Limit state of serviceability

• Structures designed by limit state of collapse,

must be checked for deflection and width of
cracks.
 Limit state of serviceability
• Serviceability requirements of deflection and cracking
Limit state of deflection – Excessive deflection of a structure or part
thereof adversely affects the appearance and efficiency of the structure,
finishes or partitions. The member should not undergo excessive
deformation
Limit state of cracking Excessive cracking of concrete also seriously affects
the appearance and durability of the structure. The crack width in the
reinforced concrete member should not be more than those specified
in code
• Clause 35.3 of IS 456 refers to the limit state of
serviceability comprising deflection in cl. 35.3.1
and cracking in cl. 35.3.2.
 Deflection

• There are basically two type of deflections:

• 1. Short term deflection 
• 2. Long term deflection
• Short term deflection: One which is caused immediately when
the structure is loaded .
• It includes all the dead loads and live loads considered for the
design of that structural element.
 Short term deflection

• Factors affecting are

• Magnitude of live load
• Span and type of supports
• Type of concrete and its characteristic strength
• Stress in steel reinforcement
• Amount and extend of cracking
Long-term deflection occurs over a long period of time largely
due to sustained loading, shrinkage
 Long term deflection is calculated for full dead load and part of
live loads which are going to be there life long on the structure.

Total deflection = sum of short term

deflection and long term deflection
 Deflection

• Clause 23.2 of IS 456 stipulates the limiting deflections

under two heads as given below:
(a) The maximum final deflection should not normally
exceed span/250 due to all loads including the
effects of temperatures, creep and shrinkage and
measured from the as-cast level of the supports of
floors, roof and all other horizontal members.
Deflection

(b) Themaximum deflection should not normally

exceed the lesser of span/350 or 20 mm
including the effects of temperature, creep and
shrinkage occurring after erection of partitions
and the application of finishes
Control of deflection

• Control of deflection ( 2 methods are usually described in code)

1) Empirical method of keeping span to effective depth ratio of the
member not more than those specified in code

Limiting span to depth ratio

2) Calculating actual deflection and checking it with allowable
deflection in code of practice

refer pg 37
 Limiting span to depth ratio

• Span to effective depth ( l/d) ratio depends on

• 1. span and support conditions
• 2. amount of tension steel
• 3. amount of compression steel
• 4.type of beam ( Flanged or rectangular beam)
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