Structural Notes

CONCRETE concrete cover shall not be less than 40mm for

concrete exposed to earth or weather, or less than 20mm for
NOMINAL MAXIMUM SIZE OF COARSE AGGREGATE SHALL concrete not exposed to weather or in contact with ground
NOT BE LARGER THAN: reinforcement with an area not less than 0.002
- 1/5 the narrowest dimension between side forms times the area of concrete section shall be provided normal to the
- 1/3 the depth of slabs piping
- ¾ the minimum clear spacing between individual
reinforcing bars or wires, bundles of bars, or prestressing tendons
or ducts CONSTRUCTION JOINTS
construction joints in floors shall be located within
DEFORMED REINFORCEMENTS the middle third of spans of slabs, beams and girders
- ASTM A 184 – Fabricated Deformed Steel Bar joints in girders shall be offset a minimum
Mats distance of 2 times the width of intersecting beams
- ASTM A 185 – Steel Welded Wire Fabric, Plain
- ASTM A 496 – Steel Wire, Deformed STANDARD HOOKS
- ASTM A 497 – Steel Welded Wire Fabric, 180-degree bend plus 4db extension, but not less
Deformed than 60mm at free end of bar
- ASTM A 615M – Deformed and Plain-Billet Steel 90-degree bend plus 12db extension at free end
Bars of bar
- ASTM A 616M – Rail-Steel Deformed and Plain for stirrup and tie hooks:
Bars o 16mm diameter bar and smaller – 90-degree
- ASTM A 617M – Axle-Steel Deformed and Plain bend plus 6db extension at free end of bar, or
Bars o 20 and 25mm diameter bar – 90-degree
- ASTM A 706M – Low-Alloy Steel Deformed Bars bend plus 12db extension at free end of bar, or
- ASTM A 767M – Zinc-Coated (Galvanized) Steel o 25mm diameter bar and smaller – 135-
Bars degree bend plus 6db extension at free end of bar
- ASTM A 775M – Epoxy-Coated Reinforcing Steel
Bars MINIMUM BEND DIAMETERS
- ASTM A 884M – Epoxy-Coated Steel Wire and bar size of 16mm and smaller (for stirrups and
Welded Wire Fabric ties) – 4db (inside diameter)
- ASTM A 934M – Epoxy-Coated Prefabricated bar size of 10mm through 25mm – 6db
Steel Reinforcing Bars bar size of 28, 32 and 36mm – 8db

PRESTRESSING TENDONS SPACING LIMITS FOR REINFORCEMENT

- ASTM A 416M – Steel Strand, Uncoated Seven- the minimum clear spacing between parallel bars
Wire in a layer shall be db but not less than 25mm
- ASTM A 421 – Uncoated Stress-Relieved Steel the minimum clear spacing between parallel bars
Wire in 2 or more layers shall not be less than 25mm between layers
- ASTM A 722 – Uncoated High-Strength Steel Bar in spirally reinforced or tied reinforced
compression members, clear distance between longitudinal bars
CURING shall not be less than 1.5db or less than 40mm
- concrete (other than high-early strength) shall be in walls and slabs other than concrete joist
maintained above 10°C and in a moist condition for at least the construction, primary flexural reinforcement shall not be spaced
first 7 days after placement farther apart than 3 times the wall or slab thickness, nor farther
- high-early strength concrete shall be maintained than 450mm
above 10°C and in a moist condition for at least the first 3 days
BUNDLED BARS
CONDUITS AND PIPES EMBEDDED IN CONCRETE shall be limited to 4 bars in 1 bundle
- they (including their fittings) shall not displace shall be enclosed within stirrups or ties
more than 4% of the area of cross section when embedded within bars larger than 36mm diameter shall not be
a column bundled in beams
- they shall not be larger in outside dimension than individual bars within a bundle terminated within
1/3 the overall thickness of slab, wall or beam in which they are the span of flexural members shall terminate at different points
embedded with at least 40db stagger
- they shall be spaced not closer than 3 diameters where spacing limitations and minimum concrete
or widths on center cover are based on bar diameter db, a unit of bundled bars shall
- conduits, pipes and sleeves may be considered be treated as a single bar of a diameter derived from the
as replacing structurally in compression the displaced concrete, equivalent total area
provided: minimum concrete cover shall be equal to the
o they are of uncoated or galvanized iron or equivalent diameter of the bundle, but need not be greater than
steel not thinner than standard Schedule 40 steel pipe 50mm
o they have a nominal inside diameter not
over 50mm and are spaced not less than 3 diameters on centers
 Structural Notes

 16mm diameter bar and smaller –

PRESTRESSING TENDONS AND DUCTS 10mm
- center-to-center spacing of pretensioning tendons
at each end of a member shall not be less than 5db for wire, nor MINIMUM CONCRETE COVER FOR PRESTRESSED
4db for strands CONCRETE
concrete cast against and permanently exposed
to earth – 75mm
MINIMUM CONCRETE COVER FOR CAST-IN-PLACE
CONCRETE (NONPRESTRESSED) concrete exposed to earth or weather:
- concrete cast against and permanently exposed o wall panels, slabs, joists – 25mm
to earth – 75mm o other members – 40mm

- concrete exposed to earth or weather: concrete not exposed to earth or in contact with
o 20mm through 36mm diameter bar – 50mm ground:
o 16mm diameter bar and smaller – 40mm o slabs, walls, joists – 20mm
o beams, columns:
- concrete not exposed to weather or in contact  primary reinforcement – 40mm
with ground:  ties, stirrups, spirals – 25mm
o slabs, walls, joists: o shells, folded plate members:
 45 to 60mm diameter bars –  16mm diameter bar and smaller –
40mm 10mm
 36mm diameter bar and smaller –  other reinforcement – db but not
20mm less than 20mm
o beams, columns:
 primary reinforcement, ties,
stirrups, spirals – 40mm OFFSET BARS
o shells, folded plate members: slope of inclined portion of an offset bar with axis
 20mm diameter bar and larger – of column shall not exceed 1 in 6
20mm portions of bar above and below an offset shall be
 16mm diameter bar and smaller – parallel to axis of column
12mm lateral ties or spirals, if used, shall be placed not
more than 150mm from points of bend
MINIMUM CONCRETE COVER FOR PRECAST CONCRETE offset bars shall be bent before placement in the
- concrete exposed to earth or weather: forms
o wall panels: where a column face is offset 75mm or greater,
 45mm and 60mm diameter bars – longitudinal bars shall not be offset bent. Separate dowels, lap
40mm sliced with the longitudinal bars adjacent to the offset column
 36mm diameter bar and smaller – faces, shall be provided
20mm
o other members: SPIRALS
 45mm and 60mm diameter bars – for cast-in-place construction, size of spirals shall
50mm not be less than 10mm diameter
 20mm through 36mm diameter clear spacing between spirals shall not exceed
bar – 40mm 75mm or be less than 25mm
 16mm diameter bar and smaller – anchorage of spiral reinforcement shall be
30mm provided by 1½ extra turns of spiral bar or wire at each end of a
spiral unit
- concrete not exposed to earth or in contact with spiral reinforcement shall be lap spliced by 48db
ground: but not less than 300mm or welded
o slabs, walls, joists: in columns with capitals, spirals shall extend to a
 45mm and 60mm diameter bars – level at which the diameter or width of capital is 2 times that of
30mm the column
 36mm diameter bar and smaller – plain bars shall conform to one of the following
15mm specifications:
o beams, columns: o ASTM A 615M
 primary reinforcement – db but o ASTM A 616M
not less than 15mm and need not exceed 40mm o ASTM A 617M
 ties, stirrups, spirals – 10mm plain wire shall conform to:
o shells, folded plate members: o ASTM A 82 – Steel Wire, Plain
 20mm diameter bar and larger –
15mm
 Structural Notes

o U = 1.4D + 1.7L
TIES dead load, live load and wind load
- 10mm diameter lateral ties for longitudinal bars o U = 0.75 (1.4D + 1.7L + 1.7W)
32mm diameter or smaller o U = 0.9D + 1.3W
- 12mm diameter lateral ties for longitudinal bars dead load, live load and earthquake load
36 diameter and bundled bars o U = 1.3D + 1.1L + 1.1E
- vertical spacing of ties shall not exceed: o U = 0.99D + 1.1E
o 16db of longitudinal bars
o 48db of tie bars STRENGTH-REDUCTION FACTOR
o least dimension of compression member flexure without axial load, 0.90
- ties shall be arranged that no bar shall be farther axial tension and axial tension with flexure, 0.90
than 150mm clear on each side along the tie axial compression and axial compression with
- ties shall be located vertically not more than ½ a flexure:
tie spacing above the top of footing or slab in any story o spiral reinforced, 0.75
- where beams or brackets frame from 4 directions o tie reinforce, 0.70
into a column, termination of ties not more than 75mm below shear and torsion, 0.85
reinforcement in shallowest of such beams or brackets shall be bearing on concrete, 0.70
permitted post-tensioned anchorage zones, 0.85
SHRINKAGE AND TEMPERATURE REINFORCEMENT MINIMUM THICKNESS OF NONPRESTRESSED BEAMS OR
- shrinkage and temperature reinforcement shall be ONE-WAY SLABS UNLESS DEFLECTIONS ARE COMPUTED
spaced not farther apart than 5 times the slab thickness, or (members are not supporting or attached to partitions or other
450mm construction likely to be damaged by large deflections)
- spacing of prestressed tendons shall not exceed
1.80m solid one-way slabs:
o simply supported, L/20
o one end continuous, L/24
o both ends continuous, L/28
T-BEAM CONSTRUCTION
o cantilever, L/10
- the flange and web shall be built integrally or
otherwise effectively bonded together
- width of slab effective as a T-beam flange on beams or ribbed one-way slabs:
each side of the web shall not exceed: o simply supported, L/16
o ¼ the span length of the beam, o one end continuous, L/18.5
o 8 times the slab thickness, or o both ends continuous, L/21
o ½ the clear distance to the next web o cantilever, L/8
- for beams with a slab on one side only, the
effective overhanging flange width shall not exceed: for Fy other than 415Mpa, the values shall be
o 1/12 the span length of the beam, multiplied by (0.4 + Fy/700)
o 6 times the slab thickness, or
DISTANCE BETWEEN LATERAL SUPPORTS OF FLEXURAL
o ½ the clear distance to the next web
MEMBERS
- transverse reinforcement shall be spaced not
spacing of lateral supports for a beam shall not
farther apart than 5 times the slab thickness, nor 450mm
exceed 50 times the least width b of compression flange or face
JOIST CONSTRUCTION
LIMITS FOR REINFORCEMENT OF COMPRESSION
- ribs shall not be less than 100mm in width and
MEMBERS
shall have a depth of not more than 3½ times the minimum width
minimum number of longitudinal bars in
of rib
compression members shall be 3 for bars within triangular ties, 4
- clear spacing between ribs shall not exceed
for bars within rectangular or circular ties, and 6 for bars enclosed
750mm
by spirals
- slab thickness over permanent fillers shall not be
less than 1/12 the clear distance between ribs nor less than
SPACING LIMITS FOR SHEAR REINFORCEMENT
40mm
shall not exceed d/2 in non-prestressed members
- when removable forms or fillers are used, slab
and 3/4h in prestressed members or 600mm
thickness shall not be les than 1/12 the clear distance between
ribs, or less than 50mm
SPLICES
- where conduits or pipes are embedded within the
lap splices shall not be used for bars larger than
slab, slab thickness shall be at least 25mm greater than the total
36mm diameter
overall depth of the conduits or pipes at any point
lap splices of bars in a bundle shall be based on
the lap splice length required for individual bars within the bundle
REQUIRED STRENGTH
individual bar splices within a bundle shall not
- dead load and live load
overlap
 Structural Notes

- entire bundles shall not be lap spliced

- bars spliced by non-contact lap splices in flexural ALLOWABLE STRESSES
members shall not be spaced transversely farther apart than 1/5 for tension in structural steel in terms of gross
the required lap splice length, or 150mm area, 0.60Fy
- splices shall be staggered at least 600mm for tension in structural steel based on effective
net area, 0.50Fu
WALLS for tension on pin-connected members based on
- minimum ratio of vertical reinforcement area to net area, 0.45Fy
gross concrete area shall be: for tension on eyebars on the body area, 0.60Fy
o 0.0012 – deformed bars not larger than for flexural members with compact sections, Fb =
16mm diameter with a specified yield strength not less than 0.66Fy
420Mpa, or for flexural members with non-compact sections,
o 0.0015 – for other deformed bars, or Fb = 0.60Fy
o 0.0012 – for welded wire fabric (plain or
deformed) PIN-CONNECTED MEMBERS
minimum net area beyond the pinhole, parallel to
- minimum ratio of horizontal reinforcement area to the axis of the member, shall not be less than 2/3 of the net area
gross concrete area shall be: across the pinhole
o 0.0020 – deformed bars not larger than width of the body of an eyebar shall not exceed 8
16mm diameter with a specified yield strength not less than 420 times its thickness
Mpa, or pin diameter shall not be less than 7/8 times the
o 0.0025 – for other deformed bars, or eyebar width
o 0.0020 – for welded wire fabric (palin or pinhole diameter shall be no more than 0.8mm
deformed) greater than the pin diameter

- in addition to the minimum reinforcement SHEAR CONNECTORS

required, not less than 2-16mm diameter bars shall be provided shear connectors shall have at least 25mm of
around all window and door openings. Such bars shall be lateral concrete cover
extended to develop the bar beyond the corners of the openings diameter of studs shall not be greater than 2½
but not less than 600mm times the thickness of the flange to which they are welded
NON-BEARING WALLS minimum center-to-center spacing of stud
- thickness shall not be less than 100mm, or not connectors shall be 6 diameters along the longitudinal axis and 4
less than 1/30 the least distance between members that provide diameters transverse to the longitudinal axis maximum center-to-
lateral support center spacing of stud connectors shall not exceed 8 times the
total slab thickness
MINIMUM FOOTING DEPTH
- depth of footing above bottom reinforcement shall WELDS
not be less than 150mm for footings on soil, or not less than weld access holes shall have a length from the
300mm for footings on piles toe of the weld preparation not less than 1½ times the thickness
of the material in which the hole is made

TRANSVERSE REINFORCEMENT (HOOPS) groove welds:

- the first hoop shall be located not more than o effective area = effective length of the weld
50mm from the face of a supporting member x effective throat thickness
- maximum spacing of the hoops shall not exceed: o effective length = width of the part joined
o d/4 o effective throat thickness of a complete-
o 8 times the diameter of the smallest penetration groove weld = thickness of the thinner part joined
longitudinal bar o minimum effective throat thickness of partial-
o 24 times the diameter of the hoop bars penetration groove welds =
o 300mm  3mm (thicker part joined to 6mm
- where hoops are not required, stirrups shall be inclusive)
placed at no more than d/2 throughout the length of the member  5mm (thicker part joined over 6 to
12mm)
STRUCTURAL STEEL  6mm (thicker part joined over 12
to 20mm)
LIMITING SLENDERNESS RATIOS  8mm (thicker part joined over 20
- for members whose design is based on to 38mm)
 10mm (thicker part joined over 38
compressive force, the slenderness ratio preferably should not
to 57mm)
exceed 200
 12mm (thicker part joined over 57
- for members whose designed is based on tensile
to 150mm)
force, the slenderness ratio preferably should not exceed 300
 16mm (thicker part joined over
150mm)
 Structural Notes

o effective throat thickness of a flare groove FASTENERS

weld = distance between centers of standard, oversized
 flare bevel groove, 5/16R or slotted fastener holes shall not be less than 2 2/3 times the
 flare V-groove, ½R nominal diameter of the fastener
maximum distance from the center of any rivet or
- fillet welds: bolt to the nearest edge of parts in contact shall be 12 times the
o effective area of fillet welds = effective thickness of the connected part, but shall not exceed 150mm
length x effective throat thickness
o effective throat thickness of a fillet weld = CAMBER
shortest distance from the root of the joint to the face of the trusses of 24.4m or greater span generally shall
diagrammatic weld be cambered for approximately the dead-load deflection
o minimum size of fillet welds = crane girders of 22.9m or greater span generally
 3mm (thicker part joined to 6mm shall be cambered for approximately the dead-load deflection
inclusive) plus ½ the live-load deflection
 5mm (thicker part joined over 6 to
12mm)
 6mm (thicker part joined over 12
to 20mm)
 8mm (thicker part joined over
20mm)
o maximum size of fillet welds along edges =
 not greater than the thickness of
the material (material less than 6mm thick)
 not greater than the thickness of
the material minus 1.6mm (material 6mm or more in thickness)
o minimum effective length of a fillet weld
designed on the basis of strength shall not be less than 4 times
its nominal size
o if greater than 4 times its nominal size, the
size of the weld should not exceed ¼ its effective length
o effective length of any segment of
intermittent fillet welding shall not be less than 4 times the weld
size, with a minimum of 38mm
o in lap joints, minimum lap shall be 5 times
the thickness of the thinner part joined, but not less than 25mm
o slide or end fillet welds terminating at ends
or sides, respectively, of parts or members shall, wherever
practicable, be returned continuously around the corners for a
distance not less than 2 times the nominal size of the weld

- plug and slot welds:

o diameter of the hole for a plug weld shall not
be less than the thickness of the part containing it plus 8mm, nor
greater than the minimum diameter plus 3mm or 2¼ times the
thickness of the weld
o minimum spacing of lines of slot welds in a
direction transverse to their length shall be 4 times the width of
the slot
o minimum center-to-center spacing in a
longitudinal direction shall be 2 times the length of the slot
o length of the slot shall not exceed 10 times
the thickness of the weld
o width of the slot shall not be less than the
thickness of the part containing it plus 8mm, nor shall it be larger
than 2¼ times the thickness of the weld
o thickness of plug or slot welds in material
16mm or less thick = thickness of the material
o thickness of plug or slot welds in material
over 16mm thick = ½ the thickness of the material but not less
than 16mm