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42 2 Rectangular Beams and One-Way Slabs: A B C D E F 1

The document discusses influence areas and live load reductions for structural members. It defines influence area as the part of the building structure that may fail if a structural member is removed. As an example, it shows the influence areas for a beam (B-1), girder (G-1), and column (C-1) in a reinforced concrete building. The influence area for B-1 is the area between column lines that would collapse if B-1 was removed. One live load reduction formula reduces the design live load based on the square root of the member's influence area.

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34 views1 page

42 2 Rectangular Beams and One-Way Slabs: A B C D E F 1

The document discusses influence areas and live load reductions for structural members. It defines influence area as the part of the building structure that may fail if a structural member is removed. As an example, it shows the influence areas for a beam (B-1), girder (G-1), and column (C-1) in a reinforced concrete building. The influence area for B-1 is the area between column lines that would collapse if B-1 was removed. One live load reduction formula reduces the design live load based on the square root of the member's influence area.

Uploaded by

praveennagarajan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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42 2 Rectangular Beams and One-Way Slabs

A B C D E F

B-1

G- 1 C- 1
2
(AI)B-1 (AI)G-1
(AI)C-1

Figure 2.4 Influence areas for different structural members

Studies indicate that the larger the floor area that contributes loads to a particular
member, the less likely it is that every square foot of that area will bear the
maximum amount of live loads.
Different codes deal with this concept somewhat differently. Some codes relate
the live load reduction to the tributary area (AT), or the area directly loading the
particular element under investigation. Other codes relate the live load reduction to
the so-called influence area (AI), the area in which a part, however small, of any
load may contribute to the loading of a particular element under investigation. In
other words, the influence area for a structural member is the part of the building
structure that may fail if that member is removed.
As an example consider Figure 2.4, which shows the floor framing plan for
a reinforced concrete building. To determine the influence area for beam B-1,
assume that this beam is removed. This will cause the slabs supported by B-1 to
fail. As a result, the influence area for B-1 is (AI)B-1, the area between column
lines 1, 2, A, and B. Following this logic, if we remove girder G-1, the beams it
supports will fail, and consequently the slabs supported by the beams. Thus, the
area between column lines 1, 2, B, and D (AI)G-1 will collapse. A similar study will
show that the influence area for column C-1 is the area between column lines
1, 3, D, and F.
One variation of the live load reduction formula is given in Equation (2.1):
! "
15
Lred L0 0:25 p 2:1
AI

where
Lred the reduced design live load per square foot of area supported by the member
L0 the unreduced design live load per square foot of area supported by the
member
AI the influence area of the member in square feet

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