FCE 531: ADVANCED STRUCTURAL DESIGN

MODEL EXAMINATION QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS

QUESTION 1

State the design data that is necessary prior to any structural design of the following types of
structures:

a) Reinforced concrete (10 Marks)

b) Structural steel (5 Marks)
a) Structural timber (5 Marks)
Note: The data is common irrespective of the code
Values of the above data may be omitted.

QUESTION 1 (a) MODEL SOLUTION

QUESTION 1 (a)

1. Unit weight concrete c =24KN/m3 (1 Mark)

2. Concrete cover to slabs=25mm, beams=30mm, columns=40 mm, and foundations=
50mm. (1 Mark)
3. Material strengths:
i. Concrete fcu=25N/mm2 25N/mm2 or 30N/mm2 or 35N/mm2 or 40N/mm2 etc. (1 Mark)
ii. Steel main longitudinal reinforcements fy=460N/mm2 (high yield steel bars) (1 Mark)
iii. Steel shear reinforcement fyv=250 N/mm2 (mild steel bars) (1 Mark)
iv. Steel yield strength when only high yield bars are used; fyv= fy=460N/mm2; (1 Mark)
7. Material partial safety factors m :
i. Material partial safety factors for concrete m = 1.50 (1 Mark)
ii. Material partial safety factor for concrete in shear design m =1.25 (1 Mark)
iii. Material partial safety factor for structural steel m = 1.05 (1 Mark)
iv. Material partial safety factor for main bars of steel m = 1.15 (1 Mark)

QUESTION 1 (b)
2. Structural steel:
i. Structural steel design strength py=275N/mm2 (1 Mark)
ii. Structural steel Young’s modulus of elasticity; E=205KN/mm2 (1 Mark)
3. Bolt design:
iii. Bolt design strength in shear; ps=160N/mm2 (1 Mark)
iv. Bolt design strength in bearing; pbb=435N/mm2 (1 Mark)
v. Bolt design strength in bending; pbb=460N/mm2 (1 Mark)

QUESTION 1 (c)
1. Structural grade Kenyan cypress timber (GS):
i. Bending parallel to gain Fbp=5N/mm2 (1 Mark)
ii. Tension parallel to grain ttp=300/mm2 (1 Mark)
iii. Compression parallel to grain ccp=6N/mm2 (1 Mark)
iv. Modulus of elasticity: Emean=7500N/mm2 (1 Mark)
Emin=3750N/mm2 (1 Mark)

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QUESTION 2

a) Differentiate between Material Strength Py and Design Strength py in relation to Steel design.
(2 Marks)
b) Briefly describe how the trial size for a simple steel beam is determined. (2 Marks)

c) A simply supported beam of span 6.5m has full lateral restraints along its length and has stiff
bearing of 50mm at the supports and 75 mm under the point load as shown in figure Q2. The beam is
subjected to the point load W at mid-spans of 1.0Gk=40KN and the uniform load w of
1.0Gk=15KN/m and 1.0Qk=50KN and 1.0Qk=30KN/m respectively. By following the guiding steps
(1-10) described below, check the adequacy of the suggested size of 533 x 210 x 92 UB in Grade 43
steel. (16 Marks)

Figure Q2

QUESTION 2 MODEL SOLUTION

QUESTION 2 (a)

Material strength Py: Material strength depends on the steel grade and manufacturer’s specifications
Design Tables provide the material strengths of different grades of steel. (1 Mark)

Design strength py: Design strength depends on the steel grade and flange thickness of the section
chosen. (1 Mark)

QUESTION 2 (b)
A simple beam is initially designed for bending to determine the section size. A section is chosen
with a suitable moment capacity with reference to the appropriate capacity table. This initial member
size is then checked to ensure its suitability in all other respects. (2 Marks)

QUESTION 2 (c)

Question 2 (c) outline of model solution

Step 1: Taking the load factors for dead and live love loads to be 1.4 and 1.6 respectively, hence
calculate the design loads W’ and w’. (2 Marks)

Step 2: Calculate the design moment at the centre of the beam, and the shear forces at the ends and
midspan. (2 Marks)

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Step 3: Extract the important design data for the proposed beam section. (2 Marks)

Step 4: From design strength py, obtain the compact limiting values for the flange and the web
described by factor , hence state the compact limiting values for the flange and the web. Take factor e
to be given by:

(1 Mark)

Step 5: With reference to table ..........., where the compact limiting values for the outstands and webs
of a rolled section are given, hence state the section classification for the suggested beam and
comment on this classification in relation to a simple beam. (2 Marks)

Step 6: Given that the shear capacity Pv of the beam is related to the design shear force at the centre of
the beam as follows:
Pv = 0.6py Av where: Av is the shear area, calculate the design shear force Fv for the section.
(2 Marks)

Step 7: Describe how the maximum moment is related to the co-existing shear at the midspan of the
beam. (2 Marks)

The moment capacity Mc of the beam is related to the shear capacity Pv and design shear force Fv
calculated in step 6 above. These values co-exist and for a compact section, are related as follows:

Where S = plastic modulus

Z = elastic modulus

Step 8: Check to ensure that the design moment M is less than the moment capacity Mc at midspan of
the beam as follows:
M < Mc
Note that in most cases there is no need to reduce moment capacity for shear when using rolled I of H
sections. Also except for a few heavy universal column sections, Mc = py S controls. (2 Marks)

Step 8: Describe how the maximum shear is related to the co-existing shear at the ends of the beam.
(2 Marks)

Step 9: Check for deflection under serviceability loads. (2 Marks)

Total deflection is given by:

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Limiting deflection is given by:

Step 10: Check for bearing of the web. (2 Marks)

At the end of the girder, the local capacity Pcrip of the web is given by:

Where n2 = 2.5 (r + T) and other dimensions of the support are shown in the figure above.

Force applied through the flange:

F1 = Fve
If F1 < Pcrip, no bearing stiffener will be required.
At the centre span, the applied force is less and the dispersion greater, so no further check will be
necessary.

Step 11: Check for buckling of the web. (2 Marks)

At the end of the girder, the buckling resistance Pw of the unstiffened web is given by:

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Pw = (b1 + n1) t pc

Where the dimensions are shown in the figure above.

The force applied through the flange F1 = Fve.

If F1 < Pw, then no load carrying stiffener is required to prevent web buckling.
Considering that at the centre span the applied force is less and the dispersion is greater, then no
further check is necessary.

Question 2 (c) detailed model solution

Reference to table.............shows this section to be “plastic”. Since a simply supported beam is not
required to have any plastic rotation capacity, it is sufficient to ensure that the section is compact.

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QUESTION 3

a) State the distinction between webs and flanges of steel compression members. (1 Mark)

b) State three causes of local instability structural steel elements (3 Marks)

c) Describe the special design considerations during the design of a beam in which the
compression flange is not fully restrained laterally. (3 Marks)

d) A simply supported beam of span 9.0 m has lateral restraints at the end supports and at the
points of application only. For the loading shown, design the beam for Grade 43 Steel.
(13 Marks)

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 Figure Q3

QUESTION 3 MODEL SOLUTIONS

QUESTION 3 (a)

a) The distinction between webs and flanges of steel compression members depends upon
whether the member is bent along its major axis or minor axis. If the member is bent about its
major axis, then the web will be in bending and the flange will be under compression.
(1 Mark)

QUESTION 3 (b)

Onset of instabilities are due to:

• Local buckling (1 Mark)
• Web buckling (1 Mark)
• Flexural-torsional buckling (1 Mark)

QUESTION 3 (c)

The beam in which the compression flange is not fully restrained laterally has the possibility of lateral
torsional buckling. It therefore requires local capacity buckling checks and buckling resistance
should be satisfied except for class 4 slender cross section. (3 Marks)

QUESTION 3 (d)

Same as Question 4 below

QUESTION 3, 4 & 5 REFERENCE NOTES FROM RELEVANT CODES

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QUESTION 4

The beam shown in figure Q4 has a span 9.0m and hasend moments of 282 kNm and 231 kNm (due to
factored loads) and the intermediate point loads are applied through the top falnage. It is assumed that
the beam is effectively laterally restrained at the points of load application. Design the beam in Grade
43 steel.

Figure Q4

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QUESTION 4 MODEL SOLUTION

The beam shown in figure Q4 has a span 9.0m and hasend moments of 282 kNm and 231 kNm (due to
factored loads) and the intermediate point loads are applied through the top falnage. It is assumed that
the beam is effectively laterally restrained at the points of load application. Design the beam in Grade
43 steel.

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QUESTION 5
Figure Q5 (a) shows a pinned base portal frame with the given loading, and figure Q5 (b) shows the
purlin spacings. Design the portal frame in Grade 43 steel, using plastic theory of design.

Figure Q5 (a)

Figure Q5 (b)

SOLUTION TO QUESTION 5

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Purlin spacings are determined by preliminary analysis and are shown in figure Q4(b).

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QUESTION 6

The loaded timber beam shown in figure Q6 is one of four members that are spaced at 600 mm centres
forming part of a roof construction. Check that a beam size: 100mm  300mm in sawn Cypress Grade
SS is satisfactory by answering (a), (b), (c) and (d) below.

a) Determine the magnitude of the reactions, hence, check for the maximum shear stress.
(8 Marks)
b) Determine the point of zero shear and from this the maximum bending moment. (2 Marks)
c) Check the moment capacity of the given beam section. (5 Marks)
d) Check the maximum deflection against the permissible. (5 Marks)

1.50 kN
2.0 kN/m
4.0 kN/m

RL RR
2.0 m 2.5 m

4.5 m

Figure Q6

QUESTION 6 MODEL SOLUTION

MODEL SOLUTION QUESTION 6 (a)

Take moments about RR:

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 4.52
4.5RL – (1.5  2.5) – (2.0  ) – (4.0  2.0  3.5) = 0 (1 Mark)
2
4.5RL - 3.75 - 20.25 – 28 = 0
4.5RL – 52.0 = 0 (1 Mark)
RL= 11.56KN (1 Mark)
RR= 1.50 (1 Mark)
9.00
8.00
- 11.56
6.94 kN
Hence the maximum applied shear
V= 11.56 kN ( RL) (1 Mark)

3
= 11.56 10 = 0.578 N / mm2
W
Now, shear stress V = (1 Mark)
2bd 2 100  300
The permissible sheer stress is:
V p = Vg  K12 1.1 = 0.70 1.25 1.1 = 0.96 N / mm2 > 0.578 (1 Mark)

Where Vg is taken for the green condition. 1 Mark)

MODEL SOLUTION QUESTION 6 (b)

Working from the left-hand side relation RL the position of zero shear, distance L, maybe found:
(1 Mark)

Point of zero shear in

4+2 = 6 kN/m beam

RL
L1

11.56 − 6.0  L1 = 0

11.56
L1 = = 1.93m (1 Mark)
6.0

MODEL SOLUTION QUESTION 6 (c)

Having found the point of zero shear, the maximum moment is found by taking moments about this
point to one side.

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 1.932
Max BM = (11.56 1.93) − (6.0  ) (1 Mark)
2
= 22.31- 11.17
=11.14 kNm
Now that the external applied moment is known we must know if the beam section provided is
sufficiently large to generate the internal moment to resist the externally applied one:
The moment of resistance is expressed as:
Μ = fper

bd 2 10.0  302
Where  = = = 1500cm 2 (1 Mark)
6 6
For a section of this size, there is a possibility that the moisture content would be high with substantial
shrinkage taking place; therefore, green stresses should be used. (1 Mark)
Referring to the table for SS
fper=fgper  K12(medium term for roof loading)  1.1(load sharing) (1 Mark)
= 5.9  1.25  1.1 = 8.112 N / mm 2
− 1500 103  8.112
M= = 12.17kN / m  11.14kN / m
10

O.K. (1 Mark)
MODEL SOLUTION QUESTION 6 (d)
The final step is to determine if the deflection is within permissible limits bearing in mind the
guidance given in the code of practice (it may be assumed that the dead load does not exceed 60% of
the total). (1 Mark)
We can arrive at equivalent UDL by breaking down the total loading into three separate cases as
follows:

(1)

W
(2)

W
(3)

1) PKb = 1.50  1.577 = 2.37

2) WKb = 8.0  0.934 = 7.47

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3) WKb = 9.0 1.00 = 9.00

We = 18.84KN (1 Mark)

5We L3
Using d =
384 EI

5 18.840  45003
d= (1 Mark)
384 EI

Where,
10  303
E=Emax=8200N/mm2 and I = = 22500 mm4
12

5 18.840  45003
d= = 12.12 mm
384  8200  22500 104

Permissible deflections = 0.003  4500 = 13.5mm and this is greater than the applied deflection
therefore the beam may be said to be satisfactory. (1 Mark)
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QUESTION 7

The plan of a reinforced concrete framed building is shown in figure Q7 and the floor to floor height is
3000mm. All beams are 500 x 200mm and the slab is 150 mm thick, while the columns are 250 x
240mm.The unit loads on the slab are:
1.0Gk=7.0KN/m2
1.0Gk=3.5KN/m2
a) Using BS 8110 shear coefficients given in table 1, calculate the unit loads acting on the beam along
gridline No.2. (6 Marks)
b) Using the sub-frame consisting of the beam and columns attached to the beam and allowing for a
15% moment redistribution for the maximum moment value, establish the design shears and the
moments on the supports and mid-span for both spans, for the maximum load 1.4Gk +1.6Qk on both
spans (ignore the self weight of the beam). (14 Marks)
c) Design the reinforcement for the span moment and shear reinforcement for 6.0m span. (5 Marks)
d) During construction, it is recommended to allow for a rectangular opening 150 x 150 mm at the
mid-span of the 6m span centered at 200mm from the bottom of the beam. Discuss whether you would
allow the formation of the hole. (5Marks)

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 Figure Q7

MODEL SOLUTION QUESTION 7

The plan of a reinforced concrete framed building is shown in figure Q7 and the floor to floor height is
3000mm. All beams are 500 x 200mm and the slab is 150 mm thick, while the columns are 250 x
240mm.The unit loads on the slab are:
1.0Gk=7.0KN/m2
1.0Gk=3.5KN/m2
a) Using BS 8110 shear coefficients given in table 1, calculate the unit loads acting on the beam along
gridline No.2. (6 Marks)
b) Using the sub-frame consisting of the beam and columns attached to the beam and allowing for a
15% moment redistribution for the maximum moment value, establish the design shears and the
moments on the supports and mid-span for both spans, for the maximum load 1.4Gk +1.6Qk on both
spans (ignore the self weight of the beam). (14 Marks)
c) Design the reinforcement for the span moment and shear reinforcement for 6.0m span. (5 Marks)
d) During construction, it is recommended to allow for a rectangular opening 150 x 150 mm at the
mid-span of the 6m span centered at 200mm from the bottom of the beam. Discuss whether you would
allow the formation of the hole. (5Marks)

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 Figure Q7

Table 7.1: Design ultimate bending moments and shear forces

Figure Q7

MODEL SOLUTION QUESTION 7(a)

A B C

Effective lengths:

QUESTION 8

(A): State two ways of providing lateral stability in reinforced concrete structures. (4 Marks)

(B): State the difference between the design of reinforced concrete frames that provide lateral stability
and those that do not provide lateral stability. (6 Marks)

(C) The plan of a 6 storey reinforced concrete framed building is shown in figure Q8 and the floor to
floor height is 3000mm. By visualizing the structure as a sway-frame of three or more approximately

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equal bays. Illustrate using clear sketches two ways of analysing the sway-frame in order to determine
the design loads on individual beams and columns. (10 Marks)

Figure Q8

QUESTION 8 SOLUTION

QUESTION 8 (A) SOLUTION:

1. By using using shear walls attached to horizontal members (diaprams). (2 Marks)

2. Lateral stability to the structure as a whole being provided by the frame itself whereby sway should
be considered. In addition, if the columns are slender, additional moments (e.g. from eccentricity) may
be imposed on beams at beam-column junctions The load combinations recommended in the codes of
practice should be adhered to. (2 Marks)

QUESTION 8 (B) SOLUTION

Where the frame provides lateral stability to the structure as a whole, sway should be considered. In
addition, if the columns are slender, additional moments (e.g. from eccentricity) may be imposed on
beams at beam-column junctions. (2 Marks)

Where the frame does not provide lateral stability, hence supports vertical loads only, the moments,
loads and shear forces to be used in the design of individual columns and beams only may be derived
from an elastic analysis of a series of sub-frames. (2 Marks)

Each sub-frame may be taken to consist of the beams at one level together with the columns above
and below. The ends of the columns remote from the beams may generally be assumed to be fixed
unless the assumption of a pinned end is clearly more reasonable (for example, where a foundation
detail is considered unable to develop moment restraint). (2 Marks)

QUESTION 8 (C) SOLUTION

The design of individual beams and columns may be based on either the moments, loads and shear
obtained by considering vertical loads only, or, if more severe, on the sum of those obtained from the
two options i) and ii) as follows. (2 Marks)

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i) An elastic analysis of a series of sub-frames each consisting of the beams at one level together with
the columns above and below assumed to be fixed at their ends remote from those beams (or pinned if
this is more realistic). Lateral loads should be ignored and all beams should be considered to be loaded
with their full design load (1.2Gk + 1.2Qk). (2 Marks)

ii) An elastic analysis of the complete frame, assuming points of contraflexure at the centres of all
beams and columns, ignoring dead and imposed loads and considering only the design wind load
(1.2Wk) on the structure. If more realistic, instead of assuming points of contraflexure at the centres of
ground floor columns the feet should be considered pinned.
It will also be necessary to consider the effects of load combination 2 of 1.0Gk + 1.4Wk. (6Marks)

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QUESTION 9

a) Define the terms “permanent actions” and “variable actions” in relation to design of structures.
(4 Marks)
b) Briefly describe how variable actions on floors and roof areas in buildings are determined during
the structural design process. (4 Marks)

c) A client wishes to locate a building within a suburb of Nairobi County where the Distance to the
Sea can be taken as more than 500km. The distance to nearest building is 7m and orography is
assumed not significant. For the determination of the Terrain Category, assume that the area has
regular cover of vegetation or buildings or with isolated obstacles with separations of maximum 20
obstacle heights (such as villages, suburban terrain, permanent forest).

i. Determine the Terrain Category for wind load analysis. (1 Mark)

ii. If the wind speed (Vs) read from data in Table 1 of KS 02-26:1977 is taken as 27m/s,
determine the Characteristic 10 minute mean wind speed, (Vb,0). (3 Marks)
iii. Calculate the basic Wind Speed Vb (4 Marks)
-3
iv. If the air density is taken as 1.226 kgm , calculate the Basic Velocity Pressure qb
(2 Marks)
v. If the plan dimensions of the building are 23.4m x 15m and the height will be 14.3m,
determine the reference height Ze to be used for the design. (2 Marks)

QUESTION 9 MODEL SOLUTION

a) Permanent Actions: A permanent action is an action that is likely to act throughout a given
reference period and for which the variation in magnitude with time is negligible, or for which the
variation is always in the same direction (monotonic) until the action attains a certain limit value. This
definition is according to EN 1990, 1.5.3.3. Permanent actions are also referred to as dead loads in BS
6399. (2 Marks)
Variable Actions: A variable action is an action for which the variation in magnitude with time is
neither negligible nor monotonic. This definition is in accordance to EN 1990, 1.5.3.4. Variable
actions are also referred to as Imposed loads in BS 6399. (2 Marks)

b) For the determination of the variable actions on floors and roof areas in buildings, the areas are sub-
divided into Categories according to their use. For the determination of the distributed load (qk) and
point loads (Qk), the reference is EN 1991-1-1, 6.1 which provides Tables with different Categories as
illustrated below. (2 Marks)

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For the variable load on roofs, EN 1991-1-1, 6.3.4 provides that roofs shall be categorized according
to their accessibility into three categories. For example, roofs not accessible except for normal
maintenance and repair are specified as Category H according to EN 1991-1-1, Table 6.9. (2 Marks)

c) (i) Terrain category is obtained from Table 4.1: Category III (1 Mark)

(ii) Given that

(3 Marks)

(iii) Basic Wind Speed Vb

(1 Mark)

Conservatively, may be taken as 1.0 for all directions. (1 Mark)

The recommended value of is 1.0 (1 Mark)

(1 Mark)

(iv) Basic velocity pressure, qb

(1 Mark)

(1 Mark)

(v) Using guidance of EN 7.2.2(1): Figure 7.4, a building, whose height h is less than b should
be considered to be one part.

Ze = 14.3m

QUESTION 1 REFERENCE CODES

EN 1991-1-4:2005 + A1-2010 and EN 1991-1-4:2005 +A1-2010 NA

Table 4.1
KS 02-26:1977, Table 1
Eqn. 4.1
NA 2.6 (Note 4)
EN 4.2 (2) Note 3
Eqn. 4.10
NA 2.18
EN 7.2.2(1)
Figure 7.4

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 QUESTION 9 REFERENCE NOTES
The code of practice EN1991-1-4 provides six steps as shown below to calculate the wind load for
buildings.

Read vb,map from map, altitude factor calt, hence calculate the basic wing speed vb,0 = vb,map calt,

1. vb = cdir cseason cprob vb,0

2. qb = 1/2 ρ vb2
3. qp = ce,flat(z) qb
4. we = qp(z) cpe
5. Fw = cscd Σ w Aref
6. Take the density of air to be

Where:

vb,0 = map wind speed

vb,map = factor to map wind speed
calt = adjustment factor to map wind speed to take care of the altitude
vb = the basic wind velocity
cdir = directional factor to map wind speed
cseason = season factor to map wind speed
cprob = probability factor to map wind speed
qb = basic velocity pressure derived from the basic wind velocity
qp = peak velocity pressure
ce,flat (z) = exposure factor for sites where orography is not significant
cpe = pressure coefficient
we = wind pressure acting on external building surfaces
Fw = wind force acting on the overall structure or element
cscd = structural factor
Aref = reference area of wind action

QUESTION 10

Differentiate between the following forms of stability that have to be checked during a design:

a) Frame stability
b) Member stability
c) Haunch stability
d) Elastic Stability

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QUESTION 11

A reinforced concrete slab panel is 3150mm x 2200mm on plan and it is 200mm thick.
a) Calculate the ultimate design bending moment for the slab.
b) Calculate the area of steel required.

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 c) Repeat (i) and (ii) for 7650mm x 4600mm panel.
d) Repeat (i) and (ii) for 6425mm x 6200mm panel.

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