Eng. A. P.

Vandebona
• B.Sc Eng (Hons), PG Dip (Foundation Eng), C.Eng, MIE(SL), MSSE(SL), GREENSL@AP (GBCSL)

Managing Director / Principal Structural Engineer

URO Structural Consultants (Pvt) Ltd

Comprehensive Course on
Structural Design of Buildings

Society of Structural Engineer’s Sri Lanka 1

Preparation of Design Report

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 Purpose of Design report

• Structural Design Reports are written by engineers

to document the
– Problem
– Data collection
– process and
– outcomes of the design task
• The author’s understanding of the problem and
engineering knowledge must be shown throughout
the whole document.

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Report development stages

Conceptual/Schematic Design
Design Development
Detailed Design

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1. Title page Contents
2. Version log

3. Content page

4. Design brief

5. Structural scheme

6. Initial design

7. Lateral load calculations

8. Element design calculations

9. Annexures 5
 1. Title page
• Project name
• Report title
• Document reference
• Month/year
• Author details
• Company Logos

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 2. Version log
• This page give information on the
document control aspect and it may
contain
– Document version
– Author
– Changes in that version
– Date of issue
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3. Contents page

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 4. Design brief
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Foundation methodology
4.3 Design criteria for the structural design
4.4 Structural analysis with computer
modelling
4.5 Design of the Structural Elements
4.6 Detailing of the Structural Elements
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 4.1 Introduction
• Background
• Scope of work
• General information about the building
• Floor functions/ intended use
Set the design work in context
(Client, Project, Location etc)
Summarize what has been design/work has
been done
Provide recommendations (if needed)
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 Introduction
Provide the following details (if available)
• Site Address
• Description of Terrain
• Description of surrounding structures (if any)
• Provide Site Photos
• Satellite Image will make it easy to show site
surroundings
• Reason to prepare the report

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4.2 Foundation methodology
• Describe Ground
Conditions
(Soil Strata, Terrain, Soil
Properties etc)
• Discuss factor affecting
foundation design
(Building height, Weak
Soil Layers, Neighboring
Structures)
• Highlight Foundation Type
• Support your choice using
soil investigation report
recommendations.

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4.3 Design criteria for the structural design
• Design Philosophy
• Design standards
• Design Development of the conceptual
design
• Fire Resistance and Durability

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 4.3 Design criteria for the structural design
Design Philosophy
• Structural design process will be initiated with the preparation of general arrangement drawings for the proposed
structural scheme based on the Architectural & MEP services drawings. Initial member sizing for structural elements
were arrived at taking into consideration the design loads giving due consideration to the structural integrity and
safety, architectural intent and aesthetic aspects, durability, sustainability, constructability, economy, etc.

• Upon completion of the initial design and very detailed discussions were started along with Architect and the other
team members on structural arrangements and member sizing in order to finalize the structure, structural zone, MEP
zone, etc.

• Upon finalizing the initial member sizes, the structure was analyzed using linear elastic approach for Dead, Live and
Wind static loadings. A finite element model supported by manual calculations and formulae were used for the
analysis.

• The structure elements have been designed based on the limit state design principles while meeting the serviceability
limit state and ultimate limit state design criterion as stipulated in the codes of practice and standards.

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4.3 Design criteria for
the structural design
• Design standards

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4.3 Design criteria for the structural design
• Design Development of the conceptual
design
– Load evaluation
– Load combinations
– Material properties

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Dead loads

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4.3 Design criteria for the structural design
• Fire Resistance and
Durability

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4.4 Structural analysis with computer modelling
Structural Analysis with Computer modelling
To make the process of analysis more convenient and more reliable, computer based finite element analysis
software, ETABS have used. The adequacy of the structure with respect to its strength, stiffness and stability
have been then verified for different loading combinations and design approaches. The 3-dimensional model
has been created as a mathematical model of the building of its form, stiffness (modified sectional properties
were used for cracked sections) and strength. Simple hand calculations were used for checking and verification
of results produced by the analytical software.
The structural capacity of the building as a whole under the action of different load combinations have been
assessed using the 3-dimensional model.
The performance of this building has been mainly checked against gravity loads and lateral loads.

Software used for the analysis

In general, the following computer software have been used;
– ETABS - Analysis and Design of Reinforced Concrete Elements
– PROKON – Analysis and Design of Steel Roof
– In-house developed spreadsheets

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4.5 Design of the Structural Elements
• Based on the structural analysis results all the structural
elements have been designed according to the codes and
standards mentioned in design standards and references.
Please refer the section 10 of the report for the detailed
structural analysis and element design.

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4.6 Detailing of the Structural Elements

• Standard method of detailing as published by the

Institution of Structural Engineers, UK have been used
predominantly for the detailing of all reinforced
concrete elements.
• All structural steel elements have been detailed to meet
the standards as mentioned in the reference “Steel
Detailers Manual”.
• AutoCAD Version xxxx is used in structural drafting

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5. Structural system
• Design Information

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5. Structural system
• Material: Concrete, Steel,
Aluminium, Timber, Glass
• Vertical load paths: Columns,
Walls
• Structural Arrangement: Column
Spacing, Average Slab THK
• Lateral Load Resisting System:
Beam-Column Frame, Shear
Walls, Link Beams,
Outrigger Systems
• Justify the choice made for the
structural concept
• Show schematic view of
structural form 36
 6. Initial design

• Slabs
• Beams
• Columns
• Walls
• Staircases
• Roof elements ( steel)

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 7. Lateral load calculations
• Wind load calculations
• Earth pressure loads
• Seismic

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 8. Element design calculations
Data collection
• Slabs
Data processing • Beams
• Columns
Analysis • Staircases
• Roof elements
Design criteria
• Foundations
• Sumps
• Retaining walls

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 8. Element design calculations
• Element Sketches – with proportion
• Dimensions
• Code reference
• Output
• Output sketch

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 9. Annexures
– Architectural drawings
– Structural framing arrangement
– Loading map
– Soil report
– Structural analysis input
– Structural analysis output/results
– Deflections/Acceleration
– Reactions
– Beams output (in each plan)
– Columns output in 2D frame
– Reference documents
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Questions

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