i
Orthopolygonal
Translated from
REVISTA CONSTRUCTIILOR SI A MATERIALELOR
DE CONSTRUCTII
by courtesy of REVISTA CONSTRUCTIILOR SI A
MATERIALELOR DE CONSTRUCTII, Rumania
Keywords: reinforced concrete, stairs, design.
Slabless tread-riser stairs, have recently gained increas-
ing acceptance but they present numerous problems in
terms of design and construction.
The design of such stairs has been approached by
Prof, Luiz P. Sa&z in his study “Calculo de Estructuras
Planas de Eje Ortopoligonal.” This as well as his later
paper (Ref.l), aroused the interest of specialists and
resulted in many studies of the design and construction
of such stairs (Refs. 2, 3).
These discussions resulted in the development of prin-
ciples for the design and construction of the above-
mentioned stairways.
The problem of determining the true state of stress by
photoelastic methods is given in Ref. 4. This paper draws
on experience gained in the construction and testing (in
1964) of a 15-step staircase which led the authors to refine
and tabulate the existing methods of design and con-
struction in order to simplify them.
By stairs with bent or step-riser slabs, we understand
stairs in which the external load is carried only by the
steps and risers (Fig. 1).
a the bending moments in the actual structure; the analogue
b
2, 2,
Fig. 1.
* Construction Trust & Polytechnic Institute, Gaalati. .__
8 I.C.E. monthly / Vol. 11 No. 1. 1971172
Stairs
If the angle between treads and risers is 90” the stairs
are regarded as having an orthopolygonal structure
(Fig. 2).
In most cases such structures are statically indeter-
minate and their design has been approached by using
various methods, such as the column analogy method, the
energy method and the second differences method.
Most of these methods are based on certain generally
accepted assumptions. Thus, the following have been
adopted :
- The structure is plane (two dimensional), neglecting
possible three-dimensional stress interrelations
- dead and live loads are concentrated on the edge of
the risers.
In the following, we shall deal with two methods of
more general character applicable to any structure. At
the same time, results of practical experience are presented i
and the various design stages are discussed.
I. The Column Analogy Method.
This method is based on the mathematical identity
between compressive stresses in an analogue column and
column is loaded according to the bending-moment
diagram in the actual structure acting as an axial load,
divided by EIs. The cross section of the analogue column
has the shape of the structure-profile and is I/E& wide
(where 4, is the moment of inertia of the mean cross
section of the actual structure).
 The above formula may be applied to any structure
with a single closed contour or with fixed ends and with
loads acting in the horizontal plane of the structure.
The formula may be much simplified for symmetric
and symmetrically loaded structures (most frequently
used for orthopolygonal stairs) by reducing Eq. 2 to
0
M,” = -j- (2’)

since the total load is applied at the centre of the analogue

column’s cross section. Eq. 2’ gives, at the same
Fig. 2. time, the statically indeterminate moments at fixed ends.

1 . Symmetrically Loaded Stairs without Landings (Fig. 3)

Bearing in mind the above, and taking into account
The bending moment in the cross section of a statically the load assumptions for fixed-end stairs without landings,
indeterminate structure is found from with y1 steps, we obtain the following expression for the
moment at the fixed ends
M, = Mf - Ml
(1)
where
Ml-,, =M,.-, = p’~~nL”(nZ-I
M,d and M: - statically determinate and indeterminate
moments in cross section s.
where
M,” is defined by
P - concentrated load acting on each
M,” - M;+ Mf, - M;+
riser ;
M:=$+ “x+ y Y (2)
r2 r2 n - number of steps;
I, - !fL I, - F 3
x Y L, and I,, = g - width and moment of inertia of the
where
step, respectively;
O- the total load on the analogue column (sur-
L, and I, = $ - height and moment of inertia of the
face of the diagram of bending moment di-
riser, respectively;
vided by EI, , the surface being related to the
statically determinate structure chosen as a b - width of the stairs.
reference system and loaded by external Eq. 3 may also be written
forces applied to the centre of gravity of the
Ml-,, = Ml...., = Me K’
related surface);
with
A- surface of the analogue column;
M’, = @a - moments of total load related to axe y M = ’ * yi Lh (n’ - I), K’ zz
l+K
Mf, = Ob- moments of total load related to axe x.
I,.. I,, I,, - moments of inertia gnd centrifugal moment
of the analogue column’s cross-section, re- where K = s (3’1
h’ ”
lated to the given orthogonal axes, which
/ P
originate at the analogue column’s centre of
P
gravity. 1
. x and y - coordinates of the point for which the % P
moment is calculated; they are given in ab- 4l
solute values (in particular for structures
;lhL,
fixed at both ends, the statically indetermi-
%/l’
nate moments are calculated for the coordi- J
nates of these points.) Fig. 3.

I.C.E. monthly / Vol. II No. 1. 1971/72 9

 TABLE 1
- Ml-,, = M,,el = “1”2, Lh cn’ - 1) . KU
P =L"/Lh
n where
0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 .
K” =:
l+K-KA

2 1,1667 I,2000 1,2308 1,2593 1,2857 1,3103 1,3333 .K-KB

3 I,1052 1,125O 1,1429 1,1591 1,1739 1,187s 1,200O with

4 1,0769 1,0909 1,1034 1,1148 1,125O 1,1343 1,1429 L” * 48
K = Lh * I”
5 1,0606 1,0714 I,0811 I,0897 1,0978 1,1046 1,1111 and
6 1,0503 1,0588 1,0667 1,0737 1,0804 1,0857 I,0909 A = 2m(m -I- 1)(3n - 2m - 1)
; B = ; (4)
1,0425 1,OSOO 1,0566 1,0625 I,0678 1,0726 1,0769
n(nz - 1)
7

8 1,037O 1,0435 1,0492 1,0543 1,0588 1,0629 1,0667

9 1,0328 1,0385 1,0435 1,0479 1,0519 1,0556 1,0588

10 1,0294 1,0345 I,0390 1,0429 1,0465 l&497 1,0526

11 1,0267 1,0312 I,0353 1,0389 1,0421 1,045O 1,0476

12 1,0244 1,0285 I,0323 1,0355 1,0384 1,0411 1,0435

13 1,0224 1,0263 I,0297 1,0327 1,0354 1,0378 1,040O

14 I,0209 1,0244 1,0275 I,0303 1,0328 1,035O 1,037O

, L=nLh "Lh
15 1,0194 I,0227 1,02.57 1,0282 1,0306 1,0326 1,0344 (n+2n)Lh
i
16 I,0182 I,0212 1,024O I,0264 1,0286 1,0305 1,0323
Fig. 4.
17 1,017l 1,020O 1,0226 1,0242 1,0268 1,0286 1,0303

18 1,0161 1,0189 1,0213 1,0234 1,0253 1,0274 1,0286

1,0153 I,0178 1,020l I,0221 1,0239 1,0255 1,027O

19
20 1,0145 1,0169 1,019l 1,021O 1,0227
...--~
In Eq. 3’ M is the fixed-end moment of a beam with
a span nL, subjected to n- 1 equidistant loads P.
Eq. 3’ shows that, for stairs of the above-mentioned
type, the fixed-end moment may be calculated by multi-
plying the fixed-end moment of a beam (of same span
and loading as the stairs) by the correction coefficient
K’, the value of which for various ratios L,/L, and
t, = t,, may be found from Table 1.
From the values of K’ it is seen that for stairs with
more than ten steps, calculation may be done as for a
straight beam with span nL,; the difference between the
moments thus obtained in excess of the calculated values
being less than 5%.
2. Symmetrically Loaded Stairs with Landings (Fig. 4).
Assuming the length of the landings to be a multiple
integer of the step width we obtain, for the fixed-end
moment, the following expression
The above assumption does not limit the general
character of the considered case, since, dividing the land-
1,0243 1,0256
ing in sections equal in length to the step width produces
for each landing no more than one section whose length
differs from the step width; this section may be neglected
or taken as equal to a whole step (if necessary).
II. The Energy Method.
The design may be carried out using the general
methods of statics of structures.
By using the stress-strain method we derived; the
expressions for the fixed-end moment for stairs without
landings and with an even or odd number of steps; these
expressions are as follows:
1. Stairs with an Odd Number of Steps (Fig. 5a).
M,ml, = M,,bl = 2. C * P * L, - M (5)
where
C + D(1 + K)
M = P * L,, .
A+K*B

10 I.C.B. monthly / Vol. II No. 1. 1971/72

is the moment at the centre of the span of a statically 3. Symmetrically Loaded Symmetric Stairs with Landings
indeterminate structure subjected to actual loads. The at the Ends, and Intermediate Supports (Fig. 6).
coefficients in Eq. 5 are
Stairs of this type were designed using the stress-strain
method (deformations).
In this method, we determine the moment of rigid end
fixing from 1 respectively 1’ for the section 1 - 1’ using
(5A) Eq. 5 for stairs with an even or odd number of steps
(according to each particular case). 1
D = (n - l>(n + l)(n - 3); K = L" 1, We also determine the methods of rigid end fixing
48 Lh Iv
at 1 and 2 or 1’ and 2’ for the section 1 - 2 or 1’ - 2’
respectively :
where
n - the number of odd steps. Mm
1 2
EM-
2 1
z-412
12
Next, we apply the Cross method of moment distribu-
2. Stairs with an Even Number of Steps (Fig. 5b)
tion as for a continuously supported beam.
For both types of stairs the end moment (Eq. 5)
is the same except for coefficients C and D which are
different.

n - the even number of steps. L-t F!!

The coefficients A,B,C and D for stairs with steps

varying from 2 to 20 may be found in Table 2.
Fig. 6.

The rigidity of section 1 - 2 (of the landing) is found

from
EIh
K,-l’ = K,t-l = Lh(A + KB) (7)
a
where
Fig. 5. A,B, and K are coefficients with the values given above.

TABLE 2
- - - .~~-

COCffi- Number of steps “n”

cients - -
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

A 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00 4,50 5.00 5.50 6.00 6.50 7.00 7.50 8.00 8.50 9.00 9.50 10.00
B 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00 4.50 5.00 5.50 6.00 6.50 7.00 7.50 8.00 8.50 9.00 9.50
C 0.25 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.25 3.00 3.00 5.00 6.25 7.50 9.00 10.50 12.25 14.00 16.00 18.00 20.25 22.50 25.00

D 0.00 0.00 0.50 1.00 2.50 4.00 7.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 27.50 35.00 45.50 56.00 70.00 84.00102.00120.00142.50

1,C.E. monthly / Vol. II No. 1. 1971/72 11

 The rigidity of the landing is found from 4. Symmetrically Loaded Symmetric St&s with End
Landings without Intermediute Supports.
K (8)
In the design of this type of stairs we use the results
as for case 3 but we eliminate the effect of supports.
The distribution coefficients are In this case, the vertical displacements of points 1 *and 1’
are equal (by virtue of the load symmetry) while the
4 1 reactions R, and R; are zero.
I-l-2 = :
Kl ;r l-l= l-l-,-, = l+
4+--
464-t-KB) However, elimination of supports causes variation in
A +KB Kl - the moments of the structure.
10
For calculation, we determine the fixed-end moments
where allowing for deformation symmetry. For this purpose we
impart to the supports a yield y so that a unit moment
will appear in each landing (Fig. 7).

The transmission coefficients are

The structure being symmetric, the moments dlstri-

bution can be done for only half of the structure.
After p operations of distribution and transmission, Fig. 7.
the final moments at the ends of the beam are found from

i=p
41-1, = Ml-,, -(M,-1, +
r-f+
Ml-,) c -;
Next, for each joint, we balance the unit moments
i=l introduced by yield y and then determine the additional
2’
reaction from 1 (l’), using expressions
i=P rl-,,
&r 1-2 = ~~~~-~~~~~~+~~-~~~,-~ ): -5 (10)
i=O
2’

i=P rfwl,
A%‘~-~ = M,-,--(MI-,l+M,-,) rl-2
2 E -
i=O
2’

For the moment at the mid-section 1 - 2 we obtain i=P rfel,;

ii?;+ = - z 2;
i=l I
rle2 i.g r;-,.
M, = M+(M,++M,++- - p = 3%2+z-1
i=l
2’ 1
1 -

Here M is calculated from Eq. 5 while p is taken Since reaction RI is cancelled, the increments of
depending on the desired accuracy (usually p is 3 or 4). moments are
The reaction at support 1 is written

R, = AP + 2 _ &l--2 :4-l
and the final moments at the beam ends become
where (11)

12 ICE. monthly / Vol. II No. 1, 1971/72

 For the case 4, we calculate the stairs as if they had
supported landings and we then eliminate the supports;
using Eqs. 12, 13 and 14 we determine the final fixed-
end moments for the initially assumed supported points.
According to the above, it may be concluded that,
for practical purposes, the design of orthopolygonal
stairs presents no particular difficulties.
For symmetric stairs of the above-mentioned types,
the designer may employ standard formulae. Stairs with-
out symmetry are easily calculated using the column-
analogue method in its general form.
Once the stress pattern is determined the dimensioning
and determination of cross-sections can be started.
For a correct determination of cross-sections it is, how-
ever, useful to resort to the result of photoelastic studies
(Ref. 4) for the case of simply supported stairs with nine
steps.
Measurements have shown that the state of stress as
found from static design corresponds to the actual state
of stress, the prevailing loading being of the bending-
stress type.
Predictably, stress concentrations tend to appear in
the cross-sections at the points of inflexion of the median
lines (Fig. 8); variations in stress concentrations in the
planes A - A and B - B for the central zone of the
stairs are shown in Fig. 9. The stress-concentration
Fig. 8.
Fig. 9.
coefficient may reach and even exceed the value of 2.
In other zones of the stairs, the isostatic lines are
similar to those for the centre of the span, while the
stress in the elements near the supports does not generally
differ from the state of stress of a straight reference beam.
These stress concentrations have to be allowed for in
location of the steel reinforcements at the cross sections:
Stairs of this type may be reinforced in two wa.ys:
- with continuous reinforcement bars and stirrups
(Fig. 10);
-- with continuous reinforcement bars and inclined
additional bars (Fig. 11).
Reinforcement of the first type is less economical
than the second. Inclined reinforcement bars carry the
load at entrant corners on the lower face of the stairs
and aid in taking possible loads from local three-
dimensional effects.
If the second method of reinforcement is to be used,
the continuous bars should be dimensioned so as to
carry the loads resulting from the calculated bending
moment. while for the second case of reinforcement
it is necessary to provide for a cross section equal to that
of the continuous reinforcement.
Some authorities (Ref. 4) suggest provision, for en-
gineering purposes, of a low reinforcement percentage
on the compressed surface of the particular structural
element (Fig. 12), through mounting continuous rein-
forcement bars.
Fig. 10.
In order to minimize stress concentrations it is ad-
visable to round or to chamfer the entrant corners as in
Fig. 13, as long as this technique does not interfere with
architectural requirements. The stress-concentration co-
efficient may then be reduced to 1.1. The introduction
of haunches makes it possible to achieve the most
efficient and convenient system of reinforcement with
straight bars for taking up tensile stress (Fig. 13).
I.C.E. monthly / Vol. II No. 1. 1971/72 13
 ‘-3-7 c
03 I

Fig. 11.

7
To avoid calculational complications, it is advisable Fig. 12.
to make the thickness of the steps equal to that of the
riser; possible variations in thickness, made in order
to comply with architectural requirements, may be
achieved using special covering material.

Numerical Example.
Assume stairs as shown in Fig. 14 for which we have
to determine the fixed-end moments and the moments
at mid-span; we proceed from the following assumptions :
a. Intermediate supports at the landings;
b. Without intermediate supports. Fig. 13.

$=138kgf

t-
tv=i?cm(s
i

L= 1.40 nLh_=9x28 L=l.40

c- - *
nLh+21=5.32 c
Fig. 14.

14 ICE. monthly / Vol. II No. 1. 1971/72

 The following values are given: .d 2 - 1 118
=: - y 2=
- 70.8 kgfm (- 512ft-lbf
Lh = 28 cm (11 in.)
L, .= 17 cm (6.7 in.)
MC = 234 + (536 - 117.5)
t” = t, = tl = 12 cm (4.7 in.)

n
= 140 cm (55 in.)
= 9
+
o.1663
2+ -*- 1 = 732.2 kgfm (539 ft-lbf)

720 x 1.40 497.7 + 70.8

A = 5=4.5; Rt
= ; *275 + 2 - 1.40 =

B =9+4; = 1336 kgf (2.96kip).

c = (9 + 1x9 - 1) = 5
16 2. Stairs with Landings
but without Intermediate Supports.
D = (9 - 1x9 + 1)(9 - 3) = 10
48

0.607,

1
+ o.1663 +
M = 275 x o 28 5 + 10(1 +0 . 6 0 7 ) = 234 kgfm - ..m = 0.545 kgfm (3.95ft-lbf)
4.5 + 0.607 x 4 23
(1690 ft-lbf)
STY1 - 2 = 1 - 0.834 x 1.0905 =0.091 kgfm (0.66 ft-lbf)
Ml-l) = 2x5x275x0.28-234= 536 kgfm
(3870 ft-lbf) z:+* = - 2: _ 2 = 0.091 kgfm (0.66 ft-lbf)

Ml-2 = - 720 . q = - 117.5 kgfm 0.545 + 0.091

1; = = 0.455 kgf (0.001 kip.)
( - 850 ft-lbf) 1.40
4
r1-2 = = 0.834 1336 -0.545
5 A.J%!~-.~ = = 1600kgfm. (11530ft-lbf)
4+ 0.455
4.5 + 0.607 x 4

l-l-11 = 1 - 0.834 = 0.166 1336 * 0.091

A&X1ml, = - - 268 kgfm
0.455 =
0.834
Yl-2 zz - = 0.417; ( - 1940ft-lbf)
2
0.166 Mf-I = 70.8 + 1600 = 1670.8kgfm (121OOft-lbf)
Yl-1* = - = 0.083
2
L .NT-l* = 498.2 - 268 = 230.2kgfm (1665ft-lbf)
1.40 5
whereK1 = -=
0.28
MZ = 732.2 + 268 = 1000.2kgfm (7230ft-lbf)
o.1662
A1 - 1 ’ = 536 - (536 - 117.5) + 22 +
Dimensioning:

1
The stairs are realised from grade B 170 concrete and
0.1663+
+y-- **- = 498.2 kgfm (3600 ft-lbf). reinforcement OL 38. For the support with M = 1671
kgfm (12100 ft-lbf) and for ho = 10 cm (4 in.) we have
0.166
A?l-2 = - 118 - (536-117.5) 0.834 C 1 + 2 + B = 3 0 . 0 8 , p = 1.18+A, = 11.8cm2(1.83 in.2)

o.1662
+-
o.1663
22 + - 23 + *** 1 = -497.7 kgfm
for M = 1000 kgfm (7230 ft-lbf) we have

(3597 ft-lbf) B = 18 and p = 0.67 --f A, = 6.7 cm2 (1.04 in2)

I.C.E. monthly / Vol. II No. 1. 1971/72 15

NOTATIONS REFERENCES :
A - surface of the analogue column 1. LUIZ P. SAENZ si IGNACIO MARTIN: Scriri cu trepte fciuti ciald.
A,B,C,D,K,T, y - coefficients. American Concrete Journal-Oct. 1961 sau Beton arm+ nr. 58
- modulus of elasticity ian.-febr. 1965.
E
J - centrifugal moment 2. BEZAL~EL S. BENJAMIN SI ALT 11: S&i cu trepte--contratrepte f&rd E
data. Journal of the American Concrete Institute. iunie 1962
J::,, Jv, Je - moments cf inertia
sau Beton armi: nav.-dec. 196.5.
Ms, MI, W’ - moment in cross-section S.
M,c;M, - moment of total load 3. BEZALEEL S. BENJAMIN: Analiza se&+ilor cu treapta-contraireapta.
P - load. Indian Concrete Journal. dec. 1962.
b - width of the stairs 4. V. T&K: Cercetarea stcirii de tensiune la dovZ tipuridep anouri
LLL”, - length of stairs pentru casa sc6rii. Pozemni stavby. nr. 10. 1964.
n - number of steps 5. A. R. CUSENSA: Calculul sclirilor f6rd plard. Concrete and Con-
P - reinforcement percentage structional Engineering, nr. 10. octombrie 1966.
XiY - coordinates 6. A. GHEORGHIU: Statica constructiilor. Bucuresti. Editura
0 - total load on the analogue column Tehnica 1966.

16 I.C.E. monthly / Vol. II No. 1, 1971/72