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Civil Engineering/doubts regarding plinth beams

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Expert: - 6/3/2009


Question
Mr. Arshad khan Asslamalaikum

I am constructing a house in India and construction is going on
I am giving some details below and my question is at the end of this page.

When we did excavation for foundation we found v. hard soil or some place rocks

Footings are below 3’ to 4’ inside ground.

Column sizes are 15’’x9’’ and distance in between columns are 13’ (maximum)

Built up area 1500sq.ft. and we got cellar + ground + Ist floor + 2nd floor.

Cellar height is 9’ and all other floor heights are 10’-6’’ including beam and the beam height is 12’’ and slab thickness is 4 ½’’.

And cellar floor is just for parking purpose no rooms no other walls in this floor.

The engineer from whome I took the design told me that plinth beam is not required in your case.

We are already on second floor level structural work Is going on it was necessary
In to use plinth beam at ground level considering all above detail or it is good
That we avoid plinth beams that engineer given me assurance of more than 100
Percent but still always feel uneasy that we did not used plinth beams so I would like to clear these things with you.

Second question is what is the basic function or usage of the plinth beam in small residential houses.

Hope to get answer from you thanks

Abdul Waheed.


Answer
Hi Abdul,

In principe plinth (or tie) beams between pads are only required if:

1. You expect differential settlement or rotation of individual pads (such as in poor ground conditions or big differences in applied pressures between adjacent pads.

2. You need the beams to support walls or floating ground floor slabs.

3. The foundations are at different levels- such as a building built on the side of a hill.

So, in your case, based on what you say, it appears that there is no need for them.

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Arshad Khan

Expertise

I can answer any questions to do with civil and structural engineering consultancy and construction industry in East Africa and the Middle East, and specifically with the analysis and design of reinforced concrete structures. My particular expertise is in the aseismic design and optimisation of tall buildings.

Experience

Employment history: 36 years in Construction and consultancy in the UK, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Africa, Somalia, Zambia, Austria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Doha and the U.A.E.

Organizations
.Fellow of Institution of Structural Engineers (UK) .Fellow of Institution of Civil Engineers(UK) .Member of the Institution of Engineers, Kenya .Registered Engineer, ERB, Kenya .Member of the Architectural Association of Kenya (Engineers Chapter) .Chartered Engineer (UK)

Publications
•1984: International Conference on the Art and Practice of Structural Design, London •1994: 3rd Int. Kerensky Conference in Structural Engineering, Singapore •2008: International Conference on High-Rise Towers, Abu Dhabi

Education/Credentials
BSc, 1st Class Hons, in Building Engineering, University of Bath, UK MSc in Concrete Structures and Technology, University of London. Diploma of Imperial College, UK.

Awards and Honors
•Science Congress Special Award (for 2-seater Hovercraft - 1968) •Institution of Civil Engineers Award for outstanding performance at Bath University (1975) •Concrete Society Postgraduate study Bursary Award (1976) •Consular Representative for British High Commission, Nairobi. (1995 to 1998) •Examiner for Institution of Civil Engineers Professional Interviews, Nairobi. (1997 to 1998) •Branch Representative in Vienna for PI assessment for Inst. of Struct. Engrs. (1999 to date)

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