EMMEDUE STRUCTURAL
ENGINEERING HANDBOOK
(in accordance with ACI-318)
Related spreadsheets:
1. “Flex-rev01”;
2. “Walls”;
3. “Flexo-compression in the plane”;
4. “Shear-rev02”;
Rev. 02 del 07/05/2015
Summary
1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 3
2. ULTIMATE STRENGTH DESIGN METHOD ......................................................................... 4
3. GENERAL HYPOTHESIS OF BEHAVIOR .............................................................................. 5
4. FLEXURE .................................................................................................................................... 8
5. COMPRESSION ........................................................................................................................ 14
6. SHEAR ....................................................................................................................................... 19
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1. INTRODUCTION
For the design of Emmedue panels it is necessary to know the behavior once subjected to
different load stresses. Currently only it has the record of various laboratory tests where
capacity (resistance) of elements such as walls, slabs, beams and typical connections are
deducted.
From the laboratory test results are deducted the resistances of elements such as walls,
slabs, beams and typical connections.
In professional practice the codes referring to reinforced concrete are adapted to
EMMEDUE panel technology, this due to the similarity of behavior observed in the results
of laboratory tests and the simplicity of applying the theories of calculus because the
EMMEDUE technology essentially represents a typical lightened reinforced panel (through
the use of concrete and steel mesh reinforcement).
All the components of a building can be constructed with EMMEDUE panels. These
buildings are conceived as structures formed by vertical and horizontal elements which are
made of panels linked on site.
The succession of panels linked, materializes all the elements of a construction: exterior
walls, interior walls, floor slabs or roof deck slabs.
The projection of shotcrete layers on the panels converts all walls, slabs and joints on
monolithic elements. The structure has thus achieved a high degree of internal
hyperstaticity and also high ductility. This capability is generally not considered in the
evaluation of resistant capabilities.
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2. ULTIMATE STRENGTH DESIGN METHOD
The ultimate strength design method required that the element design resistance must be
greater or equal than the required resistance calculated by the combinations of factored
loads specified in the rules.
Design Resistance ≥ Required Resistance
where:
Design Resistance = reduction factor (Φ) x Nominal Resistance
Φ = strength reduction factor which takes into account:
(1) the probability that the resistance of an element is less than that assumed due to
variations in the resistances of the materials and dimensions;
(2) the inaccuracies of the design equations;
(3) the degree of ductility and required reliability of the loaded element;
(4) the importance of the element within the structure.
Nominal resistance = element resistance calculated using the hypothesis and equations of
the "strength design method", before applying any reduction factor of resistance.
Required resistance = load factor × stresses for service load. The required strength is
calculated according to the load combinations specified in the rules.
Load factor = factor which increases the load to take account the probably variation of
service loads.
Service load = load as specified by the building code (not factored).
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3. GENERAL HYPOTHESIS OF BEHAVIOR
The calculation of the element resistance with the "strength design method" requires that
two basic conditions are satisfied: static equilibrium and compatibility of deformations.
The first condition requires that compressive and tensile forces acting in cross section are
balanced, while the second condition requires the compatibility between the deformations
of the shotcrete and reinforcement under ultimate conditions with design hypothesis.
From a rational and practical point of view, the determination of the nominal resistances of
structural elements with EMMEDUE panels can be based on the general hypothesis set for
reinforced concrete sections.
3.1 HYPOTHESIS N.1
"The specific deformations in the reinforcement and shotcrete should be assumed directly
proportional to the distance from the neutral axis".
It is assumed that the normal plane sections to the flexion axis remain plane also after the
flexion.
3.2 HYPOTHESIS N.2
“The maximum deformation in the extreme compressive fiber is assumed equal to εcu =
0.003”. In the figure n. 1 is shown the adaptation of design hypothesis 1 and 2 to the
EMMEDUE panels.
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Fig. 1
3.3 HYPOTHESIS N.3
“The stress in the steel under the specified yield strenght of the steel , will be taken as
(modulus of elasticity of the steel) multiplied for the steel strain specific ε .
For strain greater than / , the stress in the reinforcement is considered independent
from the strain and equal to ".
The force developed in the tension or compression reinforcement is function of the specific
strain ε in the reinforcement, and is calculated as follows:
When < (yield strain):
= → =
When ≥ (yield strain):
= = →
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4.1 HYPOTHESIS N.4
"In the design of EMMEDUE panels under bending stresses will not be considered the
tensile strength of micro-concrete".
However flexural strength of micro-concrete also known as modulus of rupture, is a
variable property more than compression strength, and its value is about 8% to 12% of the
compressive strength.
4.2 HYPOTHESIS N.5
"It will be assumed a stress in the micro-concrete equal to 0,85 ' uniformly distributed in
an equivalent compressed area limited by the edges of the cross section and a line parallel
to the neutral axis located at a distance = β1 be assumed from the fiber with the high
specific compressive strain. The distance "c" between the fiber with the high specific
compressive strain and the neutral axis will be measured in a perpendicular direction to
said axis. The factor β1 should be taken equal to 0.85 for ' resistance up to 27 MPa and
decrease gradually in 0.05 per 7 MPa strength in excess of 27 MPa, but β1 will not be
taken less to 0.65 ".
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4. FLEXURE
Is introduced a general method used to calculate EMMEDUE structural elements which
are subject to bending stresses (Slabs).
Flexure is generated in a plane which is perpendicular to the plane of the panel.
Is considered the case of simple panel and are assumed the hypothesis explained in the
introduction chapter. The following picture (figure n. 2) shows the disposition of the
compression and tension forces which generate the flexure resistance of the element.
Fig. 2
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4.1 Calculation of unitary deformations
Is considered an arbitrary value of “C” which represent the depth of the neutral axis in the
cross section. Therefore the unitary deformations are:
( )
=
where:
ε = 0.003 unitary deformation of the external fiber of the concrete
unitary deformation of the bottom steel mesh
d effective depth of the cross section
C depth of the neutral axis
ts depth of the upper concrete layer
4.2 Design strain in the steel mesh
If the calculated unitary deformations are larger then the specified yield strength of the
steel, therefore the strain in the steel will be the following:
= if ≥
Otherwise the strain in the steel will be calculated in this way:
= ∗
where:
= axial force in the steel
= / unitary deformation of the bottom steel mesh
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= modulus of elasticity of the steel
4.3 Compression and tension forces
Calculated the strain in the steel mesh, is possible to define the tension force:
= ∗
where:
= steel area of the bottom steel mesh for a unitary length
= tension force of the bottom steel mesh
The compression force is calculated with the following expression:
= 0,85 ∗ ′ ∗ ∗%
where:
= &' ∗ depth of the equivalent rectangular compression stress block
&' = 0,85
b = width of the cross section
The compression and tension forces must be balanced, therefore we have:
( =
4.4 Nominal flexural strength
The nominal flexural strength will be calculated with the following expression:
-
)* = ∗ ∗ (+ − )
.
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4.5 Ultimate flexural strength
According to the rule ACI-318S-08, the nominal flexural strength must be multiplied for a
reduction factor which depends from the value of the unitary deformation in steel subjected
to tensile stress.
/)* = / 0 ∗ ∗ (+ − )2
2
Φ value can be obtained from the section 9.3.2.2 of the ACI-318S-08.
The following picture (figure n. 3) show the values to be used if the section is controlled by
tension or compression.
Fig. 3
To obtain the value of Φ corresponding to EMMEDUE panels we use the classification
“other”.
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4.6 Conditions to define the height of the neutral axis
The elastic modulus of polystyrene (EEPS) is lower than the elastic modulus of concrete (Ec)
and the elastic modulus of the steel (Es), than the modular relationship “n” is very small
and result not useful to use a transformed section for the polystyrene.
The criteria to be satisfied is that the depth of the neutral axis “C” must be equal or less
than the thickness of the upper layer of concrete.
4.7 Example of calculation
To calculate the ultimate flexural strength of Emmedue slabs is possible to use the
spreadsheet named “Flex-rev01” attached below as an example:
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5. COMPRESSION
5.1 COMPRESSION WITHOUT CONSIDERING BUCKLING
To calculate the axial compression resistance of EMMEDUE wall panels, requirements
and basic principles of ACI-08 318 (section 10.2.71) are adopted. It provides that the
maximum stress carried by the concrete or micro-concrete will be equal to 0.85 ' . The
code also provide (section 10.3.6.2) that for nonprestressed members the design axial
strength is:
/3* = 0.80/50.85 6
7 8 − 9+ ;
where:
/3* = design compression strength
/ = 0.65 strength reduction factor for elements controlled by compression
8 = concrete area of the EMMEDUE wall
= steel area of EMMEDUE wall
5.2 FLEXO-COMPRESSION PERPENDICULAR TO THE WALL
It is considered a unit width of the wall to define the combined compressive and flexural
strength. Is possible to use the empirical design method proposed in the ACI-318S-08
code.
Compression strength considering eccentricity e=h/6 design is expressed by the following
equation:
? @ .
/3* = 0.55 / 6
8 <1 − > C D
32 B
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where:
0.55 = eccentricity factor
/ = 0.65 strength reduction factor
8 = (ts+ti) 100 (cm2) concrete area of the EMMEDUE wall
@ = vertical distance between supports
ℎ = ts+ti, thickness of the concrete
F = effective length factor
The figures 4 and 5 show the typical values of K factors used in the analysis and design.
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
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Is recommended a buckling relation (H/t) ≤ 30
where:
H = height of the wall t = total thickness of the wall
To calculate the design compression strength of Emmedue panels is possible to use the
following spreadsheet named “Walls” attached below as an example:
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5.3 FLEXO-COMPRESSION IN THE PLANE OF THE WALL
To evaluate the compression and flexion resistance in the plane of the wall, it is necessary
to analyse the allowable displacements. It can be considered a simplified equation that
involves the analysis variables: steel mesh reinforcement (area, separation, yield stress),
the axial load to be supported and the ultimate compressive strength of micro-concrete.
The design resistent moment is expressed by:
3K
/)* = / <70.5 H @I 9 J1 + L + >1 − CD
H @I
where:
H = M @I /N total area of vertical reinforcement for the wall
@I = length of the wall
N = spacing between the vertical bars
3K = axial compressive factored load
QRS
=
OP .QRTU
&' = 0,85 because ′ < 27 MPa
W
V=
OP X Y6
ℎ = ts+ti, thickness of the concrete
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/ = 0.90 strength reduction factor
To calculate the design resistent moment in the plane of Emmedue panels is possible to
use the following spreadsheet named “Flexo-compression in the planel ” attached below
as an example:
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6. SHEAR
To define the shear strength in EMMEDUE walls panels, are adapted the rules of ACI-
318S-08 code for the shear design of r.c. walls.
Fig. 6 Fig. 7
Figure n. 6 illustrates the variables to calculate the shear strength.
In Figure n.7 is shown the shear proposal distribution in the horizontal steel bars of the
mesh of EMMEDUE panel.
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The design shear strength is:
/Z* = /Z + /Z
where:
Z = concrete shear resistance
[Y6
Z = %I + ; SI system (MPa)
\
Z = 0.53[ ′ %I + ; mks system (Kgf/cm2)
Z = 2[ ′ %I + ; english system (psi)
′ = ultimate compressive strength of the concrete
B = thickness of the concrete
+ = 0.8 @
MX +
Z =
NM
Z = steel shear resistance
MX = area of two horizontal steel bars of the mesh
= specified yield strength of steel
M = spacing between reinforcement
/ = 0.75 strength reduction factor
To calculate the design shear strength of EMMEDUE panels is possible to use the
following spreadsheet named “Shear-rev02” attached below as an example:
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