Reinforced and Prestressed Concrete

F.K. Kong, R.H. Evans

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2017
• eBook ISBN: 9781351990851
• Edition: 3
• Topic: Architecture
• Subtopic: Architecture Methods & Materials

This highly successful textbook has been comprehensively revised for two main reasons: to bring the book up-to-date and make it compatible with BS8110 1985; and to take into account the increasing use made of microcomputers in civil engineering. An important new chapter on microcomputer applications has been added.

Chapter 1
Limit state design concepts

Preliminary note: Readers interested only in structural design to BS 8110 may concentrate on the following sections:

1. Section 1.2: Limit state design philosophy.
2. Section 1.4: Characteristic strengths and loads.
3. Section 1.5: Partial safety factors.

1.1 The aims of structural design

This book is concerned with reinforced and prestressed concrete, and since structural engineering is dominated by design, it is appropriate to begin by stating the aims of structural design and briefly describing the processes by which the structural engineer seeks to achieve them [1].

There are three main aims in structural design. First, the structure must be safe, for society demands security in the structures it inhabits. Second, the structure must fulfil its intended purpose during its intended life span. Third, the structure must be economical with regard to first cost and to maintenance costs; indeed, most design decisions are, implicitly or explicitly, economic decisions.

A structural project is initiated by the client, who states his requirements of the structure. His requirements are usually vague, because he is not aware of the possibilities and limitations of structural engineering. In fact, his most important requirements are often not explicitly stated. For example, he will assume that the structure will be safe and that it will remain serviceable during its intended life. The process of structural design begins with the engineer’s appreciation of the client’s requirements. After collecting and assimilating relevant facts, he develops concepts of general structural schemes, appraises them, and then, having considered the use of materials and the erection methods, he makes the important decision of choosing the final structural scheme—after consultations with the client if necessary. This is followed by a full structural analysis and detailed design, which are often collectively referred to as structural design and which form the subject matter of this book. Having checked, through such analysis and design, that the final structure is adequate under service conditions and during erection, the engineer then issues the specifications and detail drawings to the contractor. These documents are the engineer’s instructions to the contractor, who will erect the structure under the engineer’s supervision.

In the detailed analysis and design, and indeed in the appraisal of the overall structural scheme, the engineer is guided by codes of practice, which are compendia of good practice drawn up by experienced engineers. Codes of practice are intended as guides to the engineer and should be used as such; they should never be allowed to replace his conscience and competence. Finally, while the engineer should strive to achieve good design and be creative, he must appreciate the dangers inherent in revolutionary concepts; ample experience in the past and in recent times has shown that uncommon designs or unfamiliar constructional methods do increase the risk of failures.

1.2 Limit state design philosophy

The philosophy of limit state design was developed mainly by the Comité Européen du Béton (CEB) and the Fédération Internationale de la Précontrainte (FIP), and is gaining international acceptance [2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7]. As stated in Section 1.1, a structure must be designed to sustain safely the loads and deformations which may occur during construction and in use, and should have adequate durability...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Preface
• Notation
• 1 Limit state design concepts
• 2 Properties of structural concrete
• 3 Axially loaded reinforced concrete columns
• 4 Reinforced concrete beams—the ultimate limit state
• 5 Reinforced concrete beams—the serviceability limit states
• 6 Shear, bond and torsion
• 7 Eccentrically loaded columns and slender columns
• 8 Reinforced concrete slabs and yield-line analysis
• 9 Prestressed concrete simple beams
• 10 Prestressed concrete continuous beams
• 11 Practical design and detailing (in collaboration with Dr B. Mayfield, University of Nottingham)
• 12 Computer programs (in collaboration with Dr H. H. A. Wong, Ove Arup and Partners, London)
• Appendix 1 How to order the program listings and the floppy disks
• Appendix 2 Design tables and charts
• Index