Institution of Structural Engineers

Part 3 Exam

Paul Martin

Loads and Forces

Load Buildup
Basics
1.

Have clear purpose,

so you only do it once

2.

Organise it neatly
so you find loads easily later when in a panic

Load Buildup
Sources of information
1.

Basic Material densities:

BS 648

Get a feel for approx densities

Steel:

78 kN/m3

Concrete:

24 kN/m3

Clay Brick:

20 kN/m3

Block:

10 kN/m3 Standard:

Light:

Glass:

27 kN/m3

Plaster:

14 kN/m3

Plasterboard:

9 kN/m3

Softwood:

5 kN/m3

18 kN/m3

Load Buildup
Sources of information
2.

Systems:

Trade Literature

Again, Get a feel:

kN/m2 on elev.

Curtain Walling:

0.5

Windows:

0.3

Steel wall framing:

0.3

Cladding and rails:

0.5

Load Buildup
Sources of information
3.

Live Loads:

BS 6399

Keep on getting the feel:

1 person

75 kg =

1 person + 1 desk =

0.75 kN

0.75 kN+ say 0.5 kN in say 1.25 m x 1.0 m

=1.0 kN/m2
1 Car

1000 kg =

10kN

Car park loading = 2.5 kN/m2 = 1 car/4m2

Combining loads sensibly

Convert all loads into same units
Normally udl - kN/m2 on plan.
e.g.1

Beams: (weight/m) / spacing

= udl

Beams in two directions:

(sum of both weights/m)
Average spacing
e.g.2

Sloping roofs:

= udl

Convert to udl on plan

DONT START ADDING BEAM REACTIONS!!

Purpose
1.

Slab design
No beam self-weight

2.

Beam design

3.

Column design

4.

Transfer structures and Foundations

design

Purpose
1.

Keep loads un-factored for ground

bearing check

2.

Keep Dead and Live loads separate.

E.g.

to apply live load reduction factor

Reduce live load even further for
settlement check?

3.

Apply load factors only when

calculating effects

Continuity effect
How much is the
shift in point of
zero shear?
End spans:~10%
Internal span:
Negligible

Continuity effect

Worst case:
Propped cantilever:
Changes reactions by
12.5%

Calculation of Effects
1.

Moments

2.

Shear Forces

3.

Axial forces

4.

Deflections

5.

Torsion moments
(only if you really cant avoid them!)

Calculation of Effects
1.

Avoid fancy analysis

2.

Use either:
Simple design aids
Steel Designers Manual
Reynolds

Statically determinate calcs.

Simple moment distribution

Statically determinate hand calcs.

1.

Find one reaction

2.

Find point of zero shear [max

moment] (remembering load =
slope of shear force diagram)

3.

Find max moment.

Which will be the critical effect?

1.

Long, lightly loaded spans:

Deflection

Roofs, slabs, footbridges

2.

Medium spans:

Bending

Floor beams

3.

Short, heavily loaded spans:

Foundations, transfer beams

Shear

Ductility
1.

Use it when you have it

Can redistribute effects
Can rely more on estimated effects
(But beware of equilibrium)

2.

Beware when you dont have it!!

Non-plastic (class 1) steel sections
Brittle connections

Simple hand
calcs
Overall moments
and shears are
independent of
the internal shape

Moment
Distribution
At its simplest
(and most
common?): to find
column moment in
braced concrete
frame

Moment
Distribution

Sway frames

Assume
points of
contraflexure
at column
mid-height