CSE 30310 Design of

Concrete Structures
Lecture 1: Introduction
Dr Muhammad Riaz Ahmad
[email protected]
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering 1
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Subject Information

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 Prof Yuner Huang (Subject Lecturer)
Work Experience
Associate Professor (2025-present), PolyU, Hong Kong
Honorary Lecturer (2025-present), University of Edinburgh, UK
Senior Lecturer (2022-2024), University of Edinburgh, UK
Lecturer (2015-2022), University of Edinburgh, UK
Education
BEng & Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (2009, 2013), University of Hong Kong
Professional Membership
Member, Institution of Civil Engineers (CEng MICE)
Member, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (MASME)
Fellow, Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
Hometown
Foshan - hometown of ceramic art, Cantonese opera, and martial arts

[email protected], ZS931 3
 Dr. Riaz (Subject Lecturer)
Work Experience

Research Assistant Professor (2023-present), PolyU, Hong Kong

Visiting Researcher (2022-2023), University of Tokyo, Japan

Post-Doctorate Fellow (2021-2023), PolyU, Hong Kong

Education

Ph.D, Civil Engineering (2021), Shanghai Jiao Tong University,

BSc & MSc in Civil Engineering (2013, 2017), UET Lahore,

Contact Information:
Z407A, ([email protected])
More information at

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Contact information for Tutors

Miss Peilin LI Mr Chen WU Dr Qiuyun LI Dr Yazan ALREFAEI

(Tutorials in Week 3 & 5; (Tutorials in Week 7 & 9; (Tutorials in Week 11 & 13; (Laboratory)
Assignment 1) Assignment 2) Assignment 2)
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

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Learning outcomes

1. Acquire basic knowledge on the design concepts and

detailing techniques of the slabs, beams, columns,
walls & foundations of reinforced concrete structures;

2. Understand the basic design principles of prestressed

concrete beams;

3. Carry out practical design of concrete elements

according to code requirement & communicate
logically and lucidly through construction drawings
and calculations;
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Learning outcomes (Cont.)

4. Appreciate the performance of concrete structures

through design calculations and lab tests and
understand the limitations of design assumptions
through the lab tests;

5. Recognize the need for, and to engage in life-long

learning

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Assessment methods

1. Course work 30% including

• Assignments (10%)
• Quiz and Mid-term test (10%)
• Lab Report (5%)
• Seminar Report (5%)

2. Examination (Final examination 70%)

Note: Student must attain at least Grade D in both course work and
examination in order to pass the course as a whole. Late
submission is not allowed.
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Teaching Activities

Detailed timetable can be found in Teaching Plan

(Read carefully!
Note the Public Holiday arrangement in W11 & 13)

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Teaching Activities

Learning
Cone
Lectures

Tutorials & Lab!!

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Teaching Activities

Attending lectures, tutorials & labs are

CRUCIAL for getting good scores in this
course.

Directly impact your course enrolment in

Design Project for Civil Engineering in year 4
as part of pre-requisites, and thus your
graduation.

We will take attendance in lectures & tutorials

(submit handwritten worksheets in person
during tutorial).
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1. Introduction
2. Structural Systems
3. Loads in Structural systems
4. Properties of Reinforced Concrete
5. Types of Concrete

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1. Introduction

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Introduction
Construction Materials
Various substances or products used in the building and construction industry to create
structures and infrastructure.
Concrete is the most widely used construction material globally.

Worldwide cement production (2016)

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Introduction
Concrete Statistics

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Introduction
Plain Cement Concrete (PCC) Mixture of cement , sand and coarse aggregate
without any reinforcement is known as PCC.
PCC is strong in compression and week in
tension. Its tensile strength is so small that it
can be neglected in design.

No Steel Reinforcement in PCC 16

Introduction
Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) Mixture of cement , sand and coarse aggregate
with reinforcement is known as RCC. (Tensile
strength is improved)

Steel Reinforcement in RCC 17

Introduction
Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs): SCMs are materials used as a partial
replacement of portland cement to improve both fresh and hardened concrete properties.

SCMs can be from natural sources or

industrial byproducts and have lower
environmental impact than Portland
cement.
Types of SCMs
• Fly ash
• Slag
• Calcined Clay
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SCMs • Silica Fume
Introduction
Why we need Reinforcement in concrete?
Plain cement concrete is strong in compression and weak in tension. This means that while it
can withstand heavy loads pressing down on it, it is not as effective at resisting forces that try
to pull it apart or bend it.

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Introduction
Why we need Reinforced cement concrete?

Advantages of reinforcement
Plane cement concrete is weak in tension 1. Tensile Strength
2. Crack Control
3. Ductility
4. Load Distribution
5. Durability
6. Structural Integrity

Reinforced cement concrete is provide additional tensile 20

strength
Introduction

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Introduction (Civil Engineering Infrastructures)

Buildings Bridges Dams

Easa, S.M.; Yan, W.Y. Performance-Based Analysis in Civil Engineering: Overview of 22

Applications. Infrastructures 2019, 4, 28.
https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures4020028
Introduction (Civil Engineering Infrastructures)

Tunnels Roads/Pavements

Easa, S.M.; Yan, W.Y. Performance-Based Analysis in Civil Engineering: Overview of 23

Applications. Infrastructures 2019, 4, 28.
https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures4020028
 Introduction (Civil Engineering Infrastructures)
Concrete structures are the foundation of modern civilization. They are extensively used in buildings,
bridges, roads, dams, floating structure, and tunnels.

Burj Khalifa, 828 m Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge US Highway 1

(a) Buildings (b) Bridges (c) Road/highways

The Lærdal Tunnel

Three Gorges Dam, 181 m Floating Ports and Villas

(d) Dams (e) Floating structures (f) Tunnels
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Introduction (Failure in RCC structures)
Collapse of a bridge

Building collapse

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Introduction (Failure in RCC structures)
Collapse of whole buildings Failure of Beam-Column Joints

Corrosion in buildings

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 Introduction (Natural Disaster)

Si-Chuan Earthquake (2008), Turkey Earthquake (2023)

150 B USD, Casualities (88,708) (34 B USD, Casualities 59,259)

Tohoku Earthquake (2023), Pakistan Flood (2010)

50 B USD , Casualities 2,000, 33 m people effected
360 B USD, Casualities 19,759 ) 27
Introduction
Building Collapse（Hong Kong） (29-01-2010）

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Introduction

What are the reasons

for RCC structure
failures?

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Introduction
What are the reasons for RCC structure failures?
1. Design Errors
2. Poor Construction Practices
3. Material Deficiencies
4. Corrosion of Reinforcement
5. Overloading
6. Environmental Factors
7. Lack of Maintenance
8. Foundation Issues
9. Fatigue and Wear

How to achieve a safe design of RC structures? 30

2. Overview of structural systems

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Basic structural systems
Reinforced concrete building elements

Primary functions of building systems is to support gravity loads for strength and serviceability during:
1. Normal use (service) conditions; (regular occupancy and use of the structure on day-to-day basis)
2. Maximum considered use condition; (during events such as concerts or gatherings e.g, stadiums)
3. Environmental loading of varying intensities. (wind, snow, seismic activity) 32
Basic structural systems
Load Transfer mechanism

Function of structure is to transfer all the loads safely to ground.

A particular structural member transfers load to other structural member. 33
Basic structural systems

Deflections
Vertical deflection (sag) Lateral deflection (sway)
Dead, imposed etc. Wind, earthquake

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Basic structural systems
Beam element
Defn: Members subject to bending and shear
V
M L M

V E,I,A

Column element
Defn: Members subject to bending, shear, and axial
V

F L F

V E,I,A
M M 35
Basic structural systems
Slab/plate element
Defn: Members subject to bi-directional bending & shear

One-way Slab

Two-way Slab 36
Basic structural systems
Wall/diaphragm element
Defn: Members subject to shear

Shear wall subjected to lateral loads

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German Cast In Situ Technology, precast technology Hyderabad - Janapriya.com
Basic structural systems

Structural systems
Floor system: Lateral load system:
 Flat plate
• Flat plate (& slab)-column
(w and w/o drop panels and/or capitals)
 Flat slab (w/ drop
frame systems
panels and/or capitals) • Beam-column frame systems
 One-way joist system • Shear wall systems
 Two-way waffle system
(building frame and bearing wall)
• Dual systems
(frame and shear walls)

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Basic structural systems
Floor systems

Flat Plate Floor System

Flat Plate w/Spandrel Beam Floor System

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Beam-slab system
Basic structural systems

Plan Elevation

Flat slab floor system One way-joist floor system

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Basic structural systems

Waffle slab floor system, PolyU

Waffle slab floor system

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Basic structural systems
Frame: Coplanar or a non-coplanar system of beam (or slab) and column
elements dominated by flexural deformation

Gravity Load Lateral Loading

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Basic structural systems

One-way slab system two-way slab system

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Basic structural systems
Frame lateral load systems

Flat plate systems are normally less effective in resisting the lateral load system. A
wider slab provides additional stiffness and rigidity to the system, which can
enhance its resistance to lateral load and also increase torsional resistance of
structure. 44
Basic structural systems

Shear wall lateral load systems Dual lateral load systems

In frame lateral load systems, the lateral load
resistance can be enhanced by configuring elevator
shaft or by providing shear walls within the structure.
They provide additional stiffness and strength to
resist lateral forces and can enhance the lateral
resistance of the lateral load system.
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4. Loads in structural systems

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Loads in structural systems
Types of loads

Gravity: Lateral:
1. Dead; 1. Wind;
2. Imposed; 2. Earthquake;
3. Soil lateral pressure;
3. Impact;
4. Thermal;
4. Snow; 5. Centrifugal.
5. Ice; ……
6. Rain/floods.
…….

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Loads in structural systems
Loads

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Loads in structural systems
Definition of characteristic load
‘Characteristic load’ means that load which has a 95% probability of not being
exceeded, during the life of the structure.

Using Characteristic Load in Design

1. Determining the Characteristic Load:
2. Applying Load Factors:
3. Calculating the Design Load: 49
4. Structural Analysis and Design:
5. Properties of Reinforced
Concrete

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Properties of concrete
Stress Strain Curve of Concrete

Crushing
Stress
fc’ 0.85fc’

0.4 fc’

0.0028 to 0.0045,
generally 0.0035 Strain
•The first portion of curve, to about 40% of the ultimate strength fc’, can be
considered linear

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Properties of concrete
Modulus of Elasticity
Concrete is not an elastic material therefore it does not have a fixed value of modulus
of elasticity

Initial tangent
Modulus (Ecq)
Tangent Modulus

Stress EC = (1.25Ecq -19) kN/mm2

Secant or static Modulus (Ec)

Strain
Tangent and Secant Moduli of Concrete 52
Properties of concrete
Characteristic strength of concrete
Characteristic strength is defined as that level of strength below which a specified proportion
of all valid test results is expected to fail. Unless otherwise stated, this proportion is taken to
be 5%.

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Properties of concrete
Development of concrete strength

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Properties of steel
Reinforcing steel bars
Steel bars are:
Plain
Deformed (currently in use)
Deformed bars have longitudinal and transverse ribs. Ribs provide a good bond
between steel and concrete. If this bond fails steel becomes in effective.
The most important properties for reinforcing steel are:

Young's modulus, E
Yield strength, fy
Ultimate strength, fu
Size and diameter of bar

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Properties of steel
Reinforcing steel characteristics Amount of stress that will result
in a plastic strain of 0.2%
Yield stress

Proof stress

Stress
Stress

Strain 0.002 Strain

(a) Hot rolled steel (Mild steel) (b) Cold worked steel (High-yield steel)
Stress-strain curves for reinforcing steel
The characteristics of steel are
1. Mild steel behaves as an elastic material, with the strain proportional to the stress up to the yield, at which point there is
a sudden increase in strain with no change in stress. After the yield point, this becomes a plastic material, and the strain
increases rapidly up to the ultimate value.
2. High yield steel may behave in a similar manner or may, on the other hand, not have such a definite yield point but may
show a more gradual change from elastic to plastic behaviour and reduced ductility depending on the manufacturing
process. All materials have a similar slope of the elastic region with elastic modulus Es=200 kN/mm2 approximately.

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Properties of steel
Grade
500

Stre Grade
ss 250

For hot rolled steel

bars

Strain

Short-term design stress-strain curve

for steel reinforcement (HK2013)

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Properties of reinforced concrete (Shrinkage)
Shrinkage is reduction in volume of concrete due to loss of water
Excessive shrinkage can be avoided by proper curing during first 28 days because half of the total
shrinkage takes place during this period.

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Properties of reinforced concrete (Shrinkage)
Calculate Shrinkage Stresses in Concrete for
(a) Restrained by reinforcement only

(b) Fully Restrained

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Properties of concrete
Reinforcement restrains shrinkage movement and generate
tension in concrete

When cracking occurs, the uncracked lengths of concrete try to contract so that the
embedded steel between cracks is in compression while the steel across the cracks
is in tension. This feature is accompanied by localised bond breakdown, adjacent
to each crack.
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Concrete creep and shrinkage calculator - Strusoft
Properties of concrete
“Creep is the continuous deformation of material over considerable lengths of time at
constant stress or load”

Development of creep deformation with time affects deflections and crack widths

The characteristics of creep are

1. The final deformation of the member can be three to four times the short-term elastic deformation.
2. The deformation is roughly proportional to the load intensity and to the inverse of concrete strength.
3. If the load is removed, only the elastic deformation will recover – the plastic deformation will not.
4. There is a redistribution of load between the concrete and any steel present
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6. Advantages and Disadvantages
of Reinforced Concrete

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Advantages of Reinforced Concrete
 Suitability of material for architectural and structural function
◦ Concrete place in plastic condition - desired shape & texture can be obtained
with forms and finishing techniques.
◦ Designer can choose shape and size.
 Fire Resistance: Concrete building have 1-3 hour fire rating with no fire proofing
(steel and timber require fireproofing to obtain this rating)
 Rigidity: Greater stiffness & mass reduces oscillations (wind), floor vibrations
(walking)
 Low Maintenance
 Availability of Materials: Sand, gravel, cement, water & concrete mixing
facilities widely available; Reinforcement - easy to transport as compared to
structural steel
 Good bonding between the steel and concrete
 Less chance of buckling

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Disadvantages of Reinforced Concrete
 Low tensile strength -0.1 fc; cracking if not properly reinforced.
 Forms and Shoring (additional steps).
◦ Construction of forms; Removal of forms; Prepping (or shoring) the new
concrete to support weight until strength is adequate; Labor/Materials cost not
required for other types of materials.
 Strength per unit volume is relatively low.
◦ fc ~ (5-10% of steel); greater volume required.
 Time-dependent volume changes.
◦ Concrete undergoes drying shrinkage, which may cause deflections and
cracking.
◦ Creep of concrete under sustained loads causes an increase in deflection
with time.
 Increased self weight
large cross-section is required only to resist self weight, making structure
costly
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7. Types of Concrete

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Types of concrete
• Ready-mixed concrete • Polymer concrete
• High-performance concrete • Shotcrete
• Self-compacting concrete • Internal curing concrete
• Roller-compacted concrete • Self healing concrete
• Structural lightweight concrete • Self cleaning concrete
• Fiber-reinforced concrete • Recycled concrete
• Engineering cementitious • Autoclaved cellular concrete
composites • Geopolymer
• Seawater sea-sand concrete
• 3D printing concrete

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 Self-compacting concrete (SCC)
✓ SCC is a highly workable concrete that can flow through densely reinforced and
complex structural elements under its own weight and adequately fill all voids
without segregation, excessive bleeding, excessive air migration, and the need for
vibration or other mechanical consolidation.
✓ The highly flowable nature of SCC is due to very careful mix proportioning,
usually replacing much of the coarse aggregate with fines and cement, and adding
chemical admixtures.

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https://youtu.be/M38gamAlxt0
 Fiber-reinforced concrete
✓ Fibres are added to concrete to control cracking caused by plastic shrinkage and
drying shrinkage.
✓ The addition of small closely spaced and uniformly dispersed fibres will act as crack
arresters and enhance the tensile, fatigue, impact, and abrasion resistance of
concrete. They also reduce the permeability of concrete.
✓ Though the flexural strength may increase marginally, fibres cannot totally replace
flexural steel reinforcement.

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Engineered cementitious composites

✓ ECC are a special type of high-performance fiber reinforcement cementitious composites

(HPFRCC) that has been micro-structurally tailored based on micro-mechanics.
✓ ECC is systematically engineered to achieve high ductility under tensile and shear
loading.
✓ By employing material design based on micro-mechanics, it can achieve maximum
ductility in excess of three per cent under uniaxial tensile loading with only two per cent
fibre content by volume.

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3D printing concrete
3D printing is revolutionary technology, that
allows for the faster fabrication of custom-
designed and complex concrete structures.

The process of concrete printing is completed

layer-by-layer and controlled by the blueprints
or digital models from a computer.

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End of Lecture

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