Robustness & Structural

Stability
Clause 2.2.2.2, BS8110: Robustness

Structures should be planned & designed so that they

are not unreasonable susceptible to the effects of

accidents. In particular situations should be avoided

where damage to small areas of a structure or failure

of single events may lead to collapse of major parts of

the structure.

Clause 2.2.2.2, BS8110: Part 1 further lists the

precautions which would generally prevent unreasonable

susceptibility to the effects of misuse or accidents, a

summary of these as follows:-

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1) All buildings should be capable of resisting a
minimum horizontal force (notional load).

This implies that all frames ie braced or unbraced

will have to be analysed incorporating horizontal
loads ! load combination (1)
0.015 Gk roof

0.015 Gk 4

1.2 Wk
or 0.015 Gk 3
1.4 Wk

0.015 Gk 2

0.015 Gk 1

Unbraced frame As with Wk, notional load shall

where Wk
be applied @ each floor or roof
characteristic
wind load. (load level (loads at the nodes and is
comb. (2) & (3) 1.5% Gk of that particular floor
(between mid-ht of storey
below and above)
Note : As for load combinations
(2) & (3) adopt the larger value of
(1.4Wk or 1.2Wk) 0.015Gk

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2) All buildings are to be provided with effective
horizontal ties irrespective of height, in 3 ways
i) peripheral ties
ii) internal ties Clause 3.12.3,
iii) column & wall ties BS 8110
The provision of these ties is given in terms of
force Ft (kN)

Ft = 20 + 4(no) or 60 kN
(whichever is lesser)

Where no indicates no of storey in structure (including

basement !)

Ft varies from 24 kN for a single storey

building (no = 1) to a max of 60 kN (for no = 10
storeys or >)
Internal ties
Peripheral Ties

Vertical ties
Column / wall ties

No of Storeys no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Tie Force Coef Ft 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60

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In proportioning the ties, it may be assumed that no
other forces are acting and the reinforcement is
acting at its characteristic strength. As reinf.
provided for bending or axial may be regarded as
forming part or the whole of the ties, it will be
found that for many structures the reinforced
provided for the usual dead imposed and wind loads
will (with minor modifications) fulfill these tie
requirements.

normal procedure will be to design the structure

for the usual loads and then carry out a check for
the tie forces.

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3) For buildings of five or more storeys, the layout
should be checked to identify key elements. A key
element is such that its failure would cause the
collapse of more than a limited area close to it. (an
area within a storey of 70m2 or 15% of the area of
the storey, whichever is the lesser). If key
elements exists the layout should be modified if at
all possible. If this cannot be done than these key
elements should be designed in accordance to clause
2.6, BS 8110: Part 2.

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4) Again for buildings of five or more storeys, any
vertical load bearing element (other than a key
element) should be detailed so that its failure will
not cause considerable damage.

This can be achieved via vertical ties.

However where vertical ties cannot be provided, the

elements should be considered to be removed and
the surrounding members designed to bride the gap
in accordance with clause 2.6, BS 8110: Part 2

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PERIPHERAL TIES – Clause 3.12.3.5

At each floor and roof level, an effectively continuous

tie shall be provided capable of resisting a tensile
force Ft, located within 1200 mm of the edge of the
building or in perimeter wall.

Previously:

Ft = 20 + 4no or 60 kN (which ever is less)

for Ft = 60 kN (max 10 storeys or more)
As req. = 60 x 103 / 460 = 131 mm3
Provide; 1 T12 (113 mm2)
(1T16) (201 mm2)

If there exists perimeter or peripheral beams spanning

between external columns, it seems most sensible to
locate the peripheral ties within these perimeter
beams.
Bending reinf. Bending reinf.
( < 12 mm )

Extra
1T12 as
peripheral internal internal
tie ties tie extended
over bending
reinf.

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INTERNAL TIES - Clause 3.12.3.4

Internal ties should be provided at each floor in 2

perpendicular directions and be anchored at each end
either to the peripheral ties or to the continues column
or wall ties.

Internal ties shall be designed to resists tensile force,

in kN per meter width, is to be the greater of

(gk + qk) Ft L or 1.0 Ft

7.5 5

Where (gk + qk) is the sum of the average

characteristic dead and imposed loads on floor (kN
/m2) and L is the greater of the distances between the
centres of columns, frames or walls supporting any two
adjacent floor spans in the direction of the tie under
consideration.

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Typical Floor Plan (6 storey Building)
6000 8000 Total characteristic
load gk+qk 7.5kN/m2
J K L
3T20 peripheral ties 4T20
1
8000

Transverse
1.5L

Direction
2 12m
6000

3 All internal ties anchored to

Peripheral ties
Longitudinal Direction
Internal Ties @ Transverse Direction
Ft = 20 + 4(no) ; no = 6
Ft = 20 + 4(6) = 44 kN
Force = Ft (gk + qk) L = 44 (7.5) 8
7.5 5 7.5 5
= 70.5 kN/m
Total Force/ Bay :
@ 8m bay , Force = 70.5 x 8 = 564 kN > Ft
@ 6m bay , Force = 70.5 x 6 = 423 kN > Ft

@8m bay: As req = 564 x 103/460 @ 1226mm2 @ 4T20

@6m bay: As req = 423 x 103/460 @ 920mm2 @ 3T20

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The ties may be distributed evenly in the slabs or may
be grouped at or in beams, walls or other appropriate
positions but at spacing generally 1.5 L

For bars distributed evenly in floor slabs we have to

consider
i) continuity of ties
ii) anchoring effectively to peripheral ties
Full Bond Full Bond Full Bond

separate
splice bar

Continuity requirement for slab full bond lap length will

be not less then the minimum lap of 15  or 300 mm
whichever is greater.

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COLUMN & WALL TIES. (External)

Column & wall ties must be able to resist a force of at

least 3% of the total ultimate vertical load for which
the member has been designed.

Additionally the resistance provided must not be less

than the smaller of;
i) 2 Ft
ii) Ft Lo
2.5 where Lo is the floor to ceiling
height in m

Particular attention should be taken with corner

columns to ensure that they are tied in 2 perpendicular
directions.
U Bar Column Tie
Corner
column

U Bar Column Tie

(suspended slab level)

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Column Ties Example
(refer column K / 1)
Force to be design for
= Ft L o
2.5 … where Lo = 3.4
= 44 3.4 = 60 kN < 2Ft
2.5
or
3% of total ultimate axial column load
= 3 (6) x (1.75 x 7.5) x 7 x 4
100
= 57 kN < 60 kN < 2Ft

Allow for 3% column self weight, design force 60 kN.

As = 60 x 103 = 131 mm2

req.
460
Provide; 1T12
Column ties could be incorporated into main beam
reinforced K / 1-2.
peripheral ties

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VERTICAL TIES

Vertical ties should be provided effectively continuos

from roof to foundation by means of proper laps
running through all vertical load bearing members.

Reinf. provided or required should be capable of

resisting a tensile force equal to the max design
ultimate axial load from any one storey.

For insitu construction this will generally be meet for

all buildings, including those of less then 5 storeys.

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Structural Layout

There are many factors which contribute to the

structural integrity or robustness of a building.
Continuity between structural elements is obviously a
primary factor, but there are others of a more general
or conceptual nature, that can have a significant
bearing on the structural integrity of a building.

Among these factors include the planning of a proper

structural layout of all vertical and horizontal / linear
support members, essential in developing the full
potential strength of RC framed structures.

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As previously described in Figure 3.1, BS 8110 prior to
provisions of lateral notional loads and horizontal and
vertical ties, the overall structural layout should be
checked against any inherent weakness. Consequently
changes and amendments should be incorporated to
overcome or avoid these short comings.

Among the inherent weakness that should be

categorized may include (but not limited to) :-

i) Vertical structural members.

(columns, rc walls)

Position, orientation, spacing & location of

cols essential.

End restraint @ cols should be provided at all

floor levels. Avoid unrestrained cols @ roof
level and ground floor level. [convenient as if
reduces slenderness ratio of col]

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 Ensure all columns are connected by main
beams as this greatly simplifies the
provisions of peripheral ties and internal ties.

ii) Horizontal or Linear Structural Members

( main beams, secondary beams, slabs)

Spans not unduly long (related to column

spacing)

Check if layout could be modified to eliminate

/ reduce cantilever beams

Any voids within internal of building that

could lead to torsional effects on beams ?

Ensure correct load assumptions on rc slabs

(plinths) eg. Water tank location, brickwall
locations

Any transfer beams supporting columns ?

Very critical !

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iii) Staircases

Check support for staircases

ie longitudinal staircase or transverse
staircase or even free standing staircase.

Ensure loading from staircase transferred to

supporting beams during analysis.

Any brickwall on staircases edge (to be

supported)

iv) General sizing of structural elements

Are beams and columns undersized ?

Sufficient slab & staircase thickness to avoid

deflection failure

Check minimum sizes based on durability and

fire requirement.

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v) Architectural finishes

Ensure structural members adequately

provided to suit finishes
Eg.: full brick requirement, clear ceiling
height

vi) Bracing Elements

Identify location, orientation of bracing

elements : rc shear wall or core walls.

Full brick as bracing elements ?

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