Structural Design of 9 Residential Buildings - Slum Rehabilitation Project

Read about the Structural Design of 9 Residential Buildings for Slum Rehabilitation Project by a Structural Engineer. Learn about the objectives, responsibilities, and issues faced during the project.

CE 1.1 Project Information
Name of the project: Slum Rehabilitation Project: Structural Design of 9 Residential
Buildings (G+13 storeys high)
Location of the project: Mumbai, India
Project Duration: July of 2015 to December of 2015
Organization: Mahimtura Structural Consultants Private Limited, Mumbai. India
Role and Designation during the time: Structural Engineer
CE 1.2 Project Background
CE 1.2.1 Characteristics of the project
Mahimtura Structural Consultants Private Limited is a civil engineering services
company that comprises of nine offices across India and one in Dubai. More than 550
engineers and employees are working in this particular organization and are gaining proper
knowledge in civil engineering projects and works. It is mainly responsible for analysis and
designing of Steel and RCC structures of more than 50 stories. I had been a part of this
reputed organization for over 3 years and was involved in the project of Slum Rehabilitation
Project: Structural Design of 9 Residential Buildings (G+13 storeys high) with the position of
Structural Engineer. I had to make the structural design of 9 distinctive residential buildings
with the help of software like Etabs, Safe and StaadPro. I even made the buildings earthquake
resistant so that the residents do not face any issue regarding earthquakes. Therefore, in this
project, I have successfully made the structural design of a 13 storied building with Etabs
software.

CE 1.2.2 Objectives developed for the project
During the project of Slum Rehabilitation Project: Structural Design of 9 Residential
Buildings (G+13 storeys high), I had to complete the structural design of our project
effectively and without any error by using relevant software. Therefore, to complete this
project with better efficiency, I developed the following objectives:
 To propose and design the structure of 9 residential buildings with 13 stories within
strict deadlines.
 To check whether the project is being completed as per our project plan and also
whether each and every requirement of client is being fulfilled.
 To check and monitor the quality of concrete by regular site visits that is being used in
project to ensure safety and security and hence making the project earthquake
resistant.
 To model as well as analyze the structured with the help of Etabs, StaadPro Safe for
foundation analysis and design for retaining walls and underground tanks.
 To create structural designs of sewage treatment tanks.
CE 1.2.3 My area of work
My area of work was as being the respective structural engineer in this particular
project. Since, this was not my first major project in engineering career, I had proper ground
experiences of such structural engineering projects and hence my project supervisor decided
to give me the responsibility of structural designing. Therefore, I was selected as the
structural engineer in this project under the significant guidance of our project supervisor. I
had elementary knowledge of construction, soil mechanics, hydraulics as well as formulas of
Physics and Mathematics. Hence, implementation of this particular project was extremely
easy for me. Being a responsible team member, I undertook the duty of giving regular
updates to my project supervisor.

Director
Associate
Structural
Technician
Senior Structural
Engineer
Structural Engineer
(Me)
CE 1.2.4 Project Group
Figure 1: People involved in the project
CE 1.2.5 My responsibilities throughout the project
I was solely responsible for a couple of responsibilities. Although, I was part of the
project for only 5 months, in this short tenure, I was well appreciated by my project
supervisor and other team members. The major responsibilities in the project are as follows:

 To model as well as analyse the structure with the help of Etabs, Safe and StaadPro
software.
 To design the structures in compliance with designing codes for making the buildings
resistant of earthquakes, hydraulic pressure and wind forces with the help of Excel
and design software.
 To consistently coordinate as well as liaison with the key stakeholders, contractors,
architects, plumbing consultants and client representatives.
 To create the structural designs of sewage treatment tanks.
 To conduct site inspections and surveys for the purpose of resolving the site queries,
when they arose.
 To prepare the tender reports, high rise committee report, design basis reports and
design schedules.
 To check the safety of the column by eccentric column analysis and design.
CE 1.3 Distinctive Activity
CE 1.3.1 Comprehending the Theory of Project
In this project of Structural Design of 9 Residential Buildings, I have used the
theoretical concepts of structural designing of buildings. In the beginning, I had to note the
parameters of the design for beams, columns, slabs and other structural components. I
understood the benefits of framed structures like thin panels, speed in the construction and
better resistance to vibrations. The most significant parts of the framed structures are tie
beams, columns and roof slabs. For performing analysis as well as designing of residential
building, I calculated loads and combination. According to the limit state of reinforced
concrete structure and pre stressed concrete structure, I undertook few load combinations like
1.5 (Dead Load + Live Load) and 1.2 (Dead Load + Live Load +Ex) and many more. I took

the live load of 2 KN/m2 as the analysis and designing was being done for residential
building as per IS Code 875 part 2. I noted that there was no requirement of giving Dead
Load in Etabs software. I gave wall load of 12.42 KN/m2 for 9 inches and for the inner walls,
it was 6.21 KN/m2. The floor finish was given as 0.8 KN/m2.
The grade of concrete for slab, column and beam was M20 and the column sizes were
of 230X450 mm each and that of beam size was 230X300 mm. I analysed and designed the
structure by Etabs software.
Concrete Mix
Constituents Ratio
Cement Fine Aggregate Coarse Aggregate
M-15 1 2 4
M-20 1 1.5 3
M-25 1 1 2
M-30 1 0.5 1
M-35 1 0.5 0.5
Table 1: Ratio of the Concrete Mix
CE 1.3.2 Engineering knowledge and skills applied in the project
To implement the project, I have applied my skills of civil engineering. I have utilized
my knowledge of structural analysis and designing. I have also applied my understanding of
construction engineering and building technology to check the overall progress of the work.
With my knowledge in software like Etabs, StaadPro and Safe, I was able to complete the
software designing and 3D modelling of the building to be constructed.
CE 1.3.3 Accomplishment and Task Performed
I have completed the task by applying few steps or methodologies in the project. In
Etabs, at first, I created the grid dimensions as well as storey dimensions of building. Then, I
added new materials for the structural components like beams, slabs and columns by

providing specific details. After proper definition, I drew these structural components with
command menu and assigned the joints effectively. Within Etabs, only static loads were used
and hence I assigned dead loads for external walls and live loads for floor finishing. I have
used load combinations command in defining menu 1.5 times the dead load and live load.
Finally, I checked for errors and was able to perform the analysis with Etabs software after
calculating shear force and stress analysis.
CE 1.3.4 Identified issues and their solutions
1.3.4.1 Issues
The foremost concern, which I have encountered here was discovering a well at site
during excavation and part of the foundation was already casted in adjacent areas. The
foundation could not be laid without casting a pile through the well. This particular problem
was bringing subsequent delays in our project. The next issue that I had faced here was while
assigning live loads. I did not assign live loads for floor finishing and involved dead loads
and thus the outcomes were inaccurate.
1.3.4.2 Solutions
For the first issue of casting of pile, I proposed the idea to check the safety of the
project as well as splay column. For creating safety and security in the construction ste, I
provided the workers with proper equipment as well as adequate work area for the job in
hand. Without this type of equipment, it is not possible to maintain safety of the site.
Moreover, regarding quality control and safety during construction, I maintained proper
specifications. For the reinforced concrete splay column, I came up with few measurements
of opening up to 0.1m2 and I did not make any deduction on the volume occupied by
reinforcement. Moreover, I even maintained volume occupied by sheathing, conduits and

pipes for not exceeding until 10 m2 each in the cross section. The rectangular volume was
calculated as L X B X D. and the trapezoidal volume of the design was calculated as
V = H/3 (A1+A2+ sqrt(A1+A2))
Where A1 and A2 is the area of top and bottom rectangles,
H is the depth of splay column.
For the next issue, I gave the idea to include floor finishing in live loads as well and
thus I was able to assign wind loads and seismic loads to the structure.
CE 1.3.5 Plan to produce creative and innovative works
I have made the distinctive plans to complete the project mechanisms with high
efficacy and efficiency. I have even joined several workshops of Revit and Midas software
for structural analysis even before beginning my work. I have also got correct and exact
information about structural analysis as well as the soil mechanics.
CE 1.3.6 Collaborative Work
The collaboration for work was the foremost factor for executing this project of
structural residential building. I have provided the weekly progress reports in front of my
associate engineer in project. These weekly progress reports were important to identify the
major flaws that I had in my work. I even collaborated with client and site project
management in every fort night.
CE 1.4 Project Review
CE 1.4.1 Project Overview
I made the structural designing of a 9 storied building by considering few software
like StaadPro, Revit and Midas and Etabs. The stress analysis in a slab, area reinforcement of

the column and shear force for every beam were found with Etabs software. Moreover, I
made the design in such a manner that they become earthquake resistant.
CE 1.4.2 My Contribution to work
In this project, I was chosen as the structural engineer. My primary contribution was
to propose a design for the structure of a 9 storied building. I even resolved every issue faced
in the project. Regarding software implementation and 3D modelling, I used my knowledge
of Etabs software and StaadPro.