STRINGERS 1

CHAPTER

00
STRINGERS
00.1 INTRODUCTION

Other function of stringers is to carry concentrated loads or live loads that are applied on the
floor system. Because ordinarily, the floor slab is designed to carry distributed floor loads only. Floor
loads are in KPa, hence in 2 of floor area, so live loads are in so they are concentrated on

a single line on the floor or concentrated loads which are in KN, and so slabs are not designed to carry
those types of loads.

For example if you have stairs, the termination of the stairs it ends up in the middle of the floor
panel, it is necessary to introduce a stringer to catch the stairs or escalators. Also if there is equipment
that is placed in the room, and this particular equipment usually have legs, wherein its weight will be
transmitted to the floor system as concentrated loads, and then stringers will have to be introduced to
receive those concentrated loads from the equipment, stairs, escalators, etc.

Stingers therefore are part of the floor system, they can be considered as the thickened portion
of the slab. As part of the floor system, they are designed to carry gravity loads ONLY, i.e. live loads and
dead loads only.

The analysis of stringers is that for a continuous beam of a floor system thus, the analysis
procedure will be identical to that of one way slabs wherein the ACI moment coefficients listed in the
code are also applicable. Specifically in Section 406.5.2, this is listed in a numerical manner in the code.
These coefficients are mentioned in the previous chapter of the one way slab.
 STRINGERS 2

The code requires that the beams should have at least two spans. For beams with two spans,
the coefficients are presented in the figure below:

Fig 0.1

In this figure, if the discontinuous end or the exterior end is unrestrained, then the moments at
those ends would be zero, when the beam is located just above the column. On the other hand, if the
discontinuous end is monolithically connected to a spandrel beam or edge beam, then the negative
moment or the coefficient at the discontinuous end would be 124 2 . If the stringer is monolithically
connected to a column at the discontinuous end, the negative moment at those ends will be 116 2 .
The design positive moment between the spans will be 114 2 . Except if the discontinuous end is
unrestrained, and then the design positive moment will be 111 2 . The negative moment in the
interior support will be19 2 . If the two adjacent spans are not equal in length, then the length L to be
used in computing the negative moment in the interior support will be the average of the two legs.

Fig 0.2
 STRINGERS 3

For beams with more than two spans, the moments in the discontinuous end are 0, 124 2
and 110 2 . If those ends are unrestrained, monolithically connected to the spandrel beam, or
monolithically connected to a column, respectively. The design positive moment in the exterior span will
be 114 2 , except again if the discontinuous end is unrestrained. Then, in that case, the design
positive moment will be 111 2 . The negative moment at the exterior face of the first interior support
will be 110 2 , while the negative moments in all interior spans will be 111 2 . The positive
moment for all interior spans will be 116 2 .

Again, it is reiterated that when computing negative moments at the interior supports the
lengths to be used in the calculations should be the average of the span lengths of the adjacent to the
interior support. Also, it must be emphasized that span lengths are always referred to clear spans.

When slab panels are subdivided as shown in Fig 4.1., with stringers. The beams and
stringers will receive loads from the floor slabs based on their tributary areas. And the general
rule for dealineating the tributary areas is that the load will be transmitted to the nearest
supporting beam. Following this rule, the tributary areas of the beams will be in the form of
trapezoids or triangles as shown in the figure. The tributary areas are determined by drawing
45 lines emanating from the corners of the slab panels, and connected by a line along the
centrer of the slab panel to form trapezoids and triangles. Considering the stringers shown in
the figure, the floor loads that will be transmitted to the stringer will be in the form trapezoidal
loads, this is because the stringer is along the longer side of the panel. In contrast the beam
supporting the stringers are in the short side of the slab panels, therefore their tributary areas
will be in the form of triangles.
 STRINGERS 4

So the loads transmitted to the stringers or beams will be in the form of either
trianglular loads or trapezoidal loads.

Figure 4.1 shows the example of stringer to be designed. The design of stringer is treated
as singly reinforced beam.
 STRINGERS 5

00.2 ACI MOMENTS

Table 406.5.2. Approximate Moments for Non-Prestressed Continuous Beams and One-Way Slabs

Moment Location Condition Mu

Discontinuous at the
end integral with 2
14
End Span support
Positive Discontinuous end 2
unrestrained 11
Interior spans All 2
16
Member built Integrally
with supporting 2
Interior face of exterior 24
spandrel beam
support
Member built integrally 2
with supporting column 16
2
Two spans
Exterior face of first 9
interior support More than two spans 2
10
Negative [a] 2
Face of Other supports All
11
a) Slabs with spans
not exceeding 3m.
b) Beams where ratio
Face of all supports 2
of sum of column
satisfying (a) or (b) 12
stiffness exceeds 8
at each end of
span

[a]
To calculate negative moments shall be the average of the adjacent clear span lengths.

This table shows the coefficients to be used on ACI moments. This table is applicable for
stringers referred to as continuous beams and one way slabs. All formulas are in terms of and will
always be clear span.

Compute for the moment of the prismatic stringer shown below. Use superimposed dead load of
2.1 kPa, a live load of 2.4 kPa, and a slab thickness of 110 mm. Assume beam width of 250mm.
Also, assume that the dimensions of the stringers are 200mm x 500mm.
 STRINGERS 6

stringers

8 @ 3.5 m = 28 m

stringers

1. As shown in the drawing above, the stringers are divided over 4 spans. Therefore, there
are more than 2 spans, and the corresponding coefficients for spans more than 2 will be
used. The span lengths are varied. There is therefore a need to check if any two adjacent
spans have ratios below the limit prescribed by the code, which is 1.20, in order that the
ACI moment coefficients can be applicable.

In order for the ACI moments to be applicable, there are 5 requirements, indicated herein,
does not exceed longer to shorter by more than 20%. So the limit is 1.20. These
requirements being:

a) There are two or more spans.

b) Spans are approximately equal, with the larger of two adjacent spans not greater than

the shorter by more than 20 percent (0.83333 2 1.20)
1
c) Loads are uniformly distributed.
d) Unit live load does not exceed three times unit dead load. For instance, if you have a
thickness of slab equal to 100 mm multiplied by 24 kilonewton per cubic meter which is
equivalent to 2.4 kPa, multiply it by 3 the result is 7.2 kPa. This is for slab only. The floor
dead load not only consists of slab but also floor finish, movable partitions and ceiling
loads. In other words, your live load should not exceed to 7.2 kPa otherwise it is not
applicable.
e) Members a prismatic (constant cross-section). For instance, all spans should have a
uniform thickness.
2. So the adjacent span ratios are computed below, check all the span lengths if it is
okay to use the ACI Moment Coefficient:
8
(First span over the second span) = 1.14 ()
7
 STRINGERS 7

7.2
(Third span over the second span) = 1.02 ()
7

8.2
(Fourth span over the second span) = 1.14 ()
7.2

* As can be seen from the ratios above, no ratio exceeds the 1.20 limit, therefore the
ACI moment coefficients can be used.

3. Stringers catch the slab, so before designing the stringer,the slab should be designed
already, so the slab thickness should already be given. Next we start to compute thte
loads on the stinger. Starting with the dead loads, the floor loads to be considered are
the superimposed dead load and the weight of the slab, these are determined in the
claculations below.

Total Dead Load: Weight of Stringer = 24 * 0.2 * 0.5

Superimposed Dead Load = 2.1 kPa = 2.4 kN/m

Weight of Slab = 24 * 0.11

= 2.64 kPa

4.74 kPa

These floor loads are trapezoidal loads, and needs to be converted into a
uniform load. Proceeding with:

3.5
m= = 0.4375
8

then the converted uniform load will be

4.74 3.5 3(0.4375)2

WD = ( )2
8 2
= 5.84 kN/m

Since the floor load is now a uniform load, this can therefore now be combined with the
weight of the stringer, which is also a uniform load. The weight of the stringer is
determined follows

24*0.2*0.5 = 2.4 KN/m

Combining now the floor dead load of the 8m span,

 STRINGERS 8

4.74 3.5 3(0.4375)2

WD = ( )2
8 2

= 5.84 kN/m

It must be noted that in the computation above, that there are two trapezoids on each side
of the stringer, and therefore the value of the converted floor load will be multiplied by 2.
The diagram of the problem is critical for the computations, since some stringers are only
accompanied by either a single trapezoid or a single triangle. So, for instance in the figure
above, a stringer is accompanied by 2 trapezoid while the beam next to it is only
accompanied by a single trapezoid. Therefore, when computing its load, it will only be
multiplied by 1.

Now, if the spans are identical in lengths, then these 2 trapezoids are equal. But, if the
span length is not equal, then the 2 trapezoids are not equal as well. Solve for the first
trapezoid then the next one, only then will it be added. Take note that the reason that the
span lengths are equal because the short dimensions of all the slab panels are all equal at
a specific length, but if the dimensions in the short direction are not equal, then the
trapezoids will not be identical.

So, for the 8m span, the load from the floor will now be added to the beam weight

4.74 3.5 3(0.4375)2

WD = ( )2
8 2

= 5.84 kN/m + 2.4 kN/m

= 8.24 kN/m

This represents the total dead load. Similarly, the live load will be a floor load. And will
be in the form of two identical trapezoids. The converted live load therefore will be:

2.4 3.5 3(0.4375)2

WL = 8 ( )2
2
= 2.95kN/m

We are now ready to determine the total factor load. The factor gravity load will be
. + . and therefore:

Wu = 1.2 (8.23661) + 1.6 (2.94902)

= 14.60 kN/m

The procedure for the 7m span, the7.2 m span and the 8.2m span will proceed in a similar
manner.

Loading for 7m span:

 STRINGERS 9

3.5
m= = 0.5
7
4.74 3.5 3(0.5)2
WD = ( 2 )2
7
= 6.52 kN/m + 2.4 kN/m
= 8.92 kN/m
2.4 3.5 3(0.5)2
WL = 7 ( 2 ) 2
= 3.3 kN/m
Wu = 1.2 (8.9175) + 1.6 (3.3)
= 15.98 kN/m

Loading for 7.2m span:

3.5
m = 7.2 = 0.49
4.74 3.5 3(0.48611)2
WD = 7.2 ( )2
2
= 6.37 kN/m + 2.4 kN/m
= 8.77 kN/m
2.4 3.5 3(0.48611)2
WL = 7.2 ( )2
2
= 3.22 kN/m
Wu = 1.2 (8.768) + 1.6 (3.22431)
= 15.68 kN/m

Loading for 8.2m span:

3.5
m = = 0.43
8.2
4.74 3.5 3(0.42683)2
WD = 8.2 ( )2
2
= 5.70 kN/m + 2.4 kN/m
= 8.10 kN/m
2.4 3.5 3(0.42683)2
WL = 8.2 ( )2
2
= 2.89 kN/m
Wu = 1.2 (8.10092) + 1.6 (2.88654)
= 14.34 kN/m
 10
STRINGERS

For the 8m span the first thing to do is to determine the clear span. Since the beam
width is 250mm, the clear span is therefore the center to center distance which is
8000 250 = 7750 7.75

Now, the design moment can readily be determined. Starting with the 8m span, since
the stringer is connected to a spandrel beam at its unrestrained end, the negative
2 2
moment will therefore be 24. The design positive moment will be 24. At the
interior support, for the 8m exterior span, the design length , should be the average between
the adjacent spans, which is the 7m span and the 8m
span, whose clear span are 6.75m and 7.75m ,respectively. When combined, the average will
be 7.25m, this average length will be used as the design length , therefore the negative
moment at the interior support of the 8m span will be:

1
M = 10 Wuln2
= 1
10
(14.602) (7.25)2
= 76.752 kN-m
1
M = 14 Wuln2
= 1
(14.602) (7.25)2
14
= 54.823 kN-m
1
M = 24 Wuln2
= 1
(14.602) (7.25)2
24
= 31.980 kN-m

For the 7m span, the clear span is

7.0 0.25 = 6.75

The design positive moment is:

1
M = 16 Wuln2
= 1
(15.981) (6.75)2
16
= 45.508 kN-m

For the negative moments, the formula will be 111 Wuln2. However the clear span
will be the average length of the adjacent spans, therefore in the interior support
between the 8m and the 7m spans, the average span length will be 7.25m.

= 1
(15.981) (7.25)2
11
= 76.364 kN-m
 11
STRINGERS

In contrast, the interior support between the 7m and the 7.2m spans will have an
average clear span of 6.85m.

= 1
(15.981) (6.85)2
11
= 68.170 kN-m

For 7.2m span:

1
M = 11 Wuln2
= 1
(15.680) (6.95)2
11
= 68.85 kN-m
1
M = 16 Wuln2
= 1
(15.680) (6.95)2
16
= 47.34 kN-m

For 8.2m span:

1
M = 10 Wuln2
= 1
(14.34) (7.95)2
10
= 90.63 kN-m
1
M = 14 Wuln2
= 1
(14.33957) (7.95)2
14
= 64.74 kN-m
1
M = 24 Wuln2
= 1
(14.33957) (7.95)2
24
= 37.76 kN-m

Positive moment is in the middle which is the reason why it will be its own clear span minus the slab
thickness. Since the stringer is part of the floor system, it is sensitive to deflections or its consequent
vibrations. Therefore the serviceability requirements of the code which is in the form of minimum
depth in Table (), will have to be observed. There is a table of minimum depths or thickness, along
with the slab and the beam, the beam referred to it is the beam of the floor, which is the stringer.