Faculty of

Environment and
Technology
Academic Year: 2014
Examination Period:

Module Leader:
Module No: UBGMPF-20-3
Title of Module: DESIGN OF STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS

Examination Date:
Examination Start time:
Duration of Examination: 03 Hours

Instructions to Students
Candidates must answer ALL the questions provided.
Questions DO NOT carry equal marks.

Materials supplied to the students will be:

Number of Examination Booklets (+any continuation booklets as 1
required) per Examination
Number of sheets of Graph Paper size G3 (Normal) 0

Additional Instructions to Invigilators:

Calculators may be used subject to University regulations Yes
Students are allowed to keep Examination Question Paper Yes
Material supplied to the students: No
(must be collected with answer booklet)
Additional Specialized Material:
British Standard Codes Eurocode 2 & BS5950.
IStructE manual for the design of RC structures

Treasury tags will be supplied

UBGMPF-20-3 Page 1 of 11
Section A (Reinforced Concrete)

Question 1 [32 marks]

(a)
Service load = 800kN
Allowance for weight of footing = 0.08*800 = 64kN
Expected load = 864kN

Required area for base = 864/150 =5.76m2 2 marks

Using 800kN is also OK

d>10(1200)0.5 = 332mm 1 mark

Try a base of 2.5m x 2.5m x 0.4m

Actual area = 2.5*2.5 = 6.25m2 > 5.76m2 1 mark

Actual total load = 800+(2.5*2.5*0.4)*25 =862.5kN

Bearing pressure = 862.5/ 2.52 = 138kN/m2 <150kN/m2
Chosen base size is adequate 1 mark

(b)
Considering the fact that foundation is in contact with ground and is
possible to come into contact with ground water

Hence exposure class XC4 (cyclic wet and dry) 1 mark

Table 4.4N
Assuming structural class 6
Min cover for environment conditions = 40mm 1 mark

(c)
Ultimate load = 1200kN
(Footing load does not contribute to the bending effect)
Ultimate bearing pressure = 1200/ 2.52 = 192kN/m2 1 mark

Critical Bending Moment is at face of column 1 mark

Critical bending moment = 192*2.5*((2.5-0.225)/2)2/2 1 mark

= 310kNm

UBGMPF-20-3 Page 2 of 11
 (d)
Both directions encounter the same moment. Hence the minimum
effective depth is the critical value 1 mark

Assume use of 16mm bar (or 12mm bar)

d = 400-40-16-16/2 = 336mm (342mm) 1 mark

K =M/bd2fck
= (310*106)/(2400*3362*25) 1 mark
= 0.045 < 0.167 ; singly reinforced 1 mark

z = d[0.5 + sqrt(0.25 –(K/1.134))]

= 336*[0.5 + sqrt(0.25-(0.045/1.134))]
= 322mm 1 mark

0.95*336 = 319mm < 322mm

So take z =319mm 1 mark

As= M/(0.87fykz)
= (310*106)/(0.87*460*319)
= 2428mm2 1 mark

(e)
Check whether reinforcement should be banded
1.5(cx+3d) = 1.5*(225+3*336) =1850mm < 2500mm = lx
Reinforcement should be banded
2/3 of design reinforcement in middle (cx +3d) 1 mark

Minimum reinforcement
0.26*(fctm/fyk)*btd= 0.26*(2.6/460)*2500*336=1234mm2
But not less than 0.0013btd = 0.0013*2500*336= 1092mm2 1 mark
Minimum reinforcement area = 1234mm2 < 2428mm2 1 mark

Maximum spacing
2*h = 2*400 = 800mm
But less than 250mm
Hence; max spacing = 250mm 1 mark

UBGMPF-20-3 Page 3 of 11
 provide, 4T12 @ 200mm =>452mm2
9T16 @ 150mm => 1809mm2
4T12 @ 200mm => 452mm2 1 mark

(f)
From IStructE manual
Bars in tension (no need of bending)
Hence, anchorage length multiplier = 37 1 mark
Anchorage length = 37*16 =592mm 1 mark

Alternatively
From EC2 guidelines
8.4.4(2)
lbd = α4 lb,rqd
α4 = 0.7
lb,rqd = (Ф/4)* (σsd/fbd)
; fbd = 2.25*η1 η1fctd
fctd = αct fctk / γc
= (16/4)*(460/(2.25*1.0*1.0*(1.0*1.8/1.5)))
= 681mm 1 mark

Hence, anchorage length = 0.7*681 = 477mm 1 mark

(g)
Vertical line shear
Punching shear 1 mark

2d

1 mark each for each correct perimeter (as shown in dotted lines
above) 3 marks

UBGMPF-20-3 Page 4 of 11
 (h)
Proper dimensions of sketch 1 mark
Proper tagging of bars 1 mark
Proper indication of starter bars for column 1 mark
Choice of sections/ scale (need not be exact) / neatness 1 mark

UBGMPF-20-3 Page 5 of 11
Question 2 [28 marks]

(a)
Advantages
 Saving in building height
 Rapid construction due to easy formwork (i.e. no beams)/ pre-
fabricated welded mesh
 Ease of installation of M&E services
 Economy due to possible use of pre-fabricated welded meshes
 Architectural preference (clean soffit / agile partition walls)

1 mark each up to 2 marks

Disadvantages
 Complicated analysis design (ambiguity in load paths)
 Lack of stiffness of the structure
 Possibility of shear failure near columns, potentially leading to
progressive collapse (unwarned and catastrophic failure)

1 mark each up to 2 marks

(b)
From IStructE manual
Trial span/ depth = 26
Effective depth = 6000/26 = 230mm 1 mark

Internal exposure => XC1

Minimum cover = 25mm 1 mark

Assuming use of 10mm bars

h= 230+25+10/2 = 260mm (or greater) 1 mark

(c) For correct dimensions 1 mark

Proper identification of column and middle strips 1 mark

[see figure below]

UBGMPF-20-3 Page 6 of 11
 (d)
Self-weight = (0.26*5*6)*25 = 195kN 1 mark
Finishes = (5*6)*1 = 30kN
Total Dead load = 225kN 1 mark

Imposed load=(5*6)*3 = 90kN

Partitions = (5*6)*1 = 30kN
Total Imposed load = 120kN

Design load =1.35*225+1.5*120 = 484kN 1 mark

(answer is accepted even if it is given as an intensity)
(e)
Long span
Effective span = ln+h/2+h/2 = 3500+260 = 3.76m 1 mark

Span Moment = 0.07Fl = 0.07*484*3.76 = 127.4kNm 1 mark

Col. Strip = 0.55*127.4 = 70kNm
Mid. Strip = 0.45*127.4 = 57kNm 1 mark

Support Moment = -0.1Fl =-0.1*484*3.76 = 182kNm 1 mark

Col. Strip = 0.75*182 = 137kNm
Mid. Strip = 0.25*182 = 46kNm 1 mark

UBGMPF-20-3 Page 7 of 11
 (f)

K =M/bd2fck
= (57*106)/(2500*2302*25)
= 0.017 < 0.167 ; singly reinforced 1 mark

z = d[0.5 + sqrt(0.25 –(K/1.134))]

= 230*[0.5 + sqrt(0.25-(0.017/1.134))]
= 226mm

0.95*230 = 219mm < 226mm

So take z =219mm 1 mark

As= M/(0.87fykz)
= (57*106)/(0.87*460*219)
= 650mm2 1 mark

(g)
ρ = As,req /bd = 650/(2500*230) = 0.00113 <0.0025 1 mark
(The limiting value is recommended for Sri Lankan practice. It is to
avoid unreasonably high l/d ratios)
ρ0= sqrt(fck) *10-3 = 0.005 > 0.0025 = ρ
hence, use Equation 7.16a 1 mark

K = 1.2 for flat slabs

l/d = 1.2(11 + (1.5*sqrt(25)*(0.005/0.00113))+
(3.2*sqrt(25)*( 0.005/0.00113-1)3/2))
= 50 1 mark

Correction for steel grade

310/σs = 500 As,prov / fykAs,rqd = (500/460)*1.01 = 1.10
(l/d)all = 50*1.1 = 55 <35 1 mark
(The limiting value is recommended for Sri Lankan practice)

(l/d)act = 6000/230 = 26 < 35

Deflection OK 1 mark

For deflection in a two way spanning solid slab, the shorter span is
considered 1 mark

UBGMPF-20-3 Page 8 of 11
 (h)
 Shear studs /stud rails
 Shear stirrups
 Shear plates/ stud plates
 Structural steel shear heads
 Shear ladders
 Shear hoops
0.5 marks each up to 2 marks

Section B (Structural Steel)

Question 3
(a)
 Possibility of rapid construction
 Low self-weight of structure / high strength to weight ratio
 High quality control due to factory manufacturing
1 mark each up to 2 marks

Site specific reasoning such as availability, weather condition

would receive only partial marks

(b)
Minimum bolt spacing = 2.5 d =2.5*20 = 50mm 1 mark
Maximum bolt spacing = 14t = 14*8 =112mm 1 mark

Actual spacing = 50mm ≥ min spacing

≤ max spacing 1 mark

(c)
Clearance hole = 20 + 2 = 22mm 1 mark

Minimum edge/end distance = 1.25*D =1.25*22 =27.5mm 1 mark

Maximum edge/end distance = 11*t* ε = 11*8*1.0 = 88 mm
1 mark

Actual edge/end distance = 40mm ≥ min dist

≤ max dist 1 mark

UBGMPF-20-3 Page 9 of 11
 (d)
(i)
Ps = psAs 1 mark
= 375 * 245 1 mark
= 91.9 kN

Since there are two shear planes

Bolt shear capacity per bolt =2*9.9 =183.8kN 1 mark
Total bolt shear capacity =4*183.8 = 735.6kN 1 marks

(ii)
Pbb = dtppbb 1 mark
= 20*12*1000 2 marks
=240kN

Total bolt bearing capacity =4*240 = 960kN 1 mark

(iii)
Pbs =kbsdtppbs ≤ 0.5 kbsetppbs 1 mark
=1.0*20*12*460 ≤ 0.5*1.0*40*12*460 3 marks
= 110.4 kN

Total plate bearing capacity =4*110.4 = 441.6kN 1 mark

(iv)
Identify the correct block failure 1 mark

Pt = 0.6*pyt[Lv+Ke(Lt-kDt)]
= 0.6*275*12*[90+1.2(90-2.5*22)] 4 marks
= 261.3 kN

(v)
Ae = Kean < ag 1 mark
= 1.2*((130-44)*12) < (130*12) 2 marks
= 1234.8mm2 < 1560 mm2 1 mark
= 1234.8mm2

Pt =pyAe 1 mark
= 275*1235
=342kN
UBGMPF-20-3 Page 10 of 11
 (e)
261.3 kN ( or whatever the lowest capacity calculated above)
2 mark
No.
The design capacity is greater than the maximum design force
2 marks

(f)
Unexpectedly high loading
 A critical evaluation of possible extreme loading cases at the
design stages
Errors in idealizing / analyzing the structure
 Greater emphasis on idealizing the structure. Cross checks
and verification of models through manual calculations
Improper fixing of the bolt
 Proper quality control procedures
Reduction of section due to corrosion
 Proper maintenance / regular inspections and corrective
measures
Poor quality material
 Proper quality control procedures
Not constructing as specified
 Proper quality control procedures

1 mark each up to 4 marks

Reason only would receive only partial marks

UBGMPF-20-3 Page 11 of 11