TARLAC STATE UNIVERSITY – College of Engineering & Technology
Civil Engineering Department
Engr. Orlando Cruz Sico Jr.
CEP352/351C – Building System Design & Computation
MODULE 4______________________________
Structural Design
A n art and science of
understanding the behaviour of structural
members (footings, slabs, columns, beams,
etc.) which are subjected to loads and
designing them with economy to give a safe,
serviceable and durable structure.
Structural Plan
Designed by Structural Designer and
used by engineers, especially Civil Engineers,
concerning with the load-carrying members
of the structure showing their details,
specifications, and schedules.
Objectives:
1. To determine the methodology to be
used in constructing a project.
2. Safety: The structure should be able
to carry all expected loads safely,
without failure, that is, without
breaking or collapsing under the
loads.
3. Stability: The structure should not
move (by sliding or overturning)
under the expected loads.
4. Serviceability: The structure should
not deform or crack unreasonably
under the expected loads.
5. Durability: The structure should last for
a reasonable period of time.
Components of Structural Drawing
1. Construction Notes & Specifications
- shows the general notes, methods,
& specifications to be used during
construction.
2. Foundation Plan
- is a plan view drawing, showing the
location and size of footings,
columns,
foundation walls, and supporting
beams such as footing tie beam and
grade beam.
3. Framing Plan
- shows the location and sizes of
columns, beams, and slab
designations.
4. Details
- separated plan showing the specific
details such as cross section, steel
reinforcement, sizes from a portion of
a plan.
5. Schedules
- schedule provides section, sizes, and
steel reinforcement of beams, slab,
column, and footing.
Process of Structural Design
A. Structural Planning & Layouting
1. Ideal position & orientation of columns
a. Columns should preferably be
positioned symmetrically about the
center of the building.
b. Should preferably be located “at” or
“near” the corners of the building & at
beam intersections.
c. Avoid larger center-to-center distance
between columns.
2. Established design criteria
a. Selection of materials & their strength
b. Established all loads which the building
requires.
c. Types of loads
c.1. Dead Load – includes the weights of
all materials to be used in the building.
c.2. Live Load – building occupants
including fixtures/furnitures
c.3 Lateral Load – wind & earthquake
forces
3. Structural Analysis
a. Study of stresses, strains, & slope
deflections of structural members.
4. Structural Design
a. Designing the members considering the
strength, economy, & serviceability.
5. Structural Detailing
a. Preparation of structural drawings &
informations needed for construction.
FOUNDATION PLAN
- is a plan view drawing, showing the location and
size of footings, columns, foundation walls, and
supporting beams such as footing tie beam and
grade beam.
MODULE 3. Structural Plans
TARLAC STATE UNIVERSITY – College of Engineering & Technology
Civil Engineering Department
Engr. Orlando Cruz Sico Jr.

overlap to each other. They may be

rectangular, tee-shaped or trapezoidal in
shape.
Why a Foundation is provided
o Distribute the weight of the structure over a
large area of soil.
o Avoid unequal settlement.
o Prevent the lateral movement of the structure.
o Increase structural stability.

Types of Foundation

A. Shallow Foundation – the width of the

foundation is greater than the depth of the
foundation

1. Isolated Spread Footing – the most 4. Strap or Cantilever Footing – consists of

common and simplest type of footing and
used to support a single column only.
single footing connected with a strap
beam. Generally, when the edge of the
footing cannot be extended beyond the
property line the exterior footing is
connected by strap beam with interior
footing.

2. Wall or Strip Footing – used to distribute 5. Raft or Mat Footing – consist of a concrete
loads of structural load-bearing walls to the slab placed over the entire building area.
ground and runs along the direction of the Used when the SBC is relatively low.
wall. Stone, brick, reinforced concrete etc.
are used.
Width = 2-3 times the width of wall

B. Deep Foundation – the width of the

foundation is smaller than the depth of the
foundation.
3. Combined Footing – provided when the
SBC is low and isolated footings are

MODULE 3. Structural Plans

TARLAC STATE UNIVERSITY – College of Engineering & Technology
Civil Engineering Department
Engr. Orlando Cruz Sico Jr.

1. Pile Foundation – a long and slender

members with small cross sectional area
that transmit loads to deeper and stronger
strata which are beyond the reach of
shallow foundations. Also used to anchor
structures against uplift forces.

Building Codes

1. Footings shall be of sufficient size and strength

2. Pier Foundation – is a cylindrical structural
member which transfer heavy load from
superstructure to the soil by end bearing.
Unlike pile, it can only transfer load by
bearing and by not skin friction.
to support the load of the dwelling and shall
be at least 250 millimeters thick and 600
millimeters below the surface of the ground.
2. Footings located at least 2.40 meters below
grade along national roads or public highway
may project not more than 300 millimeters
beyond the property line.

3. Foundations may be permitted to encroach

into public sidewalk areas to a width not
exceeding 500 millimeters; provided, that the
top of the said foundations is not less than 600
millimeters below the established grade; and
provided further, that said projection does not
obstruct any existing utility such as power,
communication, gas, water, or sewer lines,
unless the owner concerned shall pay the
corresponding entities for the rerouting of the
parts of the affected utilities.

3. Caisson Foundation – is a watertight

retaining structure used as a bridge pier,
construction of dam etc. It is generally
used in structures which requires
foundation beneath a river or similar water
bodies. There are several types of caisson
foundation such as:
o Box Caissons
o Floating Caissons
o Pneumatic Caissons
o Open Caissons
o Sheeted Caissons
o Excavated Caissons

MODULE 3. Structural Plans