12th ICSGE

10-12 Dec. 2007 Cairo - Egypt

Ain Shams University

Faculty of Engineering
Department of Structural Engineering

Twelfth International Colloquium on Structural and Geotechnical Engineering

LOAD DISTRIBUTION FROM SLABS TO BEAMS A Review of Egyptian Code Provision

H. M. IBRAHIM Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Suez Canal University, Port-Said, Egypt. E-mail: hi_hgh@yahoo.com ABSTRACT As presented by Egyptian Code 203-2001, supporting beams may carry loads transferred from slabs of triangular and/or trapezoidal patterns. To ease hand calculations, these loads may remodeled to equivalent uniform distributed loads for calculating shear forces and bending moments under certain well known restrictions. The present study examines, calibrate and extend the code procedure to figure out equivalent uniform distributed loads for calculating deflection. Other possible load patterns, not stated in the code, are examined and appointed in a similar format. Likewise, cantilever beams carried different load configurations are also demonstrated. Moreover, equally spaced combinations of similar triangular/ trapezoidal and concentrated loads are also investigated. Consequently, the hand calculations proposed by the code is extended to cover most of the possible load configurations without any loss of accuracy. KEYWORDS Load distribution; slabs; supporting beams; equivalent loads; shear; moment; deflection 1 INTRODUCTION A procedure is adopted by the Egyptian code to simplify structural analysis of beams by transforming triangular and trapezoidal slab loads to equivalent uniform distributed loads [1]. Two factors are adopted by the code to alter these loads to equivalent uniform distributed loads for performing bending moments and shear forces. The code restricts this procedure to loads distributed over the whole span with maximum load intensity at mid span. For cases not fulfill this restriction, it is stated that the equivalent load for calculating shear should be used for moment calculations. Considering loads for bending moment to calculate deflection is not clearly stated in the code format. In addition, concentrated loads are not considered. Moreover, the procedure is not applicable for loads transmitted from cantilever slabs to beams.

The aim of the present work is to use a formulation similar to that adopted by the Egyptian Code 203-2001 to: 1. Conduct a third factor to alter triangular and trapezoidal load shapes to equivalent uniform distributed one for calculating maximum deflection. 2. Extend the code procedure to cover possible load patterns transferred from cantilever slabs to beams to obtain equivalent loads for moments, shear, and deflection calculations. 3. Transform concentrated loads to equivalent uniform distributed load for calculating moment, shear, and deflection. The method formulated by Nowak [2] is used in combination with code procedure to simplify the structural analysis of simply supported girders loaded with equally spaced and values of concentrated and triangular/trapezoidal loads. Formulae are derived for these cases and several examples are handed out to validate and check its accuracy. The author believes that, the present formulation is accurate, fast, and simple for hand calculations. 2 LOAD DISTRIBUTION FOR BEAMS Egyptian Code ECCS 203-2001 stated that, slab loads transmitted to beams can be calculated from the areas limited by lines bisecting the angles at the corners of any panel as shown in Fig.1 [1]. Beam B

Load transmitted to beam A

Beam A 2X Load transmitted to beam B X

Fig. 1: Load distribution for beams [1] These loads are of triangular/trapezoidal pattern. Transforming these loads to equivalent uniform distributed loads is allowed by the code. Equating the maximum bending moment resulting from the actual load configuration "wX" with that resulting from the equivalent uniform distributed load wem leads to: (1) Where, w is the slab load intensity, 2X is the length of the shorter span of the slab, and is a conversion factor for moment calculation which is evaluated as:
wem = w X

1 (2) 3r 2 Where r is the rectangularity ratio and equal to r = L/2x, and L is the longer span. Similarly, equating maximum shear force resulting from the actual load configuration with that due to equivalent uniform distributed loads wes leads to:

= 1

wes = w X

(3)

Where, wem and wes is the equivalent loads for calculation maximum bending moment and shear respectively and the conversion factor is evaluated as: 1 (4) = 1 2r 3 EQUIVALENT LOAD FOR CALCULATING DEFLECTION Based on the ECCS Code load distribution procedure, the deflection conversion factor could be conducted by equating the maximum deflection produced by the actual load configuration "wX" with that of the equivalent uniform distributed one we . For triangular loading pattern as those shown in Fig.2.a, the maximum deflection can be obtained by: w.L4 = (5) 120 E.I The deflection corresponding to the equivalent uniform distributed loads is: e = 5 we L4 384 EI (6) (7)

Equating equations (5) and (6) leads to: we = 0.64 w

wX 2X

wX L

we

e
a. Triangular Loading

e
b. Trapezoidal Loading

Fig. 2: Load patterns and deflected shape

Similarly, trapezoidal loading maximum deflection can be obtained by:

= w 1 . 25 L4 40 X 2 L2 + 16 X 4 1920 EI

(8)

From equations (6) and (8), it is verified that: 2 4 X X we = w.1.0 1.6 + 0.64 L L Hence, the general equation for equivalent loads for deflection calculation will be:
we = w X

(9)

(10)
4

where,

= 1.0 1.6

X X + 0.64 L L
2

(11)

Accordingly, the equivalent load for deflection calculations under condition that the load is distributed over the total span with maximum intensity at mid span is " w X". The values of as well as and are tabulated in Table 1. Table 1: Conversion factors for loads for moment, shear, and deflection L/2X
[1] [1]

1.0
0.667 0.500 0.64

1.1
0.725 0.544 0.70

1.2
0.769 0.582 0.74

1.3
0.803 0.615 0.78

1.4
0.830 0.642 0.80

1.5
0.853 0.667 0.83

1.6
0.870 0.688 0.85

1.7
0.885 0.706 0.87

1.8
0.897 0.722 0.88

1.9
0.908 0.737 0.89

2.0
0.917 0.750 0.90

For beams subjected to load configuration such as stated by the code a deflection factor could be used for more accurate prediction. However, the load factor could be used accurately in same situations but overestimates the deflection by a maximum value of 4.2%. This value decrease proportionally with the increase of rectangularity ratio till reach a value of 1.6% accompanied with a value of r of 2.0. These results show that, the values of is closely related but slightly higher than the values of . Consequently, considering the load for moment in calculating deflection leads to slight overestimate predicted deflection. 4 EQUIVALENT LOADS FOR CANTILEVER BEAMS Conversion factors formulae for common loads configuration transferred to cantilever beams are derived out and summarized in Table 2. It shows that the use of conversion factor proposed by the code can be used, in the safe side, for calculating shear, moment and deflection for cases (b), (c) and (d) and in the unsafe side when handling case (a). However, the values listed in Table 2 can be used without any loss of accuracy for predicting load for maximum moment, shear, and deflection for all cases.

Table 2: Calculated values of conversion factors for cantilever beams Conversion Factors Load Configuration (a) L (b) L (c) x L x

= 0.67 = 0.50 = 0.73 = 0.33 = 0.50 = 0.27

= 0.50 = 0.50 = 0.4583

(d)
x =1 L
=1
x L
2 3

16 x 26 x 1 x = 1 + 3 L 3 L 3 L

(e)
= 1 +
=1
x 2L
2

x 1 x L 3 L

x L
1 x 15 L
4

= 1 +

4 x 2 x 3 L 3 L

= 1
=1
x 2L
4

x 1 x L 3 L

(f)

x
2 3 4

x x x 11 x 14 x = 1 + 4 6 + L L L 3 L 15 L

5 LOADS OF EQUAL-SPACED EQUAL-VALUES Simply supported girders may be loaded with equal-values of concentrated reactions from equally spaced beams. It is also may carry a slab loading in the form of triangular or trapezoidal configuration between concentrated loads as shown in Fig. 3. In such a case, loads can be treated separately and thereafter the results are obtained by superposition. 5.1 Triangular Load Pattern Several cases of triangular loading are examined to check the accuracy of using the equivalent load for shear in solving this problem. As stated in the ECCS Code Format the factor for shear of 0.5 is used to perform the loads for moment and shear respectively. If the girder is loaded with N concentrated loads from the reaction of secondary beams Rb, it may be accompanied with N+1 of triangular loads as shown in Fig.3. Rb w.X L w.X Rb Rb

L Rb w.X L w.X Rb Rb Rb Rb Rb Rb

L Fig. 3: Even and Odd number of loads For the case of triangular loading pattern, it is verified by hand calculations that: 1. If N+1 is even, the equivalent load for shear calculation leads to exact maximum shear force and maximum bending moment: 1 w.L2 1 w.L (12) M max = Qmax = 2 8 2 2 2. If N+1 is odd, the equivalent load for shear calculation leads to exact maximum shear force, and results close to the exact maximum bending moment:;
Qmax = 1 w.L 2 2

(13.a)

28 w.L2 Case of three triangle loads (13.b) 54 8 76 w.L2 M max = Case of five triangle loads (13.c) 150 8 Since nearly exact results are obtained using the conversion factor for calculating maximum bending moment, it could be used safely to evaluate deflection with minor loss of accuracy. M max = 5.2 Trapezoidal Load Pattern Herein, the case of trapezoidal loads of factor for shear of 0.75 is presented to perform the loads for moment, and shear, deflection respectively. The girder is loaded with N+1 of trapezoidal loads. It is verified that: 1. If N+1 is even, the equivalent load for shear calculation leads to exact maximum bending moment and maximum shear force; 3 w.L2 3 w.L M max = Qmax = (14) 4 8 4 2 2. If N+1 is odd, the equivalent load for shear calculation leads to closely exact maximum bending moment and exact maximum shear force; 3 w.L (15.a) Qmax = 4 2 83 w.L2 M max = Case of three trapezoidal loads (15.b) 108 8 457 w.L2 M max = Case of five trapezoidal loads (15.c) 600 8 The accuracy proportionally increased with the number of triangular/trapezoidal load patterns. Moreover, the deflection calculation using the factor is performed for the above mentioned cases using the moment area method. It is found that the values are closely related to the exact solution. 5.3 Concentrated Load Pattern For beams loaded with concentrated load pattern, the approach of Nowak is adopted [2]. In his approach, the equivalent distributed loads for calculating maximum moment, shear, and deflection are obtained respectively as:

r RB (N + 1) r w = (16) L r The load for maximum bending moment, maximum shearing force, and maximum deflection resulting from the equivalent uniform load can be evaluated respectively by multiplying this load by the factors r, r, and r. The values of these factors are dependant on the number of concentrated loads and are presented in Table 3 [2].
B e

Table 3: Conversion factors for concentrated loads [2] N r r r 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1.000 0.889 1.000 0.960 1.000 0.980 1.000 0.988 1.000 0.922 0.500 0.677 0.750 0.800 0.833 0.857 0.875 0.889 0.900 0.909 0.800 0.909 0.950 0.968 0.978 0.984 0.988 0.990 0.992 0.993

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE

Consider the two main girders G, which support beams Bs. The load distribution for beams and girders are shown in Fig.4. The girders G1 and G2 carry triangular load configuration and concentrated loads resulting from the reactions of secondary beams B. It was required to calculate the equivalent load for moment, shear, and deflection if the load intensities are: Dead load = 2.5 kN/m2 and, Live load = 1.5 kN/m2. Rectangularity ratio of the each slab panel r = 3 / 2 = 1.5

3.0 m

G L=10.0 m
Fig. 4: Load distribution for girders and beams The reaction of the secondary beams is calculated from the load of shear. Total load for elastic calculation = 1.5 + 2.5 = 4.0 kN/m2. For trapezoidal loads and the rectangularity ratio stated above, the conversion factor is obtained from Table 1 and has the value of 0.667. Hence the reaction of intermediate secondary beam that will be carried by the girder G as concentrated loads will be: RB = (0.667*4.0*1.0*2.0*3.0)/2.0 = 8.0 kN Decompose the main girder into two substructures. One carries the concentrated load from the secondary beam reactions. The second carries triangular or trapezoidal load according to the x- and y-dimensions of each slab panel. For triangular loads: = 0.50, X=1.0

we

, ,

0.50 2.0 = 4.0 *1.0 * 0.50 = 2.0 0.50 2.0

For concentrated loads, the load for maximum moment, shear, and deflection is:

0.96 3.84 8.0 (4 + 1) 0.80 = 3.20 w = 10 0.968 3.87

B e

Hence, the equivalent uniform distributed loads for calculating moment, shear, and deflection are respectively obtained by adding the above values: 2.0 3.84 5.84 = 2.0 + 3.2 = 5.20 2.0 3.87 5.87

wt

, ,

7 CONCLUSIONS

The present work introduces a deflection factor to alter triangular and trapezoidal load shapes to equivalent uniform distributed one for calculating maximum deflection. However, the load factor could be used accurately but overestimates the deflection by a maximum value of 4.2%. This value decrease proportionally with the increase of rectangularity ratio r till reach a value of 1.6% accompanied with a value of r of 2.0. Moreover, the code conversion factors procedure is extended to cover possible load patterns transferred from slabs to cantilever beams. It shows that the use of conversion factor proposed by the code can be used, in the safe side, for calculating shear, moment and deflection for cases (b), (c) and (d) and in the unsafe side when handling case (a). However, the values listed in Table 2 can be used without any loss of accuracy for predicting load for maximum moment, shear, and deflection for all cases. On the other hand, the present work simplifies the structural analysis of simply supported girders loaded with equally spaced and values of concentrated and triangular/ trapezoidal loads.
8 REFERENCES

[1]

[2]

Ministry of Housing, Infra Structures, and New Human Communities, Housing and Building Research Center, Egyptian Code for Concrete Structures, ECCS 203, 7th Edition, Egypt (2001). Nowak, P.S. Journal of Structural Engineering, ASCE 125 (7), (1999) 746-748.