CVE2122 Structural Design

Tutorial Questions – Design and Assessment of RC Beams

Take standard EC2 material properties of C25/30 concrete (fck = 25 N/mm2) and 500 MPa
high-yield steel reinforcement (fyk = 500 N/mm2) in all questions.

Design Charts are very useful either to get an initial feel for questions, or for trial sections, or
to check the correctness of hand calculations. They are particularly helpful for beams. You
must become familiar with their usage. Having used the Design Charts, you should then
confirm all answers by design equations and, where appropriate, from first principles (i.e.
basic forces & distances). You must also become familiar with the use of both these methods.

End each question by producing a neat annotated scale schematic sketch of the designed rebar.

Q1 A 6 m span rectangular reinforced concrete beam is, in addition to its own self-weight,
subjected to an applied un-factored characteristic dead load (Gk) of 8 kN/m and an un-factored
characteristic live load (Qk) of 10 kN/m. Design, for bending at ULS, a suitable section based
on: deflection considerations for d; assuming b is typically 0.4d to 0.6d; mild internal exposure
conditions; and an 1-hour fire resistance.

Q2 Another 6 m span beam is now required but, compared to Q1, this one has to sustain a
significantly larger total maximum factored ULS design moment (MA) of 300 KNm (which
includes an allowance for self-weight). Determine the cross-section & accompanying
reinforcement to withstand this moment. Assume that Gk ≈Qk.

Q3 A reinforced concrete beam has an effective depth (d) of 600 mm and is 300 mm wide.
Determine the maximum moment capacity (MR) of the concrete section and the corresponding
rebar necessary to sustain this moment. If this beam is only required to carry a total factored
design ultimate bending moment (MA) of 350 kNm (which includes an allowance for self-
weight), determine the corresponding reduced bending rebar.

Q4 Three rectangular reinforced concrete beams all have b = 200 mm and d = 400 mm but
have varying amounts of tension rebar. Calculate the ultimate moment of resistance of all three
sections for: 3H16, 3H20 and 3H25.
Then choose the effective depth d to be approximately 500 mm.
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Tutorial Questions – Doubly-Reinforced Rectangular Beam & T-Beam Design

Q1 The beam section shown in Figure 1 is subjected to an ultimate moment of 400 kNm.
Design the areas of reinforcement required. Use concrete class C25/30 and steel bars grade

Fig. 1

Q2 Design a simply-supported beam with rectangular beam section as shown in Figure 2.

Geometric restraints require that the width of the beam is limited to 300mm and the overall
beam depth is limited to 500 mm. The beam supports a uniform permanent (un-factored) load
comprising its own weight plus 20 kN/m and a uniform variable (un-factored) load of 22 kN/m.
Use concrete class C25/30 and steel bars grade 500. The beam bending design shall be based
on deflection considerations and mild internal exposure conditions.

Fig. 2
Q3 Design the steel area required for the T- section under a sagging moment of:
(a) MA = 198 kNm,
(b) MA = 650 kNm.
Take fck = 25 MPa, and fyk = 500 MPa.

beff = 600
hf =150
h = 600
d = 550

250

As

Fig. 3
Q4
(a) As a checker, you are given the design for the critical section at mid-span of a simply
supported T-beam as shown in Figure 4. The moment demand is 1250 kNm. Determine
whether the design is adequate. Use concrete class C25/30 and steel bars grade 500.
(b) If the T-beam has only 4H25 tension bars, please check whether the design is still adequate
for a design moment of 1250 kNm. Use concrete class C25/30 and steel bars grade 500.

(beff)

Fig. 4
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Tutorial Questions – Shear Reinforcement Design for RC Beams

Q1 Design shear reinforcement for the simply supported beam in Q1 of Tutorial 1 (Design
and Assessment of RC Beams). The span of the beam between centres of supports is 6 m, and
the width of each bearing plates is 300 mm. All the other loading, reinforcement and cross-
sectional data refer to solution to Q1 of Tutorial 1.

Q2 Design shear reinforcement for the simply supported beam in Q2 of Tutorial 2 (Doubly-
Reinforced Rectangular Beam & T-Beam Design). The span of the beam between centres of
supports is 6 m, and the width of each bearing plates is 300 mm. All the other loading,
reinforcement and cross-sectional data refer to solution to Q2 of Tutorial 2.
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Tutorial Questions – RC Slab Design

Q1 A simply supported office floor slab has an effective span between its two supporting beams
of 4 m. In addition to its self-weight, the applied characteristic dead load for all superimposed
floor finishes can be taken as 1.5 kN/m2 and the characteristic live loading can be taken as 2.5
kN/m2. Design a suitable slab section for bending and shear.

Q2 An existing simply supported floor slab in a building due for renovation has the following
details: effective span between supporting beams of 5 m; overall thickness of 250 mm; effective
depth to rebar of 200 mm; main in-span bottom-face tension rebar of H12-150. Calculate the
ultimate moment of resistance of the slab. Allowing for self-weight plus an un-factored
superimposed dead load of 2 kN/m2, convert this moment into a characteristic applied live load
for the slab.
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Tutorial Questions – Actions and Action Combinations

Q1
Figure Q1(b) shows part of a floor plan for a typical office building [as shown in Figure Q1(a)].
Estimate the permanent and variable actions onto:
• Slabs S1, S2 and S3;
• Beams B1 – B10;
• Columns C1 – C4 (for one floor only).
For the purpose of load taking only, assume that the slabs and beams are simply-supported.
Structural elements are made of reinforced concrete of which:
• Slabs are of 125 mm thick;
• Beams are 300 mm width and has an overall depth of 600 mm;
• Columns are 300 × 300 mm.
Basic action data are given as follows:
• Variable actions
o Office (general use) = 2.5 kN/m2
o Corridor = 4.0 kN/m2
o Stationery storage room = 8.8 kN/m2
• Weight of materials
o Reinforced concrete = 25 kN/m3
o Floor screeding = 0.45 kN/m2
o 230 mm-thick brickwall = 4.75 kN/m2
o 13 mm-thick armoured plate glass = 0.32 kN/m2
Figure Q1(a) Architectural Floor Plan

Figure Q1(b) Structural Floor Plan