CIVIL & STRUCTURAL DESIGNERS DATA PACK

SECTION 10: MOVEMENT AND DEFLECTION

10.1

TOLERANCES For further information on tolerances refer to TRM 79. Be realistic, not optimistic. Use published criteria where possible, eg National Structural Concrete Specification (NSCS), National Structural Steel Specification (NSSS). Particular care is needed when different materials and trades are used; brick cladding supported on stainless steel angles fixed to concrete casing cast on a steel frame was a real case. Remember that each 'permitted deviation' is a limiting value, so that cumulative deviations should be calculated by the 'root-sum-of-squares' rule, not by straight addition. As an example, if a column can be set out with a deviation of 10 mm and can then be out of plumb 2 2 by 8 mm, the deviation of the head will be (10 + 8 ) = 13 mm, not 10 + 8 = 18 mm. The rule can be applied to any number of deviations, eg if the column can be bowed by 6 mm, the 2 2 2 mid-height can be out of position by (10 + (8/2) + 6 ) = 12 mm.

10.2

MOVEMENT For further information on movement refer to TRMs 109 and 110. The principle categories are: Deflection of beams and slabs from elastic deformation plus creep under sustained load and shrinkage where appropriate. Horizontal shortening, usually from shrinkage (including early thermal contraction) but also from creep in prestressed members. Vertical shortening and foundation settlement from elastic deformation plus creep under sustained load and shrinkage where appropriate. Thermal, combining ambient temperature and solar gain where appropriate. Wind. Vertical movements are important for the design of cladding of all types, but usually arise from deflection alone with no significant contribution from the other sources. However, some of the deflection will occur before the cladding is fixed; this part should be treated as an additional tolerance, leaving only the remainder to be accommodated by the cladding as movement. Horizontal movements can also be important for cladding design, particularly if the cladding is inserted inside a structural frame. Wind and thermal can usually be considered independently, ie it is assumed that strong winds are unlikely to occur simultaneously with very cold or very hot temperatures. However, wind or thermal should each be combined with either of the two extremes of horizontal shortening - immediate (elastic only) and long-term (after final creep and shrinkage). All these combinations are normally calculated by straight addition, which emphasises the need to use average properties to get realistic deflection estimates. It is then important to communicate the findings to other members of the team, usually the architect and relevant specialist contractors. Make sure the distinction between tolerances - ie

deviations occurring before the element is fixed - and movements - occurring afterwards - is clear. 10.3 MOVEMENT JOINTS

10.3.1 General Joints should be provided to minimise the effects of movements caused by, for example, shrinkage, temperature variations, creep and settlement. The effectiveness of movement joints depends on their location, which should divide the structure into a number of individual sections. The joints should pass through the whole structure above ground level in one plane. The structure should be framed on both sides of the joint, and each section should be structurally independent and designed to be stable and robust without relying on the stability of adjacent sections. Some examples of positioning movements joint in plan are given in fig 10.1.

Figure 10.1. Location of movement joints

Reproduced by kind permission of the Institution of Structural Engineers from its publication Manual for the design of reinforced concrete building structures

Movement joints may also be required where there is a significant change in the type of foundation or in the height of the structure. Attention should be drawn to the necessity of ensuring that joints are incorporated in the finishes and in the cladding at the movement joint locations. 10.3.2 Movement joints concrete structures a) Concrete frame structures: movement joints at least 25 mm wide should normally be provided at approximately 50 m centres both longitudinally and transversely. In the top storey and for open buildings and exposed slabs additional joints should normally be provided to give approximately 25 m spacing. Ground bearing slabs: refer to TRM 67 for guidance

b)

10.3.3 Movement joints steel structures Table 10.1 gives a summary of recommendations for the spacing of expansion joints in steel framed buildings.

Single Storey Buildings Multi-Storey Buildings Roof Sheeting

Notes: 1. Where the stress due to the constraint of thermal expansion has been considered in the member design, no limit is necessary in simple construction. 2. Larger spacings are possible if the stresses due to the constraint of thermal expansion are considered in the member design. 3. Longer lengths are possible where provision for expansion is made. Table 10.1. Spacing of expansion joints in steel framed buildings. 10.3.4 Movement joints masonry structures Movement joint locations and spacing need to be carefully considered. Section 7.2 provides recommendations. The uninterrupted height and length of the outer leaf of external cavity walls should be limited so as to avoid undue loosening of the ties arising from differential movements between the two leaves. The outer leaf should, therefore, be supported at intervals of not more than every third storey or 9 m, whichever is less. However, for buildings not exceeding 4 storeys or 12 m in height, whichever is less, the outer leaf may be uninterrupted for its full height. Joint spacing (m) Up to 7 7-11 11-15 Recommended joint widths 10-12 mm 15 mm 15-20 mm

Generally Building subject to Higher Internal Temperatures Simple Construction Continuous Construction Down the slope Along the slope

Note 1 Note 1 Note 1 Note 2 Note 3

150m 125m 100m 50m 20m No Limit

Notes: 1. Maximum joint spacing specified in clause 20.3.2.2 of BS 5628: Part 3: 1985. 2. A shear joint should be a minimum of 10 mm wide, the width of the sealant being equal to or greater than its depth. Table 10.2. Recommend widths of movement joints in masonry walls. 10.4 DEFLECTIONS

10.4.1 Deflections concrete structures The basic span/effective depth ratios for beams are given in Table 5.1. These are based on limiting the total deflection to span/250 and this should normally ensure that the part of the deflection occurring after the construction of finishes and partitions will be limited to span/500 or 20 mm, whichever is the lesser, for spans up to 10 m.

10.4.2 Deflections steel structures Table 10.3 gives a summary of recommendations for deflections of individual numbers in steel framed buildings. a) Vertical deflection of beams due to imposed load Cantilevers Beams carrying plaster or other brittle finish Beams supporting glazing Other Beams (except purlins and sheeting rails) Purlins and sheeting rails Length/180 Span/360 (1) Span/500 Span/200 To suit the type of cladding

b) Horizontal deflection of columns due to imposed load and wind load Tops of columns in single-storey buildings, except portal frames Height/300 In each storey of a building with more than one storey Height of that storey/300 c) Crane girders Vertical deflection due to static vertical wheel loads from overhead travelling cranes Horizontal deflection (calculated on the top flange properties alone) due to horizontal crane loads Span/600 Span/500

(1) At the design stage, establish with the architect the type of glazing system which will be used and confirm with the manufacturer the vertical and horizontal deflections which can be accommodated by their system. Table 10.3. Suggested deflection limits Indicative deflection limits for portal frames are shown in Table 10.4. Buildings with cranes should be considered as a special case, and specialist advice should be sought. Horizontal Deflection at Eaves Level Type of Wall Cladding Profiled Metal Sheeting Fibre reinforced Sheeting Masonry Vertical Deflection at Ridge Type of Roof Cladding Profiled Metal Sheeting Fibre reinforced Sheeting h/200 h/200 Absolute Limit h/150 h/150 h/300

Where: h = height to eaves s = span Notes: 1. It may be necessary to consider differential deflections relative to adjacent frames. 2. Limits are typically based on the worst case of unfactored wind load or unfactored imposed roof load or 0.8 unfactored (wind + imposed) loads. It may also be necessary to consider the proportion of the dead load relating to services. Table 10.4. Deflection limits for pitched roof portal frames (pitch 3 degrees)

10.4.3 Deflections masonry structures Table 10.5 gives a summary of deflection of members supporting or restraining an external masonry cavity wall. Building Structural member Eaves beam Eaves beam Main columns (sway) Gable post Intermediate post Horizontal restraint rail 3 Main columns (sway) Intermediate post Horizontal restraint Perimeter floor beam Perimeter floor beam
1

Load Supported Wind only Wind + SWT rainwater gutter Roof, dead and wind Wind only Wind only Wind only Wind only Wind only Wind only Floor (dead + super) Floor (dead + super) + SWT inner leaf

Single storey

Theoretical deflections Vertical Horizontal L/360 L/500 L/500 L/200 (super) L/500 (full load) h/300 L/360 L/360 L/360 h/300 h/600 L/360 L/360 -

Multi-storey

Notes 1. L, is the horizontal or vertical span of the beam or post. H, is the height of the column. 2. Refer to figure 5.5. Maximum theoretical differential deflection between the length of diagonal braced gable frame and the first portal frame limited to . 600 3. The theoretical deflections quoted are per storey height. However, the permissible cumulative deflection at the top of a multi-storey building will probably further limit the deflection of the columns. Table 10.5. Deflections for members supporting and/or restraining an external masonry cavity walls. 10.5 WATCH IT NOTES C&S 2 - MEMBERS SUPPORTING GLAZING (DEFLECTION OF)
Issued February 1997

On a recent project it has come to light that the glazing system adopted was unable to accommodate vertical imposed load deflections of more than 2 mm. This meant that for the column spacing of 6 m the deflection limit was span/3000 which is much more onerous than we would normally design for. To avoid this problem in the future the following course of action is recommended: At the design stage establish with the architect the type of glazing system which will be used and confirm with the manufacturer the vertical and horizontal deflections which can be accommodated by their system. If the architect wants to keep their options open then agree the deflection criteria to be adopted in the design of the supporting structure with them. In the absence of any better information a limit of span/500 is the code recommendation for members supporting brittle finishes.

 In both cases the deflection criteria adopted must be clearly stated in the specification and on the drawings which are issued for tender. It must also be clearly stated that the contractor is to design the glazing system to accommodate these movements. 10.6 FURTHER READING 1. Alexander, S.J. and Lawson, R.M.: Design for movement in buildings, CIRIA Technical Note 107, CIRIA, London, 1981.