LECTURE NOTES ON

ARC301

DESIGN OF REINFORCED
CONCRETE STRUCTURES

Prepared by
Er. A. VIJAY, M.Tech., AMIE., M.ASCE.,
Assistant Professor,
Department of Civil Engineering,
SRM University.
er.vijaystr@gmail.com
 I. DESIGN OF SLABS

1. GENERAL

A slab is a flat two dimensional planar structural element having thickness small
compared to its other two dimensions. It provides a working flat surface or a
covering shelter in buildings. It primarily transfers the load by bending in one or
two directions. Reinforced concrete slabs are used in floors, roofs and walls of
buildings and as the decks of bridges. The floor system of a structure can take
many forms such as in situ solid slab, ribbed slab or pre-cast units. Slabs may be
supported on monolithic concrete beam, steel beams, walls or directly over the
columns. Concrete slab behave primarily as flexural members and the design is
similar to that of beams.

2. CLASSIFICATION OF SLABS

Slabs are classified based on many aspects

1) Based of shape: Square, rectangular, circular and polygonal in shape.

2) Based on type of support: Slab supported on walls, Slab supported on

beams, Slab supported on columns (Flat slabs).

3) Based on support or boundary condition: Simply supported, Cantilever

slab, Overhanging slab, Fixed or Continues slab.

4) Based on use: Roof slab, Floor slab, Foundation slab, Water tank slab.

5) Basis of cross section or sectional configuration: Ribbed slab /Grid slab,

Solid slab, Filler slab, Folded plate

6) Basis of spanning directions :

One way slab – Spanning in one direction

Two way slab _ Spanning in two direction

In general, rectangular one way and two way slabs are very common and are
discussed in detail
 II. Design of Beams
In this chapter, it is intended to learn the method of designing the beams using the principles
developed in previous chapters. Design consists of selecting proper materials, shape and size
of the structural member keeping in view the economy, stability and aesthetics. The design of
beams are done for the limit state of collapse and checked for the other limit states. Normally
the beam is designed for flexure and checked for shear, deflection, cracking and bond.

Design procedure

The procedure for the design of beam may be summarized as follows:

1. Estimation of loads

2. Analysis

3. Design

1. Estimation of loads

The loads that get realized on the beams consist of the following:

a. Self weight of the beam.

b. Weight of the wall constructed on the beam

c. The portion of the slab loads which gets transferred to the beams. These slab loads
are due to live loads that are acting on the slab dead loads such as self weight of the slab,
floor finishes, partitions, false ceiling and some special fixed loads.

The economy and safety of the beams achieved depends on the accuracy with which the loads
are estimated.

The dead loads are calculated based on the density whereas the live loads are taken from IS:
875 depending on the functional use of the building.

2. Analysis

For the loads that are acting on the beams, the analysis is done by any standard method to
obtain the shear forces and bending moments.

3. Design

a. Selection of width and depth of the beam.

The width of the beam selected shall satisfy the slenderness limits specified in
IS 456 : 2000 clause 23.3 to ensure the lateral stability.

b. Calculation of effective span (le) (Refer clause 22.2, IS 456:2000)

c. Calculation of loads (w)

 III. DESIGN OF COLUMNS
Introduction: A column is defined as a compression member, the effective length of which
exceeds three times the least lateral dimension. Compression members, whose lengths do not
exceed three times the least lateral dimension, may be made of plain concrete. A column
forms a very important component of a structure. Columns support beams which in turn
support walls and slabs. It should be realized that the failure of a column results in the
collapse of the structure. The design of a column should therefore receive importance.

A column is a vertical structural member supporting axial compressive loads, with or without
moments. The cross-sectional dimensions of a column are generally considerably less than its
height. Columns support vertical loads from the floors and roof and transmit these loads to
the foundations.

The more general terms compression members and members subjected to combined axial
load and bending are sometimes used to refer to columns, walls, and members in concrete
trusses or frames. These may be vertical, inclined, or horizontal. A column is a special case of
a compression member that is vertical. Stability effects must be considered in the design of
compression members.

Classification of columns

A column may be classified based on different criteria such as:

1. Based on shape

• Rectangle

• Square

• Circular

• Polygon

• L type

• T type

• + type

2. Based on slenderness ratio or height

Short column and Long column or Short and Slender Compression Members

A compression member may be considered as short when both the slenderness ratios namely

lex/D and ley/b are less than 12: Where

lex= effective length in respect of the major axis, D= depth in respect of the major axis,

ley= effective length in respect of the minor axis, and b = width of the member.

It shall otherwise be considered as a slender or long compression member.