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An arch is a structure constructed in curved shape with wedge shaped units (either bricks

or stones), which are jointed together with mortar, and provided at openings to support
the weight of the wall above it along with other superimposed loads. Because of its shape
the load coming from above will distributed to supports (pier or abutment).

What are different Components of an Arch?


The following are the different components of arches and terms used in arch construction:

Intrados
The inner curve of an arch is called as intrados.

Extrados

The outer curve of an arch is termed as extrados.

Soffit in an Arch:

The inner surface of an arch is called soffit. Soffit and intrados are used synonymously.

Voussoirs

The wedge-shaped units of masonry which are forming an arch is called as voussoirs.
Crown of an Arch:

The highest part are peak point of extrados is called crown.

Keystone

The wedge shaped unit which is fixed at the crown of the arch is called keystone.

Spandrel in an Arch:

If two arches are constructed side by side, then a curved triangular space is formed
between the extrados with the base as horizontal line through the crown. This space is
called as spandrel.
Skew Back

This is an inclined surface or splayed surface on abutment, from which arch curve starts
or ends.

Springing Points

The imaginary points which are responsible for the springing of curve of an arch are
called as springing points.

Springing Line

The imaginary line joining the springing points of either ends is called as springing line.

Haunch

The lower half of the arch between the crown and skewback is called haunch.

Arcade
The row of arches in continuation is called arcade.

Ring

The circular course forming an arch is called as arch ring. An arch may be formed by one
ring or combinations of rings.

Impost

The projecting course is provided on the upper part of a pier or abutment to stress the
springing line. This course is called impost.

Bed Joints
The joints between the voussoirs are called bed joints. These bed joints are radiate from
center of arch. The red color lines in the below figure are bed joints.

Center of an Arch

The geometrical point based on which the arcs forming intrados of arch, extrados of arch
and arch rings are described is the center or striking point.

Span of an Arch

The clear horizontal distance between the supports or abutments or piers is termed as
span of an arch.

Rise of an Arch

The clear vertical distance between the highest point on the intrados and the springing
line is called as rise.
Depth or Height of an Arch

The perpendicular distance between the intrados of arch to the extrados of arch is called
depth of an arch or height of an arch.

Thickness of an Arch

This is the breadth of soffit which is measured perpendicular to the front and back faces
of an arch. Colored area in the below figure is the thickness of an arch.

Pier and Abutment of an Arch

The intermediate support of an arch is called as pier. The end support of an arch is called
as abutment.
It can span a large area by resolving forces into compressive stresses and, in turn
eliminating tensile stresses.
lintel is a structural horizontal block that spans the space. It behave like a beam carries
only transverse loads and it doesnt carry any horizontal reactions on either supports like
in arches.
Beam: beam is a one dimensional flexural member that is loaded transversely to it's axis.

Column: column is a one dimensional vertical compression member loaded axially.


1.Since bending is prominent action in beams, so they have to resist both tensile and
compression stresses being generated due to external loading.
While in case of columns normally compressive stresses are assumed to be occurring.
2.For truly axially loaded column stress distribution is uniform while in case of beam
stress distribution is non uniform( triangular).
that's why in column material is best utilized where in case of beam middle portion is not
stressed to it's ultimate limit.
3.Beams made up of concrete needs steel bars embedded to reinforce them in tension.
while column require reinforcement only to provide them ductility.
4. Generally beams are horizontal while column is always a vertical member.
general beams are designed to resist bending moment and shear force in very few cases
they are also bearing compression.
On other side column are mostly for bearing compression and sometimes(in special cases
like. earthquake resistant design, large eccentricity of load) required to resist flexure also,
but most important is that second action is very less.
When we talk about columns, they carry axial forces and bending moments in both
directions. However, beams generally carry only bending moments.
What is the difference between a beam and a bar?
The main difference is in loading and behaviour.

String, Rod, Bar, Shaft, Beam

String does not transmit or resist the bending. it is under high tension
The Rods/Bars are any member which are subjected to axial
(Tensile/Compressive but no Transverse/Torsional loads) Loads only. But
rods are definitely circular cross section whereas Bars are of can be non-
circular cross section.
The Beams are subjected Transverse (no Torsional loads) loads in addition to
Axial loads (if required). The cross section of the beam can be circular/non-
circular.
Shafts are subjected to Torsional loads in addition to Axial and/or Transverse
loads (if required). Shafts can also be circular/non-circular.

What is the difference in analysis between a straight beam and curved beam?

Straight beam carries only bending moment and shear force whereas curved beam has to
carry bending moment, shear force and torsional moment. The torsional moment apprears
due to beam's geometry, its centroid of geometry(C.G) does not lie on its length.
Resultant force acting on C.G creates this torsional moment at beam supports. Torsional
moment will be product of resultant force and lever arm between C.G and supports.
If your beam is curved in the XY plane and the load is in Z direction, then you get extra
torsion. If your beam is curved in XZ plane and loaded in Z direction, then you get extra
axial force. If your cross sections major and minor axes also rotate and change as you go
along the length of the beam, in both cases you will get bi-axial moments, on top of the
torsion and axial force.
out of plane loading causes torsion in a curved beam, and how in plane loads cause axial
loads as well as moments.
Assuming that the beams are simply supported and there are no component of load in
horizontal direction ... The stright beam is not having horizontal reaction where as curved
beam wil have horizontal reaction. Due to this HR , the bending moment at any section of
the beam is less for curved beams compared to straight beam.
Curved beam are designed for torsional force and twisting moment.
Simply Support beam is designed for maximum moment
Flexure is phenomenon of bending , crack is a result of flexure ,
Eg. Due to bending (flexure) of beam , cracks may occur on tension side ( down side)

If the beam/column is of structural steel Shear is hardly ever a problem.

In steel structures beams and columns need to be protected against corrosion.

Beam depths sometimes need to be restricted because of headroom considerations.

When you restrict the depth of the beam you may run into deflection problems.

Using steel of higher yield strength is not useful because Elastic modulus value does not
change and this does not solve the problem of deflection.

Column sizes sometimes need to be limited due to architectural or functional


considerations.

How do I calculate quantity of steel in R.C.C slab/column/beam?

calculate the volume of the concrete quantity. In this case, since it is a rectangular slab the
volume = Length x Width x Thickness. This will be helpful at the end of weight of
reinforcement calculation.
No's of bar = ((Span - 2*clear cover)/ spacing)+1 rounded off to next whole number
For the stirrups, you are required to give an extra portions for hooks. Usually 10d is
adopted for it

xample: Consider slab area is 400 square meter, thickness of the slab is 150 mm.
Concrete quantity required to cast this slab is 400*0.15 = 60 Cubic meter.

After calculating concrete quantity, you can remember these thumb rules just for getting a
basic idea of how much quantity of steel is required in those structural members.

Steel quantity in a conventional slab (excluding its beams) will be around 60 to 65 Kg


per Cubic meter.

In beams it will be around 200 to 220 kg per cubic meter.

In columns it'll be around 200 to 250 kg per cubic meter.


For raft footings it'll be around 100 to 120 kg per cubic meter.

1. calculate the cutting length of each of those bars


cutting length of bar = length of the member - deduction for cover on both sides+
development length

5. then calculate the unit weight of each dia bars

d^/162 where d is the dia in mm and weight w will be in kg

6. then calculate weight of rebar

weight of rebar= no of bars x cutting length x unit weight

weight of bar= Diameter ^ 2) / 162

If you consider 25mm dia bars, unit weight


will be: (25*25)/162

=625/162

= 3.858

Finally,

UNIT WEIGHT X TOTAL LENGTH gives you the WEIGHT OF STEEL.

This is how steel quantity is calculated.

NOTE - minimum % of steel as per indian standard are:

1. beam - .85bd/fy % of gross cs area


2. slab - .12% of total area
3. column - .8% of cs area
maximum % steel as per indian standard are:

1. beam - 4 % of cs area
2. slab - 4% of cs area
3. column 6% of cs area

For Slab, you can first calculate steel of Beam Steel and then u can calculate main and
distribution steel of slab. while calculating straight lengeth of steel please
add 50D (D=dia. of steel) as lapping lenth. and while calculating cutting lenth of rings
please add 9D as hook lenth. and if u want to be little bit more percise then add 2D for
every bent of steel.
you can calculate length of steel from its structural drawing and from length u can
calculate weight of steel by following formula:

(D^2) / 162 = weight of 1m bar

where D= dia. of steel bar

i.e. to calculate weight of 5m long 16mm steel bar

Unit Weight = 16*16/162 = 1.58kg

so for 5m of bar = 5*1.58 = 7.9kg

Why slabs are not designed for shear?

1. Shear reinforcement is usually not required in slabs supported on beams or walls


because the depth is small and the span therefore fairly slender so bending and
deflection will nearly always govern the design.

2. Most of the slabs are subjected to uniformly distributed loads. Because of this,
the developed shear stresses are small

However, shear reinforcements are provided. How?? In the form of bent-up bars
provided near the supports. You may have seen this everywhere now. Because
these bars will take any slight shear in the member.

But, Flat slabs are different in one major respect at least and that is that they are
supported on columns only that are nearly point supports. This means that the
there is a high concentrated shear force and a small perimeter through which the
column can punch. Punching shear reinforcement is frequently necessary in such
slabs and it can take several forms. One may use links (stirrups), bent up bars and
so on.

2. Shear Force is given by Vu=WL/2.

3. Shear is given by Vu/bd.

4. For slabs b is always assumed 1000 as they are designed per metre and hence the
coefficient of shear will always be less than the allowable shear.Hence, shear if
any is already manageable by the already designed structure.
5. Slabs are provided with chair gaps, or spacer bars or small straight rods to hold
bars together which are the factors that manage the minimal shear.The minimum
amount of shear is taken care by these hence no shear reinforcement is required.

6. Moreover technically, slabs fail through bending or deflection and not through
shear as they are fixed around all ends and have no direct lateral loading.

There is no difference in structural behaviour of a beam and a girder. Both resist


external loads primarily due to their ability to bend.

The word girder usually signifies a beam that is large, in terms of span or magnitude
of applied loads. For example, beams in a bridge are usually referred to as girders.
Large steel beams are called plate girders.

Ties

The term tie is used to define the transverse reinforcement provided in column where the
primary mode of load transfer is compression. Here the requirement of transverse
reinforcement is primarily to prevent the premature buckling of individual bar and to
confine the concrete in core.

In uniaxial compression test of concrete, upon reaching the ultimate load


failure of concrete occurs where major cracks line up in the vertical direction
and the concrete cube would be split up. The development of vertical cracks
involves the expansion of concrete in lateral directions. In case the concrete
is confined in lateral directions, it was observed that the formation of vertical
cracks would be hindered as indicated in past experiments. As a result, the
concrete strength is increased with also a rise in failure strain.

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