STRUCTURAL DESIGN PRINCIPLES
Course objectives
The course gives the students the knowledge needed to perform the design of structural elements subjected to almost static load.
Channel 1
LIVIO PEDONE
Lecturers' profile
Program - Frequency - Exams
Course program
Part I: Principles of Structural Analysis for Design
‑ Definition of construction and structure. Identification of the structural system, including constraints, loads, and their paths within the structure;
‑ Nominal life, service classes, and reference period; design criteria and fundamental structural requirements: strength, stiffness, ductility, stability, robustness, durability, resilience;
‑ Qualitative aspects of beam theory; the de Saint Venant's problem; Bernoulli-Navier regions (B-Regions) and diffusive regions (D-Regions);
‑ Structural reliability, definition of capacity and demand, performance-based design, semi-probabilistic approach, limit states, safety factors;
‑ Ideal structural systems and common structural typologies: inextensible axial elements, beam elements rigid in bending, shear-type frames, fixed and movable node frames, multi-story frame structures, bracing elements, and shear walls. Qualitative analysis of elastic deformation of frame structures;
‑ Actions on structures, load combinations.
Part II: Steel Structures
‑ Mechanical properties of steel material, experimental tests, stress-strain relationship;
‑ Structural morphology of steel buildings: floors, beams, columns, bracings, connections;
‑ Tensile and compressive loads; instability phenomena; Euler's critical load; role of imperfections;
‑ Design and verification of steel structural elements;
‑ Bolted and welded joints.
Part III: Reinforced Concrete (RC) Structures
‑ Mechanical properties of the material, technology, experimental tests, stress-strain relationship. Bi-axial stress. Longitudinal and transverse reinforcement. Confined Concrete. Bonding forces.
‑ Structural morphology of reinforced concrete buildings: floors, beams, columns, walls, foundations;
‑ Design and verification of structural elements. Failure modes. Axial load-moment interaction domain. Shear capacity of reinforced concrete components; Ritter-Morsch truss model.
‑ Translation of the bending moment diagram; construction details; structural drawings.
Part IV: Exercise Activities (scheduled with Parts I, II, III)
‑ Definition of the structural systems
‑ Load combinations
‑ Buckling
‑ Design and verification of steel structural components
‑ Design and verification of bolted connections
‑ Design and verification of RC structural components
‑ Construction details
‑ Final exam simulations
Prerequisites
Required prior knowledge:
‑ Geometrical properties of surfaces: area, first moments of area, moment of inertia;
‑ Basic knowledge of Structural Mechanics: stress, strain, stress-strain relationship; elastic modulus; Poisson's ratio; principal stresses and principal directions; the De Saint Venant problem; the Jourawsky theory; beam theory; solution of isostatic and hyperstatic systems; bending moment M and shear V diagrams for common isostatic and hyperstatic systems.
Books
(Part I and II) F. Bontempi, S. Arangio, L. Sgambi (2008). Tecnica delle Costruzioni, Basi della progettazione. Elementi intelaiati in acciaio, Carocci Editore.
(Part I and III) E. Cosenza, G. Manfredi, M. Pecce. (2019). Strutture in cemento armato. Basi della progettazione, 3° ed., HOEPLI.
(needed for exercises) B. Furiozzi, C. Messina, L. Paolini. Prontuario per il calcolo di elementi strutturali.
Frequency
Attendance is not mandatory. However, attending the course in person is expected and strongly recommended.
Exam mode
The exam will take place as follows:
Written test:
‑ Exercise about the design of structural components made of steel or reinforced concrete (score: 0-30);
Oral discussion (if the written test score is equal to or higher than 18/30):
‑ Questions on the topics covered by lessons;
‑ Further exercise (if needed).
To pass the final exam, students must achieve a final grade not lower than 18/30.
Bibliography
D.K. Ching, B. S. Onouye, D. Zuberbuhler, Building structures illustrated, Wiley.
E. F. Radogna. Tecnica delle costruzioni, Vol. 1 & Vol. 2.
F. Bontempi, S. Arangio, L. Sgambi (2008). Tecnica delle Costruzioni, Basi della progettazione. Elementi intelaiati in acciaio, Carocci Editore.
R. Calzona, C. Cestelli Guidi (1992). Il Calcolo del Cemento Armato, con i metodi delle tensioni ammissibili e degli stati limite, HOEPLI.
E. Cosenza, G. Manfredi, M. Pecce. (2019). Strutture in cemento armato. Basi della progettazione, 3° ed., HOEPLI.
R. Park, T. Paulay (1974). Reinforced Concrete Structures, John Wiley & Sons
S. Pampanin (2014). Vol. 1: Design and Behaviour of Reinforced Concrete Structural Members.
Lesson mode
The course will be delivered in ITALIAN, in person at the Rieti venue, Palazzo Aluffi, via Cintia 106, 02100, Rieti (RI).
The course will include lectures, exercises, seminars, and exam simulations.
The lectures will contribute to the student's knowledge acquisition process regarding the design and verification of structural elements subject to static actions. Moreover, exercise and exam simulation activities will provide students with the ability for correct application of the acquired knowledge.
- Lesson code10603005
- Academic year2025/2026
- Coursecorso|33481
- CurriculumSingle curriculum
- Year3rd year
- Semester1st semester
- SSDICAR/09
- CFU6
- Subject areaIngegneria della sicurezza e protezione delle costruzioni edili