CIE3340-15 – Building Structures 1 – 2017/2018

BASIC DESIGN RULES for

simplified calculations in
 Steel
 Concrete
 Timber
 Masonry
 Glass

Based on Eurocode

Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences

CIE3340-15 – Building Structures 1 – 2017/2018

Basic design rules

1. Structural Mechanics

Rules of thumb: Quick Reference (QR) p. gm5

2. Steel

2.1 Rules of thumb: QR pp. sd1-sd5

2.2 Material properties: QR p. sb2

2.3 Simplified calculation formulas:

𝑁𝐸𝑑
 Axial tensile force: 𝜎𝑡,𝑑 = 𝐴
≤ 𝑓𝑦;𝑑

𝑁𝐸𝑑
 Axial compressive force: 𝜎𝑐,𝑑 = 𝐴
≤ 𝑓𝑦;𝑑 × 𝜔𝑏𝑢𝑐

Take as a rule of thumb for this course for ωbuc: (see also QR pp sd10-11)
1,0 if buckling is not reasonable
0,75 if lbuc/b=18 (for HE-profiles)
0,5 if lbuc/b=25 (for HE-profiles)

𝑀
 Bending: 𝑊×𝜔 𝑑 ≤ 𝑓𝑦;𝑑 with ωlatbuc =1,0 (it is assumed that there is lateral support)
𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑏𝑢𝑐

𝑉𝑑 𝑓𝑦;𝑑
 Shear: 𝜏𝑑 = 𝐴 ≤ √3
𝑤𝑒𝑏

1,1×𝑀𝑑 1,1×𝑁𝐸𝑑
 Combination of compression and bending: 𝑊
+ 𝐴×𝜔 ≤ 𝑓𝑦;𝑑
𝑏𝑢𝑐

 Combinations with large shear forces are not included.

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CIE3340-15 – Building Structures 1 – 2017/2018

Basic design rules

3. Timber:

3.1 Rules of thumb: QR pp. td1-td7

Addition to rules of thumb for timber for dimensioning of timber structures

Sawn timber, is applied up to lengths of 5 meter, maximum depth (height) approximately

300 mm.
The thickness is approximately ½ - ¼ of the depth.
Most important applications: As purlins in roof structures, in floors up to 5 meters span and
as verticals and horizontals in timber frame wall elements.

Laminated timber, is applied when larger elements are necessary. Dimensions are limited
because of transport. For an effective cross section mostly a thickness of 1/6-1/8 of the
depth is applied. However, when a specific project requires different dimensions this can be
adjusted, so for instance 200 x 400 mm is also possible

For columns the dimension in the direction where buckling is evaluated can be taken as 1/20
of the buckling length. This dimension is therefore dependent from the lateral support
against buckling in both directions.

Bracings can be applied as timber beams, but also as steel strips.

Connections
For connections between timber elements steel fasteners are applied, mostly working as
dowels to transfer a shear load. This can be steel bolts, but also nails or screws, often in
combination with steel plates.
With timber structures it should be taken into account that there is more space needed for
the fasteners than with steel structures because the capacity per bolt/screw is lower than in
a steel/steel connections, and the spacings between the fasteners (and the end distances)
has to be bigger to prevent splitting of the timber.

To get insight in the possibilities of connections it is useful to evaluate how connections in

timber have been applied in built projects.

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Basic design rules

3.2 Material properties: QR p. tb2

For sawn timber it is common to use strength class C24. The number 24 is related to the
characteristic value (5%-value) of the bending strength. To get the design value a
modification factor for load duration and climate class and a material factor have to be
applied. For short term loads it can be assumed that the deign value is approximately 0.7
times the characteristic value. For glued laminated timber strength class GL 24h is common.

So:
C24:
fm,0,d =24*0,7 = 16,8 N/mm2 (bending strength)
fc,0,d =21*0,7 = 14,7 N/mm2 (compression strength parallel to the grain)
E0,mean = 11000 N/mm2 (mean modulus of elasticity)

GL24h
fm,0,d =24*0,7 = 16,8 N/mm2 (bending strength)
fc,0,d =24*0,7 = 16,8 N/mm2 (compression strength parallel to the grain)
E0,mean = 11600 N/mm2 (mean modulus of elasticity)

3.3 Simplified Calculation formulas: b

𝑁𝐸𝑑
 Axial tensile force: 𝜎𝑡;0;𝑑 = 𝐴
≤ 𝑓𝑡;0;𝑑
𝑁𝐸𝑑
 Axial compressive force: 𝜎𝑐;0;𝑑 = 𝐴
≤ 𝑓𝑐;0;𝑑 × 𝑘𝑐

Take as a rule of thumb for this course for ωbuc: (see also QR
h
pp sd10-11)
1,0 if buckling is not reasonable ( lbuc/b < 7 )
0,75 if lbuc/b=15 (for square profiles)
0,5 if lbuc/b=24 (for square profiles)
lbuc is the unsupported length (buckling length) of the column

𝑀
 Bending: 𝑊×𝜔 𝑑 ≤ 𝑓𝑚;𝑜;𝑑 with ωlatbuc =1,0 (it is assumed that there is lateral
𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑏𝑢𝑐
support)

3𝑉𝑑
Shear: 𝜏𝑑 = 2𝐴 ≤ 𝑓𝑣;𝑑 (for square profile, usually not determining)
𝑤𝑒𝑏

 Combinations of forces are not included in simplified design calculations

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CIE3340-15 – Building Structures 1 – 2017/2018

Basic design rules

4. Concrete:

4.1 Rules of thumb:

 QR p. cd1
 Slab: d= 1/25-1/35*l
 Beam: h=1/10-1/15*l

4.2 Material properties: QR pp. cb2-cb3

4.3 Simplified Calculation formulas:

𝑁𝐸𝑑
 Axial Compressive force: 𝐴𝑐 ≥ 𝑓𝑐𝑑
× (1,0 𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑙 1,5)

Take a minimum value of 1,0 if there is no chance of buckling, second order and bending moment
Take about 1,5 for a maximum slenderness of: lbuc/b≤15 and for some type of joints in prefab

𝑀 𝑁𝑠
 Bending - indication reinforcement: 𝑁𝑠 = 0,75ℎ
𝑑
𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐴𝑠 = 𝑓𝑠
𝑠𝐴
𝜌 = 𝑏×𝑑 × 100% (economic value for beams 0,8% ≤ ρ ≤ 1,2%)

𝑀
 Bending – aiming for approximately 1% reinforcement: 𝑏∙𝑑𝐸𝑑2 ≤ 4000

𝑉
 Shear: 𝑣𝐸𝑑 = 𝑏×𝑑
𝐸𝑑

If 𝑣𝐸𝑑 ≤ 𝑣𝑅𝑑,𝑐 : only practical shear reinforcement is needed.

If 𝑣𝑅𝑑,𝑐 ≤ 𝑣𝐸𝑑 ≤ 𝑣𝑅𝑑,𝑚𝑎𝑥 : shear reinforcement is needed,
usually 0,4𝑁/𝑚𝑚2 ≤ 𝑣𝐸𝑑 ≤ 5 𝑁/𝑚𝑚2
For walls and floors shear reinforcement need to be avoided

 Combinations of forces are not included in simplified design calculations

 Deformations: Ec,eff = 0,33*Ecm

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Basic design rules

5. Masonry:

5.1 Rule of thumb for load bearing wall:

t = 0,01 h2 ≥ 10 cm (with t = thickness of wall and h = unsupported height of the wall)

5.2 Material properties:

 See table 3.3 of Chapter 3 for representative values of compressive strength. If
representative values of brick and mortar are not known assume f k;brick = 10 N/mm2
and fk;mortar=5 N/mm2.
 For clay brick masonry with limited number of perforations then: f k;masonry = 4 N/mm2
 See table 3.5 for flexural strength. Standard use fxk1 = 0,2 N/mm2 and fxk2=0,8 N/mm2
 fvko= 0,2 N/mm2 for standard masonry
 See table 3.4 for safety factors. Standard for structures in CC2 and bricks with limited
perforations: γ = 1,7
 Young’s modulus: 𝐸 = 700𝑓𝑘

5.3 Simplified calculation formulas:

 Compression: 𝑁𝑑 ≤ 𝐴 ∙ 𝜔𝑏𝑢𝑐 ∙ 𝑓𝑑

With 𝜔𝑏𝑢𝑐 =: 0,8 if slenderness h/t < 10;

0,6 if slenderness h/t < 15;
0,4 if slenderness h/t < 20
0,2 if slenderness h/t < 25. Slenderness h/t > 25 is not advised

Pure bending (in combination with limited axial load):

𝑀𝑑
≤ 𝑓𝑥𝑑,𝑎𝑝𝑝
𝑊𝑒𝑙

𝑁𝑑
𝑓𝑥𝑑,𝑎𝑝𝑝 = 𝑓𝑥𝑑,1 +
𝐴

 Method with apparent flexural strength is only allowed when failure of the specific
element doesn’t lead to disproportionate damage.
 When axial load is high, method with eccentricities needs to be used (see 6.1.2.2 of
NEN-EN 1996-1-1)
CIE3340-15 – Building Structures 1 – 2017/2018

Basic design rules

Combination compression and bending (when no initial flexural strength is assumed):

𝑀𝑑 𝑁𝑑
= 0,5𝛼(1 − 1,1𝛼), 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝛼 =
𝑏 × ℎ2 × 𝑓𝑑 𝑏 × ℎ × 𝑓𝑑

Shear:
𝑓𝑣𝑘 = 𝑓𝑣𝑘𝑜 + 0,4𝜎𝑑

𝑉𝑑 ≤ 𝑓𝑣𝑑 × 𝑡 × 𝑙𝑐 with lc is compressed part of the wall (see fig. 3.17 from reader).
CIE3340-15 – Building Structures 1 – 2017/2018

Basic design rules

6. Glass

6.1 Rule of thumb

For fins and beams:
 tglass; init= 3* 10 mm laminated glass
 h=1/10-1/15*l
For roofs:
 tglass;init = 8.8.2 ( 2 layers of laminated glass with 2 layers of PvB) for spans up to 2,0m,.
dependent on supports and accessibility for people.

6.2 Material properties

 E=70 GPa
 𝑓𝑐;𝑑 = 200 𝑁/𝑚𝑚2
 𝑓𝑡;𝑑 = 20 N/mm2 for annealed (6 N/mm2 long term)
40 N/mm2 for heat-strengthened
80 N/mm2 for fully-tempered
 Density: 2520 kg/m3

6.3 Simplified calculation formulas

Equivalent thickness for laminated glass elements (for strength and deformation
calculations):
3
𝑡 ∗ = √𝑡13 + 𝑡23 + 𝑡33 +. . .

Requirements deformation
Allowable deformation of a member
 l/100 for feasibility
 l/200 for serviceability (important for connecting members)

Bending:
𝑀𝑑
≤ 𝑓𝑡;𝑑 (when lateral support is provided)
𝑊𝑒𝑙

𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑊𝑒𝑙 = 1/6 × 𝑏 × ℎ2 , for glass slabs h=t*

 CIE3340-15 – Building Structures 1 – 2017/2018

Basic design rules

Column with axial compressive force (with probability of buckling):

 𝐹𝑑 < 0,25 𝐹𝑐𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙
𝜋 2 𝐸𝐼
𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ: 𝐹𝑐𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 =
(𝑛𝐿)2
Where,
Fcritical = maximum vertical load on column
E = Young’s modulus
I = area moment of inertia of the cross section along the weakest axis
L = unsupported length of column
n = column effective length factor, dependant on support conditions:

n=1 if both ends are pinned (hinged)

n= 0.5 if both ends are fixed
n = 0.7 if one end is fixed and one is pinned
n= 2 if one end is fixed and the other is free to move laterally