Chapter - 2

STRUCTURAL DESIGN
OF
RCC BUILDING
COMPONENT
Structural Design of RCC Building Components
1.0 Introduction
The procedure for analysis and design of a given building will depend on the type of building, its
complexity, the number of stories etc. First the architectural drawings of the building are studied,
structural system is finalized sizes of structural members are decided and brought to the knowledge
of the concerned architect. The procedure for structural design will involve some steps which will
depend on the type of building and also its complexity and the time available for structural design.
Often, the work is required to start soon, so the steps in design are to be arranged in such a way the
foundation drawings can be taken up in hand within a reasonable period of time.
Further, before starting the structural design, the following information of data are required: (i) A set
of architectural drawings;(ii) Soil Investigation report (SIR) of soil data in lieu thereof; (iii) Location
of the place or city in order to decide on wind and seismic loadings;(iv) Data for lifts, water tank
capacities on top, special roof features or loadings, etc.
Choice of an appropriate structural system for a given building is vital for its economy and safety.
There are two type of building systems:-
(a) Load Bearing Masonry Buildings.
(b) Framed Buildings.
(a) Load Bearing Masonry Buildings:-

Small buildings like houses with small spans of beams, slabs generally constructed as load bearing
brick walls with reinforced concrete slab beams. This system is suitable for building up to four or
less stories.(as shown in fig. below). In such buildings crushing strength of bricks shall be 100 kg/cm2
minimum for four stories. This system is adequate for vertical loads it also serves to resists
horizontal loads like wind & earthquake by box action . Further, to ensure its action against
earthquake , it is necessary to provide RCC Bands in horizontal & vertical reinforcement in brick wall
as per IS: 4326-1967( Indian Standards Code of Practice for Earthquake Resistant Construction of
Buildings.) . In some Buildings, 115mm thick brick walls are provided since these walls are incapable
of supporting vertical loads, beams have to be provide along their lengths to support adjoining slab
& the weight of 115mm thick brick wall of upper storey. These beams are to rest on 230 mm thick
brick walls or reinforced concrete columns if required. The design of Load Bearing
Masonry Buildings are done as per IS:1905-1980 (Indian Standards Code of Practice for Structural
Safety of Buildings: Masonry Walls(Second Revision).
Load bearing brick wall
Structural system
(b) Framed Buildings:-
In these types of buildings reinforced concrete frames are provided in both principal directions to
resist vertical loads and the vertical loads are transmitted to vertical framing system i.e columns
and Foundations. This type of system is effective in resisting both vertical & horizontal loads. The
brick walls are to be regarded as non load bearing filler walls only. This system is suitable for multi-
storied building which is also effective in resisting horizontal loads due to earthquake. In this system
the floor slabs, generally 100-150 mm thick with spans ranging from 3.0 m to 7.0 m. In certain
earthquake prone areas, even single or double storey buildings are made framed structures for
safety reasons. Also the single storey buildings of large storey heights (5.0m or more ) ,like electric
substation etc. are made

Framed
Structural system
2.0 Basic Codes for Design.
The design should be carried so as to conform to the following Indian code for reinforced concrete
design, published by the Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi:
Purpose of Codes
National building codes have been formulated in different countries to lay down guidelines for the
design and construction of structure. The codes have evolved from the collective wisdom of expert
structural engineers, gained over the years. These codes are periodically revised to bring them in
line with current research, and often, current trends.

Firstly, they ensure adequate structural safety, by specifying certain essential minimum requirement
for design.
Secondly, they render the task of the designer relatively simple; often, the result of sophisticate
analyses is made available in the form of a simple formula or chart.
Thirdly, the codes ensure a measure of consistency among different designers.
Finally, they have some legal validity in that they protect the structural designer from any liability
due to structural failures that are caused by inadequate supervision and/or faulty material and
construction

(i)IS 456 : 2000 Plain and reinforced concrete code of practice (fourth revision)
(ii) Loading Standards
These loads to be considered for structural design are specified in the following loading standards:
IS 875 (Part 1-5) : 1987 Code of practice for design loads (other than earthquake) for
buildings and structures (second revision)
Part 1 : Dead loads
Part 2 : Imposed (live) loads
Part 3 : Wind loads
Part 4 : Snow loads
Part 5 : Special loads and load combinations
IS 1893 : 2002 Criteria for earthquake resistant design of structure (fourth revision).
IS 13920 : 1993 Ductile detailing of reinforced concrete structure subject to seismic forces.
Design Handbooks
The Bureau of Indian standards has also published the following handbooks, which serve as useful
supplement to the 1978 version of the codes. Although the handbooks need to be updated to bring
them in line with the recently revised (2000 version) of the Code, many of the provisions continue to
be valid (especially with regard to structural design provisions).
SP 16 : 1980 Design Aids (for Reinforced Concrete) to IS 456 : 1978
SP 24 : 1983 Explanatory handbook on IS 456 : 1978
SP 34 : 1987 Handbooks on Concrete Reinforced and Detailing.
General Design Consideration of IS: 456-2000.
The general design and construction of reinforced concrete buildings shall be governed by the
provisions of IS 456 2000
AIM OF DESIGN
The aim of design is achievement of an acceptable probability that structures being designed shall,
with an appropriate degree of safety
Perform satisfactorily during their intended life.
Sustain all loads and deformations of normal construction & use
Have adequate durability
Have adequate resistance to the effects of misuse and fire.

METHOD OF DESIGN
Structure and structural elements shall normally be designed by Limit State Method.
Where the Limit State Method cannot be conveniently adopted, Working Stress Method may be
used

MINIMUM GRADE OF CONCRETE

The minimum grade of concrete for plain & reinforced concrete shall be as per table below
26.4 Nominal
26.4 Nominal Cover to Reinforcement

BSNL India For Internal Ci rculat ion Only Page: 7

26.4.1 Nominal Cover
Nominal cover is the design depth of concrete cover to all steel reinforcements, including links. It is
the dimension used in design and indicated in the drawings. It shall be not less than the diameter of
the bar.
26.4.2 Nominal Covers to Meet Durability Requirement

Minimum values for the nominal cover of normal weight aggregate concrete which should be
provided to all reinforcement, including links depending on the condition of exposure described in
8.2.3 shall be as given in Table 16.
Table 16 Nominal Cover to Meet Durability Requirements
(Clause 26.4.2)
Exposure Nominal Concrete Cover in mm not Less Than
Mild 20
Moderate 30
Severe 45
Very Severe 50
Extreme 75
NOTES
1. For main reinforcement up to 12 mm diameter bar for mild exposure the nominal cover may be
reduced by 5 mm.
2. Unless specified otherwise, actual concrete cover should not deviate from the required nominal
cover by + 10 mm
3. For exposure condition severe and very severe, reduction of 5 mm may be made, where
concrete grade is M35 and above.
26.4.2.1 However for a longitudinal reinforcing bar in a column nominal cover shall in any case not
be less than 40 mm, or less than the diameter of such bar. In the case of columns of minimum
dimension of 200 mm or under, whose reinforcing bars do not exceed 12 mm, a nominal cover of 25
mm may be used.
26.4.2.2 For footing minimum cover shall be 50 mm.
26.4.3 Nominal Cover to Meet Specified Period of Fire Resistance

Minimum values of nominal cover of normal-weight aggregate concrete to be provided to all

reinforcement including links to meet specified period of fire resistance shall be as given in Table
16A.
21.4 Minimum Dimensions of RC members for specified Period of Fire Resistance
DESIGN

21.4 Minimum Dimensions of RC members for specified Period of Fire Resistance

Design load is the load to be taken for use in appropriate method of design. It is
Characteristic load in case of working stress method &
Characteristic load with appropriate partial safety factors for limit state design.

LOAD COMBINATIONS
As per IS 1893 (Part 1): 2002 Clause no. 6.3.1.2, the following load cases have to be considered for
analysis:
1.5 (DL + IL)
1.2 (DL + IL EL)
1.5 (DL EL)
0.9 DL 1.5 EL
Earthquake load must be considered for +X, -X, +Z and Z directions.
Moreover, accidental eccentricity during earthquake can be such that it causes clockwise or
anticlockwise moments. So both clockwise & anticlockwise torsion is to be considered.
Thus, EL above implies 8 cases, and in all, 25 cases must be considered.

It is possible to reduce the load combinations to 13 instead of 25 by not using negative torsion
considering the symmetry of the building.

STIFFNESS
framed structure as brick walls of large heights are slender and load carrying capacity of such walls
reduces due to slenderness.