Lecturer: Paolo Bacci   Andrea Penna   Rui Pinho  

Course name: Structural Design
Course code: 501018
Degree course: Ingegneria Edile-Architettura
Disciplinary field of science: ICAR/14
University credits: CFU 12
Course website: n.d.

Specific course objectives

The objective of the course is to introduce students to structural design as a process starting from functional and architectural information, giving also particular attention to seismic issues. At the end of the course, the student should be able to carry out the preliminary structural design of a reinforced concrete building in a seismic area, correctly model the structure, perform static and dynamic analyses using specific codes and considering the appropriate design loads, verify the elements of the structure (i.e. beams, columns, walls, joints) and provide structural detailing with particular attention to design in seismic areas.

Course programme

The syllabus of the course can be subdivided into four main sections, described below. In addition, during the course a design project will need to be carried out, involving the structural design and verification of a selected building.

Structural design - general aspects
• Materials for construction (reinforced concrete, steel, masonry, wood…); structural configuration (frames, structural walls, cores…); examples of different structural configurations (frames, warehouses, tall buildings…); loading (vertical, wind, thermal variation, explosion, fire, ground settlement…) and appropriate structural solutions; seismic action (intensity, scales, components influencing the ground motion, definition of seismic load with design purpose, response spectrum…).

Introduction to structural modeling
• Objective of the automatic analysis; use of structural software; selection of appropriate kind of both model and analysis; frame modeling; structural element modeling (columns, beams, beam-columns joint, structural walls); internal and external (e.g. at the base of the building) restraints modeling; introduction to the structural software SAP 2000 (materials, sections, joints, restraints, loads, “rigid-ends”, “end-releases”); example cases.

Review of reinforced concrete structural design
• Ultimate and serviceability limit states; material properties (mean and characteristic values); safety factors; design stresses (axial, flexural, shear); structural detailing; design of floor elements, beams and columns.

Structural design of a reinforced concrete frame
• Load combinations, characteristic values, design values, combination coefficients etc., load distributions; preliminary design; selection of flooring system; selection of beam and column section dimensions; structural modeling; verification of preliminary design of the frame; modal analysis of the frame; definition of seismic actions; design of structural elements and foundations.

Course entry requirements

Previous attendance of the courses on ‘Scienza delle Costruzioni’ and ‘Tecnica delle Costruzioni’ is highly desirable.

Course structure and teaching

Lectures (hours/year in lecture theatre): 60
Practical class (hours/year in lecture theatre): 20
Practicals / Workshops (hours/year in lecture theatre): 60

Suggested reading materials

L. Petrini, R. Pinho, G.M. Calvi. Criteri di Progettazione Antisismica degli Edifici. IUSS Press, 2004.

E. Cosenza, G. Magliulo, M. Pecce, R. Ramasco. Progetto Antisismico di Edifici in Cemento Armato. IUSS Press, 2004.

R. Park, T. Paulay. Reinforced Concrete Structures. John Wiley & Sons Inc, 1975.

T. Paulay, M.J.N. Priestley. Seismic Design of Reinforced Concrete and Masonry Buildings. John Wiley & Sons Inc., 1992.

G.G. Penelis and A.J. Kappos. Earthquake-resistant concrete structures. E&FN SPON (Chapman & Hall), 1997.

Ministero delle Infrastrutture. NTC08 - Nuove Norme Tecniche per le Costruzioni. Decreto Ministeriale del 14 Gennaio 2008.

Testing and exams

Practical exercises (or interim written exams) are an essential part of the course. The course-long design project is equally subjected to regular evaluation and also a final assessment consisting of a discussion of the final results and the design process. The final exam is oral, and access will be granted only to those will have passed the aforementioned interim written verifications and design project evaluation.