5.

0: ANALYSIS OF A STRUCTURE
5.1: Introduction
 Analysis is the determination the magnitude and distribution of bending moments, torsional
moments, shearing forces and axial forces in each member, and identifying the critical design
conditions at all sections. However, other methods of analysis such as finite element analysis give
stresses, strains and displacements rather than internal forces and moments.
 Local analyses are necessary where the assumption of linear strain behavior is not valid; such
cases include;
(i) In vicinity of supports
(ii) Around concentrated loads
(iii) Beam-column intersections
(iv) In anchorage zones
(v) At changes in cross sections
 The geometry is idealized by considering the structure to be made up of linear element and plane
two dimensional elements.
 .A reinforced concrete structure is a combination of beams, columns, slabs and walls, rigidly
connected together to form a monolithic frame.
5.2: Analysis Procedure
a) Evaluation of all the loads carried by the structure, including its own weight, variable loads, and
considering all possible critical arrangements of loads.
b) Classification of the structure into braced or un braced
c) Idealize the structure into simplified forms that represent the load-carrying action of the prototype.
d) The forces in each member can then be determined by one of the following methods:
i. applying moment and shear coefficients
ii. manual calculations
iii. computer methods.

Braced and unbraced structures

Building structures are classified into two types;
(a) Braced
(b) Unbraced

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A braced structure is one that resists lateral loads such as wind or seismic forcesby means of bracing in
form of rigid walls referred to as shear walls.
Shear walls include:
 RC walls on the periphery of the building,
 RC wall enclosing rift shafts,
 RC walls enclosing stairs
 RC walls enclosing service ducts
Unbraced structure does not have bracing elements. Horizontal actions are resisted bythe frame action of
rigidly connected columns, beams and slabs.

Both braced and unbraced structures may be classified as sway or non-sway.

Non sway structures are those where there is ales than 10% increase in the normal design moment due to
displacement of the structure. All braced structures are assumed to be non-sway, except for high rise
structures where a second order analysis may be required
Sway structures are those where the secondary moments due to displacements are greater than 10% of
the normal design moment. Δ
P P

H H
X X

h ᵟ

O O

First Order Analysis Second Order Analysis

Moment at depth x Moment at depth x
M x  Hx x
M x  Hx  P  P
h
Moment at O, depth
Moment at O, depth
M h  Hh
+
M h  Hh  P

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RC structures can be analysed as a complete space frame or divided into a series of plane frames.
Plane frames are composed of columns and main beams. The slabs are continuous members supported by
beams, structural walls or columns (in case of flat slabs).
Assignment
Divide the structural layout given into all possible plane frames

5.4: Idealization of the Structure

 Analyses are carried out based on idealization of both geometry and the behavior of the structure.
 Common idealization of the behavior used in analysis are;
(i) Linear elastic behavior
(ii) Linear elastic behavior with limited redistribution
(iii) Plastic behavior, including strut and tie models
(iv) Nonlinear behaviour
 In buildings, the effects of shear and axial forces on deformations of linear elements and slabs may
be ignored if these are less than !0% of those due to bending.
Definitions of structural elements;
 A beam is a member for which L  3h , where L is span and h is the overall section depth,
where L  3h it is a deep beam.
 A slab is a member for which; b  5t , where b is the minimum panel dimension and is the overall
slab thickness
 A one-way spanning slab has either two parallel unsupported edges or when supported on four
edges, the ratio of longer to shorter is greater than 2.0
 A column is a member for which h  4b and L  3h , where h is the section depth, b is the
section width and L is the height.
 For the purpose of analysis, ribbed and waffle slabs need not be treated as discrete beams
provided the flange or structural topping and transverse ribs have sufficient torsional stiffness
assumed compliant when the following is satisfied;
(i) The rib spacing does not exceed 1500mm
(ii) The depth of the rib below the flange does not exceed 4 times its width
(iii) The depth of the flange is at least (1/10) of the clear distance between ribs or 50mm,
whichever is the greater

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 (iv) Transverse ribs are provided at a clear spacing not exceeding 10 times the overall depth of
the slab
5.5: Effective width of flanges (Clause 5.3.2.1)
In T beams the effective flange width, over which uniform conditions of stress can be assumed, depends
on;
(i) Web dimensions
(ii) Flange dimensions
(iii) Type of loading
(iv) The span
(v) The support conditions
(vi) The transverse reinforcement
beff
Actual stress Stress distribution
distribution used to compute
effective flange width

The effective width of flange is based on the distance l 0 between points of zero moment as shown in
Figure 5.2.

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The length of the cantilever l 3 should be less than half the adjacent span and the ratio of adjacent spans

should lie between 2 3 and 1.5

The effective flange width beff for a T beam or L beam is given by equation (5.7)

beff  beff ,1  beff , 2  bw  b (5.7)

Where;
beff ,1  0.2b1  0.1l0  0.2l0 (5.7a)

beff , 2  0.2b2  0.1l0  0.2l0

beff ,1  b1 (5.7b)

beff , 2  b2

For structural analysis where a great accuracy is not required a constant width is assumed over the whole
span. The value applicable to the span section should be adopted.

5.6: Effective span of beams and slabs in Buildings

The effective span of a member is given by equation (5.8)
leff  ln  a1  a2 (5.8)

Where
l 0 is the clear distance between the faces of the supports;

Values of a1 and a 2 at each end of the span may be obtained from Figure 5.4, t is the width of the
supporting element.

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Continuous slabs and beams may be analyzed assuming that the supports provide no rotational restraint

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  For abeam or slab which is monolithic with its support, the critical support design moment is that at
the face of the support. The moment at the face of the support should not be less than 0.65 of the
full fixed end moment.
 The design moment and reaction transferred to the supporting element (column or wall) should be
the greater of elastic or redistributed values
 Where a beam or slab is continuous over a support, which provides no restraint to rotation, the
design support moment calculated assuming the span equal to center to center distance between
supports may be reduced by a value given in equation (5.9)
t
M Ed  FEd ,sup
8
Where;
FEd ,sup is the design support reaction

t is the breadth of the support as shown in Figure 5.4b

5.7: Equivalent frame Analysis of Flat Slabs

 Flat slabs are slabs of uniform thickness, supported on columns without beams. They may include
column heads or drops.
 The structure should be divided longitudinally and transversely into frames consisting of
columns and sections of slabs contained between the centre lines of adjacent panels (area
bounded by four adjacent supports). The stiffness of members may be calculated from
t h e i r gross cross-sections. For vertical loading the stiffness may be based on the full
width of the panels. For h o r i z o n t a l loading 40% of this value should be used to reflect
the increased flexibility of the column/slab joints in flat slab structures compared to that of
co lu mn /beam joints.

 The panel is assumed to be divided into column and middle strips as shown in Figure I.1

 The bending moments should be apportioned as given in Table I.1.

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 L 
 When drops of width   y  are used, the column strips may be taken to be the width opf drops,
 3 
and the middle strip adjusted accordingly

Unless there are perimeter walls adequately designed for torsion, moments transferred to edge or corner
columns should be limited to the moment of resistance of a rectangular section equal to 0.17be d 2 f ck . The

positive moments in the span is adjusted accordingly. be is defined in Figure 9.9 below

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5.8: Linear Elastic Analysis
It is carried out assuming
(i) Uncracked cross sections
(ii) Linear Stress- Strain Relationship
(iii) Mean value of the modulus of elasticity

For Thermal deformation, settlement and shrinkage effects at the ultimate limit state a reduced stiffness
corresponding to cracked sections, neglecting tension stiffening but including the effects of creep is
assumed.

5.9: Linear Elastic Analysis with limited redistribution

 The moments at Ultimate limit state (ULS) calculated using a linear elastic analysis may be
redistributed provided that the resulting distribution of moments remains in equilibrium with the
applied loads.
 In continuous beams and slabs which:
(a) Are predominantly subject to flexure
(b) Have the ratio of the length of adjacent spans in the range of 0.5 to 2.0, redistribution of
bending moments may be carried out without explicit check on rotation capacity, provided that;

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 xu
  k1  k 2 for f ck  50MPa (5.10a)
d
xu
  k3  k 4 for f ck  50MPa (5.10b)
d
 k5 for classes B and C re inf orcement

 k6 for class A re inf orcement

Where;
 is the ratio of the redistributed moment to the elastic bending moment
xu is the depth of the neutral axis at the ultimate limit state after redistribution

d is the effective depth

For steels with f yk  500MPa

k1  k 3  0.4
0.0014
k 2  k 4  0.6 
 cu 2
k 5  0.7

k 6  0.8

 For design of columns the elastic moments from frame action should be used without any
redistribution.

5.10: Plastic Analysis for beams frames and slabs

 The plastic analysis should be based either on the lower bound (static) method or the upper bound
(kinematic ) method
 The effects of previous applications of loading may be ignored and a monotonically increasing
intensity assumed
 The required ductility is satisfied if the all the following is satisfied;
(i) The area of tensile reinforcement should be limited such that at any section:
xu
 0.25 for concrete strength classes  C50 / 60
d
xu
 0.15 for concrete strength classes  C55 / 67
d
(ii) The reinforcement steel is either class B or C

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 (iii) The ratio of the moments to intermediate supports to the moments in the span should be
between 0.5 and 2
 Columns should be checked for the maximum plastic moments, which can be transmitted by the
connecting members. For connections to flat slabs this moment should be included in punching
shear calculations
 When plastic analysis of slabs is carried out, account should be taken of any non uniform
reinforcement, corner tie down forces and torsion at free edges,.
 Plastic methods may be extended to ribbed, hollow, and waffle slabs if their response is similar to
that of a solid slab particularly qwith regard to torsional effects.

5.11: Analysis of Foundations

The analysis of foundation is given in annex G;G1 for shallow foundations and G2 for pile foundations
Levels of analysis
(1) For design purposes, the following levels of analysis are permitted:
Level 0: In this level, linear distribution of the contact pressure may be assumed.
The following preconditions should be fulfilled:
 The contact pressure does not exceed the design values for both the serviceability and the ultimate
limit states;
 At the serviceability limit state, the structural system is not affected by settlements, or the expected
differential settlements are not significant;
 At the ultimate limit state, the structural system has sufficient plastic deformation capacity so that
differences in settlements do not affect the design.(Ground beams have to be provided)
Level 1: The contact pressure may be determined taking into account the relative stiffness of the foundation
and the soil and the resulting deformations evaluated to check that they are within acceptable limits.
The following preconditions should be fulfilled:
 Sufficient experience exists to show that the serviceability of the superstructure is not likely to be
affected by the soil deformation;
 At the ultimate limit state, the structural system has adequate ductile behaviour.
Level 2: At this level of analysis the influence of ground deformations on the superstructure is considered.
The structure is analyzed under the imposed deformation of the foundation to determine the adjustments to

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the loads applied to the foundations. If the resulting adjustments are significant (i.e. > 10 % ) then Level 3
analysis should be adopted.
Level 3: This is a complete interactive procedure taking into account the structure, its foundations and the
ground

5.12: Analysis of a Frame for the Vertical Loading

A structure is analyzed for vertical loads only if it has shear walls. RC structures can be analyzed as a
complete space frame or divided into a series of plane frames. The plane frame such as the one shown in
Figure 5.7 is simplified into a series of sub-frames.

Figure 5.7: Building

Plane Frame

The sub-frames are shown in Figure 5.8

 Sub-frame 1 in figure 5.8 consists of one complete floor beam with its connecting columns, which
are assumed fixed at their remote end., Analysis of sub-frame one will give bending moments,
shearing forces in beams and columns, and axial forces in columns.
 Sub-frame 2 is a single span combined with its connecting columns and two adjacent spans, all
fixed at their remote ends. Sub-frame 2 is used to determine bending moments and shearing
forces in the central beam. If the span of the central beam is greater than that of the two adjacent
spans, the bending moment in the column can also be found.
 Sub-frame 23 consists of a single junction, with the remote ends of members fixed. It is used to find
the moments in the column, when the beams have been analyzed as continuous over simple
supports.

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  The assumption of fixed ends to the outer beams over estimates their stiffness. The stiffness
values are therefore halved to allow for flexibility resulting from continuity.

Figure 5.8: Sub-frames

5.13: Load Combinations & Patterns for Ultimate Limit State

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Example 02

The subframe shown in the Figure below is part of the multi storey structure. It carries a permanent load of

20kN/m and a variable load of 10kN/m. The beams 600mm deep x300mm wide. The columns are

300x400mm. Determine the maximum column moments.

E
3000mm

A B C
4000mm

6000mm 4000mm

Solution

Beam stiffness

𝑏ℎ3 300𝑥6003
𝐼𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚 = = = 5.4𝑥109 𝑚𝑚4
12 12

Colum stiffness

𝑏ℎ3 300𝑥4003
𝐼𝑐𝑜𝑙 = = = 1.69 𝑚𝑚4
12 12

Stiffness, k

It is to be noted that for this type of subframe the beam stiffness are halved.

1 𝐼𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚 1 5.4𝑥109
𝐾𝐴𝐵 = = 𝑥 = 4.5𝑥105
2 𝐿𝐴𝐵 2 6000

1 𝐼𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚 1 5.4𝑥109
𝑘𝐵𝐶 = = = 6.75𝑥105
2 𝐿𝐵𝐶 2 4000

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 𝐼𝑐𝑜𝑙 1.6𝑥109
𝑘𝐵𝐷 = = = 4.0𝑥105
𝐿𝐵𝐷 4000

𝐼𝑐𝑜𝑙 1.6𝑥109
𝑘𝐵𝐸 = = = 5.33𝑥105
𝐿𝐵𝐸 3000

∑ 𝑘 = (4.5 + 6.75 + 4.0 + 5.33)𝑥103 = 20.58𝑥105

Loading

Loading on span AB

𝑞𝐴𝐵 = [1.35𝐺𝑘 + 1.5𝑄𝑘 ] = [1.35𝑥20 + 1.5𝑥10] = 42𝑘𝑁/𝑚

Loading on span BC

𝑞𝐵𝐶 = 1.35𝐺𝑘 = 1.35𝑥20 = 27𝑘𝑁/𝑚

Fixed end moments

𝐿2𝐴𝐵 62
𝑀𝐵𝐴 = 𝑞𝐴𝐵 𝑥 = 42𝑥 = 126𝑘𝑁𝑚
12 12

𝐿2𝐵𝐶 42
𝑀𝐵𝐶 = 𝑞𝐵𝐶 𝑥 = 27𝑥 = 36𝑘𝑁𝑚
12 12

Column Moments

𝑘𝐵𝐷 4.0
𝑀𝐵𝐷 = (𝑀𝐵𝐴 − 𝑀𝐵𝑐 )𝑥 ∑𝑘
= (126 − 36)𝑥 = 17.49𝑘𝑁𝑚
20.58

𝑘 5.33
𝑀𝐵𝐸 = (𝑀𝐵𝐴 − 𝑀𝐵𝐶 )𝑥 ∑𝐵𝐸 = (126 − 36)𝑥 = 23.31𝑘𝑁𝑚
𝑘 20.58

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5.14 Lateral Loads on Building Frames

Lateral loads are caused by:

 Wind pressure

 Retained earth

 Seismic Forces

 A horizontal force resulting from notional inclination of vertical members representing imperfection

should be applied at each level of the structure. (clause 5.2 of EC2). This should be added to any

wind load at the ultimate limit state.

Analysis of unbraced frame subject to lateral forces

 It is analyzed for all the vertical load combinations, using a computer program or for manual

calculations, dividing it into sub-frames, then using moment distribution method.

 The analysis for lateral loads should be kept separate

 The determination of internal forces and moments due to lateral loads may be carried out using a

computer program, or simplified approximate method such as the cantilever method

5.15: Simplified Analysis for Lateral Loads- Cantilever Method; (example)

The cantilever method assumes that:

(i) Points of contraflexure are located at midpoints of all columns and beams

(ii) All columns in a storey are of equal dimensions and thus equal stiffness

(iii) The direct axial loads in the columns are in proportion to their distance from the center of

gravity of the frame.

Example 04

The example below shows a building frame subjected to a wing action of 3kN/m. It is assumed transferred

to the frame as concentrated load at each floor level.

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Page 17 of 23
Page 18 of 23
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Assignment 02

Using the cantilever method, determine the bending moment due to a wind load of 4kN/m applied to the

frame structure shown in the Figure below.

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 3000mm

3000mm

3000mm

4000mm

8000mm 6000mm 8000mm

5.16: Analysis and Design of shear walls

 Shear walls are effective in resisting lateral loads in the direction of the plane of the wall.

 Since the walls are relatively thin, they offer little resistance to the loads which are perpendicular to

their plane.

 The relative stiffness of the wall are given by the second moment of area of the wall about its

principal axis.

Example 05

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Compare the relative stiffness of the column, the relative stiffness of the wall in the plane of the wall and

perpendicular to the plane of the wall for the column and wall shown in the figure below.

300mm

3000mm
300mm

200mm

Wall stiffness in the plane of the wall

𝑏ℎ3 200𝑥30003
𝑘𝑦 = = = 4.5𝑥1011 𝑚𝑚4
12 12

Wall stiffness perpendicular to the plane of the wall

ℎ𝑏3 3000𝑥2003
𝑘𝑧 = = = 2𝑥109 𝑚𝑚4
12 12

Column stiffness

𝑏ℎ3 300𝑥3003
𝑘𝑐 = = = 6.75𝑥108 𝑚𝑚4
12 12

Comparisons of stiffness

𝑘𝑦 4.5𝑥1011
= = 225 (1)
𝑘𝑧 2𝑥109

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𝑘𝑦 4.5𝑥1011
= = 667 (2)
𝑘𝑐 6.75𝑥108

 From equation (1) it is seen that the stiffness in the plane of the wall is 225 times the stiffness

perpendicular to the wall. Therefore, the stiffness perpendicular to the wall is normally ignored.

 From equation (2) it is seen that the stiffness of the wall in the plane of the wall is 667 times the

stiffness of the columns.

Example 06

A 200kN lateral load is applied to a structure with a symmetrical arrangement of shear wall. Determine the

proportional of the 200kN lateral load carried by each wall given that walls A are 300mm thick and wall B is

200mm thick

200kN

A A

10m B
6m

12m 12m

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