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Reinforced Concrete Structural Design Study Guide

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12 views

Reinforced Concrete Structural Design Study Guide

Uploaded by

binisola67
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Reinforced Concrete Structural Design Study Guide

Quiz
Instructions: Answer each question in 2-3 sentences.

1. What are the two main types of elements that make up a structure, and what are their roles?
2. Explain the difference between static equilibrium and stability in structural design.
3. List four key requirements that a structure must satisfy to ensure its performance.
4. Describe the primary internal force associated with post-and-beam structural systems.
5. What are the key properties of materials that affect a structure's load-carrying performance?
6. Describe the difference between structural "analysis" and "design."
7. What are the two main factors considered in selecting a structural system?
8. What is the primary difference in stress distribution within an axially loaded element
compared to an element under bending stress?
9. Briefly explain the concepts of 'yield stress' and 'ultimate stress' in material properties.
10. Why is reinforcement, like steel bars, crucial in concrete structures?

Quiz Answer Key

1. Structures are made of structural elements (load-carrying) and non-structural elements (non-
load-carrying). Structural elements resist applied loads, while non-structural elements fulfil
other functions.
2. Static equilibrium is when reactions at the foundations exactly balance the applied load;
stability concerns the structure’s ability to accommodate minor disturbances without
significant shape change.
3. A structure must achieve equilibrium under all possible loads, possess geometric stability,
provide adequate strength, and have sufficient rigidity.
4. Post-and-beam structures are primarily subjected to bending-type internal forces when
supporting gravitational loads.
5. Key material properties are strength, elasticity, specific gravity, durability, and fire
performance, all of which determine how well a structure can carry loads.
6. Structural analysis is studying how forces affect a structure, while design is creating a
structure to meet specific requirements based on analysis.
7. The selection of a structural system depends on both structural and architectural objectives,
considering efficiency and function of the structure.
8. Axially loaded elements have a constant stress distribution across the section, while bending
stress varies, with minimum stress at the neutral axis and maximum stress at the extreme
fibers.
9. Yield stress is the point beyond which material deformation is permanent, whereas ultimate
stress is the maximum stress a material can withstand before breaking.
10. Steel reinforcement is crucial in concrete structures because concrete is weak in tension. Steel
provides the necessary tensile strength, increases ductility, and prevents cracking.

Essay Questions

1. Discuss the relationship between architectural design and structural design. How do aesthetic
considerations, material properties, and structural requirements influence each other in the
creation of a building? Provide examples of structures that effectively balance these
competing factors.
2. Compare and contrast different structural types such as post-and-beam, panel structures, and
vaults/domes regarding their internal force distribution and material suitability. Discuss their
applications and limitations in contemporary architecture.
3. Explain the importance of understanding material properties in structural design. How does
the selection of different materials such as steel, masonry, concrete, and timber impact the
design, construction, and performance of buildings? Include considerations of strength,
elasticity, durability, and fire performance.
4. Elaborate on the concept of load paths in structural design. Discuss how different types of
loads (gravity, wind, seismic) are transmitted through a building's elements and how
engineers ensure that the structural system can safely resist these forces.
5. Analyse the influence of design methods and philosophies in structural engineering. Discuss
the role of design codes, safety factors, and the importance of structural efficiency in the
design of structures. Furthermore, describe the distinction between form-active, non-form-
active, and semi-form-active elements.

Glossary of Key Terms


Axial Force: A force acting along the longitudinal axis of a structural member, causing
tension or compression.
Bending Stress: Stress caused by a force that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of a
structural element, resulting in bending.
Bracing: Structural elements, such as diagonal members, used to provide stability to a
structural system and prevent collapse due to lateral loads.
Buckling: A mode of failure in compression members, such as columns, where they suddenly
bend or deflect laterally.
Centroid: The geometric centre of a shape; the point about which the area is equally
distributed.
Cross-sectional Properties: Geometric properties of a structural member's section, like area,
centroid and moment of inertia, that influence its resistance to stress.
Ductile: A material property indicating the ability to deform significantly under stress before
fracture, allowing for plastic deformation.
Elasticity: The ability of a material to return to its original shape after the removal of an
applied load.
Equilibrium: A state in which the sum of all forces and moments acting on a structure is
zero, ensuring it is stable under static loads.
Form-Active: Structural elements that align with the direction of applied loads and primarily
carry axial forces.
Lateral Loads: Forces acting horizontally on a structure, such as wind or seismic loads.
Load Path: The route through which forces are transmitted from their point of application to
the foundations and ultimately to the ground.
Modulus of Elasticity (Young's Modulus): A measure of a material's stiffness, defined as
the ratio of stress to strain in the elastic range.
Neutral Axis: The axis within a structural member where there is zero bending stress during
bending.
Non-Form-Active: Structural elements that do not align with the direction of applied loads
and primarily carry bending-type forces.
Reinforced Concrete: Concrete that includes steel reinforcement to improve its tensile
strength and prevent cracking.
Rigidity: The ability of a structure to resist deformation under load.
Semi-Form-Active: Structural elements that carry a combination of bending and axial
internal forces.
Shear Walls: Structural walls designed to resist lateral forces, particularly wind and seismic
loads, by transferring them to the foundation.
Slenderness Ratio: The ratio of a column's effective length to its least width or minimum
radius of gyration, used to assess its susceptibility to buckling.
Specific Gravity: The ratio of a substance's density to the density of a reference substance,
commonly water. Affects the self-weight of structural elements.
Stability: The ability of a structure to maintain its geometry and resist collapse when
subjected to small disturbances.
Static Equilibrium: A state where forces and moments in a structure are balanced under
static loading conditions.
Strain: The measure of a material's deformation, expressed as a ratio of change in length to
original length.
Stress: The measure of force per unit area within a material.
Structural Analysis: The process of determining how forces, moments, and reactions affect a
structure.
Structural Design: The process of creating a structure that meets specific requirements and
can withstand expected loads and forces.
Yield Stress: The stress level at which a material begins to deform permanently without a
significant increase in load.
Ultimate Stress: The maximum stress a material can withstand before it breaks or fractures.
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