 Purpose/aims

This assignment provides the student with the opportunity to acquire knowledge
and analytical skills and an appreciation of how this knowledge might be utilised for
understanding the structural behaviour in a civil engineering and large building
context.

 Instructions

1. Prepare a computer – processed assignment report. No hand-written work will be

accepted.
2. The report should be around 2000 words in length plus calculations / appendices.

 Learning Outcomes

There are two Learning Outcomes that you have to satisfy for this assignment:

1. Use modern analytical techniques to quantify complex forces acting upon

elements and components in common use
2. Design structural steel and reinforced concrete elements used in bridges, water
retaining structures, portal frames and multi storey buildings. Justify the choice
of material and design from sustainability, CDM viewpoint and existing Greek
regulations.

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Coursework 2 specifications:

Question 1

As a structural engineer your manager has assigned the task of identifying a viable
solution in order to construct a frame. You are given two options that would be suitable
and are shown below (Frame 1, Frame 2). Frame 1 is a portal frame that is pinned at the
base and in the middle of the beam. On the other hand, Frame 2 is a frame with a flat
roof that is also pinned at the base and in the middle of the beam.

a) Compare these two options and write recommendations to your manager advising on
which option to take forward. In order to compare the two options you must plot axial
forces, bending moments and shear forces diagrams for the most critical design
combination that contains the given actions regarding the beam.

b) Estimate the external pressure coefficients for each type of roof and for wind
direction Θ = 0ο (parallel to the frame). Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of
each option.

The geometry of each frame is shown below. Both designs consist of 5 these frames,
which have a bay width of 5 metres. The representative values of actions are:
s= 1.0kN/m2
q= 2.0 kN/m2
g= 4.0kN/m2 (the self-weight is included)
w= 2.5kN/m2

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Frame 1

Frame 2

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Question 2
You are working in conjunction with an architect to design a viable solution to a
footbridge that crosses over a small stream.
The main structural element is a fully restrained simply supported beam which has an
effective span of 9.0 m across a small stream. The beam must carry a variable action of
10.0 kN/m and a permanent action of 5.0 kN/m (the self-weight of the beam is not
included). Select the critical loading combination for each of the following cases and:

a. Design the beam as a singly reinforced concrete beam using C30/37 concrete.
Calculations must include main reinforcement, shear reinforcement and deflection
check.
b. Investigate the different ways to minimise the value of deflection.

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Question 3
Your client is a construction company that wants to cover a span of 3m with the given
loading either by using a parallel flange beam or by using a trussed beam that consists of
members having circular hollow sections. The geometry and loading condition of the
proposed beams is given below.

Beam 1

Beam 2

P1=45kN
P2=40kN
P3=50kN

Assuming that the beams are fully restrained and simply supported at their ends and
that the given loading contains the self-weight of the beams:
a. Design the parallel flange beam using grade S275 steel. Include checks for bending
and shear.
b. Design the trussed beam using grade S275 steel. Include checks for compression and
tension assuming that the strength for compression and tension is the same without
taking into account the buckling of the members.
c. Assess the optimal solution in terms of economy regarding only the weight of the
structural elements.