INS311E Theory of Structures I

1. Introduction and General Concepts

1.1. Definition of Structural Engineering

Engineering: Application of science to the needs of human beings, cleverly.

It is accomplished by knowledge, mathematics and practical experience.
Professional practitioners of engineering are called as engineers.

‘Scientists build in order to learn

Engineers learn in order to build.’

Civil Engineer: Engineer who is responsible of design, analysis and

supervision of the constructions as well as the maintenance of all kinds of
structures like buildings, dams, bridges, roads, highways, water and sewage
systems, towers, airports, storage tanks, silos, retaining walls, tunnels,
pressure vessels, etc.

Main work: Design, construction and maintenance of structural systems.

It is necessary to:
Respect to ethical values
Keep the natural resources and respecting the historical and
environmental factors
Follow the codes and rules
Cooperate with people (teamwork)

Procedure: University Degree in Civil Engineering (BS), Master Degree

(Optional) , engineering experience, professional examination, licence of
professional (expert) civil engineering, continious education during
performing civil eng’g (seminars, conferences, publications and papers).

Main Branches of Civil Engineering:

1. Structural engineer :
They may specialise on:
Buildings: Specilize on steel, reinforced concrete, masonary, wooden
constructions, precast systems,
Materials: Mechanics of different construction materials, composite
materials, nanotechnology, etc.

Prof. Dr. Gülten Gülay, INS311E Theory of Structures I

 INS311E Theory of Structures I

Bridges: arched, framed, truss, suspension, prefabricated, prestressed,

post tensioned, steel, etc.
Special structures: High rise buildings, television towers, tunnels,
highway structures, stadiums, shell structures.
Earthquake engineers: Seismic effects, seismology, structural
dynamics and earthquake resistant systems
Structural Engineer may work as: Design (project) engineer, site engineer
(supervises construction sites), control and maintenance engineer, research
engineers (university, research institute)

1. Transportation Engineer (railroads, highways, traffic problems)

2. Geotechnical Engineer (foundations, soil mechanics, soil dynamics,
seismology)
3. Hydraulics Engineer (water resources, dams, canals, marine structures,
etc.)
5. Construction Management (Site engineers, regulation of contruction
procedure)

1.2. Procedure of Structural Design (Project)

a) Preliminary Design: (Feasibility Study)

Selection of the most suitable structural material, the type, geometry
and support conditions, etc.
Working on architectural plans, predesign of the cross-sections
(selection of dimensions) and determination of loads.

b) Complete Structural Analysis (statical computations for all possible

external effects, calculation of internal forces, moments and displacements)

c) Final Design: Stress and displacement controls at all critical sections,

determination of final dimensions of all structural members, details of
connections, preparations of engineering drawings.

A good engineering design should satisfy:

Safety requirements: Structure must possess adequate strength:
( allowable )
Rigidity (stiffness) requirements, ( allowable )
Economy requirements (as cheap as possible )
Architectural, functional and aesthetic requirements

(The best solution or designed structure: Optimum structure :))

Prof. Dr. Gülten Gülay, INS311E Theory of Structures I
 INS311E Theory of Structures I

1.3. Classification of Structural Members and Systems

Structural Members:

1. One dimensional members(line members): linear / curved,

prismatic/nonprismatic, members with variable cross-section, etc.

2. Two dimensional members (surface members): plates, shells: Slabs,

shearwalls

3. Three dimensional members: foundations, retaining walls

Structural systems:

Structural systems are an assemblage of one, two/and three dimensional

members. They are classified as:

Trusses: Structures whose members are primarily subjected to axial

forces. All connections are pinned (planar and space trusses).

Frames: Structures whose members are made of line members and

they are primarily subjected to shearing force, axial force and bending
moments and possibly torsional moments (Flexural Systems).
Idealised as planar and space frames, arches, grid systems, etc.

Mixed Systems: Systems may be designed as containing frames with

trusses or frames with shear walls, etc.

Prof. Dr. Gülten Gülay, INS311E Theory of Structures I

 INS311E Theory of Structures I

1.4. External Effects (Actions)

All types of actions which cause internal force, deformations and

displacements on the structure. They are classified as:
Gravity loads, self weight and additional loads(man, furniture,
machine, crane load, snow, ice, ash load, etc.),
Lateral loads: earthquake loads, wind loads, brake loads, water or soil
pressure.
Support settlements
Temperature changes (uniform or variable), creep
Initial stresses (manufacture defects, prestressed members)

Loads:

I. Classification: Dead loads (Gravity loads) (G, g)

Live loads (Q, q)

II. Classification: Constant loads (static)

Moving loads (dynamic)
III. Classification: Concentrated loads

Series of Concentrated loads (wheel loads)

Distributed loads:
Uniformly distributed, triangular, parabolic, compound loads (trapezoidal
load, arbitrary loads )

IV. Classification: Direct loads

Indirect loads

V. Classification: Vertical (gravity, snow,) or

Lateral loadings (earthquake, wind, water, soil pressure)

Prof. Dr. Gülten Gülay, INS311E Theory of Structures I

 INS311E Theory of Structures I

1.5. Assumptions

1. The behavior of the structural system is irrelevant of the type and the
magnitude of the loading

2. Displacements are small (The first order theory is valid).

3. Material is linear-elastic.

4. Superposition rule is valid.

1.6. Subject and the Scope of Theory of Structures I Course

Theory of Structures I course mainly deals with the analysis of statically

determinate planar-framed (line) (flexural) systems.

Analysis of Structures:
Determination of the all-internal forces (M: Bending moment, N: Axial
force, T: Shearing force) and computation of displacements under some
specified loadings (static and moving loads). Drawings of internal force and
influence line diagrams.

Theory of Structures Course deals with the analysis of structures:

Determination of the all internal forces: (M, N, T ) and displacements
Structural Engineering Courses in ITU:
Elementary Courses: Theory of Structures or Structural Analysis
Courses: Structures I, Structures II
Elective Courses: Structures III, Special Topics in Structures,
Graduation Project on Structural Design,
Advanced courses: Advanced Structural Analysis, Matrix Structural
Analysis, Computer Applications in Structures, Optimum Structural
Design, Finite Element Method, etc.

Prof. Dr. Gülten Gülay, INS311E Theory of Structures I

 INS311E Theory of Structures I

1.7. Design Specifications or Codes

TS 500: Betonarme Yapıların Tasarım ve Yapım Kuralları, (2000)

TS 648: Çelik Yapıların Tasarım ve Yapım Kuralları (1982)
Türk Deprem Yönetmeliği: Deprem Bölgelerinde Yapılacak Yapılar
Hakkında Yönetmelik, (2007).
Karayolları Fenni Şartnamesi
TS 498: Yapı Elemanlarının Boyutlandırılmasında Alınacak Yüklerin
Hesap Değerleri (1987)
TS 9967: Prefabrike ve Öngerilmeli beton yapıların İmalat ve Montaj
Kuralları, (1992)
TS 3357: Çelik Yapılarda Kaynaklı birleşimlerin Hesap ve yapım
Kuralları(1979)
TS 4561: Çelik Yapıların Plastik Teoriye Göre Hesap Kuralları(1985)
DIN 1055: Alman Şartnamesi
UBC: Uniform Building Code (Amerikan Şartnamesi)
EC 8 (Eurocode 8 ): Avrupa Ülkeleri Şartnamesi
BS: British Standarts
FEMA –140, 154, 155, 356, 172, 273, 274 Federal Emergency
Management Agency
ATC 40: Seismic Evaluation and Retrofit of Concrete Buildings
(1996)
AASHTO: Standard Specifications for Highway Bridges.
ACI: Building Code requirement for Reinforced Concrete
AISC: Specification for Steel Structures

Prof. Dr. Gülten Gülay, INS311E Theory of Structures I