UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
CCB 341 – REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN
QUESTION 1
A floor plan section of the proposed Concrete Workshop of the Department of Civil Engineering of the
University of Botswana is shown in Figure Q1. The RC structural system is supported on four columns
A1, D1, A2 and D2. The floor finishing and ceiling loads of the 200 mm thick concrete floor slab are
0.8 kN/m2 and 1.20 kN/m2, respectively. Given that the unit weight of concrete is 25 kN/m3 and the
characteristic material strengths are 30 N/mm2 for concrete and 500 N/mm2 for steel reinforcement
(both bending and shear).
a) Calculate the design load of the slab.
b) Determine the total load and support reactions of beam B1-B2 and C1-C2 (250 mm width and 600
mm overall depth).
c) Calculate total load, support reactions and the ultimate design moment of beam A1-D1 (250 mm
width and 800 mm overall depth).
d) Design a suitable reinforcement for bending ULS for beam A1-D1 at an effective depth of 740 mm
(longitudinal bar size should not exceed 25 mm diameter).
e) For a 50 percent curtailment of longitudinal reinforcement, calculate the distance x of curtailed
bars from either support given that nominal cover is 25 mm, shear link not exceeding 10 mm bar
size.
f) Design the beam A1-D1 for shear reinforcement at ULS.
g) Check the adequacy of the designed beam A1-D1 against deflection.
h) Produce a neatly drawn and labelled structural detailing of the designed beam A1-D1 in the
longitudinal direction and two critical cross-sections near the support and at the mid-span.
7.0 m
2.5 m 2.5 m 2.5 m
A B C D
Figure Q1: Layout plan of a section of UB Concrete Workshop
QUESTION 2
A section of a gymnasium floor plan of 150 mm thick reinforced concrete slab is shown in Figure Q2.
In addition to its self-weight, the slab carries ceiling and finishes load of 2.0 kN/m2 and imposed
(variable) load of 5.0 kN/m2. The characteristic material strengths of concrete and reinforcing steel are
25 N/mm2 and 500 N/mm2 respectively.
a) Estimate the design load of the slab. [ 2 12 marks]
b) Assuming a nominal cover of 25 mm and maximum longitudinal bar size of 12 mm, design the
two-span continuous slab for bending at midspan and supports using Table 1. [5 marks]
c) Verify the adequacy of the section in shear. [5 marks]
d) Check the suitability of the section against deflection and cracking. [5 marks]
e) Sketch the structural details of the slab both in plan and along section YY. [ 2 12 marks]
Table 1 — Ultimate bending moment and shear forces in one-way spanning slabs
NOTE: F is the total design ultimate load (1.35Gk + 1.50Qk) and l is the effective span.
Y
A
3.40 m
B1 B1
B
3.40 m
C
7.0 m 7.0 m
1 Y 2 3
Figure Q2 & Q3
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QUESTION 3
For the same plan view of 150 mm thick gymnasium concrete floor in Figure Q3, the ceiling and
finishes load is 2.0 kN/m2 and the imposed (variable) load is 5.0 kN/m2. The secondary beams B1 are
simply supported precast concrete of self-weight 3.20 kN/m. The characteristic material strengths of
concrete and reinforcing steel are 25 N/mm2 and 500 N/mm2 respectively. Assuming that the
dimension of beam A2 – C2 is 300 × 600 mm:
a) Estimate the design load on beam A2 – C2.
b) Design beam A2 – C2 for bending at ultimate limit state given that its effective depth is 530 mm,
c) Assuming 50% curtailment of bending reinforcement provided in Question 2(b) at the supports,
determine the curtailment length and provide shear reinforcements.
d) Check the adequacy of the section against deflection.
e) Neatly and clearly sketch the structural details of the beam in both longitudinal and transverse
sections.
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QUESTION 4 (Compulsory)
The structural layout plan of a proposed building is shown in Figure Q4. The concrete floor slab is 200
mm thick. The floor finishes and ceiling loads are 1.75 kN/m2 and the imposed load is 4.5 kN/m2. The
characteristic material strengths of concrete and reinforcing steel are 30 N/mm2 and 500 N/mm2
respectively.
5.0 m
2.8 m
C
4.5 m
D
5.0 m 6.0 m 6.0 m 4.5 m
1 2 3 4 5
Figure Q4: Structural layout of floor plan
a) Estimate the design load of the slab.
b) Describe the eight panels indicated in terms of slab classification and edge conditions.
c) Design panel P5 for bending for midspans and supports at ultimate limit state assuming 25 mm
nominal cover and 12 mm dia. reinforcing bars in the two orthogonal directions.
d) Check the adequacy of the section for shear.
e) Verify the suitability of the section for deflection.
f) Sketch the structural details of the P5 in plan and along the short span.
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QUESTION 5: Load estimation of structural elements using load coefficients
A section of the proposed Ultramodern Engineering Workshop Complex is shown in Figure Q5. The
concrete slab is 150 mm thick and the finishes and ceiling loads on the floor are 1.25 kN/m 2 and 1.0
kN/m2, respectively. All the beams are 250 mm wide and the overall depth of beams B1 and B2 is 600
mm. However, the overall depth of beams B3 is 1000 mm. If the unit weight of concrete is 25 kN/m3,
a) Estimate the design load of the slab.
b) Using appropriate section of code of practice with respect to both the edge condition and aspect
ratio of floor panels, calculate the total load, support reactions and the ultimate moment on
beams B1, B2 and B3.
c) If 250 mm square column of length 4.0 metre is proposed as column D1, calculate the ultimate
axial load on the column.
B2 A
P1
4m
B1
B
P2
4m
B3
B1
C
P1
4m
B2
D
6m
1 2
Figure Q5: A section of the RC floor showing slabs, beams and columns
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QUESTION 6 (Compulsory)
The plan view of a section of indoor sports hall of 150 mm thick concrete floor slab is shown in Figure
Q6. The ceiling and finishes load are 2.0 kN/m2. The secondary beams B1 are simply supported
precast concrete of unfactored self-weight 3.20 kN/m. The characteristic material strengths of concrete
and reinforcing steel are 25 N/mm2 and 500 N/mm2 respectively. The internal beam A2 – C2 has web
width of 300 mm, overall depth of 750 mm, and supported by 300 mm wide columns:
Y
A
3.40 m
B1 B1
B
3.40 m
C
7.0 m 7.0 m
1 Y 2 3
Figure Q6: A section of indoor sports floor
a) Estimate the design load on beam A2 – C2.
b) Design beam A2 – C2 for bending at ultimate limit state given that its effective depth is 690 mm,
c) Assuming a reasonable curtailment of bending reinforcement provided near supports, determine the
distance of curtailment and design for shear reinforcements.
d) Check the adequacy of the beam against deflection.
e) Neatly and clearly sketch the structural details of the beam in both longitudinal and transverse
sections.
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QUESTION 7 - Design of stair
Design a free-standing (scissor) stair shown in Figure Q7 for a proposed hotel lodging building. The
floor-to-floor height of the building is 3.0 metres and the floor-to-landing is 1.50 metres. The finishes
load is 1.0 kN/m2. The flight comprises ten risers and nine treads each of which are 150 mm and 250
mm respectively. The waist and landing thickness are 150 mm and the nominal cover is 25 mm. The
characteristic material strengths are 25 N/mm2 for concrete and 500 N/mm2 for steel bars. If the
maximum longitudinal bar diameter of 12 mm is assumed:
a) Estimate the design loads on the stairs (waist plus steps) and landing.
b) Determine the shear forces at the supports and the maximum bending moment.
c) Sketch the bending moment and shear force diagrams of the stair case.
d) Design the stairs for bending by providing main and secondary reinforcements.
e) Check the adequacy of concrete section against shear.
f) Check the sufficiency of the section against deflection and cracking.
g) Sketch the structural details of the stair along the section shown.
Landing
150 mm thick
10 risers @ 150
Upper support
mm
= 1500 mm
150 mm waist
9 treads @ 250 mm Landing
2250 mm 1250 mm
Lower support
A B C
Figure Q7: A section of a staircase
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QUESTION 8 (Compulsory)
Design of RC slabs
The structural layout of a section of the proposed Central Research Laboratory of the University of
Botswana is shown in Figure Q8/Q9. The concrete floor slab is 150 mm thick and the finishes/ceiling
load is 1.25 kN/m2. The characteristic material strengths are 25 N/mm2 for concrete and 500 N/mm2
for steel reinforcement. Assume a nominal cover of 25 mm and reinforcing bar size not exceeding 12
mm diameter.
a) Estimate the design load of the slab.
b) Design ALL the panels in the slab to satisfy the following conditions:
i) Bending ULS
ii) Shear ULS
iii) Deflection SLS
iv) Cracking SLS
c) Detail the panels for positive and negative bending moments.
1
P1
3000 mm
2
P2 P3
6000 mm
3
P4
3000 mm
4
4000 mm 4000 mm
A B C
Figure Q8/Q9: Structural layout of floor plan
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QUESTION 9 (Compulsory)
Design of RC beam
The section of the structural layout plan of the proposed Central Research Laboratory of the University
of Botswana shown in Figure Q8/Q9 is to be designed. The width of all beams supporting floor slab is
300 mm and all columns (shaded black boxes) are 300 mm square. The characteristic material strengths
are 25 N/mm2 for concrete and 500 N/mm2 for reinforcing steel. The overall depth of beam B2-B3 is
600 mm. Using the floor design load obtained in Question 8:
a) Estimate the design load, support reactions and ultimate moment of beam A3-C3 (width 300 mm ×
overall depth 800 mm), which supports beam B2-B3 at its mid-span in addition to the slab loading.
b) If shear reinforcement restricted to 10 mm bar size, and the longitudinal reinforcing bars not
exceeding 25 mm diameter in a maximum of two layers, design a suitable bending reinforcement
for beam A3-C3 at an effective depth of 740 mm.
c) Assuming a curtailment of the upper layer of longitudinal reinforcement of the ultimate bending
reinforcement in Question 9(b) at a distance x from either support, determine the new effective
depth for a 25 mm nominal cover, calculate the distance x and design the beam for shear
reinforcement.
d) Check the adequacy of the beam against deflection.
e) Produce neat sketches of the structural details of the beam both in the longitudinal and two critical
sections.
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QUESTION 10: Design of stairs
Design a free-standing (scissor) stair shown in Figure Q10 for a community hospital. The floor-to-floor
height of the building is 3.0 metres and the floor-to-landing height (i.e. vertical distance AA to BB) is
1.50 metres. The finishes load is 1.0 kN/m2. The flight comprises ten risers and nine treads each of
which are 150 mm and 250 mm respectively. The waist and landing thickness are 150 mm and the
nominal cover is 25 mm. The characteristic material strengths are 25 N/mm2 for concrete and 500
N/mm2 for steel bars.
A B C
X X
9 treads @ 250 mm Landing
2250 mm 1250 mm
A B C
Figure Q10
If the maximum longitudinal bar diameter of 12 mm is assumed:
a) Estimate the design loads on the stairs (waist plus steps) and landing.
b) Determine the shear forces at the supports and the maximum bending moment.
c) Design the stairs for bending by providing main and secondary reinforcements.
d) Check the adequacy of concrete section against shear.
e) Check the sufficiency of the section against deflection and cracking.
f) Sketch the structural details of the stair along section XX.
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