Challenge

Project 2

POST-PROCESSING PHASE

1. Base Pressure and Settlement Check

  • Extract Base Pressure from FE model (e.g., PLATE STRESSES → SYY for vertical stress).

  • Compare with allowable soil bearing pressure from Project-1.

  • Settlement Check: Use soil stiffness modulus and compare total & differential settlements with limits.

  • If base pressure or settlement exceeds limits, increase the footprint or thickness of the slab.

EXTRACTION OF DESIGN VALUES

2. Wood-Armer Moments (from FE model post-processing):

  • For each plate element:

    • Extract Mx, My, and Mxy.

    • Use Wood-Armer equations to get:

      • Max/Min design moments in short and long directions.

3. Shear Stress

  • Extract Qx and Qy from plate results (usually "SHEAR X" and "SHEAR Y").

  • Take maximum and minimum values for design checks.

4. Axial Stress

  • Extract Sxx and Syy (in-plane axial stresses).

  • Use element thickness to convert to axial forces.

  • Calculate design tension/compression if significant.

REINFORCEMENT DESIGN (Excel Spreadsheet)

5. Calculate Reinforcement for Each Element

For each critical FE element:

  • From Wood-Armer: Get M (design moment)

  • From axial stress: Compute T = stress × area of element

  • Assume x = d – cover – ½ bar dia

Then:

M,net = M – T × x

Ast1 = (0.5 fck / fy) × [1 – √(1 – 4.6×M,net / (fck × b × d²))] Ast2 = T / (0.87 × fy) Total Ast,req = Ast1 + Ast2

Inputs in Excel:

  • Element ID

  • M (kNm)

  • T (kN)

  • b (width), d (depth)

  • fck, fy

  • x (lever arm)

  • Output: Ast1, Ast2, Ast_total

Sheet Structure: "Reinforcement_Calculator.xlsx"

Input Section (per element)

Element ID Element Type b (mm) d (mm) fck (MPa) fy (MPa) M (kNm) T (kN) x (mm)
E101 Short Wall 1000 200 30 500 12.5 35.2 150

Calculated Values

M,net (kNm) Ast1 (mm²) Ast2 (mm²) Ast Total (mm²) Ast / m (mm²/m)
=M - T×x/10⁶ see formula =T/(0.87×fy) =Ast1 + Ast2 =Ast_Total × 1000 / b

⚠ Note: Multiply x by T (in N) → T × x (in N.mm) → ÷ 10⁶ to convert to kNm for M,net


Key Formulas (in Excel):

  1. Net Moment:

= [M] - ([T]*[x])/1000000
  1. Ast1 (Flexure Only):

= (0.5 * [fck] / [fy]) * (1 - SQRT(1 - (4.6 * [M,net] * 10^6) / ([fck] * [b] * [d]^2)))
  1. Ast2 (Tension Only):

= [T] * 1000 / (0.87 * [fy])
  1. Ast Total:

= [Ast1] + [Ast2]
  1. Ast per meter width (optional for slabs):

= [Ast_Total] * 1000 / [b]

Element ID Element Type b (mm) d (mm) fck (MPa) fy (MPa) M (kNm) T (kN) x (mm) M,net (kNm) Ast1 (mm²) Ast2 (mm²) Ast Total (mm²) Ast / m (mm²/m)
E101 Short Wall 1000 200 30 500 12.5 35.2 150 0 0 0 0 0

CRACK WIDTH CHECK

Ensure crack width ≤ 0.2 mm using:

  • BS 8007 or Eurocode 2 formulas

  • Inputs: bar dia, spacing, cover, stress in steel, concrete type

  • Use semi-empirical formulas or software spreadsheet

REINFORCEMENT DETAILING

6. Draft Reinforcement in CAD

  • Base slab: plan + section

  • Walls: elevation + vertical/horizontal sections

Details to show:

  • Bar sizes, spacing

  • Tension and distribution bars

  • Cover

  • Development length

  • Mesh zones (for FE mapping)

If CAD not available, you can:

  • Use AutoDrawings, LibreCAD, or hand-drawn + scanned sketch

  • Save to DXF/DWG or image formats

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