TECNICA DELLE COSTRUZIONI

Academic Year 2022/2023 - 4° Year
Teaching Staff: Pier Paolo ROSSI
Credit Value: 6
Scientific field: ICAR/09 - Structural engineering
Taught classes: 72 hours
Term / Semester:

Expected Learning Outcomes

The aim of the course is to provide the student with the theoretical knowledge and application skills needed for the design of steel and concrete structures. First, a geometric model will be defined to represent the structure. Second, the internal forces will be determined. Finally, the cross-section of the members will be verified.

Course Structure

Theoretical lessons and examples

Required Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of Structural mechanics

Attendance of Lessons

Attendance to the lessons will be monitored daily and is strongly recommended as it is consistent with the proposed training model, which aims to encourage gradual learning, active participation of the student in the classroom and dialogue between teachers and students.

Attendance is also recommended as the teacher is expected to carry out numerical exercises in the classroom.

Detailed Course Content

Design Approaches.  Modern Codes.  Probabilistic and semi-probabilistic approaches. Limit States. Loads. Resistance of concrete and steel: compression strength, tensile strength, elastic modulus. Acceptance of materials. Shrink and fluage. Axial force. Bending moment. Eccentric axial force. Shear force. Torsion. Serviceabiity limit states.

Steel Structures. Axial force. Instability of members. Local Instability. Bending moment. Eccentric axial force. Shear force. Serviceability limit states. 

Textbook Information

  • A. Ghersi. Il cemento armato: le basi della progettazione strutturale esposte in maniera semplice ma rigorosa. Flaccovio Dario Editore, Palermo 2010, pp. 533, ISBN 978-88-579-0037-7
  • A. Ghersi, E. M. Marino, P.P. Rossi, F. Barbagallo. Verifica e progetto di aste in acciaio. Dario Flaccovio, 2014 ISBN 978-88-579-0267-8
  • James G. MacGregor, James K. Wright. Reinforced Concrete: Mechanics and Design. Prentice Hall
  • Jack C. McCormac, Csernak S.F. Structural Steel Design (5th Edition) 5th Edition. ISBN-13: 978-0136079484 ISBN-10: 0136079482

Course Planning

 SubjectsText References
1Structural reliability conditions. Margin and reliability factor. Limit conditions of reliability. Structural safety: Punctual crisis (based on stresses, deformations, energies) - Crisis of the section - Global crisis. Objectives of modern structural design. Structural verification methods at admissible stresses and at rupture. Types of approach to structural safety assessment: Deterministic approach. Assessment of the degree of safety; Probabilistic approach.
2Basics of probability and statistics. The random variable. Probability, probability distribution and probability density function. Fractile and characteristic value. The normal distribution. Probability of exceeding a certain condition; Semiprobabilistic approach. Limit states (ultimate limit state; serviceability limit state). Italian and European technical regulations
3Actions: classification; characteristic values; design values ​​for ultimate limit states and serviceability limit states.
4Concrete: Behavior under short-term loads: compressive strength; tensile strength; elastic module; stress-strain law for non-linear analysis and section verification; design values. Behavior over time: shrinkage; viscous deformations. Ordinary reinforcing steel: stress-strain law; design values.
5Reinforced concrete : flexure: general aspects, stages of behavior.
6Reinforced concrete. Normal stress: first and second stage (verification of the section, regulatory indications, design of the section and reinforcement) Normal stress: third stage (design and verification of the section and reinforcement, indications of legislation, comparison between design with of the admissible stresses and with the semiprobabilistic method at the limit states).
7Reinforced concrete. Bending: first stage, second stage (check of rectangular section, check of section similar to the rectangular and of generic section, design of rectangular section with simple and double reinforcement).
8Reinforced concrete. Bending in the third stage (general setting, limit diagrams and behavior for non-linear material model, specific formulas for rectangular section, solution equations for the verification of rectangular section, design of rectangular section with simple and double reinforcement, moment diagrams) curvature, ductility, comparison between the design with the method of admissible stresses and with the semiprobabilistic method at limit states).
9Reinforced concrete . Combined axial force and bending moment: structural mechanics, moment of inertia.  Second stage (rectangular section, sections other than rectangular - cross section, generic section). Third stage (general setting of the verification, determination of the limit diagram of the deformations which corresponds to an assigned normal stress, calculation of the corresponding limit moment).
10Reinforced concrete. Shear: first and second stage (determination of shear stresses). Shear: third stage (resistance of the non-reinforced section - model, resistance of the reinforced section - reinforcement design, translation of the bending moment diagram).
11Reinforced concrete. Torsion: first stage (determination of tangential stresses). Torsion: second stage (models and formulas for the determination of torsion reinforcements, combined presence of shear and torsion). Torsion: third stage (section resistance; reinforcement design, combined presence of shear and torsion, comparison between the design with the method of admissible stresses and with the semiprobabilistic method at limit states).
12Reinforced concrete. Stress limit states: regulatory limits; verification. Deformation limit states: regulatory limits; determination of the inflection. Cracking limit state: cracking stress; stress in the reinforcement before and after cracking, bending moment corresponding to cracking, reinforcement necessary to avoid yielding at the time of cracking.
13Structural steel: stress-strain law; design values. Normal tensile stress: verification of gross and net section, ductility of tensile members. Instability of steel members: ideal and real member. Local instability. Simple and combined flexure: behavior in the elastic and inelastic range. Shear force. Serviceability limit states.

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

The exam includes an oral exam during which the student is asked to discuss some topics of the course and, if necessary, to solve some exercises.

Note: The verification of learning can also be carried out in remote, should the conditions require it.

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

The questions of the oral exam will focus on the topics covered during the course
VERSIONE IN ITALIANO