DESIGN OF STAIRCASES

545

The tangential load component wt causes the waist slab to bend in its own plane. However, as the slab is extremely deep in this plane, the flexural stresses so induced are of a small order, and do not call for any particular design. Distributor bars are provided in the longitudinal direction. The proportioning of the waist slab thickness is as described earlier (in Section 12.3.4) for cantilevered treads. Waist Slab Spanning Longitudinally In this case, the slab thickness t may be taken as approximately l/20 for simply supported end conditions and l/25 for continuous end conditions. The normal load component wn causes flexure in vertical planes containing the span direction (parallel to the longitudinal axis of the slab), and the tangential load component wt causes axial compression (of low order) in the slab [Fig. 12.7(c)(i)]. The main bars are placed longitudinally, and designed for the bending moments induced in the vertical planes along the slab span. These moments may be conveniently computed by considering the entire vertical load w acting on the projected horizontal span (going), rather than considering the normal load component wn acting on the inclined span s [Fig. 12.7(c)(iii)]. The distributor bars are provided in the transverse directions.
Care must be taken to ensure proper detailing of the longitudinal bars at the junction of the flight and landing slab. The bottom bars in the waist slab should not be continued to the bottom of the upper landing slab at the reentrant corner, but extended to the top of the landing slab. This is to prevent the bars (in tension) from breaking out at reentrant corners, as shown in the detail in Fig. 12.4(a).

12.3.6 Load Effects in Tread-Riser Stairs In the tread-riser type of arrangement [Fig. 12.1(c)], the slab is repeatedly folded, and behaves essentially like a folded plate. A rigorous analysis of such a structure is difficult and laborious. However, the analysis can be rendered simple by means of certain idealisations, and designs based on such simplified analysis are found to work well in practice. These simple design methods are described here. Tread-Riser Units Spanning Transversely In this case, the assumption made is that each tread-riser unit, comprising the riser slab and one-half of each tread slab on either side [Fig. 12.8(b)], can be assumed to behave independently as a beam with a Z-section. Such an assumption is made in one-way slab design (where design is done for a standard strip of unit width), and indeed, slabs spanning transversely are basically one-way slabs, designed for uniformly distributed gravity loads. This tread-riser unit behaves essentially as a flanged beam which is transversely loaded. The overall depth of the beam is given by (R + t), where R is the riser and t the thickness of the slab [Fig. 12.8(a)].

Sometimes, this type of stair is referred to as a slabless stair, referring to the absence of a continuous waist slab.

546

REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

tread T riser R t typical TREADRISER unit (as a flanged beam of Zsection) T t

(a) tread-riser arrangement

main bars, transversely at top (if cantilever) t 8

DETAILING

t (T t)/2 t (T t)/2

6 ties @ 200 c/c as distributors, longitudinally

(b) stairs spanning transversely

w
M7

main bars, transversely at bottom (if simply supported)

T4

M4 V3 V4

M3 V3
R3

B. M. in Risers

M6 M5 M4 M3 M2 M1

T4 T3 R3

VR

T3

V3 M3

M2 V 2

V3

free bodies of T3,

R3 and T4

VL

M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 M7

B.M. in Treads
V2 V3 V4 V5

VR
V6 V7

S.F. in Treads t

VL

V1

8 8 as distributors in transverse direction

t alternate arrangement of ties

main reinforcement in the form of ties, in longitudinal direction

(c) stairs spanning longitudinally Fig. 12.8 Load effects and detailing in tread-riser units

DESIGN OF STAIRCASES

547

In most cases of tread-riser units spanning transversely, the bending moments are low, and it generally suffices to provide a nominal slab thickness t = 100 mm. For convenience in calculations, the flange portions of the beam may be ignored and the rectangular portion of the riser slab alone may be considered. It will be found that the reinforcement required is nominal. The detailing of the tread-riser slab may be done as indicated in Fig. 12.8(b). The nominal distributor bars (generally 6 @ 200 c/c) may be provided in the form of ties (stirrups) in both riser slab and tread slab as shown. The main bars are concentrated in the riser slab portion, and may be located at the top or bottom, depending on whether the slab is cantilevered or simply supported. At every bend in the ties where there are no main bars, a nominal 8 mm bar should be provided. The clear cover to the main bars should be as required for normal slabs. Tread-Riser Units Spanning Longitudinally In this case, the bending moments to be considered occur in the longitudinal direction, in the riser slab as well as the tread slab. The overall behaviour of the inter-connected tread-riser units, including calculation of bending moments, is similar to longitudinally spanning waist slabs. The variation of bending moment along the span is as for a horizontal slab having the projected horizontal span with the entire vertical load acting on it [Fig. 12.8(c)]. As depicted in the freebody diagram in Fig. 12.8(c), each tread slab is subjected to a bending moment (which varies slightly along the tread) combined with a shear force, whereas each riser slab is subjected to a bending moment (which is constant for a given riser) combined with an axial force (which may be compressive or tensile ). It is assumed that the connection between the riser slab and the adjoining tread slab is a rigid joint. For all practical purposes, it suffices to design both tread slabs and riser slabs for flexure alone, as the shear stresses in tread slabs and axial stresses in riser slabs are relatively low. The slab thickness t may be kept the same for both tread slab and riser slab, and may be taken as about span/25 for simply supported stairs and span/30 for continuous stairs. It is generally accepted that the tread-riser arrangement has considerable aesthetic appeal, and in this sense, it is superior to the conventional waist slab type of staircase. However, this aesthetic appeal of the tread-riser staircase is lost if the slab thickness t is excessive especially if it exceeds the riser R. For this reason, it becomes necessary to work out a suitable support scheme for the tread-riser staircase, which results in a relatively low effective span generally not exceeding about 3.5 m. The reinforcement detailing, shown in Fig. 12.8(c), is similar to that shown in Fig. 12.8(b) except that the main bars (ideally in the form of closed loops, as shown) lie in the longitudinal direction, while the distributors (generally 8 ) are located transversely. The closed loop arrangement of the main bars (in the tread slab as well as the riser slab) serves to provide the required development length. Furthermore, this arrangement provides reinforcement at top, required to resist

The axial force is generally tensile in the risers located in the upper half of the flight; this tension is resisted by the closed ties provided as main reinforcement [Fig. 12.8(c)].

548

REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

negative moments near the supports which are likely to be partially restrained. Also, the closed loop arrangement enhances both the shear- and axial force-resisting capacities, as well as ductility of the slabs. The diameter and/or spacing of the main bars in the tread-riser units may be suitably varied along the span (to conform to the bending moment diagram), in order to achieve an economical design. 12.4 DESIGN EXAMPLES OF STAIR SLABS SPANNING TRANSVERSELY
EXAMPLE 12.1

A straight staircase is made of structurally independent tread slabs, cantilevered from a reinforced concrete wall. Given that the riser is 150 mm, tread is 300 mm, and width of flight is 1.5 m, design a typical tread slab. Apply the live loads specified in the IS Loading Code for stairs liable to be overcrowded. Use M 20 concrete and Fe 250 steel. Assume mild exposure conditions.
SOLUTION

Given: R = 150 mm, T = 300 mm, W = 1.5 m effective span l = 1.5 m It is desirable to make the actual width of the tread slab, B, about 10 mm more than the effective tread, T, so that there is a marginal overlap between adjacent tread slabs [see Fig. 12.1(d)]. B = 310 mm l Assume a slab thickness at the fixed support, t = 150 mm. The slab 10 thickness may be kept constant for a distance of, say, 300 mm, from the support, and tapered to a minimum thickness of 80 mm, as shown in Fig. 12.9. Dead Loads: (i) self weight of tread slab 25 kN/m3 (0.15 0.31) m2 = 1.162 kN/m (ii) finishes = 0.186 kN/m 0.6 kN m 2 0.31 m 1.348 kN/m wu,DL = 1.348 1.5 = 2.022 kN/m Live Loads: Alternative I: wu,LL = (5.0 kN/m2 0.3 m) 1.5 = 2.250 kN/m Alternative II: Wu,LL = 1.3kN 1.5 = 1.95 kN (at free end) Design Moment: At fixed end, M u, DL
2.022 1.5 2 2

= 2.27 kNm

The actual slab thickness varies along the slab; however, it is convenient and conservative to assume a uniform thickness equal to 150 mm for the purpose of calculating dead load and bending moment.

DESIGN OF STAIRCASES

549

Mu, LL

2.250 1.52 2 1.95 1.5

2.53 kNm 2.93 kNm (more critical)

Mu = 2.27 + 2.93 = 5.20 kNm Design of Main Bars: Assuming a clear cover of 20 mm (mild exposure) and a bar diameter of 10 mm, effective depth d = 150 20 10/2 = 125 mm. Mu 5.20 10 6 = 1.0735 MPa R 2 bd 310 125 2 pt Ast f ck 1 1 4.598 R f ck 100 bd 2 f y = 0.528 102 (for fck = 20 MPa and fy = 250 MPa) [Alternatively, this is obtainable from design aids Table A.3(a)] (Ast)reqd = (0.528 102) 310 125 = 205 mm2 Provide 310 bars [Ast = 78.5 3 = 235.5 mm2 > 205]. ( 0.87 250) 10 Anchorage length required: Ld = 453 mm [Eq. 8.5] 4 12 . Distributors (Ast)min = 0.0015bt (for Fe 250 bars, Cl. 26.5.2.1) = 0.0015 103 150 = 225 mm2/m (assuming uniform slab thickness) 50.3 10 3 Required Spacing of 8 bars = = 223 mm 225 Provide 8 distributors @ 220c/c Check for shear Design (factored) shear force at support: Vu = (2.022 + 2.250) 1.5 = 5.72 kN Vu 5720 = 0.145 MPa v bd 310 127 ( 0.47 13 . ) MPa [vide Cl. 40.2.1.1 of the Code]. c Hence, safe. v c

This is generally not required, as shear stresses are invariably of low magnitude. A check for deflection control is also not called for in the case of well-proportioned slabs especially since the major load component (live load) is a transient load.

550

REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN

Ld = 453 mm
A

3 10 80 150

310

38 (desirable to resist possible stress reversal under seismic loads)

300 1500

8 @ 220 c/c

SECTION AA

Fig. 12.9 Example 12.1

Detailing The detailing of the tread slab is shown in Fig. 12.9.

EXAMPLE 12.2

Repeat Example 12.1, considering a tread-riser arrangement spanning transversely.

SOLUTION

Given (as in previous Example): R = 150 mm, T = 300 mm, l = 1.5 m. Assume a nominal slab thickness t = 100 mm. Effective depth (assuming 20 mm cover, 10 bars and 8 ties) d = (150 + 100) 20 8 10/2 = 217 mm. Load on a typical tread-riser unit [Fig. 12.10(a)]: Dead Loads: (1) self-weight @ 25kN/m3 (0.3 + 0.15) m 0.1 m = 1.125 kN/m (2) finishes @ 0.6 kN/m2 0.3 m = 0.180 = 1.305 kN/m Factored dead load wu,DL = 1.305 1.5 = 1.958 kN/m Live Loads: Alternative I: wu,LL = 1.5 (5.0 kN/m2 0.3 m) = 2.250 kN/m Alternative II: Wu,LL = 1.5 1.3kN = 1.95 kN (at free end) Design Moment Consideration of concentrated live load at the free end [see Ex. 12.1] will result in a slightly larger design moment of Mu = 1.958 1.52 / 2 + 1.95 1.5 = 5.13 kNm This moment is resisted by the flanged section shown in Fig. 12.10(a). Ignoring the contribution of the flanges (for convenience), and considering a rectangular section with b = 100 mm, d = 217 mm, Mu 5.13 10 6 R = 1.089 MPa bd 2 100 217 2 Design of main bars

DESIGN OF STAIRCASES

551

pt 100

Ast bd

( Ast ) reqd

20 1 1 4.598 1.089 20 2 250 = 0.537 102 (0.537 10 2 ) (100 217 ) 117 mm 2

Provide 210 bars on top (Ast = 78.5 2 = 157 mm2 > 117) Anchorage length = 453 mm (as in previous Example) Distributors (Ast)min = 0.0015bt (for Fe 250 bars) = 0.0015 1000 100 = 225 mm2/m Provide 8 @ 220c/c distributors (as in Example 12.1). These distributors are provided in the form of closed loops, with a bar (8 minimum) provided transversely at each bend, as shown in Fig. 12.10(b).
300 210 150 100 150 8 38 100 8 100 100 100 ties @ 220 c/c 38 300

100

(a) Fig. 12.10 Example 12.2 EXAMPLE 12.3

(b)

Design a waist slab type staircase comprising a straight flight of steps, supported between two stringer beams along the two sides. Assume an effective span of 1.5 m, a riser of 150 mm and a tread of 270 mm. Assume a live load of 3.0kN/m2. Use M 20 concrete and Fe 250 steel. Assume mild exposure conditions.
SOLUTION

Given R = 150 mm, T = 270 mm, l = 1.5 m

R 2 T 2 = 309 mm Assume a nominal waist slab thickness t = 80 mm [Fig. 12.11(a)]. Further, assuming the flexural resistance to be provided entirely by the waist slab, with 20 mm clear cover (mild exposure) and 10 bars, effective depth d = 80 20 10/2 = 55 mm.

Loads acting vertically over each tread width: