RCD3601/101/0/2019

Tutorial letter 101/0/2019

Reinforced Concrete and Masonry Design III

(Theory)
RCD3601

Year module

Department of Civil and Chemical Engineering

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
This tutorial letter contains important information
about your module.
 RCD3601/101/0/2019

CONTENTS
Page

1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 3
2 PURPOSE OF AND OUTCOMES FOR THE MODULE................................................................ 3
2.1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 3
2.2 Outcomes ..................................................................................................................................... 3
2.3 ECSA GRADUATE ATTRIBUTE................................................................................................... 3
3 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS................................................................................... 4
3.1 Lecturer(s) .................................................................................................................................... 4
3.2 Department ................................................................................................................................... 4
3.3 University website ......................................................................................................................... 4
4 MODULE-RELATED RESOURCES ............................................................................................. 4
4.1 Prescribed books .......................................................................................................................... 4
4.2 Recommended books ................................................................................................................... 5
4.3 Electronic Reserves (e-Reserves)................................................................................................. 5
4.4 Library services and resources information ............................................................................. 5
5 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE MODULE ............................................................... 5
6 STUDY PLAN ............................................................................................................................... 6
7 PRACTICAL WORK ..................................................................................................................... 6
8 ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................................................. 6
8.1 Assessment criteria....................................................................................................................... 6
8.2 Assessment plan .......................................................................................................................... 6
8.3 assignment numbers..................................................................................................................... 6
8.3.1 General assignment numbers ....................................................................................................... 6
8.3.2 Unique assignment numbers ........................................................................................................ 6
8.4 Due dates for assignments ........................................................................................................... 6
8.5 Submission of assignments .......................................................................................................... 6
8.6 Assignments ................................................................................................................................. 8
8.7 OTHER ASSESSMENT METHODS ........................................................................................... 20
8.8 EXAMINATION ........................................................................................................................... 20
9 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ........................................................................................ 20
10 SOURCES CONSULTED ........................................................................................................... 20
11 IN CLOSING ............................................................................................................................... 20
12 ADDENDUM ............................................................................................................................... 20

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1 INTRODUCTION
Dear Student

Welcome to this module RCD3601 offered by the Civil Engineering section in the School of Engineering
at UNISA.

This tutorial letter (TL) provides you with an overview and specific information about this module. You
should use it as a guideline to your studies in this “course”. This TL also provides you with general
administrative information as well as specific information about the subject. Read it carefully and keep it
safe for future reference. We trust that you will enjoy this course.

2 PURPOSE OF AND OUTCOMES FOR THE MODULE

2.1 Purpose
The purpose of this module is to enable students develop competencies and skills for structural
design of reinforced concrete and masonry components. Students completing this module will be
equipped with the knowledge and skills to analyse and design reinforced concrete and masonry
structural components (reinforced concrete slabs, beams columns, stairs, foundations, retaining
walls and un-reinforced masonry walls and columns). This will be achieved through application of
empirical rules and design procedures of components to meet requirements within applicable
standards and codes of practices.

2.2 Outcomes
Develop the art of professional and technical communication and apply empirical rules and
engineering knowledge to structural design of reinforced concrete and masonry components
(reinforced concrete slabs, beams columns, stairs, foundations, retaining walls and un-
reinforced masonry walls and columns).

2.3 ECSA GRADUATE ATTRIBUTE

Graduate Attribute 3: Engineering Design

Perform procedural and non-procedural design of well-defined components, systems, works, products or
processes to meet desired needs normally within applicable standards, codes of practice and legislation.

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3 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS

3.1 Lecturer(s)
Your Tutor is: Dr Wekesa BW Pr. Eng
Email: Wekesabw@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: 0844 904 220
Contact time: Friday after 10.00 a.m
3.2 Department
Department Address:
Department of Civil and Chemical Engineering
Unisa (Florida Campus)
Private Bag x6
Florida
1710
Phone: 011 471 2048/3132
Use the general E-mail address: civil&chemical@unisa.ac.za

3.3 University website

www.unisa.co.za

4 MODULE-RELATED RESOURCES
4.1 Prescribed books
Reinforced concrete – Design to SANS 10100, PARROTT G, SAICE .ISBN:9781919858142
SANS 10100-1 (SABS 0100), The Structural use of concrete – Part 1: Design, SABS .ISBN:
0626056071
SANS 10160-1, Basis of structural and actions for buildings and industrial structures – Part 1:
Basis of structural design, SABS. ISBN: 978-0-626-26428-4
SANS 10160-2, Basis of structural and actions for buildings and industrial structures – Part 2:
Self-weight and imposed loads, SABS. ISBN: 978-0-626-24759-1
SANS 10160-3, Basis of structural and actions for buildings and industrial structures – Part 3:
Wind actions, SABS. ISBN: 978-0-626-26430-7
Structural concrete masonry design guide, Crofts, F.S.ISBN: 0958410666
SANS 10164 -1. The structural use of masonry Part 1: Unreinforced masonry walling.
SABS.ISBN: 0626082951

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4.2 Recommended books

ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF CONCRETE STRUCTURES, ROBBERTS, J.M AND
MARSHALL, V. CEMENT AMD CONCRETE INSTITUTE, MIDRAND, 2006
And any other suitable reinforced concrete and Masonry design books are RECOMMENDED as
A supplementary reading to the course material.
Pay special attention to neatness, method of calculation, layout of calculations and check
calculations.
4.3 Electronic Reserves (e-Reserves)
E-reserves can be downloaded from the Library catalogue. More information is available at:

http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/request

All course materials are available on myUnisa http://my.unisa.ac.za under the module course
code under Materials. Students are encouraged to set up discussion forums for interaction with
their peers http://my.unisa.ac.za. Some additional electronic resources are available from the
library site (via www.unisa.ac.za). You may electronically “post or upload your assignments in
line with the guidelines explained in the booklet.
4.4 Library services and resources information
The Unisa Library offers a range of information services and resources:

 for detailed Library information go to

http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library
 for research support and services (e.g. personal librarians and literature search
services) go to http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Library-
services/Research-support

The Library has created numerous Library guides: http://libguides.unisa.ac.za

Recommended guides:

 request and download recommended material:

http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/request
 postgraduate information services: http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/postgrad
 finding and using library resources and tools:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/Research_skills
 Frequently asked questions about the Library: http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask
 Services to students living with disabilities:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/disability

5 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE MODULE

The Study @ Unisa brochure is available on myUnisa: www.unisa.ac.za/brochures/studies

This brochure has all the tips and information you need to succeed at distance learning and, specifically,
at Unisa.

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6 STUDY PLAN
Use your my Studies@unisa brochure for general management and planning skills.

7 PRACTICAL WORK
There is no practical work for this module however students are encouraged to visit construction
sites.

8 ASSESSMENT
8.1 Assessment criteria

 Assignment 1 is a multiple choice assignment

 Assignment 2 is a written assignment
 Your exam will be a 4 hours full open book venue based examination
8.2 Assessment plan
Your year mark contributes 20% towards your final mark
Assignment 1 contributes 20% towards your year mark
Assignment 2 contributes 80% towards your year mark
8.3 assignment numbers
8.3.1 General assignment numbers

Assignments are numbered consecutively per module, starting from 01

8.3.2 Unique assignment numbers

Assignment 1 608333

Assignment 2 717789

8.4 Due dates for assignments

Assignment 1 31 May 2019

Assignment 2 30 August 2019

8.5 Submission of assignments

Note: The cut – off dates given here are the official, last dates on which a given assignment
may be submitted. Students must adhere to these dates only. All other dates referring to cut –
off submission dates for assignment, as may be posted on myUnisa or elsewhere, refers to
administrative dates as managed by the Assignments Department and does NOT influence or
change the above dates.

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Website
Please note that the department has a web site where additional information on the department
and modules are available. The address is:
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Colleges/Science,-Engineering-&-Technology/Schools,-
departments-&-centre/School-of-Engineering/Department-of-Civil-and-Chemical-Engineering

Tutorial Letters are available from the myUnisa website (See my Studies @ Unisa).
Should you encounter any problems in submitting an assignment on myUnisa, you may contact
the help line at myUnisaHelp@unisa.ac.za.
Plagiarism

An assignment is designed to be a product of your own study and your own thought. It is not
intended to be a piece of work which merely reproduces details, information or ideas from a
study guide, from books or articles, from the Internet.
If you do this, you commit plagiarism. Plagiarism is the act of copying word for word with or
without acknowledgment from study sources (e.g. books, articles, the Internet). In other words,
you must submit your own ideas in your own words, sometimes interspersing relevant short
quotations that are properly referenced.
Yes, simply copying a few pages from the prescribed book is plagiarism. Pasting paragraphs
from Wikipedia into your assignment is plagiarism. And it does not stop being plagiarism if you
mention the source.
Skilled scientific writers can use direct block quotations to make a specific point. They know
what they are doing. You still need to develop your own voice, your own style of arguing the
point. Do not plagiarise.
Note that you also commit plagiarism if you copy the assignment of another student. We do
encourage you to work together and form study groups, but you are expected to prepare and
submit your own assignments.
When we receive two or more identical assignments, we are unable to work out who copied
from whom. We will therefore penalize both students.
If you commit plagiarism you will be penalized and given no marks for your assignment.
This will have a serious effect on your chances to succeed in your studies because you
will have no semester mark.
Furthermore, you may be penalised or subjected to disciplinary proceedings by the University.
Plagiarism is also an offence in terms of the law.
A Signed Declaration
Every essay – type assignment we receive must include the following declaration along with
your name and the date:

“I declare that this assignment is my own work and that all sources quoted have been
acknowledged by appropriate references.”

We will subtract marks if this declaration is absent from assignment, just as we will subtract
marks if your assignment does not have a Table of contents, List of references cited, and so on.
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8.6 Assignments
ASSIGNMENT 1
Section A – Reinforced Concrete
1. Which one of the following statements is true?
1) The concrete cover over the reinforcing steel is not important.
2) The concrete cover over the reinforcing steel must be at least 5mm
3) The concrete cover over the reinforcing steel must be at least equal to the aggregate size
used in the concrete
4) None of the above

2. Which one of the following statements is false?

1) Mild steel has a smooth surface
2) High tensile steel has a ribbed surface
3) Drawn wire has a ribbed surface
4) None of the above

3. Which one of the following statements is true?

The concrete strength is assessed by measuring the cube crushing strength at:
1) 7 days
2) 14 days
3) 21 days
4) 28 days

4. Which one of the following statements is true?

1) If small cracks start to develop in the concrete in the tension face of the member the
structural element is in danger of collapsing.
2) If the concrete in the compression face of the member starts to crumble the structural
element is in danger of collapsing
3) None of the above
4) 1) and 2)

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5. Which one of the following statements is not true when reinforcing steel and concrete is
combined?
1) Concrete is usually in the compressive zone
2) Reinforcing steel is usually in the tensile zone.
3) Concrete is usually in the tensile zone
4) Reinforced concrete is designed with the assumption that concrete can resist compressive
forces
5) None of the above
6. Which one of the following statements is false?
1 Clinker bricks are calcium silicate bricks
2 Clinker bricks are formed because the heat of the fire is uneven. The bricks closest to the fire
will become clinker bricks
3 Bricks on the outer shell of the mound fire are often under fired.
4 Bricks on the outer shell of the mound fire will tend to absorb moisture and will break down
more easily
7. Leaf is referred to as the width of a completed masonry wall.
1 True
2 False

8. A common problem with South African bricklayers is that they do not properly fill perpends with
mortar.
1 True
2 False
9. A cheap solution when a house is built on expandable clays is to lower the foundations to a level
where the moisture content in the clay does not vary much.
1 True
2 False

10. Which one of the following statements is true?

1 A column is a load bearing masonry member in which the larger dimension does not exceed
4 times the height of the member
2 The lateral support will restrain any masonry element against vertical movement
3 The shear span is the ratio of the max design bending moment to the maximum design load
4 All of the above
5 None of the above

TOTAL: [10]
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ASSIGNMENT 2
Section A- Reinforced Concrete
QUESTION 1
Figure Q1, shows a simply supported two-way spanning slab. It is supported on a 220 mm thick brick
wall on all four sides. The supports do not have adequate provision to resist torsion at the corners and to
prevent the corners from lifting. Given the following information:
 nominal live load 6.5 kN/m2
 floor finishes 1.0 kN/m2
 characteristic material properties
o concrete = 25 MPa
o reinforcement = 450 MPa
o Main reinforcement steel Y12
 moderate exposure conditions
 slab thickness = 175 mm
(i) Calculate the required area of reinforcement in the short- and long-span directions of the slab. (5)
(ii) Propose appropriate reinforcement by checking the minimum reinforcement and spacing for both
spans. (3)
(iii) Check for span effective depth ratio in the short span. (2)

Figure Q1

[10 marks]

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QUESTIION 2
Figure Q2 is a plan of an RC slab panel that forms part of a floor for a shelved area of a library complex.
The floor will be finished in terrazzo. It is proposed to use concrete grade 30/19 with either 12 or 16 mm
diameter high tensile steel reinforcement. The exposure conditions are considered to be moderate.
(i) Calculate suitable tension reinforcements required for the entire panel. (8)
(ii) Provide a neat sketch to show placement of reinforcement. Indicate any possible curtailment
without calculating the actual curtailment positions. Torsion steel may be omitted from the sketch
for clarity. (2)

Figure Q2

[10 marks]

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QUESTION 3
Figure Q3, shows the plan of a suspended reinforced concrete floor slab (175 mm thick) and beams
cast monolithically. If the exposure conditions are moderate and grade 30/19 concrete is to be used,
design beam BM1 by:
(i) calculating design load on the beam (2)
(ii) calculating the maximum bending moments and shear forces in the beam (2)
(iii) determining the required steel reinforcement for maximum mid-span and support moments in
the beam (5)
(iv) checking and providing for shear reinforcement (2)
(v) checking for deflection (1)
(vi) provide a neat section to illustrate your design (1)
Give the following information:
 loads: Nominal live load 12.5 kN/m2, finishes and services 19.57 kN/m
 reinforcing steel: Yield strength in tension and shear 450 MPa

Figure Q3

[13 marks]

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QUESTIION 4

Figure Q4 illustrates a reinforced concrete column (400 x 300) for a multi-storey building at first floor level.
All beams are 500 x 300 mm, floor slab is 175 mm thick and floor height is 3500 mm. Structural analysis
of the column for design loading produced bending moments results as shown in Figure Q4. If the column
is braced about the y-y axis only, the ultimate axial load is 1200 kN, the cover to reinforcement = 30 mm
and the concrete grade 30/26, determine suitable reinforcement steel for the column and provide a neat
sketch of the section to illustrate your design.

Figure Q4

[8 marks]

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QUESTION 5

A braced column of cross-section 500 x 350 mm (Figure Q5) is subjected to an ultimate axial load of 3000
kN . The column is bent in double curvature due to two end moments about the y-axis, My1 = 20 kN-m and
My2 = 80 kN-m. Give the following (where symbols have the usual meaning):
 cover to reinforcement (c) = 50 mm,
 reinforcing steel = Y20 diameter bars
 Material properties fcu = 30MPa, and fy = 450MPa,
 effective length ley = 4250 mm and lex = 5000 mm
Calculate the required area of the main reinforcement steel and provide a sketch to illustrate your
design.

Figure Q5

[7 marks]

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QUESTION 6
Figure 6Q shows a concrete foundation supporting columns C1 (300 x 250 mm) and column C2 size 400
x 250, and spaced at 3.5 m centres. The foundation is to be cast on a concrete blinding of 50 mm. Given
the following:
 axial dead and live load for column C1 is 1000 kN and 450 kN respectively
 axial dead and live load for column C2 is 1300 kN and 550 kN respectively
 characteristic compressive strength of concrete = 30 MPa
 assume main reinforcing steel Y20, and
 permissible soil bearing capacity = 250 kPa
Design the foundation by:

(i) Sizing and positioning the footing appropriately (3)

(ii) Calculating bearing pressure at ultimate limit state (1)

(iii) Checking and ensuring that punching shear is within acceptable limits (2)

(iv) Determining the critical bending moments and shear forces in the longitudinal direction and the
corresponding flexural reinforcement. (4)

Figure Q6

[10 marks]

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QUESTION 7
Figure Q7 shows part of a foundation layout to a building where the outside edge of the column will lie
on the site boundary. To prevent rotation of the footing, a strap beam is provided between the exterior
and interior footing as shown in Figure Q7. Given: All columns are 550 x 250 mm, assume a weight of
footing base (W1) = 70 kN and (W2) = 100 kN, permissible ground pressure = 200 kPa. The characteristic
loads from the two columns at foundation level are as shown in Figure Q7.
(i) Calculate the area of each footing to ensure that the bearing pressure resulting from service loads
are equal and uniform below each footing (3)
(ii) Apply the ultimate limit state loads and determine design shear forces and bending moments.
Illustrate your solution by sketching a shear force and bending moment diagram. (4)

Figure Q7

[7 marks]

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QUESTIION 8
Figure Q8 shows the section through a proposed reinforced concrete cantilever retaining wall that will be
situated on a property boundary. Grade 30/19 concrete and high tensile steel reinforcement is to be used.
The backfill behind the wall is sloping at an angle of 150 measured from the horizontal and is subjected to
an imposed load of 2.5 kN/m2. A geotechnical report gave the following soil parameters:
 Unit weight of soil (γ) = 17 kN/m3
 Angle of internal friction () = 33
 Allowable bearing pressure (Pb) = 150 kPa
 Friction co-efficient () = 0,47
Assume that the backfill will be well-drained and that the soil in front of the wall is adequately compacted
and it will be used to offer passive resistance to sliding.
(i) Check the stability of the wall considering overturning, sliding and ground pressure. (6)
(ii) Design suitable reinforcement (ignore curtailment thereof) for flexure in the stem of the retaining
wall and provide a simple sketch to illustrate your design. (4)

Figure Q8

[10 marks]

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Section B - Un-Reinforced Masonry

QUESTION 9
Figure Q9 is a section of a building that forms part of a large project where extensive material testing
and strict site supervision will be implemented. Calculate the design load for the internal masonry wall at
ground floor of the building shown in Figure Q9. Use the following information:

 The material properties are as follows:

- 222  102  73 mm solid clay bricks structural units
- Class II mortar.
- Density of masonry wall (units and mortar) = 1 800 kg/m3.

 The roof and floor loads are as shown in Table Q9.

Load type Roof 1st floor 2nd , 3rd &
4th floors

Dead load (kN/m2) 3,2 5,5 4,2

Imposed load (kN/m2) 1,5 3,5 2,5

Figure Q9

[5 marks]

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QUESTION 10
(a) In masonry design and construction attention to detail is vital for successful work. By making
reference to applicable standards and codes of practice, answer the following questions:
(i) What gap should be used between an infill masonry wall and the soffit of a concrete slab or beam?
(1)
(ii) What is the maximum allowable thickness of a bed joint? (1)
(iii) What is the maximum allowable height of a masonry wall built in a day? (1)
(b) Discuss jointing and pointing with regard to design life and structural uniformity of a masonry
structure. (2)
(c) What are the effects of water absorption by a masonry unit? What measures should be taken in
this regard in the specification and construction. (2)
[7 marks]

QUESTION 11

A new watch tower is proposed for the Pretoria prison. The project will be labour based and the inmates
will be trained to manufacture modular concrete bricks and build the structure. The external dimensions of
the plan for the proposed tower are 3500 x 7500 mm and a steel staircase all the way to the top will be
within the confines of the structure. At the top is a 200 mm thick suspended reinforced concrete deck with
1200 mm high balustrades along the perimeter. The foundation is the conventional strip footing 750 x 250
mm thick on soil with bearing capacity of 250 kPa.

(a) Draw up a material specification excluding the reinforced concrete deck, to facilitate a successful
labour based method. (5)

(b) Provide a typical foundation detail. (2)

(c) Provide a detail to the suspended slab support that must be adhered to. (2)

(d) State logistical problems that one is likely to encounter when building such a tall masonry structure.
(4)
[13 marks]

QUESTION 12

(a) Although steel and concrete materials may have superior strength and cost characteristics, discuss
the advantages of using masonry over these materials in civil and structural engineering applications.
(4)
(b) Discuss the factors to be considered in the selection of the following for a particular application
(i) brick (2)
(ii) block, (2)
(Iii) mortar types (2)
[10 marks]
Total marks [110]
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8.7 OTHER ASSESSMENT METHODS

None

8.8 EXAMINATION
Do not contact the lecturer with any examination queries.
Direct all queries related to examinations to exams@unisa.ac.za . Ensure you have a valid examination
timetable or have received official confirmation of exam admission with a date.

RCD3601 Examination requirement

Type of examination OPEN book
Examination Language English
NONE programmable calculators are allowed

Your year mark will contribute 20% towards the final mark
Your exam mark will contribute 80% towards the final mark
Refer to your my Studies@Unisa brochure for general examination guidelines and examination
preparation guidelines.

9 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The my Studies@Unisa brochure contains an A-Z guide of the most relevant study information

10 SOURCES CONSULTED
Refer to section 4

11 IN CLOSING
Wishing you success in your studies

12 ADDENDUM
None

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