F. K. Kong MA, MSc, PhD, CEng, FICE, FIStructE, R. H. Evans CBE, DSc, D ès Sc, DTech, PhD, CEng, FICE, FIMechE, FIStructE (auth.)-Reinforced and Prestressed Concrete-Springer US (1987)

Chapter 11
Practical design and detailing
In collaboration with Dr B. Mayfield, University of Nottingham
11.1 Introduction
All professional engineers are concerned with design in some form or
other. The word design has different meanings to different professions, but
is here taken to mean the formulation, in the mind, of some scheme or
plan. This normally entails a proposition followed by some form of analysis
which either proves or disproves the original proposition. The formulation
of the original idea is usually based on experience and, therefore, the
structural engineering student, meeting structural design for the first time,
tends to find the discipline confusing since he is, to a large extent, forced
into an 'opinion' as opposed to a 'fact' situation. Frustration follows with
the subsequent need for the normally necessary refinement or amendment
of the original proposition. The only method of overcoming the initial
confusion and associated frustration is by observation and practice, i.e. by
increasing the personal experience. The use of Codes of Practice in the
design process has been succinctly stated by the main authors in Section
1.1.
The student must also realize the importance of the presentation of his
design calculations and the consequent drawings. Design ideas normally
need to be communicated for construction, and confusion must be
minimized so as to avoid costly or dangerous errors due to misunderstanding
or misinterpretation. Various publications [1-3] have been
produced in recent years to aid this necessary transference and the worked
examples in this chapter will use these texts as appropriate. Higgins and
Rogers's book [3] on design and detailing can, in particular, be
recommended in this connection.
11.2 Loads-including that due to self-mass
Chapter 1 introduced the concepts of characteristic loads and the dead,
imposed and wind components. The appropriate definitions and values to
be taken can be found in BS 6399 [4] and further help is given in Reference
6. This chapter will initially confine attention to dead and imposed loading.