4/12/2017 Whatisthedifferencebetweenworkingstressmethodandlimitstatemethodinthedesignofbeams,slabs,columns,andfootingwithexamplesthataree

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What is the dierence between working stress
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Ayush Singhania, MS Structural Engineering, Stanford University (2018)
Whatistheexactdifferencebetweenthetrapezoidal
WrittenJan30,2015
footingandasteppedfooting?Beyondtheshapeand
The cardinal dierence between Working state method (WSM) and Limit State geometry,howdotheirbasicstresses...
method (LSM) is: WSM is an elastic design method whereas LSM is a plastic design
StructuralEngineering:Whatisthedifference
method. betweenlimitstatedesignandworkingstressdesign?

Whatistheconceptbehindthedesigningofbeams
In elastic design, i.e. WSM, the design strength is calculated such that the stress in bythelimitstatemethod?
material is restrained to its yield limit, under which the material follows Hooke's law,
Fordesignofwatertankswhatdoweprefertouse,
and hence the term "elastic" is used. This method yields to uneconomical design of
workingstressmethodorlimitstatemethodandwhy?
simple beam, or other structural elements where the design governing criteria is
stress (static). However, in case of shift of governing criteria to other factors such as Whyismodularratiousedinworkingstressmethod?

fatigue stress, both the methods will give similar design. Also, WSM substantially HowcanIstartdesigningslab,columnandbeam?
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Now coming to plastic design, i.e. LSM, as the name suggests, the stress in material
is allowed to go beyond the yield limit and enter into the plastic zone to reach QuestionStats
ultimate strength. Hence the "moment-rotation" capacity of beam, for example, is
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utilized making the design more economical. However, due to the utilization of the
94,016Views
non-linear zone this method involves arduous calculation.
LastAskedFeb17

All other dierences are mostly derived from the above stated fundamental dierence Edits

along with few general dierences. Some of these dierences are stated below:
1) Serviceability check in case of LSM is required because after the elastic region
strain is higher, which results in more deformation, hence a check is necessary.
2) LSM is strain based method whereas WSM is stress based method.
3) LSM is non-deterministic method whereas WSM is deterministic approach.
4) Partial safety factor is used in LSM whereas Safety factor is used in WSM.
5) Characteristic values (derived from probabilistic approach) are used in case of LSM
whereas Average or statistic values are used in WSM.
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Sumanth Reddy, worked at Structural Engineering

WrittenJan28,2015

I'll try to put this in as simple terms as possible. Isaac Gaetz's answer is much more
accurate though.

The basic concept of design is pretty simple - Capacity > Demand. Any method of
design has to follow the same principle. Be it ASD/LRFD/Performance-based, every
design method relies on this principle.

It is, however, not so easy to determine each side of that equation, especially in civil Santosh,discovermoreuniqueinsightson
engineering. Quora.
Keepreading
For the estimation of capacity, a sound understanding of the mechanics of materials

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4/12/2017 Whatisthedifferencebetweenworkingstressmethodandlimitstatemethodinthedesignofbeams,slabs,columns,andfootingwithexamplesthataree
and their relation to properties of materials in use is essential. Unfortunately for us, 1
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concrete / wood is not the most homogenous of the materials and thus we are forced
to make several assumptions about its behavior during the design. This could lead to
overestimation of capacity which is certainly not desired.

In the estimation of demand, we face a similar problem, primarily in calculating the

loads and several assumptions in behavior through solid mechanics, which could lead
to underestimation of the demand. This case is also not a desired one.

To deal with the above-mentioned issues, each method takes a dierent approach.
ASD, for example, does nothing to the loads acting on the structure. It contributes
some factors on the material side of the equation while LRFD uses factored loads
instead of the actual ones acting.

Both these issues address the uncertainty in their own ways and they are both
accepted. They also have dierent advantages when used with dierent materials.

The backdrop is, in the interest of safety and conservatism, we are overestimating the
requirements and thus are spending more than what we need to.

This is where new methods of design like Performance-based design are lling the
gaps through adoption of better analysis using loads and using better statistically
approved material characteristics for a more accurate and self-sucient design.

21.2kViewsViewUpvotesAnswerrequestedbyYibeltalMossie

Upvote 12 Downvote Comment 1

Kalyan Srinivas, TATA CONSULTING ENGINEERS LTD.

WrittenJul29,2016

WORKING STRESS METHOD: Its a traditional method used for reinforced concrete
design where concrete is assumed as elastic, steel and concrete act together elastically
where the relation ship between loads and stresses is linear.

ASSUMPTIONS:

1. A Section which is plane before bending remain plane after bending ( based
on theory of bending, Bernoullis equation).

2. Bond between steel and concrete is perfect with in elastic limit of steel.

3. All tensile stresses are taken by reinforcement and none by concrete, except
as otherwise specically permitted.

4. The stress-strain relation ship of steel and concrete under working loads , is a
straight line i.e modulus of elasticity is constant.

5. The modular ration m has the value (280/sigmacbc), where (sigmacbc) is

the permissible compressive stress due to bending in concrete in N/mm2.

LIMIT STATE METHOD: Its a method of designing structures based on concept of

safety and its probability of safety. Here in addition to ultimate load approach
addition serviceability is also given importance. Limit state is a condition just before
collapse. A structure designed by limit state should give proper strength and
serviceability through out its life

ASSUMPTIONS:

1. Plane section normal to the axis of the member remain plane after bending.

2. The tensile strength of concrete is ignored.

3. The maximum strain in concrete at the outer most compression ber is

0.0035

4. The compressive stress strain curve may be assumed to be

rectangular,trapezoidal , parabola , or any other shapes results in the
prediction of strength in substantial agreements with results of tests

PRINCIPLE LIMIT STATES:

Limit state of collapse FLEXURE,COMPRESSION,SHEAR,TORSION

Limit state of serviceability DEFLECTION,CRACKING,VIBRATION.

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Upvote 8 Downvote Comment 1

Sandeep Mane Patil, Student-Civil Engineering

WrittenAug22,2016
Santosh,discovermoreuniqueinsightson
WORKING STRESS METHOD: Its a traditional method used for reinforced concrete
Quora.
design where concrete is assumed as elastic, steel and concrete act together elastically
where the relation ship between loads and stresses is linear. Keepreading

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4/12/2017 Whatisthedifferencebetweenworkingstressmethodandlimitstatemethodinthedesignofbeams,slabs,columns,andfootingwithexamplesthataree
ASSUMPTIONS: 1
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A Section which is plane before bending remain plane after bending ( based on theory
of bending, Bernoullis equation).

Bond between steel and concrete is perfect with in elastic limit of steel.

All tensile stresses are taken by reinforcement and none by concrete, except as
otherwise specically permitted.

The stress-strain relation ship of steel and concrete under working loads , is a straight
line i.e modulus of elasticity is constant.

The modular ration m has the value (280/sigmacbc), where (sigmacbc) is the
permissible compressive stress due to bending in concrete in N/mm2.

LIMIT STATE METHOD: Its a method of designing structures based on concept of

safety and its probability of safety. Here in addition to ultimate load approach
addition serviceability is also given importance. Limit state is a condition just before
collapse. A structure designed by limit state should give proper strength and
serviceability through out its life

ASSUMPTIONS:

Plane section normal to the axis of the member remain plane after bending.

The tensile strength of concrete is ignored.

The maximum strain in concrete at the outer most compression ber is 0.0035

The compressive stress strain curve may be assumed to be rectangular,trapezoidal ,

parabola , or any other shapes results in the prediction of strength in substantial
agreements with results of tests

PRINCIPLE LIMIT STATES:

Limit state of collapse FLEXURE,COMPRESSION,SHEAR,TORSION

Limit state of serviceability DEFLECTION,CRACKING,VIBRATION.

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Taikhum Vahanvaty, B.Tech Civil Engineering from Sardar Patel College of

Engineering.
WrittenMar2,2016

The dierence between the two methods can be summarized as follows:

In Working Stress Method you treat dead and live loads equally, i.e. the factor
of safety would be same irrespective of the type of load(dead or live). Here,
you take the total loads that you expect on the structure and apply a single
factor of safety to the members (say 1.5) regardless of the nature of the load.

Limit State Method recognizes the inherent unpredictability of loads and

assigns a much higher factor of safety to live loads (we increase them by 1.5-
1.6), whereas it recognizes that dead loads are much closer to what we
calculate (we only multiply dead loads by 1.2).

Limit State Method also recognizes the uncertainty of dierent failure

modes. For example, exural capacity of a concrete beam is fairly
predictable; therefore we count on 90% of the theoretical value. Shear in
concrete, on the other hand is much less predictable; therefore, we only
count on 70% of the value.

In Working stress method, the members are designed to never go beyond

their elastic range. The max. load a member can take is thus limited and the
plastic range is not explored at all.

Limit state method uses the ultimate strength of the member beyond the
initial yielding and allows plastic deformation to a certain extent.

For this reason, limit state method provides a more economical design and thus more
and more codes are starting to use limit state method instead of working stress
method. Hence work working stress method is becoming more outdated.

Hope this helps...

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Asafa Khan () , Civil Engineer

WrittenAug24,2015
Santosh,discovermoreuniqueinsightson
Quora.
Working Stress Method
The Stresses in an element is obtained from the working loads and compared Keepreading
with permissible stresses.

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4/12/2017 Whatisthedifferencebetweenworkingstressmethodandlimitstatemethodinthedesignofbeams,slabs,columns,andfootingwithexamplesthataree
The method follows linear stress-strain behaviour of both the materials. 1
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Modular ratio can be used to determine allowable stresses.

Material capabilities are under estimated to large extent. Factor of safety are
used in working stress method.

The member is considered as working stress.

Ultimate load carrying capacity cannot be predicted accurately.

The main drawback of this method is that it results in an uneconomical

section.

Limit State Method

The stresses are obtained from design loads and compared with design
strength.

In this method, it follows linear strain relationship but not linear stress
relationship (one of the major dierence between the two methods of
design).

The ultimate stresses of materials itself are used as allowable stresses.

The material capabilities are not under estimated as much as they are in
working stress method. Partial safety factors are used in limit state method.

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Upvote 18 Downvote Comment 1

Tom Rose, studied at Tara Anglican School for Girls

WrittenApr10,2016

Most structures are designed using the limit state method. Working stress method is
the old way of designing, and is more conservative.

Under the working stress method, and taking the example of a beam in bending, once
the outer bre of the cross section reaches yield stress, you have reached the limit of
the design. Under ultimate limit state design, the cross section is allowed to yield
beyond this point so that the full cross sectional depth can achieve yield stress (unless
buckling occurs prior). There might be a 50% "increase in capacity", however the
design loads also increase. In ultimate limit state design, the design loads are factored
up, and the capacity is factored down. The capacity is also factored down in working
stress design. You should read through a design code to understand this in detail.
There will be many textbooks that give examples of design based on a standard.

Ultimate Limit State Design of concrete structures is not necessarily any more
dicult or tedious than Working Stress Design, but it does lend itself to the use of
software, given the many formulas. Essentially, there were formulas in the old
working stress method design as well. The formulas have become more complex.
There are also rules about redistribution of bending moments, through formation of
plastic hinges. You might nd that, based on the elastic distribution of bending
moments, a beam is at its limit for negative bending over a support, however the
midspan positive moment is well within capacity. Provided ductility is ensured, the
negative moment zones can be treated as hinges (supporting their capacity, but no
more), and any additional load causes only the positive midspan moment to increase.
In many cases, this is not necessary, and design is based on the elastic distribution of
moments as per the Working Stress Method, with loads factored up according to the
code rules.

For some materials, aluminium being an example, redistribution of bending

moments is not permitted under ULSD. This is because the material does not possess
sucient ductility to undergo the required deformations.
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Anonymous
UpdatedAug9,2015

The Working, Allowable or Permissible stress method is an elastic design method. In

this design method, members are designed to never go beyond their elastic range.
The primary benet of this benet is that the same loads used for checking exural,
shear, torsional and axial design can also be used for serviceability checks, ie. the
loads are not amplied. This reduces book keeping eorts and removes one potential
source of error introduction. In practice, this means it is simpler.

Limit State or Load Resistance Factor design uses the ultimate strength of a member,
beyond initial yielding, to determine the allowable strength. The primary benet of Santosh,discovermoreuniqueinsightson
the limit state design method is that it is generally produces more economical designsQuora.
than Working Stress Methods, and it provides a more consistent safety factor across
Keepreading
all elements. LRFD allows for more control and understanding of the structural

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behavior by explicitly considering each load type independently. 1
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In practice, the two design approaches have been calibrated to provide similar results
for common loading ranges. Things get a bit out of alignment when the dead load to
live/wind/earthquake load ratio is very high or low.

There are many articles on this topic if you google "ASD vs. LRFD". These will not only
explain in more technical detail, they will also give you the historical background to
understand how these two methods came to be.

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Naresh Yadav, Was a site-draftsman for concrete structures.

WrittenJul1,2016

If you are looking for deeper answers and have some time to read , reect and discuss
then please refer to

Introduction

I found the treatment very appealing.

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Gideon Karthik, 4 years of Indian and Gulf experience

UpdatedJun29,2015

Very simple.
Cost of lifting a leaf by an elephant: 1000$
Cost of lifting that same leaf by an ant: 1$
Which is economical?
Elephant- working stress design to carry load
Ant- limit state design to carry load

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