RCC MEMBER DESIGN TIPS

A.BEAMS:
OVERALL DEPTH OF BEAMS:
SL.N
O
1.
2.
3.
4.

MEMBER

SPAN/OVERALL DEPTH RATIO

PLINTH BEAM
TIE BEAM
FLOOR BEAMS
GRID BEAMS

15 TO 18
18 TO 20
12 TO 15
20 TO 30

1. Beam sections should be designed for:

a. Moment values at the column face & (not the value at centre line as per
analysis)
b. Shear values at distance of d from the column face. (not the value at centre line
as per analysis)
c. Moment redistribution is allowed for static loads only.
d. For beams spanning between the columns about the weak axis, the moments at
the end support shall be reduced more and distributed and the span moments
shall be increased accordingly to account for the above reduction.
e. Moment distribution shall be done in such a way that 15% of the support
moments shall be added to the span moment without the support moments
getting reduced.
f. The section within the span shall be designed for the increased span moment
which will account for the concentrated & isolated loading that may act within
one span.
g. Moment redistribution is not allowed if
1. Moment co-efficient taken from code table
2. Designed for earthquake forces and for lateral loads.
2.

At least 1/3 of the +ve moment reinforcement in SIMPLE SUPPORTS & the
+ve moment reinforcement in CONTINUOUS MEMBERS shall extend along the
same face of the member into the support, to a length equal to Ld/3. (Lddevelopment length)

3. Use higher grade of concrete if most of the beams are doubly reinforced. Also
when Mu/bd^2 goes above 6.0.
4. Try to design a minimum width for beams so that the all beam reinforcement
passes through the columns. This is for the reason that any reinforcement outside
the column will be ineffective in resisting compression.

5. Restrict the spacing of stirrups to 8(200mm) or of effective depth whichever is

less.(for static loads)
6. Whenever possible try to use T-beam or L-beam concept so as to avoid
compression reinforcement
7. Use a min. of 0.2% for compression reinforcement to aid in controlling the
deflection, creep and other long term deflections.
8. Bars of Secondary beam shall rest on the bars of the Primary beam if the beams are
of the same depth. The kinking of bars shall be shown clearly on the drawing.
9. Length of curtailment shall be checked with the required development length.
10.Keep the higher diameter bars away from the N.A (i.e. layer nearest to the tension
face) so that max. lever arm will be available.
11.Hanger bars shall be provided on the main beam whenever heavy secondary beam
rests on the main beam. (Try to avoid the hanger bar if secondary beam has less
depth than the main beam, as there are enough cushions available).
12.The detailing for the secondary beam shall be done so that it does not induce any
TORSION on the main beam.
13. For cantilever beams reinforcement at the support shall be given a little more and
the development length shall be given 25% more.
14.As a short cut, bending moment for a beam (partially continuous or fully
continuous) can be assumed as wl^2/10 and the same reinforcement can be detailed
at span and support. This thumb rule should not be applied for simply supported
beams.

Sl.no
1.
2.

B: SLAB
EFFECTIVE DEPTH:
SLAB
One- way simply supported slab
One-way continuous slabs

3.

Two-way simply supported slabs

4.

Two-way continuous slabs

SPAN/EFFE.DEPTH
30
35
38 for L/B=1.5
35 for L/B>1.5
40 for L/B=1.5
38 for L/B>1.5

1. Whenever the slab thickness is 150mm, the bar diameter shall be 10mm for normal
spacing. (It can be 8mm at very closely spaced).
2. Slab thickness can be 10mm, 110mm, 120mm, 125mm, 150mm, etc.
3. The maximum spacing of Main bar shall not exceed 200mm (8) and the
distribution bars @ 250mm (10).
4. If the roof slab is supported by load bearing wall (without any frames) a bed block
of 150/200mm shall be provided along the length of supports which will aid in
resisting the lateral forces.
5. If the roof is of sheet (AC/GI) supported by load bearing wall (without any frames)
a bed block of 150/200mm shall be provided along the length of supports except at
the eaves. The bed block is provided to keep the sheets in position from WIND.
6. For the roof slab provide a min. of 0.24% of slab cross sectional area reinforcement
to take care of the temperature and other weathering agent and for the ponding of
rain water etc since it is exposed to outside the building enclosure.

C: COLUMNS

1. Section should be designed for the column moment values at the beam face.
2. Use higher grade of concrete when the axial load is predominant.
3. Go for higher section properties when the moment is predominant.
4. Restrict the maximum % of reinforcement to 3.
5. Detail the reinforcement in column in such a way that it gets maximum lever arm
for the axis about which the column moment acts.
6. Position of lap shall be clearly mentioned in the drawing according to the change in
reinforcement. Whenever there is a change in reinforcement at a junction, lap shall
be provided to that side of the junction where the reinforcement is less.
7. Provide laps at midheight of column to minimize the damage due to moments
(Seismic forces).
8. Avoid KICKER concrete to fix column form work since it is the weakest link due
to weak and non compacted part.

D: FOOTING

1.

Never assume the soil bearing capacity and at least have one trial pit to get the
real site bearing capacity value.

2.

Check the Factor of Safety used by the Geotechnical engineer for finding the
SBC.

3.

SBC can be increased depending on the N-value and type of footing that is
going to be designed. Vide IS-1893-2000(part-I).

4.

Provide always PLINTH BEAMS resting on natural ground in orthogonal

directions connecting all columns which will help in much respect like reducing the
differential settlement of foundations, reducing the moments on footings etc.

5.

Always assume a hinged end support for column footing for analysis unless it is
supported by raft and on pile cap.
The Common assumption of full fixity at the column base may only be valid for
columns supported on RIGID RAFT foundations or on individual foundation pads
supported by
Short stiff piles or by foundation walls in Basement. Foundation pads supported
on deformable soil may have considerable rotational flexibility, resulting in column
forces in the
Bottom storey quite different from those resulting from the assumption of a
rigid base. The consequences can be unexpected column HINGES at the top of
lower storey
Columns under seismic lateral forces. In such cases the column base should be
modeled by a rotational springs. (Ref: page 164-Seismic design of Reinforced
concrete and
Masonry buildings by T.Paulay & M.J.N.Priestley.)
Also refer the Reinforced concrete Designers Handbook by Reynold where it
is clearly mention about the column base support.

E: R.C.C.WALLS
1. The minimum reinforcement for the RCC wall subject to BM shall be as follows:
A. Vertical reinforcement:
a) 0.0012 Of cross sectional area for deformed bars not larger than
16mm in diameter and with characteristic strength 415 N/mm^2
or greater.
b) 0.0015 Of cross sectional area for other types of bars.
c) 0.0012 Of cross sectional area for welded fabric not larger than
16mm in diameter.
Maximum horizontal spacing for the vertical reinforcement shall
neither exceed three times the wall thickness nor 450mm.
B. Horizontal reinforcement.
a) 0.0020 Of cross sectional area for deformed bars not larger than
16mm in diameter and with characteristic strength 415 N/mm^2
or greater.
b) 0.0025 Of cross sectional area for other types of bars.
c) 0.0020 Of cross sectional area for welded fabric not larger than
16mm in diameter.
Maximum vertical l spacing for the vertical reinforcement shall
neither exceed three times the wall thickness nor 450mm.
NOTE: The minimum reinforcement may not always be sufficient to
provide adequate resistance to effects of shrinkage and temperature.
2.

The He/t for a RCC wall shall not exceed 30 as per IS: 456=2000, where He height
of the wall and t is the thickness of the RC wall.
He for a braced wall will be:
a) 0.75 H, if the rotations are restrained at the ends by floors where h
is the height of the wall.
b) 1.0h.

MISCELLANEOUS:
Ref: (Principle of structures by Ariel Hanaor).
1. TRUSS:
The Depth to span ratio for a truss is h/L=10. Beyond a certain optimal value,
increase in structural depth increases weight. The same principle applies to trusses.
An optimal depth/span ratio for a planar truss is approximately 1/10. Although
forces in the CHORDS decrease with increasing depth, forces in the WEB are
practically UNCHANGED and increasing the depth increases the lengths of these
members. Approximately half the web members are in COMPRESSION and
increasing their lengths reduces their efficiency due to the increased susceptibility
to BUCKLING.
2. VIERENDEEL GIRDER:
The span to depth ratio=1/8 to 1/10 are typical.
The compression on top chord or tension in the bottom chord for a UDL loading
is C=T= qL^2/8h where q is the udl and h is the depth.
3. CABLE:
A structure in pure TENSION having the funicular shape of its load is termed as
Cable.

4. ARCH:
Let us now invert the shape of a cable under a given load that is the sag at any
point is turned into a rise. The point is now above the chord joining the end points
by the same amount it was previously below it. A structure built according to the
funicular shape in COMPRESSION is termed as an ARCH. The optional rise to

span ratio for an arch is in the range of 1/6-1/4. The depth to span ratio of an arch is
usually in the range of 1/40 -1/70.

i.

FOLDED PLATE:
The typical depth /span ratio is in the range from 1/15 to 1/10.

ii.

FLATE PLATE:
A typical depth of a solid FLAT PLATE is 1/22 -1/18 of the effective
span.

iii.

TWO-WAY RIBBED SLAB:

Supported on continuous stiff supports are in the range of 1/30-1/25 of
the lesser effective span.

iv.

FLAT PLATE RIBBED SLAB:

Typical depth of flat plate ribbed slabs is in the range of 1/20-1/17 of the
lesser effective span.

v.

DOMES:
The structural depth of DOMES is the full height of the dome from base
to crown. Depth to span ratio range from as low as 1/8 for shallow domes to
for deep domes.
A depth /span ratio of 1/5-1/4 is a common value which is near optimal
for many applications.