Activity 6.1.

1 Structural Calculations
Purpose
The primary function of a building structure is to support and transmit the loads and forces to the ground. As a structural engineering, it is important to understand how the stability and strength of a structure help to determine the structures ability to withstand various loads.

Equipment
encil Calculator Computer !ournal

Procedure
"n this activity, you will begin to learn about structural calculations. This problem will be used as an e#ample to teach you how to determine the load of a structure. $our teacher will ta%e you through the steps of this problem and then provide you with additional problems to do for homewor%. This e#ample problem is e#plained as it might appear in a structural engineer&s noteboo%. "t is important to read carefully and to follow the directions. Bertuccis Structural Calculations Example 'iven a two(bay portion of a building, you will design the structural members for the second floor. The diagram below depicts the structural steel of the building area.

ro)ect *ead The +ay, "nc. Copyright ,--. C/A 0nit 6 *esson 6.1 Activity 6.1.1 Structural Calculations age 1

12ote3 14- lb5ft6 is the weight of concrete and the Tributary area is used in calculations to determine the load a beam is caring.

Tributary area

"nformation used in 78 Solids software. Directions:

ro)ect *ead The +ay, "nc. Copyright ,--. C/A 0nit 6 *esson 6.1 Activity 6.1.1 Structural Calculations age ,

Step 1: Calculating Beam Reaction

This came from previous calculation.

Step $: Calculating Center &irder

This assumption can be checked against the actual beam size.

Note: Force X Distance = Moment

This assumption can be checked against the actual girder size.

This is the reaction load at the ends of each girder.

Note: The center girder has

!eams at t"o points located at # and 1$%

ro)ect *ead The +ay, "nc. Copyright ,--. C/A 0nit 6 *esson 6.1 Activity 6.1.1 Structural Calculations age 6

Step ': (sing )D Solids *n this part o+ the acti,it-. -ou "ill use )D Solids to help -ou design a !eam and girder to chec/ the de+lection% 0hen using )D Solids. !e sure to chec/ -our units and determine i+ -ou are -ou using pounds1inches1+eet or /ips1inches1+eet% This is important "hen entering the 2ield Strength o+ Steel 3- as the units "ill determine "hich -ou use. such as either 3-4'#.555l!1in$ or '# /ips1in$% 2ou "ill use 6imit the De+lection set to 61'#5% *+ -ou recall +rom the Po"erPoint7 on Beams. -ou learned that there are three that ma- !e used% This is the most common one to use% The !eam "ill !e designed !ased on the most possi!le "orse8case scenario%

BE9) Calculations:
6imit De+lection 8 61'#5 Con,ert +eet to inches !ecause 6 must !e in inches%
16 is the length of the beam.

16 x 12 in/ft 360

= 0.533

9ctual De+lection : 4 5%;1;<= must !e less than 5%;''=

N>TE: *3 de+lection is more than 5%;''=. -ou can not use the !eam% 2ou "ill choose )D Solids that +its "ithin the limit. such as 01$?1#% N>TE: 0 1$ x 1# @ the 1$ is the siAe o+ the depth o+ the !eam "hile the 1# is the ph-sical "eight o+ the !eam. such as 1# l!s per +oot

ro)ect *ead The +ay, "nc. Copyright ,--. C/A 0nit 6 *esson 6.1 Activity 6.1.1 Structural Calculations age 9

There are other beams that fit the deflection criteria, however, the one selected is the most economical and is a readily available beam si:e. Typically, the lightest beam is considered the most economical because the cost of the steel is based on the weight. Another consideration in choosing this beam si:e is the depth of the beam, which is appro#imately 1, inches. This depth is helpful when mechanical and electrical building systems are installed. "n engineering design practices, the depth of the floor system may already be set by the architect and the structural engineer. "n those cases, the engineer will need to %eep the beam depths to a specified height.

&irder Calculations:
2ou calculate the Center &irder !ecause it is the "orst possi!le case% The result "ill !e used +or all girders in the area% (se the 6imit De+lection 4 61'#5
1;& is the length of the girder.

18 x 12 in/ft 360

= 0.6

9ctual De+lection : 4 5%;

(se 01 ? 'B +or the &irder%

1= and must !e less than 5%#=

The following pictures are the 78 Solids solution and show the results you may get with your calculations. +hen you change the beam si:e, you should notice the amount of deflection changes after refreshing the diagram.

ro)ect *ead The +ay, "nc. Copyright ,--. C/A 0nit 6 *esson 6.1 Activity 6.1.1 Structural Calculations age 4

ro)ect *ead The +ay, "nc. Copyright ,--. C/A 0nit 6 *esson 6.1 Activity 6.1.1 Structural Calculations age 6

ro)ect *ead The +ay, "nc. Copyright ,--. C/A 0nit 6 *esson 6.1 Activity 6.1.1 Structural Calculations age .

ro)ect *ead The +ay, "nc. Copyright ,--. C/A 0nit 6 *esson 6.1 Activity 6.1.1 Structural Calculations age ;

Conclusion
1. <ow do you determine what loads are applied to a structure=

,. <ow does design of a structure impact how loads are dispersed on it=

6. "n what ways are wind, snow, dead, and live loads similar or different=

ro)ect *ead The +ay, "nc. Copyright ,--. C/A 0nit 6 *esson 6.1 Activity 6.1.1 Structural Calculations age >