Lecture 04

Structural Engineering

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• Structure is the assemblage of two or more basic elements such as beam, slab,
column, truss, frame, shells etc.
• Deals with the requirements considering design for limit states of collapse and
serviceability.

• Involves determination of support reactions, member forces and moments,

deflection and deformations.

• Deals with planning of positions/layout of different elements and design

(determination of size, shape and material) of component such that safety and
serviceability requirements are not sacrificed, yet economy is considered.

• Repair, rehabilitation and maintenance is part of structural engineering.

• Dams, Bridges, Stadiums, Auditoriums, Multi-storeyed buildings are analyzed

& designed

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 Type of Structures
1. Load Bearing Structures
2. Framed Structures
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 Differences
FRAMED STRUCTURES
Load transfer path is from slab/floor
to beam, beam to column and column
to footing.
Multi storey buildings can be
constructed.
Framed structure is more resistant to
Earthquake.
Carpet area available is more.
Mostly used a form of construction.
Excavation for this type of
construction is less.
It is less labour intensive.
The speed of construction is more.
It is less material intensive.
Cost of repair of the framed structure
is more.
LOAD BEARING STRUTURES
Load transfer path is from slab/ floor
to wall, wall to footing.
Limited storey buildings can only be
constructed.
Load bearing structure is less resistant
to Earthquake.
Carpet area available is less.
Rarely used a form of construction
now a days.
Excavation for this type of
construction is more.
It is more labour intensive.
The speed of construction is less.
It is more material intensive.
Cost of repair of load bearing
structure is less. 5
 Differences
FRAMED STRUCTURES LOAD BEARING STRUCTURES
Life is reduced if not done with proper Life is not affected with the technique of
technique. work.
Only skilled worker are needed for its Skilled as well as non-skilled worker
construction. can construct.
The thickness of wall can be maintained The thickness of wall cannot be
uniform throughout. maintained uniform throughout.
It is flexible in design as you can shift It is not flexible in design as you can’t
the location of walls. remove/shift walls.
Room dimension can be changed. Room dimensions cannot be changed as
walls have to be above walls.

Cantilever elements can be easily The inclusion of Cantilever element is a

included in the system. difficult task.
The thickness of wall remains same The thickness of wall increases with
with an increase in height. increase in height.
No Limitation of the span. Limitation of the span.
In framed structure, large span areas In load bearing structure, large span
possible. areas not possible. 6
 Differences
FRAMED STRUCTRES
There is not much increase in cost with
an increase in depth of foundation.
No limitation for wall/room.
Construction of framed structure is
simple.
The frame can be RCC, Steel, Wood
frame etc.
Large openings in walls are possible.
In framed structural system external &
internal walls serve only the purpose of
enclosures for the creation of rooms and
protection from the weather.
LOAD BEARING STRUCTURES
Foundation cost of Load Bearing is more
than Framed Structure if the depth of
foundation increases beyond 1.5m.
Limitation of wall over wall/ room over
room.
Construction of load bearing structure is
cumbersome.
Load Bearing walls can be of Brick,
Stone, concrete block etc.
Limitations for openings in walls.
In load bearing structural system external
& internal walls serve as a structural
element as well as the purpose of the
enclosure for protection from weather i.e.
rain, sound, heat, fire etc.
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 Components of Structure
Beam
Beam
 Column
Slab
Column
 Footing
Walls
Slab
 Footing
 Walls

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 Beam
• A beam is a horizontal member that can be comprised of a number
of materials (including steel, wood aluminium) to withstand loads
by flexure.
• Beams can also be referred to members, elements, rafters, shafts or
purlins.
• Beams can come in a wide range of shapes that have different
applications and strength purposes.
• Some common shapes are I beams, T-beams, channel sections,
rectangular, hollow rectangular and pipes.
• In analysis and design, they are often picked up from manufacturer
libraries and databases so that the industry is modelling all structures
based on the similar shapes and dimensions.

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Column
• Columns are vertical elements that carry only axial force
usually compression – or both axial force and bending.
• The design of a column must check the axial capacity of the
element, and the buckling capacity.
• The buckling capacity is the capacity of the element to
withstand the propensity to buckle.
• Its capacity depends upon its geometry, material, and the
effective length of the column, which depends upon the
restraint conditions at the top and bottom of the column.

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Slab
• Slabs are constructed to provide flat surfaces, usually horizontal,
in building floors, roofs, bridges, and other types of structures.

• The slab may be supported by walls, by reinforced concrete

beams usually cast monolithically with the slab, by structural
steel beams, by columns, or by the ground.

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Footing
• Footings are structural elements that transmit column or wall loads
to the underlying soil below the structure.
• Footings are designed (a) to transmit the loads to the soil without
exceeding its safe bearing capacity; (b) to prevent excessive
settlement of the structure to a tolerable limit; (c) to minimize
differential settlement and (d) to prevent sliding and overturning.
• The settlement depends upon the intensity of the load, type of soil,
and foundation level.
• Where possibility of differential settlement occurs, the different
footings should be designed in such away to settle independently
of each other.

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 Walls
• Walls are used to divide or enclose and in building
construction, to form the periphery of a room or a
building.
• In traditional masonry construction, walls supported the
weight of floors and roofs.
• Modern steel and reinforced concrete frames, as well as
heavy timber and other skeletal structures, require
exterior walls for shelter.

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