SAB 4333/ SAM 4314/ SAA 4344 1

FINAL EXAMINATION
SEMESTER II, SESSION 2011/2012
COURSE CODE

SAB 4333/ SAM 4314/ SAA 4344

COURSE

REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN 2

PROGRAMME

SAW

DURATION

3 HOURS

DATE

JUNE, 2012

INSTRUCTION TO CANDIDATES:
1.

ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS FROM SECTION A, ANY ONE QUESTION

FROM SECTION B AND ANY ONE QUESTION FROM SECTION C

2.

ALL SOLUTIONS SHOULD BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH MS EN 1990,

MS EN 1991 and MS EN 1992-1-1

3.

REINFORCEMENT DETAILING AND RELATED DRAWING/ SKETCH

MUST BE SHOWN FOR CORRESPONDING SOLUTION, IF ANY.

WARNING!
Students caught copying/cheating during the examination will be liable for
disciplinary actions and the faculty may recommend the student to be expelled from
the study.
This examination question consists of (8) printed pages only.

SAB 4333/ SAM 4314/ SAA 4344 2

SECTION A : ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS

A1.

Generally the shear force in a column is small and always neglected in design.
However, almost all reinforced concrete columns are provided with lateral ties
or links. Briefly explain why it is necessary to provide links in a column?
Explain also the requirements of links based on EN 1992.
(8 marks)

A2.

With appropriate sketches, name four types of foundation normally used in

construction, and explain the situation in which each of these types is most
suitable to be adopted.
(10 marks)

A3.

Figure A3 shows cross-sections of two reinforced concrete cantilever retaining

walls with identical overall height H and base width B; one of which is to be
proposed for construction at a site. Discuss the advantages and/or
disadvantages of one of these walls over the other with regard to stability
against overturning, sliding and settlement.
(12 marks)

h
B

FIGURE A3

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SECTION B : ANSWER ANY ONE QUESTION

B1.

Figure B1 shows the cross-section of a pair of identical reinforced concrete

cantilever walls supporting the earth on either sides of a tunnel-like pedestrian
walk. The top end of the stems are connected by reinforced concrete slab
which may be considered as simply supported. The dimensions of the structure
and the loads acting on the backfill and on the concrete slab are also shown in
the figure. Using the data given below, check the stability of the wall against
overturning, sliding and settlement. Then design the main reinforcement for
the stem and the base of the wall, and show your proposed arrangement in a
neat sketch.
Data:
Density of the soil,
=
19 kN/m3
Angle of the internal friction,
=
35o
Cohesion, C
=
0
Bearing capacity of the soil
=
180 kN/m2
Characteristic strength of concrete, fck
=
30 N/mm2
Characteristic strength of steel, fyk
=
500 N/mm2
Cover to main reinforcement, c
=
40 mm
Coefficient of friction between the wall base and the soil, = 0.5
(30 marks)

10 kN/m2

10 kN/m

FIGURE B1

10 kN/m2

SAB 4333/ SAM 4314/ SAA 4344 4

B2.

The plan view of two identical reinforced concrete stairs which are at right
angles to each other, and the typical longitudinal cross-section are shown in
Figure B2. Each flight with a width of 1.5 m comprises of 10 steps with a riser
of 170 mm, a going of 250 mm, and the length of landing of 1.5 m. Other
related dimensions are also given in Figure B2. The stairs are to be designed to
carry a characteristic variable action of 4.0 kN/m2 and a characteristic
permanent action from finishes and handrail (excluding self-weight) of 0.8
kN/m2.
Based on deflection criterion, determine the overall depth of the waist (and the
landing) for the staircase, and design all the reinforcement required using
Grade C30 concrete, grade 500 steel, and a cover thickness of 25 mm. Check
the suitability of your design in deflection, shear and cracking.
(30 marks)

Level 2

Level 1

Section A-A

FIGURE B2

SAB 4333/ SAM 4314/ SAA 4344 5

SECTION C : ANSWER ANY ONE QUESTION

C1.

Figure C1 shows part of the floor plan and isometric view of Column B/8 in a
six storey reinforced concrete building. The building will be built with shear
walls at certain positions to carry the horizontal wind action. All beams in the
transverse direction have a cross-section of 250 x 600 mm, while those in the
longitudinal direction are 230 x 500 mm. All columns are 300 x 400 mm
cross-section, and may be assumed fixed to the footing. The height of the first
storey is 7.2 m while the rest are 3.6 m each.
Structural analysis using continuous beam method produces shear force
envelopes of beam 8/A-E and parts of beam B/1-15 at each roof and floor
levels as shown in the figure. The bending moments in Column B/8 ( Ground
to Level 1) due to design action on beams 8/A-B and 8/B-C are 40 kNm and
30 kNm at level 1 and ground level respectively. The moments in the column
resulted from beams B/7-8 and B/8-9 are small and may be neglected.
(a)
column

Calculate the axial load (based on the shear force envelopes) in

B/8 from Ground to Level 1.
(5 marks)

Level 1.
not be

Calculate the effective height of column B/8 from Ground to

Determine whether the second order effects should or should
considered in the design of this column.
(15 marks)

(b)

(c)

Design the reinforcement required in the column to carry the

maximum axial load and the maximum bending moment from (b), using
Grade
C30 concrete, Grade 500 steel reinforcement, and 30 mm
nominal concrete cover.
(15 marks)

(d)

Show the arrangement of the reinforcement in neat sketches of

the cross-section and longitudinal sections. (5 marks)
The following values may be used in your calculations:
The effective creep ratio, ef
=
The relative flexibilities of rotational restraint,
k at the bottom end of the first lift of the column
=

1.30
0.10
(40 marks)

Footing

Ground Level

Level 1

Level 5

Level 6

Beam B/8-9

Beam 8/A-B

Bending moment
in Column B/8
due to loads on
beam 8/A-B and
8/B-C (Ground to
Level 1)

Beam 8/B-C

Beam B/7-8

FIGURE C1

Unless
otherwise
stated all units
in mm

SAB 4333/ SAM 4314/ SAA 4344 6

SAB 4333/ SAM 4314/ SAA 4344 7

C2.

The front view of one of a series of reinforced concrete frame in a five storey
building which will be built without any bracing structure is shown in Figure
C2(a). The frames are at 5.0 m centres. The height of the first storey is 4.0 m,
while the height of successive storeys is 3.6 m. The beams in the frames are
continuous over two spans of 9.0 m and 6.0 m. For the purpose of analysis the
bottom end of the first lift of the columns may be assumed fixed to
foundations.
Apart from carrying vertical actions, the building is also carrying a
characteristic horizontal action from the wind of 1.5 kN/m2 on vertical plan.
Analysis of vertical actions only with a load factor of 1.2 for both the
permanent and variable actions produces the bending moment in the sub-frame
consisting of the first floor beams and the associated upper and lower columns
as shown in Figure C2(b).
(a)

Using the cantilever method, analyse the structure in Figure C2(a) due
to horizontal action only, and draw the resulting bending moment for
all columns and beams. Then obtain the bending moment for the subframe in Figure C2(b) for the combination of vertical and horizontal
actions.
(30 marks)

(b)

For the purpose of designing the members in the sub-frame, what are
other action cases need to be considered? Explain how the bending
moments obtained from here are used in conjunction with the
appropriate values in (a) above.
(10 marks)

(40 marks)

SAB 4333/ SAM 4314/ SAA 4344 8

FIGURE C2