Beam Design Thumbrule
Beam Design Thumbrule
Beam Design Thumbrule
e.
f.
g.
1.
2.
SL.NO
MEMBER
1.
PLINTH BEAM
15 TO 18
2.
TIE BEAM
18 TO 20
3.
FLOOR BEAMS
12 TO 15
4.
GRID BEAMS
20 TO 30
By: T.Rangarajan
be a combination of uniform load, point load, several point loads, or even a triangular load, and
divide this by length squared and multiply by 8 (i.e. invert wl^2/ , then compute your deflection
for this 'equivalent' uniform load. The inaccuracy of this method is roughly as follows:
(a) Point Load @ centre - 25% overestimation of deflection contribution from this load
(b) Equal Point Loads @ 1/4, 1/2 & 3/4 - 5% overestimation of deflection contribution from these
loads
(c) Point loads at 1/3 points only - 3% underestimation of deflection contribution from these loads
(d) Point loads at 1/4 and 3/4 points only - 10% underestimation of deflection contribution from
these loads
(e) Triangular Load Peaked at mid beam - 4% overestimation of deflection contribution from this
load
(f) Triangular Load Peaked at one end of beam - max 2.5% overestimation of deflection
contribution from this load (depends on where you compute: at mid span or at point of maximum
deflection for this loading)
For the most part this should give a reasonable, approximation of deflection (or reqd I), which if it
doesn't govern means that deflection serviceability has been checked quickly and easily.
Example - take a 20 ft. long beam with 2 klf UDL, Triangular Load W = 15 kips, and three point
loads of 8 kips each at 1/4, 1/2 & 3/4 points.
Mmax = 100+50+80 = 230 ft.k
--> w eq = 4.6 klf --> Defl. = 1.656E7/EI
Deflections from individual loads:
7.2E6/EI + 3.456E6/EI + 2.304E6/EI + 3.168E6/EI = 1.6128E7/EI
A 2.6% overestimated by eq. UDL method - but you only had to use one deflection equation. Now
if you used total loads or factored total loads you still have the conservatism of using these
numbers instead of the specified live load, but since most short to medium span beams are sized
based on flexural strength, you have done a quick deflection check. This method obviously is not
accurate if you require precise deflection estimates.
There are a couple of books that are filled with rule-of-thumb types of formulas.
The first is called "Standard Handbook of Architectural Engineering" by Robert Brown Butler and is
filled with short formulas that the author has compiled for all aspects of architectural engineering
applications (Structures, HVAC, Elec., etc) It also contains a lot of concise exerpts from various
codes, standard beam sizes, weights of materials, construction details.
The second called "Building Construction Illustrated" by Francis Ching, and it includes a lot of
descriptions of various building methods with illustrations (as the name suggests) as well as rules
of thumb.
For a complete canon of rules-of-thumb (not just engineering, but applicable to almost all
areas)get Tom Parker's books: Rules of Thumb, Rules of Thumb 2, and Never Trust a Calm Dog More Rules of Thumb."
Hope they are useful
Best wishes
Subramanian
[quote="drnsmani"]Dear Er Umesh,
Very nice thumb rule. Ioannides and Ruddy have compiled rules of thumb for steel design and are
available in the February 2000 issue of Modern Steel Construction. I am unable to attach the file
due to restrictions of SEFI site.
I think we may collect the rules of Thumb in one thread, so that it may be useful to all.
With best regards,
Subramanian