° January 2012 ‘TheStructuralEngineer Technical “Technical Guidance Noto Principles of design Introduction This Technical Guidance Note acts as an introduction to the core design concepts that are found within the current codes of practice used within the UK. Italso explains the relationship between each of the other guidance notes and how the readers to navigate and use them. Allof the subsequent notes make reference, be they direct or implied to this core guide; itis therefore imperative that anyone seeking to use these guides mustbe fully conversant with whatis contained within this note. Allof the guidance notes in this series have an icon based navigation system designed toaid thereader. ‘The current codes of practice used in the UK are the Eurocodes. The design assumations, criteria and terminology used throughout these documents are explained in this note. These explanations serve as a reference to all subsequent notes, as they make regular reference tothe terms and concepts that are defined below. Definition of Terms and Concepts ‘The following principles are the core components of design of structural ‘loments. They are the basis fram which all design is carried out. Many of the terms listed below are also found in Eurocode ~ Basis of Structural Design, whichis. ‘sometimes referred to as Eurocode 0 ‘Action: nthe most simplistic of terms, an ‘action isa load that is applied toa structure, Itean also however be an effect on the structure via an external source. Examples of such sources include; change in temperature, differential settiement of foundations, ‘earthquakes and moisture variation. Limit State Design: Limit state design isthe ‘guiding principle upon which allof the current codes of practice are based. The concept ‘centres on the placing ofan extremis upon a structure and all actions that are placed upon it during its design working life should not ‘exceed this defined point. Ultimate Limit State: The utimate init state, sometimes abbreviated to ULS, is the point at which a structure wil collapse when ‘subjected to actions that cause ito exceed this limit These actions are multiied by partial factors that are defined in Eurocode 0. ‘Serviceabilty Limit State: The serviceabilly limit state, sometimes abbreviated to SLS, is adefined point at which the structure {ails to comaly with pre-defined criteria, ‘These citeria are normally related to the movement ofthe structure that occurs aftr it is subjected to an action. These movernents ‘can be ofthe structure as a whole or ‘elements within it eg, the mid-span vertical deflection of a simply supported beam. Equilibrium: Equilbrium is an analysis state that checks for instabilities within a structure. Itis designated as "EQU within the Eurocodes and has its own set of partial {actors that are applied to loads for when ‘equilbrium analysis s being carried out Local Geometric Axes: The nomenclature for the local axes to structural elements has been standardised within the Eurocodes, ‘This notation is detined as follows: ‘Local to element horizontal axs or Minor ‘Axis’ designated as ‘7-2 ‘Local to element vertical axis or Major Axis fs designated as yy 3 Aopledorcice E- Workadexaneie ICON LEGEND ‘Local to element axial or Torsion Axis’ is dosignated as x! ‘See Figure I for further clarification on the ‘geometric axis notation protocot Design Assumptions and Criteria ‘There are a set of key design assumptions and criteria described within the Eurocodes that structures are subject to. They must be referred and adhered to when carrying out any analysis and design of structures. ‘Competency: All design and construction of the structure is to be carried out by people with the appropriate level of skill and ‘experience,wwwthestructuralengineerorg Supervision: Adequate supervision must be provided to all personnel who are involved with the design and construction ofthe structure, Maintenance and usage: The structure shall be maintained and used in a manner that is in accordance with the design assumptions. Materials: The materials used to build the structure willbe in accordance with relevant ‘cades of practice and manufacturer's ‘specifications. Design life: All structures have a design le period. The designer must take this into account when considering any element Within a structure in terms ofits ability to achieve that design Ife period. The relevant UK National Annex lists 5 categories for design ife of structures, They are reproduced in Table 1 below: Ss [perenartoaae ited ager estegores 2 08 “Tabo 1 Design fe categories from Table NA21 ‘of UK National Annexe te Eurocode - Basis of ‘Structural Desion Essentialinformation ‘As part of the design process, an expected level of information is required to be produced and shared by the designer of the structure within any given project. What follows are descriptions of what design information is typically expected to be elvered, It must be noted that this is not an ‘exhaustive list Design loads:The designer must describe What loads the structure has been designed for. This then communicated to the rest ‘of the design team and the end user so that they know what loads the design of the structure has been based on. From ths they can then have a good understanding of what limits have been imposed upon room use, ‘eg. where itis possible to use a room for storage. Structural member sizes and location ll load bearing elements within a structure must be sized and located. Thisinchides lintels for ‘openings within non-oad bearing masonry al, as although the element they are installed within is nondac bearing, the line itself. Environmental protection: The primary methods by which elements of the structure are tobe protected against environmental effects eg. moisture, are specified by the designer of the structure. An example of this would be the corrosion protection coating to steel elements. Note that this does not include secondary and tertiary methods of protection, such as damp proot membranes within floor slabs, Fire resistance requirements: All elements within a structure that require additonal fre- resistance thats over and above what tis inherently able to resist, mast be highighted. ‘A.g00d example ofthis isa steol column that requires some form of fire-resistant material applied to it Note thatitis rot the requirement fof the designer of the structure to determine the form of fir protection; they mast only highight what needs to be protected. Materials: A description of the materials, used within the structure is normally included within the specification. This ‘document describes the materials that are to be used to buld the structure and the standards they are expected to meet Examples of such materials include concrete mix, steel grade and timber type and strength class. re) mets cs « structural design are as folows: BS EN 1990: Eurocode Basis of Structural Design BS EN 1990: UK National Annex to Eurocode: Basis of Structural Design Ec Each subsequent guidance note willinclude a worked example that seeks to explain further the concepts defined within it This particular note however acts as mare of an aid to those reading ll ofthe other guides, land as such does nat include such an example. Itis important that these notes are navigated correctly, Crucially, they must not be treated as a replacement for codes ‘of practice. They are guides that aid the reader in the design of structures. With this in mind, they have been developed to 41 | ‘sive a curtalled instruction on aspects of structural engineering design practices. ‘The reader is therefore urged to use these ‘ides in conjunction with the current codes of practice. With regard to navigation, the guidance notes are published in an approximate order of increasing complexity. A higher level (, 2073) denotes a significant increase in ‘complexity from the previous level Figure 2 ‘explains this systom as well asthe reliance ‘on prior knowledge of the guides: example Glossary: The ist below is of terms used in this Technical Guidance Note, Allnotes wil have such a ist to aid the reader. Code of Practice - A set of rules that need 10 be fallowed in order to complete a task to achieve an appropriate standard. In the UK, the British Standards Institute authors ‘and distbutes the codes of practice for the design of structures. Eurocodes - A sot of European-wide codes ‘of practice for the design of both building and cil engineering structures. Technical Guidance Note - A brief guide on ccore aspects ofthe design of structures and the elements they are built from Further Reading Manual or the design of building structures to Eurocode 1 and Basis ff Structural Design Institution of Structural Engineers - April 2010 For more information on ths subject, please Visit the lstitution’s website: ‘www istructe.org/knowledge/tibrary