Minimum Standards for Structural Design | RCC Structures

Thumb rules for Structural Design | RCC Structures

I highly recommend use of advanced structural design software like ETabs or Staad Pro for
design of structures. This is very important. There are so many variables in design of a
structure that no minimum standards can be accurate. This guide can be used for design of
very small structures, maybe up to G+1 floors. But I would still recommend use of
professional software. Every structural designer should learn these software. Use of manual
methods is outdated. Manual method is only used for checks. Real design is done with the
help of computers, with very advanced design concepts like pushover analysis, seismic
analysis, wind loads simulation and many advanced methods.

Design of RCC Structural Components

In this article, I will discuss the minimum standards that can be followed for the design of
RCC structural components of a structure, such as columns, beams, slab and foundation. We
will also discuss the minimum safe standards for the reinforcing bars that are to be used for
the design of the above mentioned Structural Components.

Minimum cross-sectional dimension for a Column: is 9”x 9” (225MM x 225MM). But to

avoid slenderness problems, I recommend a rectangular column design of 9″x 12″ (225 MM
x 300 MM) which is safer. I have designed hundreds of buildings, and never had the
misfortune of any structural component ever failing due to loads. I always use M20 grade
concrete for construction, as it is the minimum recommended grade of concrete is IS
456:2000. Please don’t skimp on the quality of concrete. The minimum steel in a 9″ x 9″
column is 4 bars of 12 MM with stirrups of 8 MM steel rings at a distance of 150 MM centre
to centre. In a 9″ x 12″ column, I add two more bars, to take the total to 6 bars of 12 MM
diameter. This design can be safe for up to G+1 floors. But there are a lot of other factors
involved.
Also check out:
Thumb rules for making a Column Layout
Construction on Site | Design of RCC Structures

Minimum RCC beam size should not be less than 9″x 9″ (225MM X 225MM), with an
additional slab thickness of 125 MM. I generally use a minimum of 4 bars, with 2 bars of 12
MM thickness in the bottom of the beam, and 2 bars of 10 MM at the top of the beam. I
maintain a concrete cover of 40 MM. I recommend use of M20 grade of concrete (1 part
cement : 1.5 parts sand : 3 parts aggregate : 0.5 parts water).
Minimum thickness of RCC slab I recommend is 5″ (125MM) because a slab may contain
electrical pipes embedded into them which could be 0.5″ or more for internal wiring, which
effectively reduces slab depths at certain places, causing cracking, weakening and water
leakage during rains. So, a minimum thickness of 5″ should be maintained.
Minimum size of foundation for a single storey of G+1 building, where soil safe bearing
capacity is 30 tonnes per square meter, and the oncoming load on the column does not exceed
30 tonnes, a size of 1m x 1m should be used. Minimum depth of footing should be atleast 4′
below ground level. It is recommended to go to depths up to had strata.
Reinforcing bar details (minimum)
1. Columns: 4 bars of 12mm steel rods FE 500
2. Beams: 2 bars of 12 mm in the bottom and 2 bars of 10 mm on the top.
3. Slab
a) One Way Slab: Main Steel 8 MM bars @ 6″ C/C and Distribution Steel of 6 mm bars @
6″ C/C
b) Two Way Slab: Main Steel 8 MM bars @ 5″ C/C and Distribution Steel of 8 mm bars @
7″ C/C
4. Foundation: 6″ of PCC layer comes first. Over than, a tapered or rectangular footing of
12″ thickness is minimum. Steel mesh of 8 mm bars @ 6″ C/C should be laid. In a 1m X 1m
footing, this would consist of 6 bars of 8 mm on both portions of the steel mesh.
Guide to Foundation Design | Column Footings

Foundation Design

Foundation is the base of any structure. Without a solid foundation, the structure would not
hold for long. We have to be very cautious with the design of foundations because our entire
structure rests on the foundation. The job of a foundation is to transfer the loads of the
building safely to the ground.

Laying of Column Footing Reinforcement | Foundation Design

The strength of the foundation determines the life of the structure. As we discussed in the
earlier article, design of foundation depends on the type of soil, type of structure and its load.
Higher the load bearing capacity of the soil, the larger the load it could safely carry.

Foundations are basically divided into Shallow Foundations and Deep Foundations.

In this article, we are going discuss the step by step guide to Column Footing Design for a
shallow foundation.

Reinforced Concrete Footings

Footing comprises of the lower end of a column, pillar or wall which i enlarged with
projecting courses so as to distribute load.
Footings shall be designed to sustain the applied loads, moments and forces and the induced
reactions and to ensure that any settlement which may occur shall be as uniform as possible
and the safe bearing capacity of soil is not exceeded.

In sloped or stepped footings, the effective cross-section in compression shall be limited by

the area above the neutral plane, and the angle of slope or depth and location of steps should
be such that the design requirements are satisfied at every section.

Design Procedure of Column Footings | Foundation Design

Here is a step-by-step guide to Column Footing Design:

Column Footing Plan and Section | Foundation Design

Step 1
Area required for footing

Square = B = (w+w1)/P0
Where, Po = safe bearing capacity of soil

w1 = self weight of footing

w = self weight of footing

For Rectangle = b/d = B/D

A=bxd

Net upward pressure on the footing

q/p = W/A

Step 2
Bending Moment
Critical section for maximum bending moment is taken at the face of the column

For a square footing,

Mxx = q x B/8 (L – a)2

Mxx = q x L/8 (B – b)2
Myy = q x B/8 (L – a)2

Step 3

To fix the depth of the footing shall be greater of the following:

Depth from bending moment consideration

d = √(M/Qb)

where, Q = moment of required factor

Depth from shear consideration

Check for one way shear

Check for two way shear or punching shear

Critical shear for one way shear is considered at a distance ‘d’ from face of the column.

Shear force, V = qB [ ½(B – b) d]

Nominal shear stress, Tv = k . Tc
Tc = 0.16√fck

Step 4
Check for two way shear

Critical section for two way shear is considered at a distance at a distance d/2 from all the
faces of the column.

SF, V = q [ B2 – (b + d)2]

SF, V = q [L x B – (a + d)(b + d)]

Nominal shear stress, Tv = V/2((a+d)(b+d)d) ——- {for a rectangle

Tv = V/4((b+d)d) ——- {for a square
Tv = k . Tc

k = 0.5 + β > 1 ; [Beta β = ratio of sides of the column

Tc = 0.16√fck

Area of steel, Ast = M/((σ)stjd)

 Foundations
Foundation of a structure is like the roots of a tree without which the tree cannot stand.
The construction of any structure, be it a residence or a skyscraper; starts with the laying
of foundations.

Before designing the foundation, the type of soil is determined. Depending on whether
the soil is hard soil or soft soil, a specific type of foundation is adopted.

Shallow Foundations versus Deep Foundations

Foundations are made in various materials… They could be reinforced cement concrete
foundations or brick foundations or stone rubble masonry foundations etc. The choice of
material to be used in the construction of foundations also depends on the weight of the
structure on the ground.

The bearing capacity of soil plays a major role in deciding the type of foundation. The
safe bearing capacity of soil should be 180N/mm2 to 200N/mm2.

Foundations are broadly classified into shallow foundations and deep foundations. The
depth of the foundation means the difference of level between the ground surface and
the base of the foundation. If the depth of the foundation is greater than its width the
foundation is classified as a deep foundation.
Shallow foundations are commonly used in smaller structures such as residences and
small buildings whose floor height is limited to 10m whereas Deep Foundations are used
in Skyscrapers…. Piles are the most commonly used Deep Foundations used in
skyscrapers…

Types of Shallow foundations

Footings

Footings are structural members used to support columns and walls and to transmit their
load to the underlying soils.

Mats or rafts
Combined footings, strap and strip footings
Column Footing
 In this type of foundation the base of the column is sufficiently enlarged to act as the
individual support. The widened base not only provides stability but is useful in
distributing the load on sufficient area of the soil.
 Column footings are usually used in the foundations of residences and buildings
where the soil is hard enough has has sufficient bearing capacity.
Pressure distribution Under a Foundation
 The law of distribution of pressure under a foundation depends on the homogeneity
of the soil and flexibility of the base. If really the soil is homogeneous and the base
of the foundation is flexible, the pressure distribution under the foundation will be
uniform. On the contrary if the foundation base is absolutely rigid, the pressure
distribution will not be uniform but may follow such pattern.
 In our designs it is usual to assume a flexible base and hence to regard the
pressure distribution to be uniform. This can be achieved by gradually decreasing
the thickness of the base towards the edges so that the base is only as much thick
as it is regarded to resist the induced moments and shears.

General rules of Foundation Design

While designing a foundation the following points must be borne in mind.

 When a soil is yielding soil, a certain amount of settlement must be reduced as

much as possible by bringing down the pressure intensities.
 It is necessary that a foundation shall be designed so that if at all a settlement
should occur, it will be uniform. In other words, the settlement of all the footings
must be more or less the same.
 This is a very important point in reinforced concrete structures due to the rigid
connection between the different components of the structure.