al (4.4X)
4.5 Decoupling of stress resultants

From Ihe equ'llions presenled in Ihe pr;v;ous arl;c1es ;1 can be seen thai the
siress rc'-sullanls 1'01' dille-rent types or displaccllll'IlIS arc allaincd in coupled form
I.C. for a specific Iype of slress Ihere are dillerelll Iype's of Slress rCSUIl<lIlls.
60
So prior 10 the (!clerminalion 01" slresses, the slress resultants should be deeoupled.
To decouple the stress resultants, we can proceed in the following manner.
For a displacemellt corresponding to the coslanl B 1,' If Ms = 1

I
1
'I'2(a, ai) - 'l'2(a, an) ]
Then M[ = Illis = -~~-----~-
[ \'I'I(a. ai) - 'l'I(a, an)
Mr=mrs=()
Similarly for :l displacemellt corrcspolldin~ [0 the constant B1. if" M[ =
Mr=l1ln=O
Conslanl 134. i I" F, '" I
= ,
m sl = I~ ---------
['Pln(o., ".j). - <PI.n(a.o.n) ]
. ['p<)(a, O.jl - <P9(a,an)
MI ~
.
111 It ~ I{ [<P 1 '.(0..'. ",) - 'P II (0. un)]
['I'<)(<l. 0 j) - 'P9(a. an)
CoS/ani 132. i I" M,. ~
M s ~ msr ~ 0
M!=llllr=O
F,~I",.,.~O
o ..
~;.--~~
61
Assume uncoupled stress resultants as
By superposing, we get
Mr = Mr'
Ms = Ms' + IllSl . MI' + Ill'SI FI'
So solving tile. above equatiolls, we gel
F,' = F,
Mr' = Mr
•
"
(Ms - 11l'~1 F\) - 1lls1 (M, 111'11 FI)

=- ---- -~---_._._------------
M " 1- IllSl IllIS
III 'II Fl) - Illls(Ms m'~, PI)
1- IllSllllls
Now. assullling the independent slress resultanls Fl' Mr'. Ms' , and MI' we can
rind the sl.reSSl'S in a structure. or uniform lllall'lial using l'orlllulas 4.19 through
4.4X. Stresses Ill;lV he superposed for dilTcrcll1 stress resultants.
4.6 Design Example
Following lhl' all~J1ylical approach presented above, 1.111 analysis or the

helicoidal staircase tinder siudy. given in Aniclc 2.3. and Fig. 2.1 is ci.urid out tIIH.t
the re-suIUlIlI internal forces arc shown in thcTtablc 4.1.

62
Table 4.1
Mr M, Mt Fr F. Ft
(It.11) (ltf't) (ltf't) (It) (It) (It)
~.= B -3187 -29254 -3437 (I 4559 9360
40= 0 412 (I 0 -52;12 (I (I
to= -p -3187 +292~,4 +3437 (I - 4~)~\9 - 9360
CHAPTER 5
FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF HELICOIDAL STAIR SLAB
5.1 General
Among thc available numcrciaJ methods, finite clemcnt mcthod is thc most
versatile and powerful IDOls for analyzing slnlCIUfCS or complicated shape with
arbitrary boundary condilions. In the present s1udy, this mClhod IS used to
invesligate Ihe hch:lviour of' till'. helicoidal stair slah.
A computer program has been developed ror detail analysis and design of a
i'ixcci-cndc,d he,iicoid:11 slaircasc adopting the "Gencralil'.C'.d thick shell finite
clement COllllHllcr program" dcveloped by Ahmad.
5.2 Finite Element Method

In this method a slrUC!UIT can be thought of ,IS :111 assemblage of a !lumber 01'
interconnected L'lell1cnls. The behaviour or the overall Slnll"ILlIT- can he predicted
by the aCClllllllla!l'-<i cllcCls of each individual e1enWIlI.
5.3 Features of the Finite Element Computer Program Used

As stated earlier, Ihe ~ellcralized thick shdl rillile elernellt program devcloped
by Ahlll~l(1 has bl.:I.~1l used ror lhe purpose 01" analysis o!" ;-:Iair slabs. The salient
features 01" the sl1ell elc.lll('-llt tog.ether wilh the brief descriptioll of lhe program is
prescnted in Appr_ndix -G"
5.4 Further Development of the Computer Program

The original computcr program was generalizcd to a degree and hence
requires a large llumber or dala each limc whcn an analysis is 10 be performed.
Some or Illest' ~~ellc-ralil.ali()IIS are to be suppressed 10 suit Ihe problem of the

64
present study. The developed program can slill perform lask which the original
program could do. In rile- mode. operation the program requires data as an original
generalized thick shell program. and provides glohal stresses and displacements
only. On the olher hand III interactive mode or operation. it can analyze and
design a helicoidal stair slab. Hence the program is still generalized us before. In
excess, il can solve an additional specific Iype of prohlem. Complicated data
feeding operalion has been simplified to a large exlen\. Inleractive mode of
operation has made data entry an casy task.
Subroutine has ~l1so beell included 10 perform design along with analysis in a
single rUII. During design. the program dell'Tlllilles sicel area and also decides
whether the lhic"l-;ncss used ror the previous analysis IS approximately equal or
nol equal 10 Illal rc.quired for resisting 1ll01lH,.'llls. shears. axial force and torque:
and wants operalor's decisloll whether I'urther revision is to bc carried oul or not,
i.c .. the progr:lI11llle, recng.Jllses Ihc trial and l'.rror method oj" analysis and design.
5.4,] Modifications in the Program
For the purpose described earlier. thc provisions and modifications made into
the original program are cnumerated below:
I. Automatic division or the structure into clements.
2. Preparat ion of a simplil"ic-d view oj' the nodal reprcscntation of the struclUre .
., Automatic g.eneration oj' nodal coordinates.
4. Autolll:lIic fix:l!ioll of boundary points.
5. Automatic determination of adjusted lIllit weight to handle gravity and

uni!"ornlly dislrihLltc,d load al a lime as g.ravity load only.
6. Automatic definition of element topology.
7. Automatic transformation of global strcsses 10 local s[ressc-s.
~. Atlloillalic dcll"-rmin:ltioll 01' momcnts •.tnd forces.
9. Automatic design and commcnts on whcther I'urthcr revision In design IS
nccessary or not: it" rcvision IS to be done then probable thickness is also

indicated.
5.4.2 Basic Working Porcedure
The '(';forking pro(:edure can best be represen te ..j by the follo'\\ring f10'\\' diagr8.fll
in fig:. 51
M
I:::::~~!~m
if:
:'P
19m:
l:~:::
'if .
IA :::r:::: I:::~~::
F
R SFR I
MA1RIX
S o
FUNC 1= SCHEME
MODUL I
N
I SFR I
PImSS MA1RIX
I FUNC 1= SCHEME
T T
=1
S -I MODUL
T
J'.1ATRIX
E
R
E
S
S r
I ,,:CHENE
SP'R
I I =1
l:~~:: IW~~
.. 1
R
:Qit$i:illf> h,~:1
FIG. 5.1 FLOW DIAGRAM OF TIlE COMPUTER PROGRAM
66
5.4.3 Input Data
As previously mentioned, the original finite clement program required a large
number of dala. Rut for the specific Iype of problem of fixed ended helicoidal
stair, only a few items of dala which arc listed below arc sullicient to provide
necessary informHlions for analysis, and arc also sufficient to provide
informations necessary for design.
Dal:, DeslTibing (;eometry of the Problem
1. Inner radi liS of the slai r project ion on horizontal ground. Ri.
2. Outer radius of the sl air project ion on horizontal ground. Ro.
3. Height or Ihe siair from bottom fi xed level 10 lOp fixed level
(centre to eenlre), H.
4. Total slIblcnc!cd :Ingle 011 horizonlal projcClion. 2/),
Data Describing Elcm en l-S II bel i \'isi on
I. Number 01" circular paths which equally de-vides the slair slab on
hori/.ollial projection, Nco
2. Number or radial linc-s \vhich equally divides the siair slab Oil horizontal
projeel ion, N,..
Data Necessary for Loadin!,:
I. Unit weight oj' concrele, y
2. Uniforlllly distributed live load 011 hori/'.olltal projcclioll. LL
Data Necessary for Design
I. Allowabk ,Icel slress, i's.
Ullim:,lIe- concrete- strc.nglh, f'(;.
3. Clear COl'cr for stair slab. Ce.

67
5.4.4 Choicc of Elcmcnts for thc Problcm

The original finite clement program can analyze structures subdivided into
generalized thick shell curved clements. The gencralit.ed thick shell clements
Illay be curved 011 either side. The program is able 10 analyze assuming curved
sides either as parabola wilh one nOll-corner node in every side using 8 nodcd
c1emenls, or as cubic parabola with two nOll-corner nodes in eyery side using 12
nodcd clemenls.
III the pH.'selll study parabolic element has been used.
5.4.5 Division of thc Stai.- into Elcmcnts

A number or radial lines and helixes divide the siructure inlo a series 0 r
CIc-IllCllls as shown ill ,,-;Oig. 5,2. ProjeclioJl of the helixes on the hori/.ollial plane
<.lIT- acttlally circular paths. Tile radial lines 011 till', origillul structure arc also
radial line 011 rhe horizontal projection. Parabolic clements require one nOIl-
corner node 011 each side. So sOllle radial lines pass IhroLl~l1 the non-corner node.
SOIllC pass Illroll~h the corner nodes. Thc radial line which passcs through thc
corncr nodes as wcll as non~corncl' nodes will he lel'lllcd as major radial linc. ilnd
which passes through the nOll-('.ornncr nodes only will he tUl"llled as minor radial
line 111 the suhsequcnt chapters. Similar COileep I....; or major and minor circular
paths arc also applicable. The radial line al bOIlOIll will be termed as first radial
lillG. thG r"di,,1 lillG al 101' will be lermcd 'lS thl" l"st radi,,1 linc. Simil"rly the
inllermost circular path will be termed as the [,irst cilTular path, and outermost
circular path will be tc'nned as the las( circular path. The ['irsl and last radial lines
and circular paths arc. along the boundary or the structure. The radial lines arc
cquidistant (all~L1lar). Similarly tile circular path arc also equidistant.
II may he nOled thai 1"01"formation 01' clements cithcr number or radial lines or
number of circular paths would always be all odd integer. greater lhan or equal
(0 IhlTe.
5.4.6 Elcmcnt Numbcring Schcme
Element !lumbering schcme starts from bottom row of clcmenl and from
elemC-llls or inllcr side. The. innermost elemc.1l1 oj" the bOllom row IS the first
elemCllt. nex.t dement ofllle bOllom row (if" any) is tile second and so 011. Afler
49 63
- -- 10
@ 36
@ 62
----
---
'
8
9
35 -y
48
6/
'"TJ
;;.
'"
Q.
cr
0
c
"
Q.
P
,
'<
-
p
-
/
~
0
3
01
'"
x
Fig.5.2 Division of stair into t'lt'mt'nts showing nodt' and
t'lt'mt'nt numbt'ring scht'mt' and fixation of
boundary pointsa.globalaxt's. r-'",
69
bottom row, next higher row IS taken into account. This scheme or arrangemellt
results in IlllnlmUIll possible front width and solution scheme IS faster. The
scheme IS employed Ihroughout Ihe program and shown in Fig. 5.2
TOlal numher of clemenls
NELEM = ~ (NR - 1) (NC - 1)
5.4.7 Node N lim heri ng Scheme

:~
All intersecting poinls or radial I-inc.s and circular paths excluding all
intersecting points 01" minor radial lines and IllllleH circular paths arc nodes.
Node Illllnbcrillg starts from Ihe bottom end o/" Ihe l'i rst circular palh. When
Ihe node numhering o/" Ihe /"irsl circular palh lias been complcled, then
!lumbering follows Ihe second circular palh' and so 011.
The firs! node is al the bOll0111 or the innC,l'mOSI circular path and the last node
IS at the lOp 01" the outermost circular path. The node !lumbering scheme IS
c-11lpl()yc~1l!lroughnlll the program and all example III silown in Fig. 5.2.
Total !lumber of fixed boundary node-s
NPOI N =:1I (1 NR. NC + NR + NC -1)
5.4,8 Generation of Nodal Coordinate
The nodal coordinates describe the geometry or the slfucture 10 be analysed.
The original finite. element pr0t!-ram requlI"cs Ihe coordinales or the top and the
bOltom points ror every node-. Every node is considered 10 lie at the mid surface or
I he shell.
The llod,,1 c()()rdinalcs are- given wilh respect III global cjarlesian coo rd ina I e
systems as shown III Fi~. 51 The glllbal ax IS X IS along Ihe /"irsl radial line LC.
along the bottolll fixed boundary. the axis Z is along the axis or the hclixes. whose
,,-.
/
,
/
z
Parallel to y axis
r
\
FIG. 5.3 GLOBAL AND LOCAL COORDINATES AND

RELATION BETWEEN THEM.
71
projection on horizontal plane is the centre oC the circular paths. and the Y axis is
along the orthogonal direction of XZ plane. The orthogonal axes X- Y -Z follows
right handed screw rule. The plane XY IS horizontalThe coordinates of 101' and
bOllom points can be determ incd by the following: formulas. :
. TSina Sin I'
R Cos + 2
T Sin" Sin 

XhOIl0111 ~ R Cos -
2
T SinrzCos 
YIOp ~ R Sin 'P .-----
2
T Sino. Cos 
YhOllOlll ~ R Sin 'P + 2
H T Cos a
~-q) +
q) 2
H T Cos rz
ZhOll0rll
~- q) -
 2
The sllbpro~ralll ) NPUT gellerales the nodal coordinates.
5.4.9 Determination of Boundary Points
The main program requires the deciaration or nodes wllich arc fixed in all
dircctions. ['or the analysis and design of a fixcd ended helicoidal stair slab. note
thai (he extreme nodes al the. bottom most and at the lOp mOSI end of every"
circular path IS fixed III all directions shown III Fig. 5.2. In this conlext a
subprogram 'FIXEDB' has been developed which provides the main program the
informations about the fixed boundary nodes.
Number of !'i"'d boundary points NBOUN ~ 1* NC
5.4.10 Simple Nodal Representation of Stair
For interpretation or results it IS necessary \0 know the stresses,

displacemcnls. IllOlllellls, shears at a nodc and the corrcsponding location of the
nodc an thc slructurc. II' the rel:llivc locations or the nodal points arc readily
available, it will bl' help!',,1 10 inlerprele thl' results. It will also clarify the
\
r
(,
~,:..( .
72
concepts or clemen I subdivision procedure. and the noding scheme to the
operalor.
II is nol possible to make a tbree dimensional piClure. Tbe curved projection
bas been developed into a straighl I'orm conceptually I'or Ihis purpose.
The subratine GEDMET(K) perl'orm this task. This subroutinc is IOtally
in~fc,pcndcnl or all calculations for analysis and design.
5.4.11 Dcfining Elcmcnt Topology
Once the coordinates or top and bottom point or each nodes arc known, Ihe
gcomcl ry or the structure will be completely defined by spcci fying the nodal
11111ll be rs associated wil h each or the clemelli. Each clc-mcnt IS topologically
dcJincd by its nodal !lumbers in a consistent right hand screw system. A negative
sign IS given 1'01' the !lodes appearing ror lhe las! lime during elimination
process.
This clelllent dc.l'illilioll IS automatically defined by l:alling subprograms. For

(his purpose, IwO difTcrenl suhprograms have been used. The subroutine "DEFINE"
defines tlemell! topology 1'01' only the !'irsl row or dcme-Ills ncar the bottom most
houndary. The subscqu~llt dCIilCllls ar~ derined by the subroutine "ELETOP".
5.4.12 Front Width and Orde.' of Elimination

The maximum Ilumher 01" variables to be handled at any time durin!!
elimination process IS the- Frolll Widlh. To carry out the analysis of a struclUre
uSing the mlllllllum computer sloragc. lhe- elements are selected In such :.I
seqllcngc- Ihal I"ront widlh IS mlnllllum. For simple struclUre, front width can
Width for the ordcr or
readily be determined by inspeClion. c. " Frollt
~.
eliminations sllowli ill Fig. A.".4(b) and Fig. A.3.4(a) are (,I) and 50 rcspectively il'
number or degrees (ll' I'reedolll per node equals 5. '(For shdl type slrUClure like
helicoidal staircase., degrees or freedom per !lode IS rive Ihree translational and
two rotational displacemellls. Rotation aboul a binormal IS taken zero.) Hence
order or elimin:lliolls as Fig. A.5A (a) is prcrcrahlc.

73
For a helicoidal slair slab, thc c1cmcot numbering scheme described earlier
corresponds to minimulll front widtb, and for thai order of elimination Froot
width KEV(l) = 5. NC + 25
5.4.13 Detennination of Adjusted Unit Weight

The rollowing typcs or loading can be handled by thc original program.
I. Point loads at nodes
2. Surface pressure
a. Uniformly distributed
h. Hydrostatic
c. any other type pre.scribed by nodal values.
3. Gravity
4. Temperature
5. Ccnlrirll~al force
Four loadint: ('.ases can scpcrately be Ir<,'all'd ,II :l lillie. or whi<.:h there can be
only one temperature and olle surface pressure prescribed by lIodal values.
For the analysis or helicoidal slair slabs ollly Olll'- loading case, gravity load IS
used The wcig.IJls oj" stcps, llllil'onnly distributed live. load including non I' finish
01\ stair have been included inlo the stair slab hy increasing the unit weight of'
slab matc.rial. Al this point the steps ;.Ire assu1llcd 10 contribute dead load only, and
nol 10 provide all)' addilional strength.
It IS obscrved lhat along the first circular palh the stair IS steeper than that
along the last circular path. For this reason the thickness measured vertically
varies along ;l radial line. although lhe slair slab IS or uniform thickness
throughout its IC-llglh. For this reason it IS found thai adjusted unit weight vary
along radial linc-.
In thc program developed in the presenl study. average unit weight ror each
lype of elemcnt IS determined. All the clements at lhe inner side have the same
adjusted unit I
74
weight 'frhich diffel's fl'om ths.t fol' the elements of the ou(el' side. So the numt>el" of types
of adjusted unit 'freight to be de.tel'mined is equ.'\l to the numbel' of elements pel" I"OW.Fl'om
Fig. 5.4 it is revealed that
F'Ig. "4
"', Dfttl'rmination
~ of adJ'ustl'd unit wl'ight.
Elementa.I'Y Volume,V ::;y(r de) dr
~leight'Z~r
75
Total weight 01" slab = w

=f2~ rR O
yy(rd8)dr
o JRi
= y (2~) I y r df
= y (2~)('"r) I y r
2 2 2[3
Area 01" horizontal projection. A = rr (Ro - Ri ) 2rr
Dead load or helicoidal sl:\b 011 'horizontal projection per unit area
W y (213) (I'> r) I Y' = 2 Y (dr) I L.':

=
1\ 13 (Rn' .R,') (R()2 _ Ri2)
Average rise 01" each step = h/2
Dead load duC'. 10 both slab and rise per unil area or !loril.ollial projection
2 Y (M )I r(y + hl2)
S 2 =--( Ko2. - -R- 2-)---
i
Live load 011 slab L1nit area" of hori/.olllal projection = LL
Thcfe['orc L1llil weight llluitiplicalion faCIOI'
S2 + LL.
F=---
SI
Adjusted unit weight. y adjusted = y.F
Note that adjusted unit weight IS independent 01" [3. and depends on limits 01"
radius. The subroutine "WEIGl-IT" determines the unit I"or each type of
clemen!. Elclllc,llls between the same Iwo circular paths arc or the same type.
Although the. struclure IS made 01' hOlllogeneous malerial, the malerial has
been made virtu.lIly non-homogeneous by differing lInil weight from clement to
clement.
76
5.4.14 T,'ansformatioll of Stresses

The original !'inite clement program gives stresses with respect to global
coordinate system as output. The global stresses can nol be used directly for
design. Thc global stresses arc to be transformed into stresses with respect 10 local
axes (called local stresses) to determine bending moments, axial forces, shear
forces and torque which will subsequently be requircd for design.
Trnnsl'ormatioll rule The stress is a tensor or order two. The state of stress
at any point C:In be complcl.cly specified by the stress tensor with respect to a scI
of three Illutually perpendicular directions. If the stress tensor corresponding to
y I-Y2-YJ system of axes is known, it call be readily transformed to any other Y'l-
Y' 2- Y' 1 system or axes with the help 01" the \vell known strcss- transformation
rulc.
w here
161' = Stress tensor ill. Y'I - Y'2 - Y'3 system or axes.
[61 ::= Stress tensor in YI - Y2 y~ system or axes
]Al = The dirc-clioll cosine matrix.
I A IT = Transpose of matrix ITI
This IranSronllalioll rule can best he represeliled by tlie index notation i.Hld
summation convention as follows:
6ij"= ,-~
.,
L
-'
<IiI.; au i1lj
1 ,,
k = I f J
<Jij is the stress tensor matrix with respect to unprimcd systcm. <Jir is the stress
Icnsor with rcspccI to thc primcd systcm. Here stress is Iransformcd f'rom crij to crij'
Whcre <lij is th~- direction cosine matrix or two sets or right handed cartesian
axes with dille-renl orientations.

77
The direction cosl11e matrix
" 1 " 12 " I 1
A ~ ("ij) ~ "21 "22 "21
"1 I "1 2 a11
w here
("11,"12,"11) ~ direction cosincs or thc Y'l "xis "ith respeci to the (Yl Y2 Y1)
axes
(a21, a22, "21) ~ dircclioll COSII1CS or Ihc Y'2 "xis with respeci to the (YI Y 2 Y1)
axes,
(a~ I. a~2. ,113) = dirc-clioll cosines 01' the Y'l axis wilh respect 10 the (YI Y2 Y3)
axes.
i.c. aij = direction cosine of the Yi axis with respect 10 the Yj aixis = cos (Yi '. Yj)
It should he nOled th"t the rirsl subscript indic"les " primcd aXIs and thc
second :.tn unprillled :IXIS. This matrix is not symllletric olle.
Direetinn cosincs or local axes with respect to glohlll tlXes (Referred
to Fig. 5,3):
Angle between X, Y, Z and t, s, r axes.

Axes Gloh,,1 X Y Z
Loc,,1 I ndc x I 2 :I
I I 7(/2 + </> </> 7(/2-D,
S 2 7(/2 - </> 7(-</> a

r ,1 </> 7(/2 - </> 7(/2
Dirction cosines
Axes Global X Y Z
Loc" I Indcx I 2 :I \
t I -sin cosa cos $ coso. sin 0:
S 2 Sill </>sinn -cos ~)sino. cosa

r .1 cos</> SIll </> 0
Therefore Ihe direction cosinc matrix is
.sin $. coso. cos Cos a Sill a.
A = (aij) = sin $ sino. - cos$sino. cos a.
cos SIn o

5.4.15 Determination of Bending Moment and Shear Forces
from stresses.
There arc six slress resullanls on a transverse scclion or the helicoidal stair
slab. These slress rcsul!;1I1ls are -
I. Asial force. 10,.

~ Transverse, shear I'orcl'-. Fs.
3. Horizontal shear force. Fr.
4. Binormal bending IIlOIllClll, Ms.
5. Radial bcnding mOlllcnl. Mr.
6. Torsion, M,.
On the olhcr hand, thcre :lrc three types 01" slresse,s 011 a transverse seclion.
Referred 10 (Fig. 5.51 llie Slress arc
There arc. Nt nodes til Ihe section. The slre-sses ~lt inlermcdiate nodes have
greater reliabililY. The intcrmediate nodes arc representalive of the area which is
Iwice lhe are~l the outcrmost nodes rcprcscillo The. oulcrnHhl nodcs have weighing
factor 1/2. In tliese COlllest llie following forllluia can lie given.
(0,)" ,"'C' = l(o,li.l + (0,)i,21/2

(TIS)" ",.,. = IITtr1i,1 + (Tt,)i,2112
(a')i, I ::::al slrc.ss al lOp of !lode
(a[)i,2 ::::a, stress al bOllOIll of node i. elc.
.. ' ...•.•.,
/
79
For determining stress resultants, a new node !lumbering: is now followed. At
every transverse seclion, a Illajor radial line passes through NC nodes. The first
node is at the innermost helix and the lasl node is al the outermost helix. So i
ranges from 1 10 Nc.
Again
ni = I(cr,)" ""'- I (h)
Vi = I(t")i_ ""'- I (h)
ri = I (1,r)i. "'-,- I (h) i = I, NC
112
Illi = l(cr')i,2 - IG')i,' 12
t i = I (t".)i.' - IT")i, , I (11°)
Here Ili, Vi. ri, mi. :lnd Ii ;Irc the axial force. hi normal (out or plane) shear
force. radial (in pl~lIlc) shear force. transverse hClldill~ mOlllent, and torsionul
mOlllent per unit width al i lit node respectively. I ranges from I to Nc.
In determining Ii IS assumed Ihal the section is a long rcclang:ular section, i.e.
bill IS large.
I
and [I = -- - 11.21 [t," [I -
:J 12
here width or the section b = R" - Ri
and thickness h = T
And
111 + 1'"c
N-- [ 2 +
v-- [V, +2 f ..
v.
F =[
f=f
1 2
..
v. +.
V:-I][fi
i~' NC _ 1
bJ
80
ml + m~C
M= [ 2
tl+t~c
T= [ 2 +
Here N, V. F, M. and T represent axial forcc. shear forcc, horizontal shear
force, transverse bending moment, and torsional moment at the relevant section
respectively.
The Binormal bending moment at the section is
These values will he required ror designing the helicoidal stair slab. The
subprogram "DESIGN" perrorms the calculation of Illoments and shears •.dong with
designs of' stair slab.
5.5 Designe Example

Using the computer progralll. an analysis oj" the helicoidal staircase under
Slutiy, given III Anicle 2.3. and presented til Fi!!. '1 is carried out, and the
resultanl internal forces arc- shown in the Table 5.1
Tallie 5. J
MI Ms MI 1'1 Fs Ft
= fl/2
 -2X42 +23540 415 (,800 +14354 +9498
= 0
 +144 0 0 3690 0 0
= ~rll2
 - 7X42 ~23540 +415 6800 14.,54 ~9498
5.6 Presentation of the results

Results obtained from analysis and design uSIng the computer program.
dcveloped are presentcd In the sllbseqllcnl pagcs. The displacemcnts, moments,
shears. axial I"orc('. variation along circular paths i'or full dead load and live load
are showll. The analysis. was drawn ror helicoidal stairs or subtcnded angles or
1200• 1800• 270° and 3600
(\
81
Data for the helicoidal stairs
Su1.>tended !nnel' Outer hight Thickness

angle radius radius
(degrees) (inches) (inches) (inches) (in.~hes)
120 9') 190 130 10
180 37 R< 126 ')
--'
270 25 75 126 6
360 20 70 126 10
For all Stairs

Y = 150 per
LL = 100 psf
fs = 18.000 psi
fi = }OOO psi
Rise of steps = 6 inches.
;(
y=T
~} 5
6t.av",
Fig. !i'.5 O",t£'rmination of mom£'nts and forc£'s

y
h 9
,
x \
BOTTOM \ _--
TOP
'r---
/
/
/
/
/ s BIN;RMAL
/ DIRECTION
/
I r
NORMAL
(a1 DIRECTION
TANGENTIAL t h
DIRECTION
\
\
\ - ---
'---M'
/ F. \
/
/
I
1
w
/
,F.
/
/ M.
/ I
e
Fr Mr I
(b1
Fig. 5.6: Positive directions of axes and forces.

I
GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF RESULTS
180 degree helicoidal stair
0.01 l
I
a Along Infter edge
I • .A.loni] center line

,..., ~
i
~
.J: .J
.~
<":, I
•
'-'
••
<:
. 'I
n!)().
41 !
e41 ,,
"
••
~
I
ii
a
•••
.~
III
,
ow
~ -<J{o!
.. ~I
•• ,,
.j!
••
>
41
""
I
j
~...-
--~---a------
/ ..
I
i
I
-D.er:.:.
(i 100 150 200
Angular dislance from bollom end (degree)
Fig, 5.7a: Deflection characteristics of an 180' helicoidal staircase,'

Ri=2',7" .Po=8S" ,H= 126" ,r =5"
10000
I
I 0 i.~lc'n',l
inner' edge
\ • a!(Jnq centE:!' iirl~
--':-~~~~':,:Jtel'
r
I
I
1 cd'.]"
-"~"-'-""'"
" ",
o
~
••
,~
)(
-<
-10000
o 30 60 90 12'.1 150 180
Angular distance from bollom end (degree)

Ri .37" ,Ro.GS" ,H=GS", T =S"
'"
•••
..l
, ,
-10000
r) 90 120 1:,0 180
Angular distance from bollom end (Degree)
Fig. sJb Axial force diagram of an 180. helicoidal staircase.

Ri=3T ,1<0=85" ,H=85" ,r=5"
6(,0
~
I fl
"
~"r
\
'0" \ Shear f(ll'ce 310n9 center' line
~
••G>
••• 200 r ",
1>1
•••
..I I
'"" l
••
II 0
G>
J:
1>1
•
G> •
cII -200
-••
••• •
0
-0.100 r \
'C"" f
I \
-600 I
0 50 100 150 200
~oo,r-----------------------------,
~
i
1>1 r O-"-'_B,
•••
..I
'"" 200 lI \\
••1\1 \
G>
••
r- l \Q".".,,-
1>1
••C o - ._~"'El--e_~=~BB~==----------.---I
-•••••
II
o
---a-~
........,~\
'"o
-"
'"o
~
1\1
-200 ~
I~
\\
R
',,-
I ~
-400 !
~! ~ _'_' ~ ..J
lOr) 200
Angular dlslance from bollom end (degree)
0
Fig.5Jc Out of plane shear force diagram of an 180 helicoidal staircase .
Pi"'37" ,Ro=85" ,H"" 126",T=5"
,..,
-"""
•••
~
••••
.c
"
II
••••
-.:•••
tI along inner~ edge
• along center line
-I 000 +-------,..------~---_--....,.---,.._--_!
50 100 150 200
Angular distance from bollom end CDegree)

Ri=.37" ,Ro=6S" ,H'"'85'., T=5"'
(I
,,
I
,..,
"
•••
..l -1000 ~
f
,
,
\
\
""~ \
••••
I:
"
l
I
't;J
'\\
••••" "
-••••• -2000 ~
\'1, of
-
'-."" ,.,//
,~
'.'EL __ --e-_.- e-."
••••
0
l
"" ,I
-;',000
I) 100 200
Angular distance from ballom end (degree)
Fig.5.7d: In plane shear force diagram of an 180. helicoidal staircase.

180 degree hel icoidal stair
Ri=3T ,Ro=85".H=85".T =5"
,..,
••o
.:
••!.
J:
.~
"l:
I
•••
-'
....•
••l:
So
E
COl
l:
,~
•••l:
••
III
-2000
o 50 100 150 200

Ri<~7",Ro""85" .H"S5".T =5"
of
-11)00! _'~ o
,.., I .{l'-
//
•••
"
.~l:
I
-2000
d
/
/
••• ~
-'
....•
••l: -3000 t /1
••e -4000 I
o
E
-••
II
o
-5000 ~ !
~
.' -00
-aU. rr I /
-7000¥
o 50 100 150 200
Angular dislance from bollom (degree)
Fig.sJe Radial bending moment diagram of an 180. helicoidal staircase.

J 80 degree hel icoidal stair
Pi=3T ,P,o=8S" ,H=8S" ,T=5"
-
'"'o
~
.D
•
alonrJ inn8f' ed98
alon9 centt~r' line
••
•
..,•••
T
"
c
•••
•••
'>J
.~
o
~
C
••o
I-
-3000
(I 60 90 J:?0 ISO 180
Angular di5lance from bollom end (degree)

Pi=<'~T.R.o'=85" ,H-=oS" ,r =5"
10000 Ir----------
, ---,
I
I
L
..,
'"' i
.~
c"
I
•••
•••
'"c
o
,~
~
o••
I-
, , ,
25 50 75 100 i25 150 175 200
Angular di5lancc from bollom end (degree)
Fig.5.Zf: Torsion ,diagram of an 180 0

helicoidal staircase.
180 degree helicoidal slair
300000,-- ---.
2000(;0 f-
••••
ii I
••I
,~
••
.J
100rl00 ~ .
'"'
•••
••
••
Ii o
o .
Ii
...
•••••
o••
.11
-100001.1 I ./...-8
....---
••
:£ -200000 ~----
r
--B-- -- _0'
-300000 :---------~---:------l.------ .J
o 100
200
Fig.5.7g:: Binormal bending moment diagram of an 180. helicoidal staircase.
~I
:':.'.1': "~."-"~
Gi
,I
/
,j
-0 O~ -j Q
, .'
/
j
::;(
: ./
-O.OZ, li S. --_9 '-C"/
;
,,
-0 '.!~.._'----.---"---.--, __L...- __ .~~ __ L-.-L-v.L--,,- __
--,.. 1
,';
Fig.S.8a: Deflection diagram of an 120 0

helicoidal staircase.
I.
120 Defjrcc Ilelicnidnl Stoir
~':'~'y:,",P'F 190",H="17';:". T" : r:~"
=' .Oe+6 r-------.-----.---------.---------~---.-.-~ ..
-.----,
I ,.0 i
j rr/ I
! ". ,,' I
."
,.,
C,' I
• ..:'-J~
I
iI
VI
r ,
~'
.L•
••c
~ r;
eo
e ".-::'
, 0
<. /!.~+r" ~LL.-.__.__...

____'__
,_~_~_ ~,_...J __
~. . .__•......
__'__ __
II
Fig.5.8b; Binormal bending moment diagram of an 120. helicoidal staircase.
120 Dourer: Ilelicci,J:;! Stair

;:::~"\}~~.,r:~;)'"190" ,H" 17~", T~',I (}.
! OOC'G :------,.-~~'_.-.- .,----- ..---.- ..------.- ----------~ - - - -. --- ---- ~---,
!
,... :
I
.c _1::._ !
o JJ'-- '-'n,
.
I
c
~
I (; +-----_ ...-.-.--.-..----. -i:~---------" ~ci,
--- ._- ------~---- ------.. ---- .•
••
-'
'"' "
,-~
•••
•..
.,
,,
,
~
.'e
o
\
e
'"
.~ ,/ \,
"••~ . ,,
[~_..c
\
c:I
I
- ~IO~"OO L~~_-,--_._
------.:.....
_,_. _ _-L-"-_ ..o......-.>---o.-..l._.-'-- •.I-.._ •.. __ .__-'-. __ ••._ .••_-..l-._
(I :") 6n Ge, i '.:() 1;~:,:.l
Fig.5.8c; Radial bending moment diagram of an 120. helicoidal staircase.

.._---. _., ..--_. - . -----_ ... .....-.-------.--
-
..------7}-:: :::.-:.:1'-------------_,
'", II
;.':'
.,
lj
i
i
\\ I
/"
::'-~
..
' -.,',-.,
..-.--.-.----
..
,..
----- ..
-- ..
f}---.- ..
--.-
..-.-
..
/
---.-.--
__
;
_
\
L
'"'
..
_._.
_
I
,
I
"
,.;' I
I
.i:~ 1
.~
;/ i
P !
-/-I1_.,e)!:,;)
I . /
-L--.._".'J--.---f!----',_---'C-.. __ ~ __ ~_
II
~..L_~~ __ ;,.._.~
5() ;00 lS0
Angtl/nr distance from bollow 0,,<1(degree)
Fig.5.8d: Torsion diagram of an 120. helicoidal staircase.
!;>o Dourno 1I01lcoilini Stillr

Pl.~')::,.',Ro" 190'.,H=- I ?).'.T~ 1(,..
2!)()O -;----.--~_:;
. ., --- -------------_. ----------- ._--------
,,
i
:) -~,---
.. ~: ,
...
o" "\'.
\
"
lOr.'
Fig.5.8e: Out of plane shear force diag~am of an 120. helicoidal staircase.

120 Dqwce !lclicoinal Slnir
-,~,t:,: (J -~ •. -----.--.-- .. -.- __ .__ ._ "'_, ._. __ •• _ •.

-- --~------~------ -- "------ ---
-------------~"I
II!
/ ,I
/ ,
I
I
i
••••• /
.'/' I
•• 1 i ..~
...
~,,~,
-1 ,(
./
II
(
y~
\
u.
~-~. ,
---. ~:t-
._./0- : J
,
-1 ,H)OO .1...----'---i... __ -'--_~ __ ~ _.l....__~'__ __.__ ..,__ .~...l. _ _.I
__.___'_.
;.', '"'r'. '11
'I. t,- il fin 1(y) ; 20
0
Fig.5.8f: In plane shear force diagram of an 120 helicoidal staircase.
170 DI~Qn:c 11::licoi(11]1Stair
..... _._--, .. _-_ _._._---~----_.._-_. -".

..
,_8
~.
f:(
100<;0 ~//;,:'(" I
/rr i
il r:....
j
----.----.--.----;_~-::-.2./--
••,/
w"
--------.----.---.------.----1
I
I
_.kl
,
I
I
----.~-_'_._--J..-__.,_ _::;....& _ __1
I\nglfl»r rlbt3nc~ from hot.lorn cnd (dr.qr'er:)
Fig. 5.8g, Axial force diagram of an 1200 helicoidal staircase.

360 DEGREE HELICOIDAL STAIR
,...
&.
.~
""
"-'
•••
"•e•
••
~ t"o
•••
:;;••
~
to
.~
•••"
••
:>••
-0.008
o 60 1:;:0 180 240 300 360
Angular dislance rrom bollom end (degree)
Fig.s9a Deflection diagram of a 3600 helicoidal staircase.

360 Degree helicoidal stair
Ri".20" ,Ro'" 70" ,H= J 26", T". 10"
<1000
,., I
III
•••
....,
""
2000 ~
i '\
•••• \
.t:.•• 1
III
••
o I
I \ t- El
-•••
"•• ,I \
\\ / \,
•••
o
••• -2000 JI I /
! I;J
o" \ '
j \, , /
I fj
o 100 200 400
Angular distance from bollom end (Degree)
0
Fig.5.9b: Out of plane shear force diagram of a 360 helicoidal
staircase.
360 Degree hel icoidal stair

R,:20' ,Ro: 70" ,H: 126",T: I0"
4000,---------------------------,
I(----a,
, '"
III
2000 J"""Q,
""•••
,., i \
-••
:; o~ \
••
....,
0'
•••• j \.
.t:.•• -2000 ~ '\
III
•• j \
-
.5
•"•
••• -'::000 ~
j
\
\,-'
-6000 .•I
I ~ __ ---'-__ ~ J_ __ ~ __ ___JL_ __ ~ __ ....J
o 100 200 300 400
Angular dislance from boltom end (degree)

Fig.59c In plane shear force diagram of a 3600 helicoidal staircase.
360 Degree Helicoidal Stair
RI~20',P,)= 70",H= 126", T = 10"
20000 -,----------------------------,
-2CJOCIC! ..L-~_-l __ ~_.l__~ _ _'_

__ ~_.l__~ _ _L.._~_-J
o 60 120 180 240 300 360
Angular distance from bollom end (degree)
Fig.5.9q: Axial force diagram of a 360. helicoidal staircase.
360 Degree Hel icoidal Stair

Pi"'20" ,PO'"70",H= 126". T'" I 0"
.... j
PI
'"~ 0'(',('0('
.~"
I
. .:... I !
i
~I ./8 /
J
\,
'
1 " \
,GI, I \
'"
"'"-'
1/\
,I \
••
100001/ \ ,! "
" I \\
I
1: , II \,
J
I
\
' I \
i.: \
•• t.) I
.~
e"••
e••
••
"•••• -20000
'000"
6
j
~
I
\
\\
\
I
I \
\
\ fr' /
••
•• 1 '
I
~ , b'!
-30000 ~I--~---~--~--"'---~--__~ _
o i00 200 300 400
Angular distance from bottom end (degree)
Fig.5.~q: Torsion diagram of a 360. helicoidal staircase.
60000 i
J ,6;
'"' .:JriOfiO J I \, /\
// \\
J:
'j \, ,"\
.~
"c I \
"
I
... ~OOOO j ,l \ I\
,
•••
\
I I
'-'
••
j ,
I \ I .
I
0 , I
1:
• i
i b I \
'"c -20000 -!,
I
,
••
E
/
I
" I \
\
/ I,
\
,,
0 1 \, I /
-~oooo,J,
\/
E
/
'"
.$
."c
••
CD
-60000 ~
j """
I
.
[j
,i
I
\
\; \//
-80000
1
0 100 200 300 400
Angular dis lance rrom bollom end (Degree)
Fig,59f Bending moment diagram of a 360. helicoidal staircase.

Ri=20",Po=70",H= 126",T= 10"
40000\) -r,-------------------------------,
'"'
I
J:
j
",
.~
C ;
2~)OOOO~
...
•••
!
'-'
III
E i
•
'"c
••E c.l
o i
E j
~
'""co: -:'00000 f'I-"--",u '.
.~
" I
••o
:r 1
-400000 -
I) 100 2t')() 400
Angular dis lance rrom bollom end (degree)
Fig. 5 .9g: Binormal bending moment diagram of a 360. helicoidal staircase.

'.
,- \
.r." ,
iJ
\
"-" •I
"
I -.:
-("C:U.c; ./
,..
'.
'j
'1'"
;.'
~
";)-~Y.'-,"',
) -,I
:.-<- •
. ;~''.) ~:'j ~-_ ..__.. -._- .•..~_. ..._.._l. . .__

•.......
__...
__,__
.••.• ..•. .•.
,t ,',. -----~----'- __J
~I . : :::(J : ;3') 240
0
Fig.S.lO:Deflection diagram of a 270 helicoidal staircase.
,.. 0.01
'"
J:
4<
"
.~C
...,
••
C
0.00
4<
e
4<
"
••
~
,l:)•••
•••
~ • [=4 inches
••
.!!
l'l [=8 inches
••• a [= 12 inches
••
:>0••
30 90 120 150 180
Angular dislance from bollom (degree)

Fig. 5.11 a: Deflection diagrams of an 1800 helicoidal staircase of
different thicknesses.
,..
...,
~
'"
••
:"••
-5000 • [=4 inches
l'l [=8 inches
a [=12 inches
-10000
, , ,
o '30 60 90 120 150 180

Fig.5.11b: Axial force diagrams of an 1800 helicoidal staircase
of different thickness.
20000
,..
-•••••
'W
10000
••••
-=••to
••
.I:
•• of
••C
-••
to
•••0
-10000 • l=4 in(~leS
~ 1=8 inches
a 1=12 inches
••
C " -20000 •
0 30 60 90 120 150 180

Fig.5.11c: Out of plane shear force diagram of an 1800 helicoidal
staircase of different thickness.
flOOO
,..
-••
•••
'W 6000 •
~
1=4 inches
1=8 inches
"•• a 1=12 inches
-=to•• 4000
••
i
~ 2000 r
.s
o
o 30 60 90 120 150 180

Fig.5.11d: In plane shear force diagram of an 1800 helicoidal
staircase of different thicknesses.
~.
I
30000
• l=4 inches
20000 " l=6 inches '
,.., a l= 12 inches
•••'j 10000
~
"c:
,~ o
"-'
c:
o
'0; -10000
~ -20000 ~
-30000 180 I
o 30 60 90 120 150
Angular dis lance from bollom end (degree)

Fig.S.lle: Torsion diagram of an 1800 helicoidal staircase of
different thicknesses.
,.., 10000
•••
~
" t----
~
I
,~
0
--+- "' .
/' ;J'
~
~ - J 0000 . ./f1'" //
'~" -20000 /.d

/
,
/
11 -30000 ,/~/ • l=4 inches
,:!
.••-40000
~
•••
••
llI:
-50000
o 30 60 90
"
a
l =8 inches
l= 12 inches
120 150
\ 180

Fig.S.l1f: Bending moment diagram of an 1800 helicoidal staircase
of different thicknesses.
,.. I--------------:::;~rl
-•••g
.D
.1
300000
.f--
.~
••••
200000
/'
.,e
••c 100000 ,/
o /'
e 0
~ I ~/
i -1 00000 ~ ,,/,A • l-4 inches

~ -200000 __~ " l~8 inches
• l""12 inches
E
~ -300000
~~-- ,
iii 0 30 60 90 120 150 IBO I !
Fig. 5.11g: Binormal' bending moment diagram of an 1800 helicoidal

staircase of different thickness<>s.
CHAPTER 6
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
6.1 General
The aim or Ihe presenl sludy is 10 invcsligale Ihe behaviour or helicoidal stair
slabs and make !lC'-cessary recollllllendations 10 Illlprovc the guidelines for their
design. In order 10 'establish the behaviour of' helicoidal slair slabs under the
action of' lIni-ro."l1!lfl~' distributed loads, the results of' chapters 4 and 5 arc discussed
in the foJt!'(,}wJj:n"g a1rFic"!cs. AI firs!, an attempt is made 10 sUlllmarize the different
illlpOrlanl fca-Iures ,of the behavior of' helicoidal sl;lin:ascs. Then an improved
design guide is proposed.
6.2 Behaviour of Helicoids ,I

I
A number or fixed-ends helicoidal staircases with uniform load have been
analysed uSing computer program h.ascd 011 Ihick shell rinile elcmenls. The
reslIlls or the analysis are presented along with some explanations. When internal
forces, devclopcd In similar hclicoids with different thickncsses. have bee n
plottcd, results wcre normalized by lllultiplying I'aclors such Ihal Ihe loads on Ine
structures were the same for all cases.
6.2.1 Deflection Charactc.-istics of Hclicoids:
Al a point. six displaccmcnts arc possiblc:-three tr~lnslational and three

rotational. But the- major consideration IS the vcrtical displacement. Four vertical
displacemcnt diagrams ror fixed-ends helicoidal staircases. with semiccntral
angles I Xoo, 120", ,160° and .1700, arc plolled in Fig, 5,7a,5,Xa, 5,9a, and 5, lOa
respectively. It IS noted that displaccment diagrams arc symmetrical about the
celller linc. II IS also nOlcd lhat maximulll displacement occurs at the center for
selllicelliral angle less thall or equal to I MOo. For helicoid with large central angle
maximum dcl'leclion docs nol necessarily occur at midpoint. The deflection due 10
Q
~-
104
cantilcvcr action incrcascs thc dcrlcction at all thc points othcr than the center
of the helicoid. It is also ohserved in from Fig 5.7a that the displacement of the
points on the inner helix is less than that of outer helix. The displ'lcement of the
poinls on the central helix is prohably the average of the above two. Fig. 5.11a
represents displacements of three fixed-ends helicoids having same geometrie
properties except the thickness. It reveals that. with the decrease of thickness.
displacement increases. hut the displacement IS not inversely proportional to Elr.
In ract the relative slifTnc-sses Ps and fJj arc involved here. Internal forces arc
developed according to the relative stillnesses. If hlh is high. then Els/Elr is

high and a high Ms IS ckvclopcd. Mr and M1 have relatively higher contribution
I
10 derlcclion. he-cause Ell' and CUI arc individual)' llluch lower than Els.
6.2.2 Axial Fol"Cc and Shcar Forces
Axial force diagrams arc :lnlisymtnClric about center linc. as scell in Fig. 5.7b.
5.Xg "nd . 5.9d. Maximum axial force docs not always occur a't the support. because
the radial shear force al the center eontrihutes to axial force. From Fig. 6.11 it is
noted thaI axial force IS approximately the sallle 1'01' all values of b/h ratios.
Inplanc she~lr force Fr is maximum al the cenler. as showll III Fig. 5.7d and 5.8 r.
when r~ is slllail. But when f1 is large it is not maximum al the center. It is
abnormally high "t Ihe support for 1\ = 90" and 1\ = (,00. Probably it is duc to
boundary efrec\. Wben blh is bctwccn 4 and X. it has lillie efleet on Fr. as shown
in Fig.5.lld. When 1\ is slllali. out of plane shear. Fs. IS llla.\Illlum near thc support
(Fig. 5.7e ..5.Xel bnt there arc several maXimums when 1\ > IXOo (Fig. 5.9b). When
blh is between 4 "nd X. lOs is almost indepcndent of blh (Fig. 5.11d).
6.2.3. Variations of Momcnts
M sis maximulll at Ihe supports for 1\ ,; 900 (Fig. 5.7g. 5.Xb) but. away from thc
supports for large ~ (Fig. 5.9g). Ms is almost inlicpendent of blh 4 < blh < X (Fig.
5.7e.5.Xc. 5.91\ The behaviour of M r is identical with Ms (Fig. 5.11g.). If thickness
is small the. helicoid may develop negative radial hending moment (Fig. 5.11gl) I I'
bill is large .. maximulll Mr becomes small and vise versa.
105
Maximum torsion occur at a point, some where between the midpoint and the
support (Fig. 5.71", 5.8d, 5.ge). II" thickness increases, maximum Ml increases. These
characteristics 01" helicoid is explained by the I"act that large thickness increases
the radial bending slil"l"ness. Since the helicoid is an indeterminate structure the
rad i al bend i ng III omen t IIlcrcascs as the rad i al hcndi 11g st i 'loess IIlC rcases. But
when blh becomes large. Els becomes high relative to Elr. Then, high Ms is
developed. In that case, the hel icoid becomes th i n. and shell stresses hecomes
dominant. For vcry low b/h. EldE I, becomes high. the helicoid behaves like a
b(,~alll or girder III space.
6.3 Comparison of the results obtaincd by diffcrent mcthod

The example III" Ihe helicoid. given In chaptn
, lias been analysed by
£IiIlerenl 1I1Clhods ;111(1 Ihe IT-suI I s arc cOlllpared In Table (). I a and Table 6.1b.
II IS found Ihal III Illosl cases, Bergmans solution highly overestimates the
I
internal forces. Being al the conservative side. Scordclis solution IS comparable 10
that 01" the ['illile clement method. But the results obtained by the analytical
method, introduced in chapter 4. arc reasonably comparable 10 the resulls 01" Ihe
finite c1emelll method. The results or this analylical solution IS oblai'ned by
analyzing the helicoid as an equivalent helix or radius R, instead 01" (Rj + RoJI2,
where R rere,rs to the ncutral aXIs for bending:, called the binormal axis, In
determining slresses in chapter 4, R is used to calculate internal forces, Stresses
have been computed, using Ihe analYlical method 01" chapter 4. and compared 10
Ihose ol"thc rinite e!cment analysis. The excellent kature 01" the stress caleulation
is lhat lhe .slress and the inlernal force relalion arc coupled. Dccoupling of the
internal forccs are required prior 10 slress calculation. Arter decoupling, it IS
I"ound that Mr' ~ Mr. MI'" M" FI' ~ Fl' but change in M, i; appreciable. The slress
due 10 Ms is normal stress. II is maximulll al lhe ouler fibre ( R = Ro) of thc skewed
rectangular section, Neutral axis is defined by R and always at the inner side of
Ihe cenlral helix. The normar slress due to M, is distrihuted sinusoidally along Ihe
width or helicoid as revealed by Eq. 4.22. BUI the distribution 01" the normal stress
due to lhe mOIllc-llt Mr is nOI ulliform across the widlh. II is concentrated at the top
and 110110111 corner of lhe inllerside of' the helicoidal section.

Tabl,- 6.1a.
LOl'ation
Ilaramrter Melb ••d Type ••I' curve
<1>=0 </>=11/4 <1>=11/2
Symmetric
I3c-n!,Ill<ln X3X7 -306X -3012.,
..
Mr
(lb-I'l)
Scordclis
A••alytical mclluxl
924
412
-1194
-1 116
-4776
-.11 X7
..
I
introduced
Finite ElcnH method 144 --1167 -2X42
..
Bcr~I11Hri 0 -2(X)0 -7690
..
Antyi symmeLric
Ml
Scordclis
1\Il<IIycI.ical 1l1clllmi
0
0
-1194
-20X9
-2016
-3437
..
(Ih-ft) inlfl){ltICC(1
FEM 0 -1795 -4 t 5
..
Bergman *** *** *** ..
Anti Symmetric
Sconlclis 0 104(K) 14560
Ms An,lIylical method 0 20X% 29254
..
(lb-ft) inlrodllCl'd
Finite Etcllll method 0 15423 23540
..
Table 6.lb
LtK'ation
Param('ter IVlethod Type of curve
<1>=0 <1>=11/4 4>=11/2 I
**'1
RCrl!.rn;11l
Sc.{)rdelis
***
***
"I<'!'*
""** *
Symllletric
..
..
'l':f
Fr Analytical Ilwll10d )2)2 4125 0

inIJodllCc{!
(lh)
Finite E1ellll method 3690 2657 6()
..
'7746 Anlis)'llllllctric
I3CfI..!lll,lJl
SC{)nlclis
0 3X7:'
..
r:s An<llylical 111(,lh()d 0 16X2 455')
..
(Ih) inln)(hJCl~d
Finite Ekml Illethod 0 45.1 14354
..
.
Bcn!,lll:m
Scor<!clis
*** *** *** ..
AnLisyrnmelric
FI Alwlylical method 0 'i'iX6 93(,(1 ..

(lb) inLrotiulTd
Finite Elc.rnl method 0 'iX47 949X
..
*** -> No soilltioll ~iv('n.

107
6.4 Proposal for Design Guide:

Considering the characteristics of the helicoidal stair slab as revealed in this
unulysis, u design guide is proposed here. The computer which progrum hus been
used in Ihis anulysis or the helicoidul staircuse is adopted rrom Ahmud's thick
shell l'inile element progrum. This progrum eun be directly used ror Ihe design
purpose. Alternalively. the unalytieal method proposed. In the rollowing urlie!es,
cun be used Ihe two mel hods arc descrihed hclow so thai they cun he used us
design gurdcs.
6.4.1 ComlHlter Program for Design of a Helil'oidal Staircase
For analyzing and designing a fixed-ends helicoidal stair slab with full and
live loads. the 'program is 10 be rUIl in interactive mode or operation. In the
inteructive mode or operation, the computer takes in dutu hy asking questions. So
a through previolls knowledge is nol necessary for analysis and design of' a fixcd-
ends helicoidal stair.
The program I'irst usks the option or the mode or operation. II' interuetive mode
or opcral;oll IS chosen then it accepels dala concerning geollletry. mUlerial
propcrlics. !lumber of suhdivisions for dividing lilt" structure into clements from
console.
Afler <lnaly/.ing it IS able to design the helicoidal slair slab as ,ingly

reinforced member. I I' llle given section IS adequate. the required dcsif'n
parameters arc printed oui. Altcrnatly. if till' given section is by adequate,
approximate thickness required 1'01' ncxure shwoll and shear and lorsion is
computed. Even arter design. approximate thickncss required for resisting
momcnt, shear, and torsion are computed. These approximate Ihickness, ure
printed by the computer I'or a revised design. Then computcr wants users option
1'01' a rcvised analysis and design, In a reviscd analysis, either all the datu or the
thickness alonc Illay be renewed.
II has been found I'rom Ihe analysis that III a helicoidal stair slab. the 'tress-
rcsultants on the transverse section arc the major t.'onsidcrations for design. The
(
108
slress resultants on the olher' planes orthogonal to the transverse section, arc
ncgligible and they not imporlance in the design consideration.
In most cases. ACI code-1963 has been used f"or design. Working. stress design
has been pref"ered.
a) Design I'Of Bcnding Moments
There arc two bending momenls on the transverse section-the binormal

bending momenl Ms. and the transverse bending moment Mr. During design f"or
flexure, it IS assumed lhal the transverse mOlllenls only ulili"zcs the concrete
s!rcnglh of reinforced celllent concrete hclkoidal slair slab. The entire bending
mOlllenl which produces curvalure ill horizllJlIal plallc-. the horizontal momelll, is
resisted by steel ollly.
The cOll1pllle,~' program I'irsl checks rlexural slresses al every node. II' al all)'
/lode the bending slress excecds the concrele capacity. dl'.sign is nol pcrrormcd.,...:;JI'
"...... "
compressive stress in concrele is helow Ihe allowable limit, design is donc'~'-,))y
working siress dc,sign method.
Il) Dcsign 1"01' Axi'll Fon'c
Concrete IS weak III tellsion. They Cllncrete III elll he,r IS weak is rcsisling
bending 1ll0IlH'llls. shear forcc-. and torque under lensile force. On the othcr hand,
concrelC- IS strong in compression and lhlls a lind c r compression, it acts as
prestressed. BUl unde!" compressl()Il. addiliollal stresses d u t' 10 buckling may be
developed. Even 1he" slructllre may he lInsulhle due to buckling f"ailure if" l/A IS
sillall enough. Helice buckling condilion may make Ihe cond it ion worse, instead of"
increasing slrcnglh due 10 prestressing.
For this purpose ~l COJlserval ive approach is adopted. Tension or compression IS

assumed to be, resisted fully by steel. Additional ITinfol"cCmClll for rcsisting
tcnsion IS placed on tension side of" rIexure 10 resist Icnsion. This placcmcllL
assures dcvelopment or sufficicnt strain in slc-c1 01" uli1il.ing tcnsile strcngth. This
placemcnt also inducL:s eccentricity which redul'Cs lhe bending momcnl lO bc
rcsisted. For the same reason additional reinforcement for compression should be
placed on compression side.
,.r--.... \
/
109
The above concepts arc incorporated in the computer program. For detailed
design and rcgorolls analysis interaction between axial Coree and bi-axial
bending is to be considered.
l'j Design for Shear Force
The loading- area is large in a helicoidal stair. The distance of the cCllIroid of
the total loads I'rom' rhe sUPP0rl line is small compared 10 the length or the centre
linc-. For this reason shear somelimes con1rols the de-sig.n.
For small thickness oj' the slab. shear rein fnrl'\,.' tlH'1l I will not be too much
el'l'cctive. II IS prdered Ihal shear stress IS always below Ihe allowahle shear
stress or concrete. For these reasons design or slirrup 1'01' shear is not
implemenled. allhough limits or shear strengths for different conditions like.
I. Shear force above which lllin:illlLlIll reinforcemenl is \() he provided.
2. Shear force above \vhich designed reinforcement IS 10 he provided (Smax = d/2)
3. Shear ['orcl' above wb,ich designed rcin['orceillcill IS 10 be provided (Smax = d/3)
4. Shear force ahove w:llich section IS to be- chan~ed. arc computed and printed
out for .every sect'ioll. Provisions has been made for design of stirrup for shear
by hand computation.
d) Design I'lir Torsion
In case of :1 llc.licoidal slair slab. torsion IS signil'icanl. II" concrete 6,1lon e j

.~---~.J
cannot resist torsion. it IS preferred to Illcrease slab thickness than to design

reini"orcemellt 1"01 additional torque. because for a long rectangular scction,
closed stirrups are not vcry cfleclive.
Dirrcrenl limits of torsional slrenglh ['or dii"i"erenl conditions arc computcd

and prinled out Jor every section. These limites are
I. Torsion below which it is Ilot be considered in design.
2. Pure torsion capacity or concrele sectioll.
3. Maximulll torsioll that can be resisled by the sc.ction e\'C1l uncr reinforcing.
r-o.,
L;, ~.•
..--c-
~..;::
110
Provision has been kept for design of torsional reinforccment by hand

computalion. Interaction between torsion, shear and axial force have been
considcrcd. Durin[! desi[!n or. concrete section 1'01' torsion, procedure unalogous 10
that dcscribed in ACI-I,)77 code has bccn adoptcd and equations arc adjusted to suit
the WSD mcthod.
e) Reinforcement
The longitudinal reinforce,menl shall !lO[ he less lh~lll IT.rtain specificd valuc.
The tempe-rar'lIIT reinforcemenl should be pl;lccd 011 till' tcnsion side of l"Jexure.
,r:
Temperature -!;cinforcclllcill along the lalc.ral dircTlion acls as dislriblltT~lIl
reinforcement,. I-LInd computal,i,oll Illay he lIsed ror further details.
f) Interpretation nf the Resnlts
The output frolll the pro~ralll includes displac.cIlH.'IlIS. stresses, mOlllents and
forces per unit width al each node. The output also includes design r(H
longitudinal sleel requirements at every scctioll and ils distribution; moments,

torque and shears al every sec,tion, and a dccision whether section is able- to resist
tile-Ill or 1101.
Tile oulPUI provides IllOIlH',nts and shears IH~r unil width al each node in
tahular forlll: and mOlllents ;lnd shears 1'01' cvery section. Sect ion is taken along
III ajor radial lincs. Posilive. Irallsverse moment produces lcnsion at (he bOLlom.
Positive horizonlal moment produccs tension at lhc Inller edge.
Stec1 areas required for transverse mOlllcnl. hori/,onlal momcnt, and axial
forcc :lIT also lahulaled. Posilive stcel ror lransverse moment means steel at
bottom. PositivL~ ste,el for axial force mealls stc-el as the samc side al that for
positivc l"lexural steel. Positive steel for hori/,olltal moment simply means tension
at the inner c.dgc.
6.4.2 Analytical Approach
AnalYlical Illclhod " based on cquivalcnt helix of till' helicoidal staircasc. Tilc
[!eolllctry of thc Ileli, " defined by the equivalent ,.adius Rand anglc of
incl inasion 0.. Rand n. <Irc ~Iven by
111
a" ; lan-I (H/21' R,,)
ai ; lan-1 (H/21' Ri)
a= L lan- t {
In (sinao/sin Q.i)2 1
. 2 (cot ai- cOlao)+2(ai - ao) I
R = (H/2I1) cot '}
(R< Rei and (Rj < R < Ro)
The eccenlricil)' of ,'",iformly distrihuled load silould he
Calculation oj" rcdundalS
The redundanl.s arc readily ohlained from Appendix-B and Appendix-C given
hy Scordclis for fixed ended helicoidal slaircase, and from Appendix-E for hinge
ended helicoidal slaircase, Some of tile values have heen plolled In Fig, 6, I,
Fig,and 6,2" The eileci 01' eccenlricily of load on redundant Illusl he included if
h/R is high (if h/R > 1/3)
Calculation or moments
Moments al ;In)' section of a helicoidal staircase can be ca!cuhllcd uSlIlg
formulas ~IVCll below.
M1 = \V (Ill!\\, + C lllil + Fx l11IX + Fr Illlr)
Where
Illr", = _Rc (I - cos <\ll
III sw = -R"2 (q) - sill $) sin (J
IllIW= R2(<\l-sin<\l)coso
m rx = -R (ql sin <\l) Ian 'I

Bolh ends fixed
a ~ 30 degree
• b/h-4
o o b/h=8
• b/h-16
••
ell
-\
-2
o 100 200 300 400
Semicenlral angle. 13 (degree)
(a)
.•
,
Bolh ends fixed

a = 30 degree
K
(J
o
-I
/
r
• b/h=4
o b/h=8
• b/h=16
-2
o 100 200 300 400
Semicenlral angle. 13(degree)
(b)
Fig.G.!: Values of midspan redundar.ts of helicoidal staircase for

different semicentral angle. a = 30°
Both ends hinged
a = 30 degree
o • .-xc. • • • . •
•. -1
C.l
-2 • b/h=4
lSI b/h=8
• b/h=16
-3
o 100 200 300 400
Semicenlral angle. f3 (degree)
ta)
Bolh ends hinged

a = 30 degree
o
K -1
C.l
-2 • b/h-4
lSI b/h=8
• b/h.16
-3
o 100 200 300 400
Semicenlral angle. f3 (degree)
(b)
Fig. 6.2: Values of midspan redundants of helicoidal staircase

for different semicentral angle. a = 30°
114
m,x I sin cos a + (cos <1»sin a Ian a I

= -R
111'x = R Isin sin a. - cos sin al
mIT =- cos cj)

III sr = - sin l/> sin a
III Ir = - sin cos a
Calculation of forces
1', = WR I sin 11 - Cx sin cos 11 I
1', = WR I q' COS" + Cx sin 'P sin a I
Fr = WR I0+ e, sin cOS 'P I
Where Cx = Xx/R
Calculation or slrc,ss
Prior 10 calculation, dCcoupling or stress-resultants arc rcqrircd first.

1',' = 1',
Mr' = Mr
, I'M, 111'" 1',) - 111,,(M, - 111'" 1',)
M, ~_.
I - (1l11S Illts)
111'II 1'1) - 111lSI' M, - 111' s( 1'1)
1- (IllSl 1111s)
Where
..'I'C('" "') __. ..'1'2(11, 11,,) ]

Illrs =
[ l'p,IO, "ii - 'PII'}, ",,)
,poI''', a.i) - 'pX(O, 0,,) ]

Illsl =
[ I'P7(o, 0i)' '1'7(0.,0,,)
111'" = R 'I' ----.---

I 0 (.,}, 0 i )._..:..'I'.IJ.I( 0, 0 ,.,)]
[ 1'1'<)(0, I1j)' 'prJ(O, 0,,,)
III '11 = I~ 'PI 1(.0, 0i) - 'PI.I.CO,0")]

------------
[ I'p<)(o., 0i) - 'p<)(o, 0,,)
1""
I ,f
115
Stl'ess concentre.tion occurs e.t top or bottom corner of the inner side due to Mr_and at
the outer side of the section due to Ms. The normal 8S "tell 8S shearing stresses ere high at
the inner side. Using the above consideration s design of helicoidal stairc8Se may be done.
CHAPTER 7
CONCLUSIONS
7.1 General
In this chapter conclusions arc drawn from the present study. Unless
otherwise speci fied, Ihe cone] L1sions listed here are limited 10 the types of
helicoidal stai r supports cOllsidered in thc present study. 1\ guideline 1'0r future
study in t!lis arc,a is also included.
7.2 Findings from the Investigations:
During this sludy. a computer program for the. ~lllalysis and the design of' the
helicoidal slair slabs has bccn developed based on the thick shell rinile clement of
Ahmad. A most rational analytical method has heen inlroduced for analyzing
helicoidal staircase .either with rixcd~cllds or hinged-ends. ,Tabulated results for
the redundants at midspan oj' a uniformly loaded helicoidal girder hinged at the
radial support linc al its end arc presented 1'01' different design parameters.
Similar tables f'H fixcd-ellds hilicoid were presellted by Scordelis. A desigll
ratiollale has beell proposcd. III additioll the behaviour of a Ilumber of helicoidal
staircases has heell sludied by the compuler program, as well as, by analytical
means,
The findings pertaining 10 the behaviour of helicoidal staircases undcr "

("r.
uniformly distributed load can, in general. be summarized as follows:
.... ,~
I. Deflection behaviour of fixed-ends helicoidal stair slab changes with

scmiccnlra! angle. foor stairs with small sCllliccntral angle. maximum
deflection occurs al the center and. for largc subtcnded angle. maximum
defleclion docs nol occur al the cenler. Defleclion at Ihe ouler edgc is Illore
than lhat at [he inner edge. This vari:lIiOIl IS more pronounced for stairs
wilh small radius. The superior slructural cfficiency of the flatlcr section is
apparcnt when the del'leCiion IS considered.

1 17
2. For the same uniform load at the same radius, the radial bending moment
and torsioll decrease as the depth decreases. The decrease tapers oiT. after the
sections become nailer than 4.1. FUrihermore, for sections nailer than this,
Ihe torsional slress will slarl rising sharply despile fUriher decrease in
torsional moments, because torsional stress varies inversly as the square of
the .smaller dimcnsion of the rectangle.
3. As the member becomes natter, the binormal mOlllenl increases but this IS
more than offset by the section's increasing ability 10 carry (he binormal
momenl ,11 low SllT.sses.
4. II' the- member ,(h";.p--rh IS increased, the increase III radial moment is likewise
orfscl by tile sCC'l'i'(in's .increased moment of' inertia. But. as the member
hecollles deeper, the inverse of the squa't:c or Ihe- smaller dimension leads \0
rapid increae ill torsional stress, the torsional Illomenl IS now several limes
~rcalcr tl1;111 that of Ihe nallcr mcmber.
5. For a ulliformly loaded I"i.xcd-cnds hcliL'oiC!;l1 "tain.:ast'. values or bending

momenls and torsion. ohtained hy how girder analysis. is much h.ighcr than
those ohl;lined hy Ihe rinite clement IlIclhod. The results obtained by
analysing it aS:l space structure arc still on the- higher side but comparable
to those or finite rlelllellt 111cthod. The results obtailled by analysing it as an

equiva\c.nl helix or radius R gives closely comparahle result wilh lhosc or
finite eklll~'.llt method,
6. Helicoidal sl~lircase sec:liOll is a skewed rcctangle. Convcntional formulas for
delcrmining slressc-s '011 a rcctangular planc section can not bc applied for
helicoidal stailTasc. The I'orlllulas for determining stresses in tile skewed
rectangular scctioJl or hclicoidal staircase are derived and poresented in this
thesis In ter111S 01' SDill e. nOll-dimensional faclors. II IS not cd Ihal these
J"orrlllll;ls redUCT to convcntional Oiles I'o!" spL'Cial casc \vhen skewncss cquals
zero I.C. whell CJ. = o. R = 0<:, It is observed that thc strcss and stress-resultant
relation. are not uncoupled. To determine stresses, decoupling or siress
resultants IS required first.

118
7. The bending stress due to the moment about binormal axis (Ms) is distributed
sinusoidally, not linearly. The stress in the outer riber IS more than that at
inner fiber. The neutral surraee is adjacent to the centerline or the helicoid
but ncar the inner edge. The bending stress due to Mr varies linearly with
distance rrom middle surrace but it is more ror inner edge than ror outer
edge. Torsional shearing stress vanes linearly with the distance rrom the
middle surface, but it is concentrated ncar tile inner edge. However. in
reinforced concrete structure, the proportioning or sections and
reinforcement IS based on approximate methods ralhc-r than ';exacl" stress
formulas. Nomina! reinforcement against lalcrat force is recommended
Rein I"ofcelll C'-Il 1 was not round necessary ill this rasC'.
7.3 Design rationale

Two design methods are 110\'-/ available. One is the computer program. If a
computer and the computer program arc available, it is casy 10 analyse and design
a helicoidal Sl.aircase.' The program takes data in inleraction mode. So, one can fUll
the program without knowing Illuch about finite elements. The programe
analyzes and designs the helicoidal staircase-.
Alternatively one can rollow the analytical approach. The salient reatures or
Ihis approach arc gIven hclow:
a) Geometry : The helicoid IS represented by its clastic axis.
b) Load Unirromly distributed live load w and its etTcnlricity .. e =
c) Anal~'sis : Redundants arc read rrom either Appendix-B, or Appendix-E.

The valucs or internal forces arc obtained rrolll Eq. 4.14 (a, b, c)
d) Design Conventional design procedure IS followed. But slress

concentralion faclors al critical points arc used. Nominal reinforcemelll
along: longitudinal direction IS recollllllended.

119
7.4 Scope for future study:

Consistent with the objectives of the present study. thc overall behaviour <if
the helicoidal stair slab has been established and specific guidlines for design
have been -formulated. However. in order to have confidence in the design guides.
presented in this thesis. it may be advisable to carry out the followings:
1. The scope <if the present thesis was limiled to the helicoidal staircase. either
fixed - or hinged al both ends. loaded uniformly. The errecls of different
supporl-rc.lcasC'- 011 mOlllenls and forces, ,IIH1 corresponding changes in design
may be cX<lniincd.
2. InrJuence line for all moments and forces at the ends and at critical sections
can be drawn \0 find out tile critical positiolls or Ii\,c loads that give the
maximuill magnitude or lhem.
3. The illvcsli~aliolls were limited 10 a prismatic section or the helicoidal stair

slab. From graphs il IS found thaI maximulll values or internal forces usually
occlIr simultaneously at the ends. These reveals Ihat a stair slab with variLlblc
thickness lllay lead to bellcr economy.
4. AI the bOl\olll or the helicoidal slair slab a high compression IS developed.
which Illay result in local buckling. So clastic stability analysis may be carried
o ul .
5. Thc illvcsti~:ltiolls are limited to stress analysis in a helicoidal staircase. h is
found that stress IS concentrated al the end of the staircase cross-section.
Fur1ilcr achievemcnt can be madc if strcss conccntration factors arc
prcscntcd III either graphical or tabular ['orlll for a wide combination or
nondimcnsiollal geometrical paramcters.
6. The table of redundanls may be established assuming Ihal the stillness of a

helicoidal girder is the same as lilat or a straighl mcmber. The actual stiffness
may bl' calculalel! f'rom Ihe constants BI. B2 and Bl of' Chapter 5.
REFERENCES
1. Holmes, Alan M.C .. "Analysis of Helical Beams Under Symmetrical Loading",

Proceedings, ASCE, Paper No. ST 1437, Nov. 1957. PI'. 1437-1-1437-37.
2. Scordelis. A.C .. "Internal Forces in Uniformly Loaded Helicoidal Girders", ACI

Journal Proceedings. Vol. 56. No. 10. Apri I 1960. PI'. 101 2- 1026.
3. Scordclis. A.C:. Ch,)SlH'C- to discussion 01" "Internal Forces in Uniformly Loaded

Helicoidal Girders," ACI Journal,. Proceedings. Vol. 56. NO.6, Pari-2, Dec. 1960.
1'1'.1491-1502.
4. Young, Y.F .. and Scordclis. A.C., "An Analytical and Experimental Study of
Helicoidal Girders." Proceedings, ASCE. Paper No. ST 175(,. Sept. 1958.
5. Young. Yee 10 .. and Scordelis. A.C.. "Analytical and Experimental Study of

Helicoidal Girders". Transa"tions. ASCE. Vol. 12.~. Part-I. 1960.1'1'.48-62.
6.. Bcrgman. V.R .. "Helicoidal Staircases of Reinforced Concretc". Journal ACI.

Vol. 28. No. ~1. OCI. 1956.1'1'.403-412.
7. Engks, 1\.,"Design of Hclical Stresses," Concrele and Construction

Engineering (London), Vol. SO, No. 5. May 1955. PI'. 181-194.
H. Hunziker. I\n11in. "Frclragcnde WCI~dellrcppcn Mil Slarrer Emspannung and

I-Iorizolllale Krcisringtragcr", Schwci/.crischc f3auzcilung, Mar. 27. 1954, PP.
167 - 17 I .
9. Fuchss!cincr. W., "Die rrcilragcndc Wc-ndl'.ilreppe (SllilllllUllgsbcrcchnullg

and Be\\'ehrung)"Bcton-und Stahlhctondau (Berlin). V. 49. NO.II. 1954, PI'.
256-258.
I O. Gedizll, H.S .. Discussion: "Die frcilragcll(lc Wendel treppe." Beton-und

Stahlbctonbau (Berlin). V.50. NO.9. Sepl. 1955. 1'.247.
11. Menn. C. "Kreisringlraeger und WcndeHlache". Mitteilungen No. 30, Inslitul

Fuer l3auslatik (10TH!. Zurich. 195(,. 124 PI'.
121
12. Mattock. A.H .. "Design and Conslruction oj' a Helical Siaircase." Concrele and
Conslruclional Engineering (London). V. 52. NO.3. Mar. 1957. PP. 99-105.
13. Morgan. V.A .. "Comparison oj' Analysis oj' Helical Staircases". Concrele and
Conslructional Engineering (London). V. 55. NO.3. Mar. 1960. PP. 127-132.
14. Cusens A.R.. and Thjona. S .. Helicoidal Staircase Study". ACI Journal.
Proceedings. Vol. 61. NO.1 . .Ian. 1964. PP 85-102.
15. Agrawal. K. M .. and Arya. A.S .. "Slresses in Helicoidal Siaircases." Research

Report in Struclural Enginecring. University oj' Roorkee. 1962.
16-. Cohen . .I.S .. "Dcsi~n or Helicoidal Staircasc-2. Statically Indcrarminatc Cases,"

Conerele and Conslnlction,i1 Engineering (London). V.54. NO.7. July 1959. PP.
249-256 .
17. .lain . .I.K and Prakash. Anand. " Behavior 01' Helicoidal Staircases with
Landing," ME:: Thesis in Structural Enp,inccring. University or Roorkee. 1966.
18. Islam. Kahirul Md .. Analysis oj' helicoidal Stairs- the Finile Element Melhod.
Undergraduale ThL"is. I3UET. August. 1')84.
19. Salauddin. K .. "Analysis and Design oj' Helicoidal Staircase - the Finite Element
Method, Undergraduate Thesis. BUET. Fehruary.19X(1.
20. Ahmad. S .. "Col1lpuler Program rep0ri Dr General thiLck shell Finile Elemenl
Program. University oj' Wales. Octoher, 1')69.
21. Modak. S. and Imran . .I.. .. Co"'puter Aided Analysis and Design oj' Helicoidal
Stairs". f3.Sc. Thesis. Bangladesh University or Engillccring & Technology,
I <JX').
22. Tillloshcnko. S. and Condier. J.N .. "Theory 01" Elasticity", McGraw Hill Book Co.,
Inc .. New York. 2nd edition. 1')51.
23. Arya. A.S .. and Prakash. 1\. "Analysis or Helicoidal stai reases wi t h
Intenncdiatc Landing, Paper SP. 34-4.
122
24. Popov. E.P .. "Introduction to Mechanics o!' Solids". Prentice-Hail of India

Private Limited, New Delhi, India reprint. 1973.
25. Seely, F.B and Smith, J.O., "Advanced Mechanics o!' Materials", John Willey &
Sons, Inc. New York, Second Edition, 1952.
26. Ramaswamy, G.S .. "Design and Construction of Concrete Shell Roo!'s", McGrow-
Hill Book Company, New York, First Edition, I96K.
27. Chatterjee, B.K .. "Theory and Design 01' Concrete Shells", O,l'ord & 1131-1Pub. Co ..
New Delhi, Second Edition, 197K.
2K. Nilson. 1\ II. and Winter, Ci.,"Design 01' ('oncrete Siructures", McGraw-Hili Book
Company, Tenth Edition, 10X6.
29. Jennings, A ... "Matrix Computation ror Engineers and Scientists", John Willey
& SOilS, New York. Willcy-Interscicncc Puhlication, 19XO.
30. Timoshcnko, S. and Woin()\Vosky~Kricgcr. S. "Theory or Plates and Shells",

McGraw Hill Book Company Inc .. New York. Second Edition, 1959 .
., I. Baker. E.II .. Kovalevsky, L .. and Rish, F.L.. "Strul'tural Analysis 01' Shells",
McGraw Hill Book Company. New York,I'J72.
32. I\hmad, S., "Curved Finite Element in the Analysis or Solid Shell and Platts",
Ph.D. Thesis. Ul,livcrsily Collq!c or Swansea, P)()9 .
.B. Computer Report No. 23(b), "General Thick Shell Finite Element Program-
Listing". University of' Wales, Swansea, 1()()9 (Prepared hy S. Ahmad).
34. Ahmad, I., " A Design Rationale I'or Stair Slabs based on Finite Element
Analysis" . M.Sc. Thesis. Bangladesh University 01' Engineering and
Technology. IlJK9.
35. Dym, C. L .... lntroduction to the Theory of Shells". Pergaman Press, Oxford,
First Edition, 1974.
APPENDIX-A
The fomulas prescillcd helow gIve Ihe displaeemenls at the top end of a
helicoidal ealluiever, fixed al Ihe bot tom and free al the lOP, which has a
horizontal angie, Jl; an anglc of slope. a; and a centerline radius, R. Sec lext for
dcfination of remaining terms.
R~ Ian
----.--- u. sec. tf. [,'
[I . co,
Or\\' Ei Sill [I . ~ (,ill 2[1 .211 co, 2[I)J
s
1{2 sec silll/. 1[[1 ,

+ --'~-1- ~I, ~-
L",
(1.
, ~
Sill II + II co, [I
s~12 fl_J
4 cos f1.
. [2 [I cos [I + (II' . 2)
1
,i II [I ;,- (, j II 2[1 2[1 l' 0' 21\) I" II " ,ill" J}
+---_
R 4 si
GJ[
11 U
..
- [
'0
t. .' - II'~,1 '
S I 11 [\ . 3[\ co, [I . [I:l
:;-
_
+ -;
X
, i II 211 .
[I..." 0 ' 2[1 J
4
,S.".
'
[!!..' .
2 - S III I~ +
, i 112
4
J!..J
R 2 [,Ill u. sec
+ ----~-------_._-
(f..
!!.
EI., [2 , i II II + [I co, [\
+
R2 L~O~!:..[~."
('J
, 1
") - Sill
-
II +
,i 0 211
-4- + r~ cos
R o,- sec ,u. lan°. o. 11 [1'1
'4'. X)
0 [
---101 ,--"--- (;. ( ,ill 2[1 .
+
-'-<.~S"," ". J[!!.
E Is 1 2 -
'!..'.'.....:ut.J.
4
,, l- 0 S (1. +
l..
4 [
.
S I Jl 211 . 211
cos
4 2[1 J I :lll- ' {f. SII1-
, 1
" r
R2 [[II 2
+ --'--"-'l
EI.;
sec
--
~
.'¥J. u. siTl fI.
1
4
[ ,j II 2[1.2[1 cos 2[\]
+[
II'
6 + co; ~~J}
124
R
Ii" =
R s,,':'.-'.'c
Elr
[11_ +
:2
sill 4 21~-J + R sec (X
EI,
sin2 o.
[~
-
si_Jl 4211_J cos <X
CUI
[~. Sill
4
211J
Ii" = Ii"
R sec IX lall IX [ L( sin 211 211 cos 211) J
EI, X
R sill It. set.: <Y.[(~ sill 21\). ,

+ El 2- 4 COS(X+ sin 211 . 211 cos 211) lao I' sill <xJ
s
+
R cos
OJ1
0-
[ - (i s~/~)+ ~ ( s i Jl 211 . 21\ cos 211) J
•. •.'
~.' "
~
:2
'"0
u..
z
::>
<{
'"w
0
Z
::> --,---- . - ---_ ..- _._--_ .._-- ._.-...--_ ..- ._----- ---- -- _.----- ---- _ ..._-
0
Z
«_z ;
"'0
z •....
0-
wUw
w'"
IO
•.... '"
..... "- .
<{.•.•
<{
0 •....
wZ
~O
u..N
_02
"'0
~I
~u..
\DO
--'<{.....
u..
e--,
O<{
CO UW
_Z
--'
w--'-
I
X
Cl
« w'"a..
u.. <Xl
Z 0 --'
UJ
a. z
<{u..
a.
-< :};O
eo
:2<{
•....
0 111111 111111 111.111 111111 111111 111111 111I II 111111
«--'
.....
'"Z
<{
0
Z
::>
0
w
'"•••
0
w
~on on
-
...,
-
II) ,n
-
'n on
- I()
~ci~N~ro~ci~N~ro~6~N~romci~N.romci~N~rom~_N.rom6_N~ro~6~N.rom
- - - -
-'
DO
«
•....
Appendix ~ B (Contd) ": ...
• ~~ 0.5 0.57i551 . 0.577662 0.2231012 0.575713 I -o.4().i677 'I 0.567206 -0.512710 0.550109 I -0.536334
II
1
2
0.350603 .
0.192796
-
-
i 0.325133
0.092440
-0.572046
-1,53.720
0.277669
-0.001655 I ~.821935
-1.462469
0.242145
'[ -0.039153
-0.817975
-1.125771
0.225087
-0.050801
-0.709425
-0.843191
4
8
0.123831
0.093933
-
--!
I
I
-0.079416
-0.167960
-2.956437
-3.889526
-0.144700
-0.192222
I
-1.893538
-2.052113 I -0.161676
-{1.l98809
-1.271165
-1.316221
-0.167847
-0.202983 II -0.895403
-0.911754
I
I
,
16
0.5
1
I
0.072461
0.596271
0.282126 --
I
i
0.198088
0.5909G8
0.245048
I
--4..23C065
-o.354{l34
-0.795183
.
.
:
-0.2'05686
0.574389
0.183625 I
2.097066
'-0.601356
-1.052814
.
I
0.209174
0.547506
0.143319
1.328321
0.700210
-0.981188
-0.212772
0.514359
0.125530
I -0.915770
-0.675214
---{).814990
I
! 2
4
0-073636
I -0.015053
I
-
-!
-0.037862'
-0.210360
-1.915886
-3.373153
: ---{).126220
-0.252934 I
-1.677293
-2.052226 i
I -0.158537
-0.276153
-1.246782
-1.367159
-0.169228
-0.286477
-0.918692
--{l.958495
I 8
_ . 16
-O.053e57
. -0.080188
- I
i
-0.266239
-0.310880
1 -4.233941
-4.530723
I
•
---0.305606
-0.318170
j
1
-2.197786'
2.235257
---0.313571
---0.324071
-1.403718
1.413139
-0.321310
---0.331625
1 -0.969610
---0.972209
.1 0.5
1
1 0.544626illl
0.159663 -
0.533344
0.112224
I ---0.535416
-1.503926
0.504417
0.043257
I -0.817848
i -.1.28uI60
I
I 0.467360
0.003424
---0.892159
-1.123000
0.429740
0.013179'1
i ---0.800215
---{).898887
2 0.082543 -, -0.201781 -2.279407 ---0.283465 1 -1.857321 I ---0.313307 -1.341406 --<1.326554 --<I.97367e
4
8
I
I
0.182557
0.224880
-
-
i
i
-0.371143
-0.439044
i -3.725656
-4.514182
---0.416296
-0.457076
-2.19726l:
-2.313701
I---0.433084
-0.468747
-1.440562
-1.470013
-0.446932
-0.482994
I -1.002313
-1.009669
210
16
0.5
nl;;
I 0.254901
0.138656
-; -0.461348 ! -4.773306
I ---{l.959359--
-o.470157! -2.343S:i9 ---0.480404
"'A",a"
-1.476380 -0.494722 -1.010414
_
0.143123 0.146748 -1.281012 0.141380 -1.191133 0.129030 -0.977473
210 1 -0.253758 -0.303236 -1.517784 -O.36OC20 -1.M9483
210 2 --{l.387623 -1.275368 -0.399625 -0.968848
-0.482586 -0.617047 -2.732584 ---{l.6!?1998 -1.998190
210 4 -0.5733';5 -0.723837 -1.376626 -0.747498 -0.965437
-0.780919 -3.992191 -Q.5c24870 -2.231863 -0.849703 -1.423911 -0.877863
210 8 -0.61112 .• -0.845829 ---{).960705
-4.602923 -0.867509 -2.303911 -{I.888e99 -1.433136 -0.918160
210 16 -0.63770.: -0.869484 -4.7i3669 -0.954800
-0.883670 -2.311273 -0.904020 -1.427230 -0.933425 -0.947163
240 """Q.5 -o.619~n-' -0.557047 -1.158406 0.461190
240 1 -O.8~(J873 1.458352 -{I.404281 1.303372 -0.380875 i 1.047730
-0.859716 -1.609721 -0.888845 -1.569728 -0.901670 -1.209217 -0.907155 I' ---{l.894175
240 2
240
240
4
8
-~.9551~1
-~.Go.;68f;
--1.0253 .•7
-1.098797
-1.238443
-2.537456
-3.405029
-1.166310
-1.276583
-1.739706
-1.824418
-1.19154.9
-1.292996
-1.150480
-1.116984
-1.208837
-1.308792
I -0.771906
-0.711082
-1.294769 -3.771439 -1.310824 -1.833255 -1.322583 -1.093912 -1.336944
240 16 -1.039896 -1.313751 -3.827667. -0.683736
-1.322291 -1.807347 -1.332530 -1.069967 -1.346206 , -0.664680
--0:5
270
270
270
1
2
-1.';24413
-1.424413
-1.352116
-1.442070
-1.007499
-1.287158
-1.238559
-l.456337
-1.288708
-1.221024
-1.168357
-1.457658
-1.166242
-0.923333
-1.137506
-1.452703
I -0.945914
-0.672212
-1.424413 -1.538460 -1.780086 -1.575878 -1.158018
270 4 -1.574116 -0.735006 -0.469461
270 8
-1. ••24413 -1.600753 -2.161736 -1.610341 -1.107220 . -1.595027 ---{l.643458 -1.559848
-1.569661 I. -0.379324
-1.424413 -1.621437 -2.278884 -1.614904 -1.068130 -1.594626
270
300 ,
16
"0
0.5
-1.424413
2.055567
- -1.621697 -2.248854 -1.610309 -1.026752 -1.589006
-0.602367
-0.573263
-1.565586
-1.559532
-0.344296
-0.323931
I
, - 2.027540 1 --0.659080 1.986676 -0.840066 1.967165 -0.758852
300
300 ,
i 1
2
-1.898761
-1.794951 -
-1.914479
-1.842794 I -0.736045
-0.815401
-1.922300
-1.839727
---0.670079
--<1.496553
-1.914892
-1.809353
-0.495208
-0.298012
i
,
I
1.965688
-1.899586
-1.764670
---O.G15299
-0.354710
300 4 -1.75085~ - -1.810232 -0.176558
-0.836811 -1.789534 -0.401246
3eO
300
i 8
18
-1.731969
-1.718492
- -1.791593
1.773848
I -0,812350 -1.76.;561 -0.356835
-1.746082
-1.717748 I
-0.211634
---0.177878 ,!-1.686446
-1.654431
-0.104336
-0.078603
-0.762197 -1.745629 -0.325098 1.698909 I -0.157627 1.636090
330
I 0.5 2.455802 2.457557 I -0.166402 2.463137 i 2.472028 -0.176733 , , -0.065210
330
330
1
2
-2.169622
-1.980714
-
-
-2.167748
-1.960950 I
-0.033423
0.20'2014
-2.159161
-1.932233
-0.201832
---{l.0254Q8 -2.144199 I -0.014258
!
2.482815
-2.124698
0.141101
-0.006237
330 4 -1.9OC600 - -1.866721 I -0.139400 -1.890001 I 0.105990 -1.834186 !, 0.086008
330
330 I 8
18
-1.866316
-1.841856 -
-
-1.827336
-1.801983
0.382537
0.462721
0.501089
-1.832707
-1.793032
-1.758220
I
,
0.217257
j 0.246069
0.260715
-1.779437
-1.737218
1.712700
I
0.155444
0.172611
! 0.18G963 i
-1.707137
-1.660918
-1.636850 I
0.121853
0.133627
0.138823
360
380
0'
0.5
1
"2.544626
"AA,,'''.
-2.159663
- _' 2.5364t'i
.."i1/';417
-2.128036
n4H'''-Ul
0.41C540
0.669718
_,,::,,"la,..,
2.527916"
-2.102535
"0.423058
A""""a
0.523786
-2.524968 n'l'l..,::.,.,
0.336527 " ""An"n
2.524900 •••••~ •••• n
0.254438
360 2 -1.917456 -2.084595 0.371531 -2.066677 0.266395
-1.857526 1.034323 -1.822874 0.610082 -1.782178 0.396388
360 4 -1.817442 -1.744724 -1.729006 0.271499
1.261416 -1.710863 0.644787 -1.659966 0.4G4313 -1.589354 0.271430
360 8 -1.775119 -1.701680 1.338566 -1.668923 0.652861
360 18 -1.745098 -1.615325 0.404960 -1.540013 0.270102
-1.676386 1.354151 -1.644241 0.651848 -1.590523 0.402973 -1.515037 0.268166
.~ -
~~
~~-
_~M
>< ~~:::
blJ 00"';
~ III
o
M
~-~
~
M~M
"'0)1-
~MM
0 __
~"':~
III
u
x
Cl
Z
w
a.
a. ~~M
0< O~~
~-M
MOM
MM~
...•
NN
III
/I
• 0:
';,
"
l~••
APPENDIX- D
A Mz a: Fl A
Mz a Fz
MV' Mz ll.' Fz
M
o
C'
"(c; @
o
DOWNWARD
UPWARO
VECTOR
VECTOR
iii ACCELARATION DUE

TO GRAVITY
B B B
A
B c FIG.O,:,l SYMMETRV/ANTISYMMETRY OF
,
b
THE STAIR.
a Fr Mr
(01 Stair projection on ground sllrfQe.~
@ (b) Frubody of stair it iii aets do •••.
nwC'rd.
9
(e) Fr"body of nair if iii oets ll"",,orcS.
I~ Id) _Fi9. [T'I (e) is \/llside down (rotated
Mz a Fz: •..•..•.. M~
c, 1800 In vertieol plone).
Mz 11 F%
t.l Fig. 0-' (d) is rototed IBOo in
o '~ M~' horizontal pion ••
@ M.
9 F. /
B A
:J d •
""': .
. :~,;,
.... ',,"~',
APPENDIX - E
Table of redundants at midspan of a helicoidal girder. hinged at the

ends. and under 'a uniform load of 1 Ib per lineal ft of horizontal
projection.
30 0.3 o .f547 u.OOOO 0.1534 -0.oi45 0.1498 -0.0448 0~14\6 -0.0~78 0.1388 -0 :0626
30 0.5 0.1547 0.0000 0.1529 -0.0333 0.1481 -0.0596 0.1416 -0.0749 0.1347 -0.0788
30 1.0 0.1547 0.0000 0.1511 -0.0676 0.1422 -0.1134 0.1318 -0.1313 0.1224 -0.1275
30 2.0 0.1547 0.0000 0.1445 -0.1905 0.1255 -0.2650 0.1101 -0.2555 0.1000 -0.2156
30 4.0 0.1547 0.0000 0.1265 -0.5300 0.0993 -0.5035 0.0873 -0.3861 0.0818 -0.2873
30 8.0 0.1547 0.0000 0.0991 -1.0430 0.0809 -0.6704 0.0762 -0.4498 0.0744 -0.3168
30 18.0 0.1547 0.0000 0.0808 -1.3871 0.0741 -0.1324 0.0121 -0.4895 0.0123 -0.3250
45 0.3 0.4142 0.0000 0.4048 -0.0882 0.3801 -0.1194 0.3481 -0.1459 0.3180 -0.1490
45 0.5 0.4142 0.0000 0.4009 -0.0959 0.3680 -0.1616 0.3288 -0.1884 0.2928 -0.1843
45 1.0 0.4142 0.0000 0.3863 -0.2014 0.3211 -0.3041 0.2706 -0.3168 0.2284 -0.2820
45 2.0 0.4142 0.0000 0.3319 -0.5511 0.2304 -0.5432 0.1655 -0.5485 0.1306 -0.4304
45 4.0 0.4142 0.0000 0.2291 -1.3325 0.1115 -1.0m 0.0800 -0.7311 0.0645 -0.5306
45 8.0 0.4142 0.0000 0.1136 -2.1108 0.0511 -1.2412 0.0450 -0.8143 0.0403 -0.5613
45 16.0 0.4142 0.0000 0.0550 -2.5863 0.0384 -1.3148 0.0349 -0.8366 0.0335 -0.5175
60 0.3 1.0000 0.0000 0.9445 -0.1131 0.8111 -0.2111 0.6812 -0.3045 0.5685 -0.2835
60 0.5 I. 0000 0.0000 0.9114 -0.2582 0.1511 -0.3110 0.5009 -D.3811 0.4916 -0.3340
60 1.0 ' 1. 0000 0.0000 0.8230 -0.5535 0.5659 -0.6561 0.4068 -0.5664 0.3111 -0.4487
60 2.0 1. 0000 0.0000 0.5811 -1.3080 0.2823 .1,Oe71 0.1125 -0.1902 0.1256 -0.5745
60 4.0 1. 0000 0.0000 0.2632 -2.3038 0.0869 -1.3832 0.0446 -0.9124 0.0289 -0.6381
60 8.0 1. 0000 0.0000 0.0152 -2.8911 0.0145 -1.4921 0.0025 -0.9526 -0.0018 -0.6582
60 16.0 1. 0000 0.0000 0.0109 -3.0926 -0.0058 -1.5235 -0.0089 -0.9634 -0.0100 -0.6636
75 0.3 2.8631 0.0000 2.4113 -0.5252 1.1033 -0.5526 1.2048 -0.5882 0.8963 -0.4199
75 0.5 2.8637 0.0000 2.1416 -0.8383 1.3520 -0.8502 0.9365 -0.6833 0.7079 -0.5259
75 1.0 2.8531 0.0000 1.4152 -1.6119 0.7316 -1.1991 0.4854 -0.9432 0.3152 -0.6011
75 2.0 2.8631 0.0000 0.6436 -2.5113 0.2393 -1.4160 0.1464 -0.9634 0.1113 -0.6115
75 4.0 2.8631 0.0000 0.1163 -3.1199 0.0410 -1.5875 0.0145 -1.0102 0.0051 -0.6974
15 8.0 2.8631 0.0000 0.0204 -3.3008 -0.0164 -1.6198 -0.0233 -1.0235 -0.0251 -0.7049
75 16.0 2.8637 0.0000 -0.0220 -3.3500 -0.0315 -1.6283 -0.0332 -1.0271 -0.0338-0.7068
90 0.3 -0.0220 -3.3500 -0.0315 -1.5283 -0.0332 -1.0211 -0.0338 -0.1068

~, 90 0.5 2.8537 0.0000 -0.0220 -3.3500 -0.0315 -1.6283 -0.0332 -1.0211 -0.0338 -0.7068
90 1.0 2.8637 0.0000 -0.0220 -3.3500 -0.0315 -1.6283 -0.0332 -1.0211 -0.0338 -0.7068
90 2.0 2.8637 0.0000 -0.0220 -3.3500 -0.0315 -1.5283 -0.0332 -1.0211 -0.0338 -0.1058
90 4.0 2.8531 0.0000 -0.0220 -3.3500 -0.0315 -1.6283 -0.0332 -1.0211 -0.0338 -0.1068
90 8.0 2.8637 0.0000 -0.0220 -3.3500 -0.0315 -1.6283 -0.0332 -1.0271 -0.0338 -0.1068
90 15.0 2.8637 0.0000 -0.0220 -3.3500 -0.0315 -1.6283 -0.0332 -1.0271 -0.0338 -0.7068
105 0.3 -4.8631 0.0000 -5.5494 0.5686 -1.8841 -1.2050 2.8125 -1.9592 1.1352 -1.1499
105 0.5 -4.8637 0.0000 -4.1383 -0.6015 -0.5149 -1.1410 1.1966 -1.5348 1.0850 -1.0366
105 1.0 -4.8631 0.0000 -2.0642 -2.3214 -0.1609 -1.8892 0.3336 -1.3162 0.4156 -0.9199
105 2.0 -4.8637 0.0000 -0.1101 -3.4431 -0.0113 -1.9252 0.0511 -1.2463 0.0941 -0.8639
105 4.0 -4.8637 0.0000 -0.2236 -3.8476 -0.0481 -1.9342 -0.0161 -1.2216 -0.0058 -0.8465
105 8.0 ' -4.8637 0.0000 -0.0878 -3.9602 -0.0429 -1.9386 -0.0347 -1.2229 -0.0321 -0.8419
105 16.0 -4.8637 0.0000 -0.0521 -3.9899 -0.0401 -1.9315 -0.0388 -1.2219 -0.0383 -0.8408
120. 0..3 -3.0.0.0.0. 0.,0.0.0.0.-3,3520. 0..550.3 -4,4840. 1.1240. 1.6279 -2.20.97 2.0.968 -1.6744
120. 0..5 -3.0.0.0.0.0..0.0.0.0.-3.10.32 0..1613 -2.5277 -0..3577 0..450.9 -1.6477 1.1634 -1.3678
120. 1.0. -3.0.0.0.0. 0..0.0.0.0.-2.3940. -0..9475 -0..9322 -1.5661 0.,0.997 -1.480.0. 0..40.63 -1.1190.
120. 2.0. -3,0.0.0.0. 0..0.0.0.0.-1.2584 -2.7227 -0..2796 -2.0.60.4 0..0.079 -1.4362 0..0.979 -1.0.177
120. 4.0. -3.0.0.0.0. 0..0.0.0.0.-0..4473 -3.990.8 -0..0.891 -2.20.47 -0..0.150.-1.4252 0.00.84 -0..9883
120. 8.0. -3.0.0.0.0. 0..0.0.0.0.-0..1394 -4.4722 -0..0.385 -2.2430. -0..0200. -1.4229 -0..0.144 -0..980.9
120. 16.0. -3.0.0.0.0. 0..0.0.0.0.-0..0.489 -4.6136 -0..0.228 -2,2549 -0..0.188 -1.4234 -0..0.182 -0.,9796
135 0..3 -2.4142 0..0.0.0.0.-2.6277 0..5138 -3.4378 I. 1936 -2.4925 0..0.575 1.6290. -2.1462
135 0..5 -2,4142 0..0.0.0.0.-2.5437 0..3117 -2.7279 0.,3657 -0..9249 -1.0.948 0..9715 -1.7125
135 1.0. -2.4142 0..0.0.0.0.-2.2550. -0..3831 -1.4898 -1.0.779 -0..2544 -1.5877 0..3448 -1.3955
135 2.0. -2.4142 0..0.0.0.0.-1.550.5 -2.0789 -0..5226 -2.20.58 -0..0.556 -1.7338 0..10.55 -1.2745
135 4.0 -2.4142 0..0.0.0.0.-0..6846 -4.1632 -0..1354 -2.6573 -0..0.026 -1.7728 0..0.382 -1.240.4
135 8.0. -2.4142 0..0.0.0.0.-0..20.10.-5.3272 -0..0.20.6-2.7911 0.,0.133 -1.7845 0..0.227 -1.2326
135 16.0 -2.4142 0..0.0.0.0.-0..0.30.3-5.7381 0..0.187 -2.8369 0..0.252 -1.7932 0..0.249 -1.2337
'0
150. 0..3 -2,1547 0..0.0.0.0.-2.2893 0..50.52 -2,7730. 1.1240 -3.0.586 .1.0.358 0..0.854 -1.7662
ISO. 0.,5 -2,1547 0..0.0.0.0."2.2552 0.,3771 -2,5161 0.,6580. -1.9946 -0..1834 0.0745 -1.7577
150. 1.0. -2.1547 0..0.60.0. -2.1280. -0..10.0.3 -1.6317 -0..5872 -0..810.1 -1.540.8 0..0.632 -1.7487
150. 2.0. -2.1547 0.,0.0.0.0.-1.7347 -1.5757 -0..8586 -2.3559 -0..20.46 -2.2346 0..0.593 -1.7456
150. 4.0. -2.1547 0..0.0.0.0.-0..9854 -4.3873 -0..2393 -U816 -0..0.0.85-2.4594 0.060.3 -1.7464
150. 8.0. -2.1547 0..0.0.0.0.-0..3260. -5.8614 -0..0.112 -3.8963 0.0514 -2.5280. 0..0.662 -1.7511
ISO. 16.0. -2.1547 0.,0.0.0.0.-0..0.130.-8.0.359 0..0.811 -4.0640. 0.0910. -2.5734 0..0.865 -1.7671
165 0..3 -2.0.353 0..0.0.0.0.-2.10.41 0..50.59 -2.3239 1.0.275 -2.4656 0..9660. -1.5743 -0..7119
165 0..5 -2.0353 0..0.0.0.0.-2.0.924 0..4198 -2.250.5 0..7662 -2.20.66 0..3846 -1.3526 -1.0.544
165 1.0. -2.0.353 0..0.0.0.0.-2.0468 0.0848 -1.9999 -0..1259 -1.5687 -1.0.472 -0..8886 -1.7710.
165 2.0. -2.0.353 0..0.0.0.0.-1.6845 -1.10.81 -1.40.13 -2.2573 .-0..7768 -2.8248 -0..4324 -2.4756
165 4.0 -2.0.353 0..0.0.0.0.-1.4415 -4.3644 -0..6837 -4.8123 -0..3262 -3.8362 -0..2147 -2.8117
165 8.0. -2.0.353 0..0.0.0.0.-0..7711 -9.2916 -C.27t9 -6.2750. -0..1557 -4.2189 -0..1323 -2.9390.
165 16.0. -2.0.353 0..0.0.0.0.-0..2452-13.1567 -0..0.535 -7.0.561 -0..0.385 -4.4820. -0..0.569 -3.0554
180 0.3 -2.00.00. 0.0.0.0.0 -2.0.0.0.0. 0..500.7 -2.0000 0,8911 -2.0000 0.7207 -2.0000 -0.1238
180 0.5 -2.00.00. 0..0000. -2.0000 0.4469 -2.00.00 0..7559 -2.0.00.0 0.5043 -2.0.000 -0.2889
180. 1.0 -2.00.00 0..0.00.0 -2.000.0. 0..2348 -2.00.0.0. 0..2545 -2.0.00.0.-0.2149 -2.000.0. -0..80.68
180 2.0. -2.00.0.0. 0.,0.0.00. -2.0.0.0.0-0..5560. -2.0.0.0.0-1.2582 -2.00.0.0 -1.6190 -2.00.0.0.-1.8178
180. 4.0 -2.0.0.0.0. 0..0.0.0.0.-2.0.0.0.0.-3.0.501 -2.00.0.0.-4.0197 -2.0.0.0.0.-3.5609 -2.00.0.0.-2,7358
180. 8.0. -2.0.00.0. 0..0.0.0.0.-2.0.0.0.0.-8.1183 -2.0.0.0.0.-6.40.71 -2.0.00.0.-4.4998 -2.0.0.0.0.-3.1749
180. 16.0 -2.0.00.0. 0..00.0.0. -2.0.0.0.0.-13.6841 -2.0.0.0.0-7.8950 -2.0.00.0.-5.0.631 -2.0.0.00.-3.4433
195 0.3 -2.0.353 0.0.000. -I. 9585 0..4778 -1.7961 0.7206 -1.7675 0..50.86 -1.9729 0..0.815
195 0..5 -,2.0.353 0.,000.0. -1.9619 0..4561 -1.8151 0.6634 -1.8035 0..440.2 -1.9996 0..0466
195 1.0 -2.0.353 0..0.0.0.0.-1. 9753 0..3732 .1.9795 0.4692 -1.9113 0..2355 -2.0.762 -0..0.535
195 2.0 -2.0353 0.0.00.0 -2.0197 0..0.967 -2.0292 0..0.184 -2.0.996 -0..1222 ~2.1987 -0..2135
195 4.0. -2.0.353 0..00.0.0.-2,1215 -0..5365 -2,1987 -0.4923 -2.2463 -0..40.08 -2.2848 -0.3261 I
195 8.0. -2.0.353 0..0.0.0.0.-2,2309 -1.2165 -2.2802 -0..7378 -2.2987 -0..50.0.4 -2.3124 -0..3621
195 16.0. -2.0353 0.00.0.0 -2.260.4 -1.3999 -2.280.0. -0.7374 -2.2915 -0..4866 -2.30.29 -0..3497
,,
210 0.3 -2.1541 0.0000 -1.9919 0.4354 -1.1294 0.5522 -1.1041 0.3583 -1.8894 O.lm
210 0.5 -2.1541 0.0000 -I. 9856 0.4533 -1.1342 0.5450 -1.1144 0.3504 -1.8154 0.1551
210 1.0 -2.1541 0.0000 -1.9638 0.51 I 6 -1.1414 0.5288 -1.1315 0.3415 -1.8451 0.1138
210 2.0 -2.1541 0.0000 -1.9090 0.6584 -1.1556 0.5051 -1.1635 0.3202 -1.8101 0.1931
210 U -2.1541 0.0000 -1.8319 0.9491 -1.7150 0.4930 -1.1153 0.3105 -1.1905 0.2051
210 8.0 -2.1541 0.0000 -1.7909 0.9749 -I. 1710 0.4969 -1.1131 0.3118 -1.1199 0.2111
210 16.0 -2.1541 0.0000 -1.1521 1.0115 -1.1504 0,5250 -1.1551 0.3256 -1.1633 0.2204
225 0.3 -2.4142 0.0000 -2.1395 0.3969 -1.1999 0.4299 -1.1431 0.2960 -1.8303 O. t 112
225 0.5 -2.4142 0.0000 -2.0901 0.4612 -1.1539 0.4520 -1.1021 0.3141 -1.1765 0.1935
225 1.0 -2.4142 0.0000 -1.9541 0.6645 -t.6615 0.5256 -t.6253 0..3419 -1.5120 0.2252
225 2.0 -2.4142 0.0000 -1.7418 0.9111 -1.5149 0.5872 -1.5594 0.3110 -1.5791 0.2537
225 U -2.4142 0.0000 -1.5940 1.1 845 -1.5350 0.5151 -1.5307 0.3897 -1.5355 0.2663
225 8.0 -2.4142 0.0000 -1.5359 1.2685 -1.5199 0.6257 -1.5195 0.3946 -1.5221 0.2107
225 16.0 -2.4142 0.0000 -1.5085 1.3080 -1.5059 0.6355 -1.5081 0.3995 -1.5111 0.2739
240 0.3 -3.0000 0.0000 -2.4180 0.4080 -1.9361 0.3837 -1.8310 0.2791 -1.1981 0.1974
240 0.5 -3.0000 0.0000 -2.2859 0.5593 -1.8326 0.4421 -1.1235 0.3041 -1.1119 0.2115
240 1.0 -3.0000 0.0000 -1.9169 0.8467 -1 .6107 0.5261 -1.5618 0.3433 -1.5610 0.2354
140 2.0 -3.0000 0.0000 -1.5933 1.0996 -1.4685 0.5800 -1.4534 0.3692 -I. 4580 0.2533
240 4.0 -3.0000 0.0000 -1.4540 1.2085 -1.4173 0.5993 -1.4135 0.3788 -1.4152 0.2603
240 8.0 -3.0000 0.0000 -1.4113 1.2419 -1.4019 0.6052 -1.4012 0.3817 -1.4021 0.1625
. 240 16.0 -3.0000 0.0000 -1.3955 1.2542 -1.3937 0.6093 -1.3945 0.3833 -1.3960 0.2635
255 0.3 -4.8631 0.0000 -3.1487 0.5856 -2.2529 0.4319 -1.9289 0.3060 -1.1809 0.2212
255 0.5 -4.8631 0.0000 -2.4716 0.8158 -1.9081 0.4989 -1.1451 0.3251 -t.6103 0.2291
255 1.0 -4.8637 0.0000 -1.1940 1.0481 -1.5512 0.5453 -1.5216 0.3485 -1.5055 0.2409
255 2.0 -4.8637 0.0000 -1.4751 1.1570 -1.4081 0.5716 -1.3979 0.3614 -1.3955 0.2488
255 4.0 -4.8637 0.0000 -1.3767 I. 1906 -l.3592 0.5797 -1.3568 0.3657 -1.3568 0.1515
255 8.0 -4.8637 0.0000 -1.3502 I. 1996 -1.3459 0.5819 -1.3454 0.3559 -1.3455 0.2524
255 16.0 -4.8637 0.0000 -1.3422 1.2024 -1.3412 0.5827 -1.3414 0.3673 -1.3418 0.2527
210 0.3 -4.8637 0.0000 -1.3422 1.1024 -1.3412 0.5827 -1.3414 0.3673 -1.3418 0.2527
210 0.5 -4.8631 0.0000 -1.3422 1.2024 -1.3412 0.5827 -1.3414 0.3673 -1.3418 0.2527
270 1.0 -4.8537 0.0000 -1.3422 1.2024 -1.3412 0.5821 -1.3414 0.3613 -1.3418 0.2521
210 2.0 -4.8637 0.0000 -1.3422 1.2024 -1.3412 0.5827 -1.3414 0.3673 -1.3419 0.2527
270 4.0 -4.8637 0.0000 -l.3422 1.2024 -1.3412 0.5821 -1.3414 0.3573 -1.3418 0.2527
270 8.0 -4.8637 0.0000 -1.3422 1.2024 -1.3412 0.5927 -1.3414 0.3673 -1.3418 0.2521
270 15.0 -4.8537 . 0.0000 -1.3422 1.2024 -1.3412 0.5827 -1.3414 0.3573 -1.3418 0.2527 <:)
,•.
285 0.3 2.8537 0.0000 1.1825 0.5136 -2.3445 0.7708 -1.9802 0.4519 -1.130 I 0.2949
285 0.5 2.8537 0.0000 -0.5619 I. 0455 -1.5834 0.5730 -1.5695 0.4248 -t.6023 0.2867
285 1.0 2.8637 0.0000 -1.1160 1. 2158 -1.4177 0.5335 -1.4508 0.4025 -1.W4 0.2765
l- 285 2.0 2.8537 0.0000 -1.2539 1.2610 -1.3409 0.6223 -1.3528 0.3934 -1.3545 0.2708
285 4.0 2.8637 0.0000 -1.3016 1.2725 -1.3210 0.5193 -1.3242 0.3907 -1.3250 0.2589
285 9.0 2.8637 0.0000 -1.3112 1.2754 -1.3160 0.5185 -1.3158 0.3901 -1.3110 0.2584
295 15.0 2.8531 0.0000 -1.3140 1.2753 -1.3151 0.5185 -1.3153 0.3899 -1.3152 0.2583
300 0.3 l. 0000 0.0000 1.5139 -0.3214 -0.6914 0.5124 -1.7601 0.5211 -1.6433 0.3474
300 0.5 l. 0000 0.0000 0.3686 0.3949 -1.1446 0.6497 -1.5460 0.4863 -1.5403 0.3338
300 1.0 1. 0000 0.0000 -0.6769 1.0486 -1.2771 0.6900 -1.3990 0.4582 -1.4185 0.3118
300 2.0 1.0000 0.0000 -1.1315 1. 3361 -1.3125 0.7006 -1.3447 0.4418 -1.3532 0.3092
300 U 1. 0000 0.0000 -1.2156 1.4231 -1.3213 0.7032 -1.3295 0.W9 -1.3319 0.3064
300 8.0 1.0000 0.0000 -1.3121 I.W8 -1.3236 0.7040 -1.3257 0.4142 -1.3263 0.3057
300 16.0 l. 0000 0.0000 -1.3218 1.4519 -1.3246 0.7043 -1.3251 0.4441 -1.3251 0.3055
315 0.3 0.4142 0.0000 0.8645 -0.4645 1.4916 -0.5384 -1. 1111 0.4805 -1.4272 0.3992
315 0.5 0.4142 0.0000 ' 0.4491 -0.0360 -0.3208 0.3673 -1.2320 0.5185 -1.4014 0.3936
315 1.0 0.4142 0.0000 -0.3215 0.7589 -1.0578 0.7356 -1.3088 0.5428 -1.3704 0.3868
315 2.0 0.4142 0.0000 -0.9686 1.4264 -1.2717, 0.8425 -1.3360 0.5514 -1.3536 0.3832
315 4.0 0.4142 0.0000 -1.2390 1.7054 -1.3275 0.8704 -1.3437 0.5538 -1.3482 0.3820
315 8.0 0.4142 0.0000 -1.3189 1.7878 -1.3421 0.8777 -1.3460 0.5546 -1.3470 0.3818
315 16.0 0.4142 0.0000 -1.3413 1.8109 -1.3471 0.8802 -1.3478 0.5551 -1.3476 0.3819
330 0.3 0.1547 0.0000 0.4487 -0.5014 1.3813 -1.0134 -0.0697 0.1159 -0.9533 0.3971
330 0.5 0.1547 0.0000 0.3068 -0.2593 0.3304 -0.1452 -0.6315 0.4095 -1.0632 0.4365
330 1.0 0.1547 0.0000 -0.0924 0.4214 -0.6976 0.7042 -1.0993 0.6531 -1.2207 0.4929
330 2.0 0.1547 0.0000 -0.7149 1.4831 -1.1732 1.0972 -1.2935 0.7543 -1.3211 0.5289
330 4.0 0.1547 0.0000 -1.1482 2.2222 -1.3195 1.2181 -1.3510 0.7843 -1.3573 0.5419
330 8.0 0.1547 0.0000 -1.3119 2.5013 -1.3603 I. 2517 -1.3678 0.7930 -1.3587 0.5450
330 16.0 0.1547 0.0000 -1.3654 2.5924 -1.3772 1.2657 -1.3776 0.7981 -1.3759 0.5486
345 0.3 0.0353 0.0000 0.1800 -0.5087 0.5881 -0.9413 0.2987 -0.2827 -0.3022 0.2493
315 0.5 0.0353 0.0000 0.1430 -0.3787 0.3510 -0.5377 -0.0021 0.0408 -0.4320 0.3451
346 1.0 0.0353 0.0000 0.0122 0.0813 -0.1961 0.3940 -0.5521 0.6305 -0.7234 0.5604
345 2.0 0.0353 0.0000 -0.3332 1.2952 -0.8104 1.4401 -1.0046 1. 1163 -1.0389 0.7935
315 4.0 0.0353 0.0000 -0.8183 3.0003 -1.1301 1. 9845 -1.1940 1.3196 -I . 1987 0.9':,
345 8.0 0.0353 0.0000 -1.1301 4.0965 -1.2414 2. 1741 -1.2568 1.3871 -1.2549 o ~~.10
345 16.0 0.0353 0.0000 -1.2725 4.5972 -1.3013 2.2751 -1.298' 1.4316 -1.2990 0.9782
360 0.3 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 -0.4948 0.0000 -0.745' 0.0000 -0.3567 0.0000 0.0382
360 0.5 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 -0.4389 ".0000 -0.6185 0.0000 -0.2453 0.0000 0.0895
360 1.0 0.0000 0.0000 ~.•uOO -0.2251 0.0000 -0.1922 0.0000 0.0989 0.0000 0.2543
360 2.0 0.0000 o :.00 0.0000 0.4893 0.0000 0.7713 0.0000 0.7473 0.0000 0.5926
:~o 4.0 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 2.1366 0.0000 1.8379 0.0000 1.3110 0.0000 0.9194
.iO 8.0 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 4.0516 0.0000 2.4179 0.0000 1.5719 0.0000 1.0800
360 16.0 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 5.3651 0.0000 2.7534 0.0000 I . 7273 0.0000 1. 1690
APPENDIX-F
The problem. presented in An 2,3 and in Fig . 2, I. IS now being solved using Ihe
anal)'1 ical approach.
The dala for lhis example were:
~ = 1[/2 radians
H. = IO,'i II.
b = 4 h.
Rj = 3,IX II.
R" = 7,IX II.
Rc = 'i,IX II.
Il = OK1 II.
w = 114'i Ib/II 01 IlllrilOnlal projeclion.
a" = lan-I (H/2fl R"J = 0.4.1'i6 radian
(Xj =lan-1 (H/2fl Rjl = O,XI03 radian
~__L 1"1,-1 'Ii In (sina,,/sin (Xj)2. 1
v. • -..-------(- O,2X9i radian =33,7'i0
2 ( col ('I. i - col fX (» + 2 (" (1.i - rl
o) ,-
R = (H/2rll col (X= 'i.OO II.

(R< R,J and (Rj < R < R,,)
Approsimate eccenlricilyoi' load

,)
e = (b~/12RI + IRe - RJ = 0.44'i h.:: O,OX9 R

Now lor rl = ')0"'. a = :1:\.7)" . and b/Il = 4.X;
From Appcndi,\-13 and Appcndix-c we gCI
F, = (I.(I'i R.' + I(lA(I) Re' = (U1I44 R2
\~,-
F, = -(I.X4 R2 + (- (I.X?) Rc = - 0,9174 R
CalcLl'al jon 01 [1l0men/."
M, = \I (Ill!"\\, + C IlIn + 1\ Illrx + F, Illrr)
M, = W fIllS\\' + e Ills I + F, Ill~s + F, Illsr)

134
Where
Ill,W = _R2 (l - cos <\»
Ills\\' = _R2 (<\>- sill <\» sill 0:
III I\\' = R2(<\>-sill<\»coso.
III 'x = -R (<\>sill <\» lall o.

Ill" = -R I sill <\>cos 0 + (<\>cos <\» sill 0: lall 0:1
IllIX = R Ixill <\> sill 0: - (~cOS sill 0: I
m-r!,:::: cos (II
III sr ::: - sill (I) sill (J.
Illlr::: - sin - 01
Illr\\, :::: Ills\\, ::: Ill!\\" ::: ()
III rl ::: IllS! ::: IllII ::: ()
111rx ::: I1lsx ::: IllIX ::: ()
Il1rr ::: I, illsI'::: Illlr::: 0
M, = 0.144 WR2 = 412.2 Ib.l"1.

Ms = 0
MI = 0
,1.,
AI lOp xlippoj'l ( q) = nl2 radiall)

o 0
Illrw=-R". Illsw=(UI7R-. IllIW = 0.475 R2
Illrx = -LOS R, Ill" = -0.X31 R. III Ix = 0.555 R
Illrr=O. III sr = -0.555, Illir = -0.X31 R
Illrl=-R. III SI = -0.555 R, III II = -0.X31 R
135
M,.=-0.IIHWR2 = -3187 Ih 1"1.

Ms = -1.022 WR2 = -29254 Ih ft
MI = -0.12 WR2 = -3437 Ih 1"1.
Al hottom support ( = - 7[/2 radian)

M,. = -3187 Ih ft.
Ms = + 29254 110 n
MI = +3.:\37 Ih 1"1.
Forrcs :
F, = WR I q' sin 0. - Cx sin cos 0.
Fs = WR 1 ql cos ex + ex si 11 (p si n ex
F,. = WR I 0 + Cx sin cos q' I
AI midspan (= II)

FI = 0
Fs = ()
F,. = WR e, = (x = -0.9174 WR = -5252 lb.
AI 101' support «I' = + rr/2 radiall)

FI = 1.(,35 WR = + <J3(,()II>
Fs = 0.7%3 WR = + 4559 II>
F,. = ()
AI I>ollom support. «~ = - rr/2 radianl

F, = -1.e,35 WR = - 93('() II>
Fs = - ().7<J63 WR = + 455311>
F,. = 0
APPENDIX -G
A. G.I Bricf Dcscription of Thick Shcll Elcmcnt

Thick shell program is a FORTRAN code to implemenl Ihe general thick shell
clement developed by Ahmcd. A brier descriplion or Ihe program is given in Art :
A. G.2.
Typical thick shell clelllcnts :lrc shown in Fig. 2.1. In thick shells bending
cfTcct can be expected 10 be signif'ican1. The transverse sh<.'ar derormation is a I so
significant. From a three dimensional point oj" view the elemenls have two
degeneracies. Firslly. lile original normals 10 the middle surface arc assumed 10
rClllaln straight. Secondly, the distance of a poinl along the normal rrom Ih e
middle surface remains unafTcclcd.
a) Gcomctric Dcfinition or thc Elcment
The external races or Ihe elemenl are curved. while the sections across the
thickness arc generated by straight lines, pairs 01" points itop and ibollom each wilh
!liven cartesian co-onlin:llcs. describe the shape 01' the clement.
II' ~ . ''1 hI.' the two curvilinear c,o-ordinates ill the middle pl~lnc or the shell (Fig.
G.2.2) and C a lincar co-ordinatc in thc thickncss dircction. II' rurther it is assumed
that ~,"fl, C vary hetwee,1l '1 and -Ion the respeclive races of" the clemcllt then it can
bc writtcn a relationship hetween thc cartesian co-ordinales or any point of the
shell and ihc curvilinear co-ordinales in the form
{"'} Y =
.•
I N, IS.'l1 . 1
. (I +0 {Xi}~i . + I N,
'.
IS,l1)
I I+()
2
{Xi}
)
,
i
I. Zi lop Zi bOlll""
Here Ni(~,'1) is a shape ("ullction taking a value or unity at the nodes i and zero
or all olher nodes. Ir Ihe basic r"nctions Ni arl' derived as shape runetion or a
'parcllt', two dimcntional elcmcnt, squarc or cvcn triangular in plan and arc so
dcsigncd that compatibility IS achievcd at interfaces, thcn Ihe curved shape
clelllcilt will fit into each other. Arbitrary curved shapcs or the clement can be
achicvcd by llsin~ shape fUllctions or dirrcrent. orders. Only parabolic and cubic
types arc shown ill Fig. A.G. I. For the purposc of prescnt analysis a parabolic
137
clement has been used. By placing a larger number of nodes on Ihe surfaces of Ihe
clement more elaborale shapes can be achieved if so designed. Ii should be nOled
thai Ihe co-ordinale directions is only approximately normal to the middle surface.
The relationship between (he cartesian co-ordinates and curvilinear co-ordinates
cab be written conveniently in a form specified by Ihe 'veelOr' connecting the
upper and lower points (i. e. a vector of length equal to Ihe shell thickness (I) and
mid-surfaces co-ordinales (shown in Fig. A. C.2).
X}Y {Xi} + L Ni ~ " 3 i

{ = L Ni Y,
2
Z Zj. mid
defining a vee,lor whose lenglh is the shell thickness.
Displaccmcnt Ficld
Since the slr<lins in the dircC-lioll normal to the mid-surracc IS assumed to be
negligible. the displaC(,~llle.lll throughout lhl~. elCIlH'll1 will be taken 10 he uniquely
defined by the three carlesian components or the mid-surface node displacement
all(~ two rOlatiolls or the llod;I1 vector "li about orthogonal directions normal 10 il.
If Iwo such orthogonal directions arc given by VCrl{H "2i and v Ii of unit
magnitude, with corresponding (scalar) rotalioll. O.i and. r~i.it be wrillen, similar lo
the previous equ:lIioll. but now dropping llle '.;lIlli,'\ mid ror simplicity.
138
A. G.2. Gcncral Fcaturcs of thc Program

Thc gcncral Ihick shcll rinilc clcmcnl program is a gc.icralizcd program. T hc
gcomclry of a slruclurc is denned in a global system i.e. rcctanguhlf cartesian. Til c
loading and boundary conditions Illust be given in the same unit as lhc nodal
displaccmcnls or an clcmcnl. Thc slrcsscs as usually calculalcd at Ihc nodal points
in thc glohal syslcm.
The lOp and hOltom (~o-onlin:Jlc.s of ctlch node with respect 10 carlcsil.lll co-
ordinate arc 1'<:<1into the program. Co-ordinalcs for nOll-corner modes lying () n
slraight edges arc not required 10 he given. If these co-ordinates of the nodes ale
rcd into Ihe progr:lIl1. Ihcm Ihe shape or the elemcnt is aulomalically defincd in
the program. Therefore lhe thickness or the clement can vary from node 10 node
and Ihe edge.s nl:IY he curved paraholically and cuhically depending upon the type
or clement used. The pro~ralll as al present Call hllll(lh.~ isotropic clastic malerial.
The malerial properties arc defined for every clement. thus allowing the progr~lI11
10 dcal with Illale-rials varyin!! rrom elemenl 10 clemen I. The temperalure and
pressure can he "aried frolll node 10 node,
Out.put from thc P,"ogr:J1lI

The displacements arc calculated and printed agninsl each nodc in Ihe
ascending order for every loading casc, Sl rcsscs arc !'irsl calCulatcd in the local
orlho!!on<ll SYSICIll ;lIld Ihem transformcd to Ihe 1!lohal carle-sian syslem,' For every
node the lOp surface sl resses arc followed hy lhe bOllom slIIface stresses.
The. glohal sll\:ss an ..", ;dso stored separ:l1ely ror 101' and bottom surraces against
llodal numhers and ;11 I he end a simple averaging IS perrormed 00 thcm. The
average st ressl's an,', them prillied oul in Ihe ascending ordcr or thc uodai
numhers. The 101' surrace sl ressc-s ror all Ihe loading case.s as rollowed by Ihc
bottom sllrfan,' slresses.
Division or Structure into Elcmcnts

The s[r(lcltll'e IS first or all divided illio suitahle c1emcllts <Ind lhc ordcr
numbered in :In)' suitable way as shown 1'01'eX:lmple in Fig. G.2.4. The elemcnts arc
also suilahly llulllbcT(,,'d ill sOllle scqucncc Oil which lhey arc red in thc com pUler.
Two prohahle sC,qllc-ncc arc shown in Figs, A.G.4la) :llId A.G.4(b). Each c1cment is
topologically defined hy ils 1I0dai oumhe.rs in a consistent ri,ght h~md screw system
showlI ill Fig. A.G.5!.a) :lil(l A.G.5(b).
139
Fronl Width and Selection or Order or Elimioalioo
To carry out the analysis or a SlfliClure using the minimum possible computer
storage, the clements arc selected in such a sequence Ihat the maximum number or
variables 10 be handled al any panicular lime (Iile rront widlh) is minimum. ror
example, Ihe prescribed order or clemen Is in Fig. A.G.4(a) will give the smallest
front width. This is evidelll even from inspection in a simple structure.
The thick shell program uses Ihe Frontal Solution technique. Here Ihe assembly
or an elemell! stillness and the. corresponding right hand sides .i c .is illlillcdialcly
followed by the process or eliminalion or lhe variables corresponding 10 nodes
which occur I'or lhe lasl tilllc-. This is indicated 10 the pro~ralll by inserting a -\Ie
sign before tllese node This cab easily be put III IllOS[ shell structures once the
c1emelll sequl'nc-c has heell selected.

A Design Rationale For Helicoidal Stair Slabs: Master of Science in Civil Engineering

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(

A DESIGN RATIONALE FOR

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CIVIL

A DESIGN RATIONALE FOR

Approved a;; 10 Ihe style and content by:-

Dr. Sohrabudclin Ahlllad C h a i rm an

Dr. Md. Wahha' Uddin Member

I do hereby declare that the work

embodied in this thesis tS the result

The author IS indebted to Dr. Alamgir Mojibul Haque, Professor,

Thanks are due to Dr. Azadur Rahman. Professor of Civil Engineering,

Particular appreciation is expressed 10 all the staffs of. the BUET

Aek nowl edgcmcn I IV

1.1 GCIlc-I;~1I InlrodUClioll

1.2 Background or [he Research

CHAPTER 2: Litcraturc I{c\"iew

3.1 General Inlroduclion 22

CHAPTER 4: Anal."lical Apprnach.

CHAPTER (,; Inl""""l'tal;o" of l{cslIIIs

6.2.1 Ddlcelion Characterislics of Helicoids 103

6.2.3 Varialions of Moments 104

6.3 Comparison of Results oblained b)' dillercnl Melhods 105

6.4 Proposal for Design Guide 107

7.~ Findings I'rOfl1 tht'- Investigation 116

7.4 Scope or FU1ure Sludy 1I 8

Owing to the architecturally fascinating appearance, helicoidal staircases as

b widlh 01 Ihe slai,. slab.

G modulus or she,ll" ::: E/2 (I + POiSSOll"\ r,llio)

II Sll[lpon II) support hi.!2l11

Is IllOlllCtll Ill' inertia ,1IwUI the billorlll;1l ;t\l.S.

;11 P :thoul radial ax is.

M", M s III 0 llle-Ill ;11 P about a hinormal aXIs.

Mil IIlOlllell1 :11 P ,lholll

M, IllOlllcnl al I' :llHlll I \T-rlical

nlidpoillJ 111 c- 11('1 i .\.

Ri llie [",HI i 11:-- (ll" llie Illller helix as scell I he pi"

01 Iii e oj c r helix as SCCll Ihe pi "n view.

1.1 General Introduction

"V---- ------- -- _//

However recent research on helicoidal stair slab, as reported by Holmes(l) and

1.2 Background of the Research

Bergman(fJ) has analysed projection or helicoid I"or unil"ormly dislributed load.

HlII1/"iI,ntX) ""d Fuchsstciller(9) had both published exposilions of the "exact"

AI BUET Islam(IR) and Salauddin(19) inilialed thc analysis of helicoidal slairs

1.3 Objectives of the Research

a. Illvesrig;llj/l~ lhl' actual behaviour or helicoidal slair slabs by classical

b. Carrying o uI S01lle paramcl ric study. such as

I. 11l\'Cslig;lling ," e l' Ileet s of height/celliral radius rat io.

111. InVl',Slig<l[illg ," e clleCls or t01a I angle .

c. f)cvclop1llCI11 or a r;llional design procedure. I.e. 10 formulatc speciric

1.4 Scope and Methodology

Method or consistent deformation is used to obtain rhe analytical solution. In

Subsequcntly. al\alylil~al solutioll is cornp;lI"Cd with 1l1al obtained by the Finite

1.S Organization of the Thesis

P H.',selll cd In order tn delincale the- remarkahle di frere-nces of those approaches

Comprchcnsive ;lIlatyscs or fixed ended hc.licoidal slaircases have been made

2.2 Analytical Approaches

The g.lobal assumptions pertaining. to lhc analyses arc as follows:

I. The Illall...',rial IS tinearly c,!astic and IHlmog.cncolis .

4. The slrUclUrl'. Ilia)' be. sludied neglecting. any slab effects.

5. The corss-scclion is considered symllletrical about lwo principal axes of lhe

in the following manner (Fig. 2.1)

I. Total subtended angel. 2~ ~ rr radians