Design of Concrete Structures Lintels 1

Lintels

A lintel may be defined as a beam provided over an opening for door, window, cupboard etc., in
a wall. It serves to bridge the gap of the opening and it permits the construction of wall above.

The computation of load for design of lintel can be broadly divided in the following categories:

Case 1: When length of the wall on either side of the

opening is more than half the effective span of the lintel.

In this case, it is assumed that because of arch action 600 600

developed within the masonry above the opening, only
the weight of masonry contained in an equilateral
triangle having base length equal to the effective span, is >L/2 L >L/2
transferred on the lintel.
l

Case 2: When the length of wall on one side of the opening

is less than half the effective span of the lintel.

In this case, the load transferred to the lintel is taken equal to

L
the weight of the masonry contained in a rectangle of height
equal to the effective span.

<L/2 L >L/2

Case 3: When the length of wall on both sides of the

opening is less than the half of the effective span of lintel.

In this case, the load transferred to the lintel is taken equal to

the weight of masonry contained in a rectangle having width
equal to effective span and height equal to the full height of
the wall above.
<L/2 L <L/2

Case 4: When the wall above the lintel has opening.

In this case, the load transferred to the lintel is taken

equal to the weight of masonry contained in the area 600 600
formed by drawing the dispersion lined at 600 from the
top edges of the openings as shown in figure. 600 600

l
Design of Concrete Structures Lintels 2

Case 5: When a slab transfers load to lintel.

In this case, the load transferred is taken to be equal to

the sum of the weight of masonry contained in the
rectangle above the opening up to the top of the parapet 600
600
wall and the weight of the slab, lime concrete and the
self-weight of lintel.
L

Problems: Figure shows plan and section of a room. Design a RCC lintel over the window
openings. Following data may be assumed:
(1)
fC = 5 MPa, fS = 140 MPa, n = 19, k = 0.404
(2)
Weight of L.C = 19,200 N/m2
(3)
Superimposed load on RCC slab = 2000 N/m2

Part of Plan

Solution:
Assume, total depth of lintel = 450 mm, i.e. size of the lintel is 450 mm x 300 mm.
Let, bearing of the lintel at each end = 300 mm
effective span length = 2.7 + 0.3 = 3.0 m
l
height of triangle, h tan 60 0 = 2.598 m > 2.2 m.
2
Hence, rectangular loading is selected.
Load calculation:
1. Load due to weight of wall = [(2.2-0.45) + 0.3 + 0.1 + 0.15 ] x 0.3 x 19200 = 13248 N/m
2. Load due to self-weight of lintel = 0.45 x 0.3 x 25000 = 3375 N/m
4.5
3. Load due to lime concrete (LC) = 0.1 x x 19200 = 4320
2
N/m
4. Load due to roof slab
4.5
a) dead load = 0.15 x x 25000 = 8437.5
2
N/m
Design of Concrete Structures Lintels 3

4.5
b) Super imposed load = 2000 x x 4500 = 4500
2
N/m
========================
Total Load = 33880.5 N/m
33881.0 N/m (say)
Moment Calculation:
wL2
M max
8
33881 x 32

8
38117 N m
38.117 x 10 6 N m

Check for depth:

M
d rqd
Rb
38.117 x 10 6

0.874 x 300
382 mm