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TOS 3: UNIT 3B: LIMIT STATE

DESIGN IN R.C.C.

Objectives:

1. To Understand the Limitations of W.S.M

when applied to R.C.C. Design and

Introduce L.S.M

2. To Understand the Philosophy of Limit  LIMIT STATE

State Design. DESIGN
PHILOSOPHY
3. To Understand Various Limit States and
 LIMIT STATE
what care to be taken to achieve them
FOR FLEXURE
4. To Draw the Stress Block Diagram for
Flexural Section and derive formula for
Moment of Resistance
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TOS 3: Unit 3b: Limit State Design:

Introduction: In Unit 2b we already studied Working Stress Method and its Limitations and also applied the same
to Wooden Structures. Let us revise them especially in context of Concrete Material
3b.1. Limitations of W.S.M leading to the devising of a new Method
1. The Stress Strain relationship of Concrete is non-linear and Modulus of Elasticity and Modular Ratio with Steel
(R.C.C Composite section) is not a constant. W.S.M assumes a constant modular ratio and Modulus of
Elasticity to derive the equations, which is very erroneous.
2. The W.S.M assumes the linear elastic behavior not only of the material but also of the structure. W.S.M
ignores its inelastic behavior and the redistribution of moments occurring along the length of the structure
leading to Plastic deformations at Critical Sections. The additional strength or load bearing capacity due to this
phenomenon remains unaccounted for leading to Uneconomical Sections.
3. W.S.M neglects the effect of creep and shrinkage of Concrete, which changes the modulus of Elasticity and
transfers load from Concrete to Steel with time.
4. The W.S.M uses the concept of stress as a measure of safety i.e. the structure is considered unsafe when any
material in any part of the structure reaches its ultimate value. However, experimental research has shown
that that a structure neither fails nor becomes unsafe just by this. Visible factor is Strain and not Stress (Stress
being an abstract mathematical quantity, it can neither be visualized nor measured directly). The primary
function of a Structure is to carry load safely. Hence, it is important to devise a method based on load
causing failure and not stress.
The last point resulted in the devising the next method called as the Ultimate Load Method.

 Ultimate load Method and its Limitations leading to Limit State Method.
1. In this method, the structural elements are proportioned to withstand the Ultimate Load (obtained by
multiplying the Service load by Load factor).
2. It uses actual Stress Strain Curve and not the Linear Part only and hence uses the Plastic region of the
Curve and uses additional Reserve Capacity of the Material.
3. It not only takes into consideration the strength of the constituent materials (concrete and steel) but also
the composite action of both the materials.
I will not discuss this Method in more Detail but directly go to its Limitations that being
1. This method gives Slender Sections. This leads to excessive deformations and cracking. The structure
loses its functional utility and serviceability shown by excessive sagging of slabs and beams and cracking
of partition walls.
2. The method does not take into account effects of creep and shrinkage in concrete. This influences
deflections.

The above discussions lead to the conclusion that the ideal approach to design of a structure is one which
recognizes and takes into consideration all the states like Cracked, Un-cracked, Elastic, Plastic and Ultimate
State through which all parts of a structure and its materials pass through from Service Load to Ultimate Load
so that neither the safety at service load nor the serviceability at Service loads are put into danger. A new
concept of “fitness” of structure to perform its function satisfactorily for its life span emerged.
The State at which any Structure becomes Unfit for the use it was intended for is called Limit State.

TOS 3 Unit 3b Limit State Design in R.C.C. Compiled by Ar. Arthur Cutinho
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3b.2. The Design philosophy based on this concept is called Limit State Philosophy.
1. This method takes into consideration the different states and conditions of material and structure i.e.
actual behavior from loading to collapse.
2. It introduces multiple criterion of safety and introduces multiple criteria of Limit States with the
acceptance that any one criterion can be critical for a structure.
3. Instead of ad-hoc judgment the Philosophy uses Classical Reliability Theory and Statistical Probability
Theory for its mathematical Computations
4. Herein it must be admitted that the Limit State Philosophy even though Logical, Realistic and
Mathematically Sound, is yet to come into full implementation on ideal lines because of lack of sufficient
Statistical Data especially in case of Steel Design (Plastic Theory). However, its real merit lies in its
generality of accepting more data that would be available in the future and incorporating the same in
design for improving the outcome.
3b.3. Various Limit States: The various Limit States that need to be taken into account when designing a
structure are
1. Limit States of Collapse
2. Limit States of Serviceability
3. Limit States of Durability

1. Limit State of Collapse: Design to this limit state ensures safety of structures from Collapse. The structural
failure can be of the following types.

i. Flexure

ii. Shear Collapse occurring because of force coming on the member

iii. Axial Compression exceeding its strength to be studied in the subsequent chapters

iv. Axial Tension

v. Torsion

vi. Sliding

vii. Overturning Displacement of Structure due to lack of Equilibrium

viii. Sinking Specially in case of Retaining Walls dealt in T.Y. BArch

The above Limit States and Design Based on these Limit States shall be explained in the next few chapters.

2. Limit State of Serviceability: These relate to performance or behavior of structure at Service Load Levels
I. Limit State of Deflection – Taken care of by Span to Depth Ratios
II. Limit State of Cracking – Taken care of by specifying maximum crack width
III. Limit State of Vibration – Not within the purview of our syllabus

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i. Limit State of Deflection: Effects of excessive deflection are as given below

 Creates feeling of lack of safety
 Mars the appearance of the structure
 Leads to Mis-alignment of sensitive Machinery and their smooth functioning.
 Leads to deformations of door and window frames
 Leads to objectionable cracks in walls, ceiling finishes and water retaining walls
 Leads to poor Drainage and ponding on roofs
This Limit State is taken care of by: This Limit State is achieved by prescribing maximum allowable deflection or
also by defining minimum depths of various R.C.C members. This is done by a technique called Span to Depth
Ratios.
Span to Depth Ratios: These will help us in defining minimum depth of a R.C.C element. These ratios as per I.S.
Code define minimum effective depth i.e. de. However, for simplicity sake, I have recalculated these. These are the
Span to Depth overall ratios that we shall use in our study
No R.C.C. Element do = Clear Span/Ratio

1 Slab - One Way Simple do = Clear Span/25

Supported
2 Slab - Two Way Simple do = Clear Span/30
Supported
3 Slab - Cantilever do = Clear Span/10
4 Slab – One Way Continuous do = Clear Span/28
5 Slab – Two Way Continuous do = Clear Span/35
6 Beam – Simple Supported do = Clear Span/10 for spans < 6m
Singly Reinforced do = Clear Span/12 for spans > 6m
7 Beam Cantilever do = Clear Span/7
8 Beams – T , L do = Clear Span/12 to Clear Span/16

For the Sketch shown along side

For Slab S1 do = 3200/25 = 128mm
For FB1 do = Span/10 = 3200/10 = 320mm
For FB2 do = Span/12 = 6800/12 = 566.66mm
We provide these depths to the Beams and
Slabs so as to avoid excessive Deflection

ii. Limit State of Cracking: Effects of excessive cracking are as given below
 Mars the appearance of the exposed surface
 Creates feeling of lack of safety
 Creates leakage problems and renders Water tanks unserviceable
 Leads to corrosion of steel
 It creates maintenance problems

TOS 3 Unit 3b Limit State Design in R.C.C. Compiled by Ar. Arthur Cutinho
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This Limit State is taken care of by: This Limit state is attended to by specifying maximum crack width. It can also
be attained by detailing rules and restrictions on bar diameter, Spacing, Cover etc. for common structures.
Remedial measures to control crack width include the following 7 points
1. Using more number of smaller diameter bars than less number of larger diameter bars
2. Decreasing Stress in the bars at Working Loads
3. Increasing Grade of concrete
4. Providing Sufficient cover
5. Providing Minimum Percentage of steel as Reinforcement
6. Satisfying rules of Splicing, Curtailing, End Anchorage
7. Maintaining quality control over Mixing, Placing and Curing
Some Detailing is given below
 Percentage of Reinforcement
 Minimum Reinforcement for Beam is given by Ast/b x d < 0.85/fy
 Minimum Reinforcement for slabs is 0.15% of Cross Sectional Area for Fe250 and 0.12% for Fe 415
and Fe 500
 Minimum Reinforcement in Walls of a Water Tank is 0.3%
 Providing Proper Cover: We talked in detail about covers out in the last chapter
 Spacing of Reinforcement: We will detail this out in the chapter on Beams, Slabs etc.

iii. Limit State of Vibration: This Limit state is applicable to structures subjected to Dynamic loads and out of
purview of our syllabus.

3. Limit State of Durability: These Limit State relates to Durability of a structure against actions and forces of
Nature such as Fire, Rain, Water, Floods, Earthquake, Weathering and Chemical Resistance

 Limit State of Fire Resistance: This Limit State is critical in Structures like Godowns storing inflammable
Material also in ordinary structures to get some time for fire fighting and evacuation before collapse so that
lives may be rescued.
This Limit State is taken care of by: This is attended to by providing minimum cover to steel as it is
deformation in steel due to rise in temperature that is going to cause the failure. We have already talked
about covers on the last page of last chapter and provided I.S. Code for the same.

 Limit State of Resistance to Chemical and Environmental Actions: This Limit state is applicable to
structures used for storing chemicals and or subjected to permanent environmental actions like Piles, Earth
retaining structures, Dams, Jetties, and Docks etc.

This Limit State is taken care of by: This Limit state is attended to by increasing durability of concrete by
paying attention to material specification, quality control, good workmanship, meticulous supervision, also by
minimum cover standards and minimum cement contents

 Limit State of Resistance to Accidental Catastrophe: This is in case of Special Structures like Dams
Bridges Balcony Girders in Assembly Halls, Large Span Stadiums where collapse could mean loss of human life
on large scale, affecting the economy of a region etc. etc.

This Limit State is taken care of by: This Limit State is attended to by increasing the partial factor of safety for
loads by introducing a Modification factor to increase Durability and reduce probability of Failure.

TOS 3 Unit 3b Limit State Design in R.C.C. Compiled by Ar. Arthur Cutinho
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Now that we have discussed various Limit States let us discuss two important terms before we go ahead.

 Characteristic Load and Design Load: Characteristic Load is defined as that value of load, which has 95%
probability of not being exceeded during the service life span of the structure. The Characteristic Load Fk is
multiplied by a Partial Factor of Safety to get Design Load Fd
Design Load (Fd) = Fk (Characteristic Load) x Load Factor (Partial Safety Factor)Ϋf
Different factors of safety are applied to Dead Loads, Live Loads, Imposed Loads, Wind Loads etc. etc.
However, for sake of Simplicity we shall apply a Partial Safety Factor of 1.5 to the total of dead load and live load in
our calculations
Thus Fd = Fk x 1.5

 Characteristic Strength and Design Strength: Characteristic strength would be that strength below which not
more than 5% of the samples are expected to fail.
The Design Strength (fd) of a material is calculated by dividing the Characteristic Strength (fk) by a Partial Safety
Factor Ϋm.
So Design Strength = Characteristic Strength / Partial Safety Factor

As Per above the Multiplication factor for Concrete

Design Strength = 1/1.5 = 0.67fck

As Per above the Multiplication factor for Steel, Design

Strength = 1/1.15 = 0.87fy

1. fck = 25 N/mm² as we are going to be using M25

grade Concrete

2. fy = 500 N/mm² as we are going to be using

Fe500 Steel

TOS 3 Unit 3b Limit State Design in R.C.C. Compiled by Ar. Arthur Cutinho
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3b.4. Limit State of Collapse – Flexure - Stress Block Diagram and M.R of Section:
Assumptions and Explanations
1. A normal section plane before bending remains plane after bending right up to collapse. This implies strain
varies linearly from the neutral axis till failure.
2. The Ultimate state of collapse is said to have reached in flexure when the maximum compressive strain in
concrete in the outermost fiber reaches the ultimate crushing strain e , which as per I.S. Code is 0.0035.
This is reflected in the strain diagram. The corresponding stress diagram shows a parabola emerging from the
neutral axis up to a strain of 0.0022 and a rectangle in the region beyond that point up to compressive face.
The division of the stress diagram is 4/7 Xu and 3/7 Xu
A partial factor of safety of 1.5 applied to the idealized stress got by multiplying the fck value by 0.67 makes
the maximum compressive stress =0 .67/1.5 = 0.446 fck as shown
3. Concrete under tension is ignored and Tension is entire carried by the reinforcement.
4. The distribution of compressive strain in concrete across the section is defined by an idealized stress strain
curve of concrete.
5. Perfect bond exists between steel and concrete up to collapse
6. The design stress in steel reinforcement is obtained by respective stress strain curve for the type of steel used
and is applied a factor of safety of 1/1.15 = 0.87fy
7. According to I.S. Code the maximum strain in steel in Tension shall not be less than
0.002 + fy/(1.15Es) at collapse.

1. The Average Compressive stress is 0.36 fck

2. The c.g. of the compressive stress diagram when calculated lies at
0.416Xu from the top compressive fiber. The Compressive Force Cu acts
at this c.g.
3. As per I.S.456 the Xu Position depends upon type of steel used and for
Fe 500 Xu = 0.46de
4. The Tensile Force Tu acts at the center of Steel reinforcement

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5. The lever arm is the distance between Cu and Tu

Lever arm of the couple formed by Cu and Tu = de – 0.416Xu = de – 0.416 x 0.46de (For Fe500)
Hence Lever Arm = 0.81de
6. M.R from concrete side = Compressive Force x Lever Arm = Cu x Lever Arm
= Av. Compressive Stress x Compressive Area x Lever Arm
= 0.36fck x (b x Xu) x 0.81de
= 0.36fck x (b x 0.46de) x 0.81de
M.Rconc = 0.134fck x b x de²
7. M.Rsteel = Tensile Force (Tu) x Lever Arm = Tensile Stress x Area of Steel x Lever Arm
M.Rsteel=0.87fy x Ast x 0.81de
M.Rsteel = 0.87fy x Ast x 0.81de or Ast = M.R/(0.87fy) x (0.81de)
8. For A Balanced Section (When Strain in Concrete and Steel reach their peak values simultaneously)
Cu = Tu
0.36fck x Xu x b = 0.87fy x Ast
(Average Compressive Stress x A r e a) = (Average Tensile Stress x Area)

A problem for you to understand to use these equations is solved Below

Problem 1. Design the depth and steel required for flexure for a 230 wide beam simply supported over an
effective span of 6.23m carrying a u.d.l of 22kN/m over the entire span w.r.t to flexure only. Use M25 Grade
concrete and Fe 500 Steel.
Span = Le= 6.23m
U.d.l on span = 22 kN/m. Hence Factored Load or Design Load Fd = 1.5 x 22 = 33 kN/m
B.M max = Fd Le²/8 = 33 x 6.23²/8 = 160.10kNm = 160.10 x 10⁶ Nmm
i. M.Rconc = 0.134 fck b de²
160.10 x 10⁶ = 0.134 x 25 x 230 x de² fck = 20 for M25 concrete, b = 230 as per problem
de = 455.84mm
ii. M.Rsteel = 0.87 fy x Ast x0.81 d
Ast = 160.10 x 10⁶/0.87 x 500 x 0.81 x 455.84 (fy = 500 for Fe 500)
Ast = 996.79mm².
This was just a problem for you to understand to use these equations.

Suggested Theory Questions: TOS 3: Unit 3b: Limit State Design in R.C.C
Answer the Following Questions
1. Define Limit State and explain the L.S. Philosophy in brief.
2. List of Various Limit States and sub Limit States
3. Explain Limit State of Service-ability and how it is taken care of
4. Explain Span to Depth Ratios and Limit State of Service-ability
5. Explain Limit State of Cracking how it is taken care of
6. Explain Limit State of Durability how it is taken care of
7. Define: Characteristic Load and Design Load/ Characteristic Strength and Design Strength
8. Draw Stress Block Diagram for a Flexural Member in R.C.C in L.S.M

TOS 3 Unit 3b Limit State Design in R.C.C. Compiled by Ar. Arthur Cutinho