4CV013: Design Studies

Unit 1. Concept Design

• Loads
• Rules of thumb
• Other design considerations
• Costing

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 Loads
• What is the weight of an apple? • What is the weight of a small
bull?

1N = 100g
1kN = 100kg
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 Loads
• What is the weight of an • What is the load carried by
African elephant? structures?

1N = 100g
1kN = 100kg
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 Loads: rule of thumb
• What is the weight of an apple?

1 apple 1000 apples 1000000 apples

1 N/m2 1000 N/m2 1000000 N/m2
1 Pa 1 kPa or 1kN/m2 1 MPa

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 Loads: Actions
• Selfweight G

EN 1990 gives unit weight values that can be used to

determine the self-weight of the structure

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 Loads: Actions
• Imposed load Q • What is the load carried by this
bunch of people?

EN 1990 gives imposed load values

for a wide array of structures
(characteristic values)
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 Rules of thumb
• Beams

• Economic Span/effective depth ratio for rectangular section

concrete beams:
• Cantilever: 7
• Simply supported 20
• Continuous : 26

• Typical SLS requirements

• Total deflection <span/250
• Imposed actions <span/350
<20 mm

• Beams (and slabs) economic depths are, in a lot of cases, estimated

based on the characteristic imposed actions

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 Rules of thumb
• Columns

• Minimum columns (braced) section size = clear height / 17.7

• Column’s size is normally estimated based on ultimate axial loads

and bending moments.

• The column slenderness can also be a parameter used to size the

cross-section dimensions.

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 Rules of thumb
• Slabs

• One-way spanning slabs

• Economical for spans from 4 to 8 m
• Downstand beams may obstruct
service distribution

• 2-way spanning slabs

• Economical for spans from 9 to 12 m
• Downstand beams may obstruct
service distribution

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 Rules of thumb
• Slabs

• Flat slabs
• Economical for spans from 5 to 10 m
• Flat soffits
• Time related cost is low
• But service penetrations may
become problematic

• Composite
• Better quality control
• Heath and safety
• Facilitate speed of erection and
eliminate formwork

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Examples

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 Examples

Composite slabs Composite slabs

Cellular beams 12
 Examples

Tapered beams Services in a building

(variable second moment of area)

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 Slabs in multi-storey buildings
• In-situ

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 Slabs in multi-storey buildings
• In-situ

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 Slabs in multi-storey buildings
• Precast

1. Precast units can be either solid or hollow core

2. Used with concrete and steel frames.

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 Rules of thumb
• Summary

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 Rules of thumb
• Summary

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 Rules of thumb
• Steel beams
Section type Span Applications
range(m)
Angles 3-6 used for roof purlins, sheeting rails, etc. (light
loads)
Cold-formed 4-8

Rolled (UB, UC) 1-30 most frequently used type of section

Cellular/ castellated 6-60 used for long spans and/or light loads, web
beams openings may be used for services
Compound sections 5-15 used for heavy loads

Plate girders 10-100 made by welding together 3 plates, web depths

up to 3-4m
Box girders 15-200 fabricated from plate, good torsional and
transverse stiffness properties.
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 Rules of thumb
• Foundations
• Shallow
• Spread footings

• Strip/strap foundations

• Raft foundations

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 Rules of thumb
• Foundations
• Deep foundations such as piles may be required if
settlement requirement can not be satisfied (or
uplift forces are expected)

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 Rules of thumb
• Foundations
• For shallow foundations

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 Other design considerations
• Penetrations in beams • Shear failure in flat slabs
• Through beam flanges • Very small columns
• Check design assumptions • Heavy and concentrated loads
• Thin slabs
• Cantilevers
• Require reasonable backspan or else large
loads to other elements
• Be aware of critical deflections, shear and
bending

• Penetrations in slabs
• Avoid penetrations in flat slabs near columns
• Be aware of penetrations in rib slab flanges
• Locate penetrations at mid-depth through ribs
• Be aware of direction of slab span at voids
• Prestressed concrete
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 Other design considerations
• Punching shear

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 Other design considerations

• So what do we do in real life?

A scheme is normally determined between the client, design
team and contractor, if possible.

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 Costing
• Price estimation
SPON’s Civil Engineering and Highway Works Price book

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Costing

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Costing

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Costing

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 Costing
• Is that all you need to consider?

• Think about the construction sequence

• Anything else? Yes

• Raw materials, construction method, consumables
• Equipment (subcontracting?)
• Staff (subcontracting?)
• Overheads (admin fees, allowances, etc.)
• Profit!
Check terms and conditions, type of
contract, procurement route etc.
Get help from finance.

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 Costing
• Other things to bear in mind
• Minimizing material content alone will not necessarily give
the best value or economic solution in the overall terms.
• Buildability
• H&S
• Your selected construction materials might affect the load
path!

Having determined sizes of

elements, the quantities of
concrete and formwork can be
calculated and reinforcement
estimated. By applying rates for
each material, an estimation of the
cost can be made. Langkawi Sky bridge in Malaysia
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Costing

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Costing

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Costing

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Costing

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Costing

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