Design of Chimneys

Introduction
Chimneys are tall slender structures. Chimneys are used to convey and large combustion gases
away from the operating area of an industry. Chimneys are scientifically designed to take
cognizance of gas temperature and velocity acts, corrosion effects etc.A chimney is by which
waste gases are discharged at high elevation so that after dilution due to a atmospheric
turbulence, their concentration and that of their entrained solid particles is within acceptable
limits on reaching the ground. A chimney achieves simultaneous reduction in concentration of a
number of pollutants (SO2, Fly ash etc.) and being highly reliable it does not require a stand by.
Classification of chimney
1. Based on height
a) Tall more than 150 m height
b) Short
2. Number of flues
a) Single
b) Multi
3.Structural support
a) guyed
b) self supporting
4. Lining
a) lined
b) unlined
5. Shape
a) circular
b) rectangular
c) elliptical
d) triangular
6. Based on materials of construction
a) Brick
b) RCC
i) Insitu

c) Steel
i) mild steel

ii) precast

ii) stainless steel

iii)Prestressed concrete

iii) weathering steel

d) Fibre reinforced plastic

Physical dimensions
a. Shape and base dimensions
b. Exit size
c. Physical height
Shape and Base dimensions:
The base dimensions of a chimney are largely governed by structural considerations and
these dimensions are so chosen that stresses due to dead load together with those due to
wind, temperature, earth quake and other effects are safely withstood by the chimney fabric.
From the flow considerations a cylindrical chimney is preferred, but for a concrete chimney a
tapper of about 1:50 to 1:100 is usually provided depending on its height and geographical
location.
Exit size:
Generally the top dimension of a flux are fixed such that a given volume of gases can be
discharged of a design exit velocity. In practice these dimensions have to be marginally
adjusted to cater for a diminished velocity along the walls if a chimney has to handle a range of
gas volumes, then the exit velocity should be high enough at a maximum load and at the same
time should exceed the limiting values when operating at full load.

Physical height:
The following considerations to dictate the physical height of chimney.
i)
ii)

To generate a draft which will cause gases to flow out with the desired exit velocity
To satisfy the local regulations in respect of permissible GLC (Ground Level
Concentrations) of pollutants.

Parts of Chimney:
A RCC chimney is generally in circular in shape with a rigid concrete shell. The concrete is made of M25
or M30 grade and provided with vertical and horizontal reinforcements. A fire brick lining 100to 150mm
thick is provided inside the concrete shell with an air gap of 100 t0180mm to reduce the temperature
gradient from the interior surface of fire brick lining to the exterior surface of the concrete shell.
Reinforced concrete brackets are provided at regular intervals to support the fire brick lining. At the
bottom of the chimney, provision is made for a flue opening. The chimney rests on a circular raft
foundation. The various parts of the chimney are shown in fig.
Design factors:

The chimneys are designed to with stand the stresses developed due to
1. Self weight of chimney ( The dead weight of the concrete and weight of fire brick lining together
with the brackets)
2. Wind pressure ( the wind pressure depends upon the velocity of wind at a given place as per
IS875. The design wind loads on the chimney depends upon the cross sectional shape of the
chimney. For circular 0.7 may be taken. The windward side concrete surface will be subjected to
tension and the leeward side will be in compression)
3. Temperature stresses ( due to temperature gradient between the inside and outside faces of the
chimney, temperature stresses are induced in the chimney walls both in the vertical and
horizontal planes. The inner surface of the shell being at a higher temperature, tends to expand
more than the outer surface . This restrains the expansion of the inner fibres to a certain extent.
This restrained expansion results in compression of the inner fibres and tension of the outer
fibres. This will causes the BM in the vertical plane.)

STRESSES IN R.C SHAFTS DUE TO SELF WEIGHT AND WIND LOADS

Vertical
Steel
Air Gap
Compression

Hot
Gases

Outside
Face
R

Q
Inside
Face

Moment

Tension
Compression

Fig 1 Temperature stresses in R.C Chimney

The following notations are used in the analysis of stresses in R.C shafts.
W = Total weight of the shaft above the considered section
P = Resultant wind force acting at a distance h from the section
As = Area of reinforcement assumed to be in the form of a ring at the center of thickness of shell
ts = Thickness of steel ring
R = Radius of centre of thickness
ts = (

As
2R

d = Outside diameter of the shell

tc = thickness of concrete shell
n = Co-efficient of neutral axis depth
c = Compressive stress of concrete at the centre of thickness of shell
s = Tensile stress in steel

 = Angle subtended by the neutral axis at the centre

m = modular ratio
M = Bending moment at the section
N
P
X

P
X

Wind
force

d
P

A
( +Rcos)
( +Rcos
)

P
X

( Rcos)

Fig 2 stresses in chimney shafts

Referring to Fig. 2, consider a strip R.d at an angle from xx. Stress in concrete at the level of
elementary strip,
= [

+
+
] = [
]
+
1 +

Area of strips = (R.d.tc)

Area of steel in strip = (R.d.ts)
Total compressive force in concrete and steel

()

C = 2 0

(. ) [
()

] 0
C = [1+

+
1+

()

] + 2 0

( + ) + [

(. ) ( 1) [

2 (1)
1+

()

] 0

+
1+

( + )

Integrating and simplifying

= [

2
] [{ + ( 1) }[ + ( )]]
1 +

Similarly total tension in steel is given by

T = 2 0 ( ) . (

] [sin cos ]
= [ 1+cos

Equating the sum of the internal forces to external load W

W = (C-T)
2

] [( ){ + ( ) } + . cos ]
= [1+

(1)

Equating the element of external forces to the sum of the moments of the internal forces we have
()

. . + . .

= [

()
22
( 2 + cos cos ) +
] [ + ( 1) ]
1 + cos
0

2 2 . .
[
] (cos cos cos )
1 + cos
0
Integrating and simplifying we have the final equation for the moment M, as
= [

22
sin 2 ( )
22 . sin 2
] [( + ( 1) )] [
]+ [
][
]
+
1 + cos
4
2
1 + cos 2
4
22

= [1+cos] [( )] [
Eccentricity e = (M/W)

sin 2
4

()
2

]+ [

.
2

(2)

 = {(

[( )(

sin 2
. .
+ 2 )+ 2 ]
4

)[sin +( ) cos ]+ .cos

(3)

The value of which satisfies the Eq. 3 is determined by Trial and Error. Knowing the stresses
in concrete and steel can be evaluated using Eq.1.
STRESSES IN HORIZONTAL REINFORCEMENT DUE TO SHEAR FORCE
If H = Horizontal shear force at the section
d = diameter of the chimney
S = pitch of hoop bars
At = Area of hoop bar in one pitch length
Area of steel resisting shear in one metre height = (
2. .1000

Shear force resisted = (

2 1000

) if s = stress in steel

(a)

If horizontal distance between reinforcement on both sides is assumed as 0.8d,

shear/meter = (

1000

)= (

1000
0.8

(b)

Equating (a) and (b)

(

21000
1000
)=(
)

0.8
.

= (1.6 )

(4)

Where d and s are expressed in mm units At = is in mm2 units.

STRESSES DUE TO TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE
In the walls of a reinforced concrete chimney, stresses are developed due to the temperature
gradient between the inner and outer surface of the walls. This temperature drop from inside to
outside surface tends to expand the inner surface relative to outer one. Due to the monolithic
action of the entire wall, differential expansion is not possible and hence equal expansion takes
place so that the shell is compressed on its inside surface and pulled on the outside surface. As a
whole there is an average increase in the length of the shell due to the temperature gradient.
Effect of Temperature only on stresses in chimney walls

Let To = Temperature difference betweem inside and outside with a linear temperature gradient
= Coefficient of expansion of steel and concrete
e = strain due to temperature difference
m = modular ratio
ts = Area of reinforcement per unit width
tc = Area of concrete per unit width
ct = stress in concrete due to temperature
st = stress in steel due to temperature
p = (ts/tc)

k = neutral axis depth constant

Air
Gap

Lining

To (Temperature
Difference)

ktc

st

ct

(T-e)
=
[e-(1-a)T}

T
e

(1-a)T

= Net strain in
concrete
(compressive)

Fig. 3 Temperature stresses in Chimney walls

Referring to Fig. 3 and considering the force equilibrium we have the following relation
(1/2) = . = . .
= (

) = . (
) =
2

2 = 2( )

= + 2 + 2 2

(5)

Rise in temperature in reinforcement = (1-a)T

Free expansion of steel = (1-a)T
Thetensile stress in steel is due to the difference in between that due to strain e and due to
temperature rise (1-a)T
Stress in steel st = Es[(e-(1-a))T]
At the neutral axis , there is free expansion due to strain e
e = (1-k)T
Stress in steel st = Es[(1-k)T-(1-a)T]

(6)

st = Es..T(a-k)
Stress in concrete ct = Ec[(T-e) = Ec[T-(1-k)T]

(7)

ct = Ec..k.T

COMBINED EFECT OF WIND LOAD SELF-WEIGHT AND TEMPERATURE ON

STRESSES IN CHIMNEY WALLS
The stresses developed at the neutral axis, compression zone (Leeward side) and tension zone
(Wind ward side) of the chimney due to combined effect of wind loads, self weight amd
temperature will be examined separately.
Case 1. Stresses at Neutral axis
There are no stresses at the neutral axis due to the external loads. But there are stresses
developed due to temperature difference
Stress in steel st = Es[(1-k)T-(1-a)T]

(6)

Stress in concrete ct = Ec[(T-e) = Ec[T-(1-k)T]

(7)

Case 2. Stresses in Compression zone (Leeward side)

The Leeward side of the chimney is under compression due to the effect of wind loads and selfweight. If te temperature stresses are are superposed, the final effect will be to increase the
compressive stress in concrete and decrease the stress in steel.

Inside

Outside

Inside

Stresses due to wind and

self-weight

atc
s

ktc
c

Fig 4 Temperature stresses, Compression zone (Leeward side)

Referring to Fig. 4 and using the following notations
c = Compressive stress in concrete assumed uniform due to the effect of self-weight and wind
loads
ktc = Position of neutral axis
= Compressive stress in concrete due to combined effect
= Stress in steel due to combined effect
e = strain due to temperature difference of T o
Total compression will remain unchanged in the section

Considering the force equilibrium, we have

1
. + ( 1). = ( . . ) .
2
ts = p.tc
1

. + ( 1) . = ( . , . ) . . ( )
2

[1+(1)]

= {
2

(8)

Change in stress in concrete at inside face = ( -c)

(a)

( -c) = Ec(T-e)
Change of stress in steel = ( + )

( + ) = [ (1 )]
But

( )

)+.

(b)

] + (1 ) =

(9)

Also from Eq. (a), we have

( )

(d)

Equating, Eqs. (c) and (d), we get

= [

..
( )

1+

(9)

Equating Eqs. (8) and (9)

[1+(1)]

(
)
2

= [

...

( )
1+

(10)

For given value of the various variables, we can evaluate k from Eq. (10) and then compute
from Eq. (9) and , the stress in steel.
If k is more than unity, the whole thickness of concrete t c will be in compression and the stresses
can be analysed using the same procedure.
Case 3. Stresses in Tension zone (Wind ward side)
The chimney section in the wind ward zone is in tension due to the effect of self-weight and
wind loads. Concrete is assumed to take negligible tension and hence the whole tension is
resisted by steel.
tc

atc

Outside

Inside

s
s

ktc
c

Fig 5 Temperature stresses, Tension zone (Wind ward side)

Referring to Fig.5 and using the following notations:
s = Tensile stress in steel due to wind load and self-weight
ktc = position of neutral axis
c = compressive stress in concrete
s = stress in steel due to combined effect
The effect of temperature is to develop compressive stress in concrete and increase the tensile
stress in steel.
The total force in the section remains unchanged, considering the equilibrium of forces
1
. = ( )
2

= . (

But

) and ts = p.tc

1
. . = . . . ( ) . .

= {

[(

) ]

Change in strain in concrete at inside face is =

(11)

[ +

[ + ] = (. )


= [ ]

()

Change of strain in steel is given by

(
) = [ (1 )]

= (
) + (1 )

()

Equating the Eqs. (a) and (b) we have the relation,

= [.

Substituting for and simplifying

(12)

Equating the Eqs. (11) and (12), we have

( ) 2

] = . .

(13)

The value of k can be evaluated using the known values of the other variables and then the
values of stress in concrete and the stress in steel can be estimated using relevant
equations.
STRESSES IN HORIZONTAL REINFORCEMENT DUE TO TEMPERATURE
DIFFERENCE
At high temperatures, the inner surface of the chimney is prevented from expansion and
therefore gets compressed. The outer surface will expand more than natural expansion and will
be in tension. Due to temperature stresses, generally the hoop tries to expand and consequently
tensile stress will develop in the hoop reinforcement.
tc

atc
s

Ktc

Fig. 6 Stresses in horizontal reinforcement due to temperature difference

Taking unit height of wall and referring to Fig. 6 and using the following notations.

= position of neutral axis

= compressive stress in concrete

= tensile stress in steel
= Area of hoop reinforcement /unit height
As = cross sectional area of horizontal steel
S = spacing
=

= .

= . ( )/

(14)

Consider the force equilibrium of the section, compressive force in concrete on the inner side =
tensile force in horizontal reinforcement
1


= = . ( )
2

= ( )
2

= 2 + 2 2

(15)

Using this equation the position of neutral axis is determined.

Let

e = actual strain

Stress in concrete = = (T-e)Ec

Stress in steel = = [e-(1-a)T]Es
From these two relations,
= [ / ]

and = [ (1 )]

[ ] = [ + (1 )]

[ + ] = . .

(16)

Knowing the value of k, the stresses in steel and concrete and can be obtained by solving
Eqs. (14) and (16).