leakimable,

Yes you are not the first one in this situation. I got given two houses and was left to figure it out myself - I got
completely lost but they expected me to.

Houses are actually the most complex things to design as they have every type of material and often complex
load paths. Once you learn how to design a house then it is a really good foundation for larger things.

You only learnt about 10% of what you need to know at college and your learning curve is now going to be
very steep. Ask lots of questions, but only once each and keep a notebook with all the things you have learnt.

I will try and give you a process that, though it is aimed at houses, should be applicable to most buildings.

1. Put down that pen/pencil and just have a look through the drawings for a half hour or so. Do you
understand them? do they have enough information? How is the structure going to work for gravity and lateral
loads (wind/earthquake). now pick that pencil up and write down these questions to ask the architect/senior
engineer leaving space to write the answers. At this stage a comprehensive list of intelligent questions will
make a good impression and avoid having to redo misunderstandings.

2. Now first page will be a summary of loads, note live loads, calculate basic wind loads and any earthquake
loads. Also note any areas that may have excessive dead loads - this may add to your list of questions (e.g tile
thicknesses). Double check all your parameters and calculated loads before moving on to the next step.

3. Now design the roof structure, if it is all similar loads and spans use one member size for the whole roof,
otherwise use a maximum of 3 sizes for each type of member. Make sure that your dead loads allow for the
weight of any roof coverings or cielings and and srvices. Clearly note reactions as these will be used for walls
and then foundations.

4. repeat step 3 for floor members.

5. now look at the walls for vertical and horizontal loads, design studs and cladding /bracing.

6. now look at connections e.g tie down straps e.t.c and sketch the critical details.

7. transfer loads down to ground and size foundations.

Focus on simplicity rather than pure material economy as this normally leads to the cheapest and least
problematic build.

Keep timber sizes, grades and species to those that are readily available in your area. If you are going to do a
lot of these then it is really worthwhile knowing what the cheapest structural timber is available so you can use
this as much as possible.

Find out what typical local practice is and follow it unless there is a good reason to do otherwise.

Make sure that you get to see this building being built as nothing compares to the reality.

i am sure that I have answered a similar thread before in more detail, so use the google at the top of the page
to search for previous threads.
Beginner's Guide to Structural Analysis/Mechanics
Being an engineer, excellent comprehension is necessary on how to make structural analysis
for buildings, bridges, and other structures.

Structural analysis is the calculations of the magnitudes of forces, stresses, strains and
deflections or deformations of structures when LOADS, external forces are being applied and
exerted on structures.

Subjects and Necessary Interest

The readers of this blogpost who are not engineers may very well amaze and ask; "Where in
the world did they get these Loads?" "What on earth do they think they are weighing?" That
very crucial and logical questions will be answered in this blogpost.

1. Specifications, Building Codes, and Bridge codes.

Designers must look for appropriate Specification and Codes. National and Local government
have published building codes, bridge and highway codes for the safety purposes of the public,
which control the construction of different types of structures within their country. Actually,
these codes are laws or ordinances that specify design loads, design stresses, construction
types, material quality among others. Not many specifications published recommended
practices for local and national use. These codes and specifications are not enforceable legally,
nevertheless, unless it is embodied in their national building code, and made integral part of
a particular contract of projects. Among these organizations are;
1. ASCE -American Society of Civil Engineers
2. AASHTO -American Association of State Highway and Transportation official
3. AISC -American Institute of Steel Construction
4. ACI -American Concrete Institute
5. ASEP -Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines
The following specifications published by the above-mentioned organizations oftenly are used
to estimate the maximum load and minimum loads to which the bridges, buildings, and other
structures may be subjected during their estimated lifetimes.
 1. Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and other Structures, published by ASCE
7-2005 edition;
2. AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, published by AASHTO;
3. Specifications for Structural Steel Buildings- 2010, published by AISC;
4. Steel Construction Manual, 14 edition, published by AISC;
5. National Structural Code of the Philippines, volume 1 -Buildings, volume 2 -
Bridges, published by ASEP.
Readers of this bolgpost should pay attention that reasonable and clearly written codes are
really helpful to designers.

The great pyramid in Egypt, the Parthenon in Athens, and the great Roman bridges and
aqueducts built by ANCIENT BUILDERS were controlled by few specifications, which precisely
is true. It should be spoken that only few number of these great structures were built over
many 100 of years or centuries, and were ostensibly built WITHOUT CONSIDERATION or CARE
about COST OF LABOR, MATERIAL, OR HUMAN LIFE. The were built probably by intuitions,
and certain RULES OF THUMBS ("SINUBOK LAMANG" at KAWALAN O walang RASYONAL na
PROSESO -in local dialect), developed by seeing the minimum size or strength of members
that would fail only under certain given conditions. Their NUMEROUS FAILURES are NOT
RECORDED in HISTORY, only their SUCCESSES ENDURED.

For the information and guidance of all readers of this blogpost, notably the ordinary engineers
in the Philippines, I would like to give emphasis to them, that the national government
agencies in the Philippines (DPWH, NIA, DOTC, DSWD-Kalahi) had adopted the latest
international recommended practices and codes, like the ASCE standards, ACI Codes, AREA
Code, AISC standards, ASTM standards. In view of the fact that ENGINEERING EDUCATION
in the Philippines is AMERICAN ORIENTED, the ASEP committee decided to recommend the
adoption of the Earthquake Regulation as provided in the Uniform Building Code.

Hence, the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines (ASEP) published National
Structural Code of the Philippines as a referral code of the National Building Code of the
Philippines. The NSCP code reflects the continuing technical advances in structural
engineering and the latest seismic design practice for earthquake resistant structures, viz:
1. Reinforced concrete design conforms to the provisions of the American
Concrete Institute (ACI-318) Code.
2. Bridges and highways specifications are patterned after the provisions of the
AASHTO.
3. The ASEP recommended Earthquake Regulations are patterned after the
provisions of the Uniform Building Code (SEAOC) of the United States of America.
4. The Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and other structures conforms to the
provisions of American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE 7-2005).
5. Steel and Iron specifications are patterned after the provisions of the American
Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and American Standards for Testing of Materials
(ASTM).
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) issued Department Order No.82-1,
1982;
"For the guidance and compliance of all concerned and pursuant to section 203 of PD 1096,
the National Structural Code for Buildings a referral code of the NBC (PD 1096) to reflect the
following;
1. In Chapter 2, lateral forces, are revised to reflect the provisions of the Uniform
Building Code (UBC-SEAOC)
 2. Chapter 4, Steel and Iron, conforms to the provisions of the American Institute
of Steel Construction (AISC).
3. Chapter 5, Concrete, conforms to American Concrete Institute -ACI 318 Code
with the equations in SI Units."
2. STRUCTURAL LOADS

Dead Loads: Weight of the structure under consideration, as well as any fixtures that are
permanently attached to it.

Live Loads: They include occupancy loads, warehouse materials, construction loads, overhead
service cranes, and equipment loads. They are gravity induced.

Environmental Loads: For Buildings, they are caused by rain, snow, wind, and earthquake.

2.1 Dead Loads

2.1.1 Weights of Common Building Materials

Reinforced Concrete -150 pcf

Concrete Hollow blocks (no plaster) -44 psf
G.I. roofing -2.5 psf
Suspended Ceiling -2 psf
Hardwood flooring -4 psf

Minimum Densities for Design Loads from materials (Source: ASCE 7 Standard)
2.2 Live Loads

Floor Live Load

2.2.1 Typical Uniformly Distributed Live Loads:

Residential dwelling areas -40 psf

Classrooms in schools -40 psf
Offices in office buildings -50 psf
Retail stores -first floor -100 psf
Retail stores -upper floor -75 psf
Dance hall and ballrooms -100 psf
Library reading rooms -60 psf
Minimum Uniformly Distributed Live Loads (Source: ASCE 7 Standard)
 Minimum Uniformly Distributed Live Loads (Source: ASCE 7 Standard)

2.3. Lateral Loads:

There are certain loads that are almost always applied horizontally.
Wind Loads, soil pressures, hydrostatic pressures, forces due to earthquakes, centrifugal
forces, and longitudinal forces.

2.3.1 Wind Loads

A.1 The basic reference equivalent static pressure in the critical local wind speed.

Formula:

QS = 2 ^ 0.0000483V

Where:

V = wind velocity in KPH

qs = in kPa

Applicable to Duchemin formula (developed in 1829 by French Army Officer, Col. Duchemin)

1. Duchemin Formula..

Pn = p (2 sinϴ/1 + sin^2ϴ) -- Wind Pressure normal to an inclined roof surface.

2. ASCE Recommendation..
ASCE 7-05 Wind Pressures Formula

Wind External and Internal Pressures

 Internal Wind Pressures

2.3.2 Earthquakes Loads or Forces E

2.3.2.1 Static Lateral Force Procedure

Formulas:

A. Uniform Building Code

 1988 -1994 UBC Formula for Base Shear

Where:

Z = Seismic Zone Coefficient

I =Importation factor
C =Coefficient depending on the Soil condition and the period of the structure
Rw =response modification factor which represents the ductility of the structural system
W =Weight of the structure or seismic dead load

1997 UBC Formula for Base Shear

B. ASCE and IBC Code (International Building Code)

ASCE 7-2005 Base Shear, V Formula

 ASCE 7-05 and IBC 2006 Seismic Base Shear and Horizontal Forces

3. SYSTEM LOADING

3.1 Tributary Area

Column Tributary
 Girder Tributary Area

3.2 LOADING CONDITIONS for STRENGTH DESIGN

3.2.1 Load Combinations

A. ACI 318 Code -1989 up to 1995

U = 1.4D + 1.7L ---------------------------- 9.2.1

U = 0.75 [ 1.4D +1.7 L (+ -) 1.7WL] ------- 9.2.2

U = 0.9D (+-) 1.3WL

U = 0.75 [ 1.4D + 1.7L (+ -) 1.7 * 1.1E ] ---- 9.2.3

U = 0.9D (+-) 1.3*1.1E

B. ACI 318-2002 Code

U = 1.2D + 1.6L ---------------------------------9-2

U = 1.2D + 1.6W + 1.0L + 0.5(Lr or S or R) --- 9-4

U = 1.2D + 1.0E +1.0L + 0.2S ----------------- 9-5

U = 0.9D + 1.6W + 1.6H ------------------------9-6

U = 0.9D (+ -) 1.0E + 1.6H --------------------- 9-7

C. ASCE 7-95 and ASCE 7-05 Recommended Load Combinations for Building Structures and
adopted in the ACI 318-2002.
LRFD = 1.2D + 1.6L
LRFD = 1.2D + 1.6W + (0.5 or 1.0)*L + 0.5(Lr or S or R)
LRFD = 1.2D + 1.0E + (0.5 or 1.0)*L + 0.2S
LRFD = 0.9D + 1.6W + 1.6H
LRFD = 0.90D + 1.0E +1.6H

3.3 PLACING LOADS on the STRUCTURES

3.3.1 Uniformly Distributed Loaded

3.3.2 Point Loads

Simple Beam with Single Point Load

 Simple Beam with Multiple Point Loads

4. REACTIONS, SHEAR and MOMENT DIAGRAMS

The most important phase in Structural Engineering is the knowledge of Reactions and
understanding of Shear and Moment diagrams and their formations, and/or the FBD diagram
sketches.

Reaction equation for Simple Beam with Uniform Load

 Reaction for Simple Beam with Triangular Load

Simple Beam with Overhang at one support - uniformly distributed load:

Beam overhanging at one support, Shear and Moment diagram, V, M -Equations

5. TWO and THREE DIMENSIONAL TRUSSES (this subject will not be discussed in this
blogpost)

5.1 Types of Trusses

1. Howe Truss (William Howe -patented in 1840, iron truss was introduced in
1844, Jacoby-p10)
2. Warren Truss (Originated in England about 1840)
3. Whipple Truss (Squire Whipple -1847)
4. Fink Truss (introduced by American Albert Fink, Jacoby1 -p170)
5. Pratt Truss -(patented in 1844, Jacoby1-p155)
6. Bollman Truss - (Wendall Bollman-patented in 1851, Jacoby1-p152)
6. LIVE LOADS for HIGHWAY BRIDGES
 AASHTO - Bridges and Specifications, 1944 to 2005 standard and specifications
 NSCP Code -Volume 2 -Bridges.

Moving Loads (Truck Loading) Analysis

7. STATICALLY INDETERMINATE STRUCTURES

7.1 Classical Method of Analysis:

These methods are basically of HISTORICAL interest and are almost never used in practice.
1. Method of Consistent distortion or Maxwell-Mohr method,
2. Influence Line method by Heinrich Muller-Breslau,
3. Three-Moment Theorem,
4. Slope Deflection -Displacement Method of Analysis,
 Slope Deflection method of analysis

7.2 Modern Method of Analysis

A. Approximate Method:
1. Portal and Cantilever Method -For Earthquake and Wind Forces,
2. ACI Moment Coefficient - For ACI 318-2005-8.9.1,
ACI Coefficient -Approximate Method
 Portal Frame- Fig.

B. EXACT METHOD OF ANALYSIS:

1. - Moment Distribution by Hardy Cross.... Link to my Hardy Cross blogpost
2. - Matrix Method or Advance method -Using Computer software.
 ETABS software
 PCA Beams software
 MS Spreadsheets software

8. STRESSES Calculations: (NSCP 1.4.2, ACI Code 8.3)

8.1 Bending Moments (Beams, Columns):

8.2 Shear Forces:

8.3 Axial Forces:

8.4 Torsion Forces

References:
1. Structural Analysis by Jack C. McCormac, 1997,
2. Structural Analysis by R. C. Hibbeler-2012,
3. Structural Analysis by Aslam Kassimali -2011,
4. Elementary Structural Analysis by C. H. Norris, J.B. Wilbur, S. Utku, 3rd edition-
1976,
5. Design of Concrete Structures by Arthur H. Nilson, 12th edition -1997,
6. Reinforced Concrete Design by Chu-Kia Wang and Charles G. Salmon, 6th
edition -1998,
7. ACI 318-2002, 2008-Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete,
American Concrete Institute.