RCC Design Tips

•A.BEAMS:
•
• OVERALL DEPTH OF BEAMS: SL.NO MEMBER SPAN/OVERALL
•
• 1. Beam sections should be designed for:
DEPTH RATIO
•Moment values at the column face & (not the value at centre line as per analysis)
•Shear values at distance of d from the column face. (not the value at centre line as per analysis)
1. PLINTH 15 TO 18
•Moment redistribution is allowed for static loads only. BEAM
•For beams spanning between the columns about the weak axis, the moments at the end support shall be reduced more and distributed and
the span moments shall be increased accordingly to account for the above reduction.
•Moment distribution shall be done in such a way that 15% of the support moments shall be added to the span moment without the support
2. TIE BEAM 18 TO 20
moments getting reduced.
•The section within the span shall be designed for the increased span moment which will account for the concentrated & isolated loading
that may act within one span.
3. FLOOR 12 TO 15
BEAMS
4. GRID 20 TO 30
BEAMS
a. Moment redistribution is not allowed if

1. moment co-efficient taken from code table

2. designed for earthquake forces and for lateral loads.

2. At least 1/3 of the +ve moment reinforcement in SIMPLE SUPPORTS & ¼ the +ve moment reinforcement in CONTINUOUS MEMBERS shall extend along
the same face of the member into the support, to a length equal to Ld/3. (Ld-development length)

3. Use higher grade of concrete if most of the beams are doubly reinforced. Also when Mu/bd^2 goes above 6.0.

4. Try to design a minimum width for beams so that the all beam reinforcement passes through the columns. This is for the reason that any reinforcement
outside the column will be ineffective in resisting compression.

5. Restrict the spacing of stirrups to 8”(200mm) or ¾ of effective depth whichever is less.(for static loads)

6. Whenever possible try to use T-beam or L-beam concept so as to avoid compression reinforcement.

7. Use a min. of 0.2% for compression reinforcement to aid in controlling the deflection, creep and other long term deflections.

8. Bars of Secondary beam shall rest on the bars of the Primary beam if the beams are of the same depth. The kinking of bars shall be shown clearly on the
drawing.

9. Length of curtailment shall be checked with the required development length.

10. Keep the higher diameter bars away from the N.A(i.e. layer nearest to the tension face) so that max. lever arm will be available.

11. Hanger bars shall be provided on the main beam whenever heavy secondary beam rests on the main beam.(Try to avoid the hanger bar if secondary beam
has less depth than the main beam, as there are enough cushions available).

12. The detailing for the secondary beam shall be done so that it does not induce any TORSION on the main beam.

13. For cantilever beams reinforcement at the support shall be given a little more and the development length shall be given 25% more.
 •B:SLAB
• EFFECTIVE DEPTH:
•
•Whenever the slab thickness is 150mm, the bar diameter shall be 10mm for
normal spacing.(It can be 8mm at very closely spaced).
•Slab thickness can be 10mm,110mm,120mm,125mm,150mm, etc.
•The maximum spacing of Main bar shall not exceed 200mm(8”) and the
distribution bars @ 250mm(10”).
•If the roof slab is supported by load bearing wall(without any frames) a bed
block of 150/200mm shall be provided along the length of supports which will
aid in resisting the lateral forces.
Sl.no SLAB SPAN/EFFE.DEPTH

1. One- way simply supported slab 30

2. One-way continuous slabs 35

3. Two-way simply supported slabs 38 for L/B=1.5

35 for L/B>1.5

4. Teo-way continuous slabs 40 for L/B=1.5

38 for L/B>1.5
If the roof is of sheet(AC/GI) supported by load bearing
wall (without any frames) a bed block of 150/200mm shall
be provided along the length of supports except at the
eaves. The bed block is provided to keep the sheets in
position from WIND.
6. For the roof slab provide a min. of 0.24% of slab cross
sectional area reinforcement to take care of the
temperature and other weathering agent and for the
ponding of rain water etc since it is exposed to outside the
building enclosure.
 COLUMN:
1. Section should be designed for the column moment values at the beam face.
2. Use higher grade of concrete when the axial load is predominant.
3. Go for a higher section properties when the moment is predominant.
4. Restrict the maximum % of reinforcement to 3.
5. Detail the reinforcement in column in such a way that it gets maximum lever arm for the
axis about which the column moment acts.
6. Position of lap shall be clearly mentioned in the drawing according to the change in
reinforcement. Whenever there is a change in reinforcement at a junction, lap shall be
provided to that side of the junction where the reinforcement is less.
7. Provide laps at midheight of column to minimize the damage due to moments(Seismic
forces).
Avoid KICKER concrete to fix column form work since it is the weakest link due to weak and
non compacted part.
 FOOTING:
1. Never assume the soil bearing capacity and at least have one trial pit to get the real site Bearing capacity
value.
2. Check the Factor of Safety used by the Geotechnical engineer for finding the SBC.
3. SBC can be increased depending on the N-value and type of footing that is going to be designed. Vide IS-
1893-2000(part-I).
4. Provide always PLINTH BEAMS resting on natural ground in orthogonal directions connecting all columns
which will help in many respect like reducing the differential settlement of foundations, reducing the moments
on footings etc.
5. Always assume a hinged end support for column footing for analysis unless it is supported by raft and on pile
cap.
The Common assumption of full fixity at the column base may only be valid for columns supported on RIGID
RAFT foundations or on individual foundation pads supported by
short stiff piles or by foundation walls in Basement. Foundation pads supported on deformable soil may have
considerable rotational flexibility, resulting in column forces in the
 R.C.C.WALLS:

1. The minimum reinforcement for the RCC wall subject to BM shall be as follows:

A. Vertical reinforcement:

a) 0.0012 of cross sectional area for deformed bars not larger than 16mm in diameter and with characteristic strength 415 N/mm^2 or greater.
b) 0.0015 of cross sectional area for other types of bars.
c) 0.0012 of cross sectional area for welded fabric not larger than 16mm in diameter.
Maximum horizontal spacing for the vertical reinforcement shall neither exceed three times the wall thickness nor 450mm.
B. Horizontal reinforcement.

a) 0.0020 of cross sectional area for deformed bars not larger than 16mm in diameter and with characteristic strength 415 N/mm^2 or greater.
b) 0.0025 of cross sectional area for other types of bars.
c) 0.0020 of cross sectional area for welded fabric not larger than 16mm in diameter.
Maximum vertical l spacing for the vertical reinforcement shall neither exceed three times the wall thickness nor 450mm.
NOTE: The minimum reinforcement may not always be sufficient to provide adequate resistance to effects of shrinkage and temperature.

2. The He/t for a RCC wall shall not exceed 30 as per IS:456=2000, where H e is the effective height of the wall and t is the thickness of the RC wall. He for a braced wall

will be :

a) 0.75 H, if the rotations are restrained at the ends by floors where h is the height of the wall.
b) 1.0h .
4.ARCH:

Let us now invert the shape of a cable under a given load, that is the sag at any point is turned
into a rise. The point is now above the chord joining the end points by the
same amount it was previously below it. A structure built according to the funicular shape in
COMPRESSION is termed as an ARCH.
The optional rise to span ratio for an arch is in the range of 1/6-1/4. The depth to span ratio of
an arch is usually in the range of 1/40 -1/70.
2. FOLDED PLATE:
The typical depth /span ratio is in the range from 1/15 to 1/10.

3. FLATE PLATE:
A typical depth of a solid FLAT PLATE is 1/22 -1/18 of the effective span.

4. TWO-WAY RIBBED SLAB:

Supported on continuous stiff supports are in the range of 1/30-1/25 of the lesser effective span.

5. FLAT PLATE RIBBED SLAB:

Typical depth of flat plate ribbed slabs are in the range of 1/20-1/17 of the lesser effective
span.

6. DOMES:

The structural depth of DOMES is the full height of the dome from base to crown. Depth to