Initial Sizing of Structural Elements

Reinforced Concrete
(Concrete Buildings Scheme Design Manual)
Typical span/depth ratios
One way spanning slabs (4m span 10m)

Ribbed slabs (6m span 12m)

Reinforced Concrete - Initial Sizing

(Concrete Buildings Scheme Design Manual)
Typical span/depth ratios
Two way spanning slabs (4m span 12m)

Beams

Reinforced Concrete
(Concrete Buildings Scheme Design Manual)
Typical span/depth ratios
Solid flat slabs (4m span 10m)

Waffle slabs (6m span 12m)

Post Tensioned Concrete - Initial Sizing

(Concrete Buildings Scheme Design Manual)
Typical span/depth ratios

Reinforced Concrete
(IStructE Manual for the Design of RC Structures to EC2)
Typical span/ effective depth ratios

Post Tensioned Concrete

(IStructE Manual for the Design of RC Structures to EC2)
Typical span/depth ratios

Post Tensioned Concrete

(IStructE Manual for the Design of RC Structures to EC2)
Typical span/depth ratios

Structural Steel
(IStructE Technical Guidance Note 17 Level 1)

Slab

Primary
beam

Secondary
beam

Column
Bracing

Beams

Columns

Slabs
Reinforced Concrete on profiled metal deck

In situ concrete topping on

profiled metal deck

Dovetail deck (e.g. Comflor 51)

o 130-150mm thick concrete slab
o Typical unpropped span 2.5-3.6m
Standard trapezoidal deck (e.g. Comflor 60)
o 130-150mm thick concrete slab
o Typical unpropped span 3.0-4.0m
Deep trapezoidal deck (e.g. Comflor 210)
o 270-300mm thick concrete slab
o Typical unpropped span 4.5-7.5m

Precast Concrete Hollowcore (Bison) slab

Hollowcore slab

(Bison) Hollowcore slab with structural concrete topping

Structural Timber
(IStructE Technical Guidance Note 17 Level 1)
Beams and rafters
Structural Form

Description
and
Materials
Straight
beam,
simply
supported
Solid timber,
glulam, LVL
Tapered
beam (single
or double
taper),
simply
supported
Glulam, LVL
Pitched
cambered
beam,
simply
supported
Glulam

Pitch
()

Span Range
(m)

<3

Solid < 5m
LVL < 20m
Glulam < 30m

3-10

Approximate
Properties

h l/17

10-30
h l/17
H l/16

3-15

10-20
h l/17
H l/16

Portals and arches

Structural Form

Description
and
Materials
Arch
optionally
tied with
steel
Glulam or
LVL glulam
top chords
Portal,
Curved
laminated
glulam
haunch

Pitch
()

Span Range
(m)

Rise/span
0.14

20-80m

Approximate
Properties

h l/40

>14

15-40m
h (S1 + S2)/15

Portal with
large, finger
jointed
haunch in
glulam or
LVL

10-50

Portal
strutted and
braced
haunch
Glulam, LVL
Struts same
or solid

>14

8-30m at 3-6m h (S1 + S2)/13

frame centres

10-35m

h (S1 + S2)/15

Stability Systems
Braced bays
Overall height (H)/width of braced bay (b) 7

b H/7

Shear Walls
Overall height (H)/width of shear wall (b) 7
b H/7