Structural Design Practical - CVE538

Department of Civil Engineering

Covenant University
 Course Outlines
• Composite design and construction in steel and concrete.
Design for torsion in concrete.
• Manual and computerized Design of Concrete structure.
Design projects in groups.
- Design and detailing of structural engineering works -
specifications.
• Design projects for complete structures will be assigned in
individually.
 Design Project
• The primary task of the structural engineer is to design
a structure which satisfies the needs of the client and
the users.
• Specifically the structure should be safe, economical to
build and maintain, and aesthetically pleasing.
• But what does the design process involve?
 Design project
• design is taken to mean the entire planning process for a new
building structure, bridge, tunnel, road, etc., from outline
concepts and feasibility studies through mathematical
calculations to working drawings which could show every last
nut and bolt in the project.
• Together with the drawings there will be bills of quantities, a
specification and a contract, which will form the necessary
legal and organizational framework.
• Objective of designs
A reinforced concrete design must satisfy the following functional
objectives;
i. under the worst system of loading, the structure must be safe,
ii. under the working load, the deformation of the structure must
not impair the appearance, durability and/or performance of the
structure and
iii the structure must be economical, that is, the factor of safety
should not be too large to the extent that the cost of the structure
becomes prohibitive with no additional advantage.
These requirements call for good assessment of the intending loads,
right choice of materials and sound workmanship. To ensure these,
the various components forming the reinforced concrete and the
concrete itself must pass the various tests as detailed in the
controlling code of practice.
The determination of the size of the structural member and the
amount of reinforcement required to enable it withstand the forces
or other effects to which it will be subjected is the object of design
or detailed design.
• Structural Engineering is a creative process of finding a safe,
economic and environmentally-friendly solution to structural
problems.
• It is an iterative or cyclic process until acceptable design is
obtained. In design, it is not uncommon to have more than one
solution to the same problem.
Structural engineering, in practice is divided roughly into six,
namely:
(i) conceptualization of structural systems,
(ii) loads determinations,
(iii) structural analysis,
(iv) structural design
(v) structural drafting
(vi) supervision of the implementation of the structural design.

Structural design is usually preceded by structural analysis, and

analysis on the other hand makes use of the loads that have been
appropriately determined.
Conceptualization of Structural Systems involves the selection of
appropriate structural elements and structural sub-systems
bearing in mind the intended use of the structure and the
intended location.
Selection of appropriate or available materials also forms part of
consideration in the conceptualization of structural system for a
structure.
Knowledge of the soil properties in relation to its bearing
capacity and settlement characteristics will also help in arriving
at the most suitable structural systems.
Load determination is the stage in which the type and magnitude
of loadings to which a structure may be subjected to, during its
entire design life, is determined.
It is usual to classify loadings on the structure into three, namely:
dead load, imposed load and wind load. The documents used in
the determination of loadings on structure are:
1) BS 648 – Schedule of weights for building materials
2) BS 6399 – Design loadings for buildings: a. Part 1: Code of
Practice for dead and imposed loads
b. Part 2: Code of Practice for wind loads
c. Part 3: Code of Practice for imposed roof loads
Structural Analysis involves determining the force actions
produced by a given loading system on a model, which is an
idealization of the actual structure. In analysis, three things are
usually in view, viz:
1) The distribution of forces throughout the whole members that
make up the structure with a known load is determined
2) The stress distribution within individual members resulting from
the applied load/actions is ascertained to ensure that limits are not
exceeded
3) The deflection (the extent of movement of the structure) under
a particular set of loads/actions is satisfactory.
Structural design, on the other hand is used to describe the whole
creative process of finding a safe, economic and environmentally-
friendly solutions to structural problems. It involves the element-sizing
calculations which are carried out to ensure that they will have
sufficient strength and rigidity to resist the internal forces arising from
the various combinations of loadings/actions.
Structural Drafting, Having checked the adequacy of the analysis and design
under erecting and service condition, detailed drawings with specifications are
then issued to the constructor. The drawings and specifications constitute
instructions to the constructor, who will now erect the structure under the
supervision of the designer, the Structural engineer. Through all these
activities, the structural engineer is guided by Code of Practice which are
compendia of good practice drawn up by experienced engineers.
Supervision of Implementation of Structural
design. This is the actualization stage in which
the structure is constructed as designed.
Inputs into a design process.
 Design Standard
In Nigeria, design is generally to limit state theory in accordance with
• BS8110:1997: Structural Use of Concrete; Part 1: Code of Practice for
Design and Construction
The loading on structures conforms to
• BS6399:1984: Design Loading for Building; Part 1: Code of Practice for
Dead and Imposed Loads
• CP3:1972: Chapter V: Loading Part 2: Wind Loads

• The codes set out the design loads, load combinations and partial factors
of safety, material strengths, design procedures and sound construction
practice. A thorough knowledge of the codes is one of the essential
requirements of a designer.
Criteria for a safe design—limit states

The criterion for a safe design is that the structure should not
become unfit for use, i.e. that it should not reach a limit state
during its design life. This is achieved, in particular, by
designing the structure to ensure that it does not reach
1. the ultimate limit state—the whole structure or its elements
should not collapse, overturn or buckle when subjected to the
design loads.
2. serviceability limit states—the structure should not become
unfit for use due to excessive deflection, cracking or vibration.