Unit II
Load Bearing Structures Jayant Patwardhan
Load Bearing structure
LBS:
• A load-bearing structure is a structure in
which loads are transferred through walls to
the foundation.
• Hence wall is a structural element.
• Load Bearing structure doesn't have beams
and columns.
• In Framed structure the load is taken by the
beams, and columns and transferred to the
footing and foundation of the structure.
• Hence wall is not a structural element while
beams and columns are.
Elements of load bearing structure
The most commonly used load bearing structural elements include:
• Walls.
• Coping Beams.
• Piers/ Columns.
• Struts/ Braces.
• Slabs.
• Trusses.
• Arches.
Logic of wall arrangements
Loadbearing construction is most appropriately used for buildings in which the floor area is
subdivided into a relatively large number of rooms of small to medium size and in which the floor
plan is repeated on each storey throughout the height of the building.
Classification of LBS can be as follows:
• Cellular wall systems
• Simple or double cross-wall systems
• Complex wall arrangements.
• Composite arrangements
Logic of wall arrangements
Cellular wall arrangement Single cross wall arrangement
Complex wall arrangement
Double cross wall arrangement
Logic of wall arrangements
Narrow room plan - Narrow room plan - Narrow room plan -
Thick structural walls Thick structural external walls Thick structural walls
with secondary internal walls With attached piers
STD Code of Practice for Load bearing Construction (IS 1905-1987)
STD Code of Practice for Load bearing Construction (IS 1905-1987)
STD Code of Practice for Load bearing Construction (IS 1991)
STD Code of Practice for Load bearing Construction (IS 1991)
STD Code of Practice for Load bearing Construction (IS 1991)
STD Code of Practice for Load bearing Construction (IS 1991)
Openings in Load Bearing walls
Wall thickness as per Load distribution
Wall foundations
Sample plans
Sample plans
Planning Load bearing buildings
a) Symmetry:
The building, as a whole or its individual blocks, shall be
planned to be as close to symmetrical as possible.
b) Regularity:
Buildings with simple rectangular shapes behave better in
earthquakes than irregular buildings with projections. To
avoid torsional effects which are pronounced in long narrow
rectangular blocks, length of a block shall not be greater
than three times its width.
c) Separation of Blocks:
Separation of a large building into several blocks may be
required so as to obtain symmetry and regularity of each
block. The separation can be treated just like an expansion
joint or it may be filled or covered with a weak material
d) Simplicity:
Ornamentation involving large cornices, vertical or horizontal
cantilever projections, facia stones, etc. wherever used must
be reinforced with steel, which shall be properly embedded or
tied into the main structure of the building.
Planning Load bearing buildings (Earthquake/ Seismic loads)
Damages to Load bearing buildings due to Earthquakes
Examples are of different types of damage:
(a) heavy overhang damage,
(b) gable wall of the roof damage
(c) strong beam–weak column damage.
Planning Load bearing buildings (Earthquake loads)
Planning Load bearing buildings (Earthquake considerations)
Planning Load bearing buildings (Earthquake considerations)
Planning Load bearing buildings (Earthquake considerations)
Planning Load bearing buildings (Earthquake considerations)
Horizontal Bands or Ring Beams
The most important horizontal reinforcing is by means of reinforced concrete bands provided
continuously through all load-bearing longitudinal and transverse walls at plinth, lintel and roof
eave levels, and also at the top of gables according to the requirements stated below.
Plinth Band:
This should be provided in all masonry buildings. It may also serve as a damp-proof course. Plinth
bands are more important in soft or uneven soils.
Sill Band:
A continuous sill band shall be provided through all walls below openings (especially, just below
windows). It should be provided in all storeys in all buildings.
Lintel Band:
A continuous lintel band shall be provided through all walls just above openings. Thus the top-level
of all the openings (doors and windows) shall be at the same line as far as possible. Lintel bands
must be provided in all storeys in all buildings. Additional reinforcement may be required to be
provided over openings to distribute loads to the walls on the sides of the openings.
Planning Load bearing buildings (Earthquake considerations)
Dowel Band (Stitches):
This band shall be provided where dowel-bars are required.
Roof Band / Floor Beam Roof band:
Shall be provided at the eave-level of trussed roofs and also just below the joists on all such floors
which consist of joists and covering elements (flexible floors), so as to integrate them properly at
their ends and fix them into the walls.
Parapet Band:
This band shall be provided at the top of parapet walls, where parapet walls are constructed.
Similar to sill band, it shall be continuous over all parapet walls and reinforced. The vertical rebar
from lower story shall be continued to top of the parapet and anchored to parapet band.
Gable Band:
Masonry gable ends must have the triangular portion of masonry enclosed in a band, the
horizontal part of which will be continuous with the eave-level band on the adjacent longitudinal
walls. It is advantageous to replace gable masonry wall with a truss covered with light-weight
materials.
Planning Load bearing buildings (Earthquake considerations)
Planning Load bearing buildings
(Earthquake considerations)
