TRM 27

TECHNICAL REFERENCE MANUAL

Civil & Structural STABILITY INTRODUCTION

Rev 6 Date 7/05 Page 1 of 5

This TRM primarily looks at the issues associated with the design for lateral stability but also making reference to other actions associated with stability. Stability is essentially an inherent property very much independent of strength. Lack of stability has been the cause of more structural failures than inadequate strength. Guidance is also given where further information may be found on the actions that may have an impact upon building stability.

STABILITY

A building may be considered stable when a minor change in its form, condition, normal loading, or equipment would not cause partial or complete collapse and it is not unduly sensitive to change resulting from accidental or other actions acting upon the building. These actions may be grouped as follows: Permanent actions: dead and sustained imposed loads. Variable actions of imposed loading: wind, snow, predictable impact and dynamic loading. Accidental actions: unpredictable impact, explosions and seismic forces. Other actions: eg resulting from temperature, moisture, creep, shrinkage, fire, foundation movements or deterioration of materials. Actions resulting from alterations or change of use. It should be noted that the majority of instability cases in buildings occur due to a weakness in the detailing, or during the construction stage when the design stability philosophy has not been followed through (key bracing elements not fixed).

RESPONSIBILITY

Within a completed structure there are numerous components that will contribute to the stability. To avoid the possibility of inbuilt weaknesses it will be necessary to ensure there is compliance with clause 2.2.2.1 of BS 8110 The layout of the structure and the interaction between the structural members should be such as to ensure a robust and stable design. The engineer responsible for the overall stability of the structure should ensure the compatibility of the design and details of parts and components, even where some or all of the design and details of those parts and components are not made by this engineer. The principle of single responsibility should be determined at the inception stage of the project. Reference to the content of the concept and other reviews during the development of the designs will assist the engineer in the process of integrating the components in a robust manner to achieve a stable structure during construction through to completion. A clear stability statement

WSP Group

TRM 27

TECHNICAL REFERENCE MANUAL

Civil & Structural STABILITY

Rev 6 Date 7/05 Page 2 of 5

will need to be communicated to the client, other members of the design team the principal contractor and third party checking authorities.

WSP Group

TRM 27

TECHNICAL REFERENCE MANUAL

Civil & Structural STABILITY The statement and intent on stability should be incorporated into the: appraisal report of an existing building design development notes introduction clauses to a set of calculations design report.

Rev 6 Date 7/05 Page 3 of 5

STABILITY LIMIT STATE

BS 5950 states that the designer should consider overall frame stability which embraces both stability against overturning and the contribution from sway. Stability against overturning. The factored loads should not cause the structure or any part of the structure (including the foundations) to slide, overturn or lift off its seating. Sway stability. All structures, including portions between expansion joints, should be adequately stiff against sway. To ensure this, the horizontal force should be the greater of: - notional horizontal force - wind (not less than 1% of dead load), amplified if necessary for P- effects.

FORMS OF STRUCTURE

Structures are usually classified as being either braced or unbraced. If they are unbraced they are allowed to sway within predetermined limits. Some buildings may be braced in one direction and unbraced in the other. Braced frames. The horizontal forces in the x and y direction are transmitted to the bracing members by suitably designed floors and roofs acting as horizontal girders. Normally bracing members should be provided in two parallel vertical planes in both the x and y directions. The bracings should preferably be symmetrically positioned on plan to avoid torsional effects.

Typical braced frames.

WSP Group

TRM 27

TECHNICAL REFERENCE MANUAL

Civil & Structural STABILITY

Rev 6 Date 7/05 Page 4 of 5

Procedure if frames cannot be arranged symmetrically. Unbraced frames. Stability is provided from within the frame by rigid connections. Deflection should be kept within serviceability limits. Typical unbraced frames:

LOADINGS

BS 8110 (cl 3.1.4.2) and BS 5950 (cl 2.4.2.3) define notional horizontal loads to be applied to the structure in order to accommodate the effects of inaccuracy in construction. Wind and other horizontal loads must also be considered and in some cases asymmetrical snow loads must be taken into account. Note that the least beneficial arrangement of factored loads should be taken into account: Eg, shear frame:

WSP Group

TRM 27

TECHNICAL REFERENCE MANUAL

Civil & Structural STABILITY Base overturning:

Rev 6 Date 7/05 Page 5 of 5

Load-P (may be ve due to uplift from bracing), H and M are factored as appropriate while W, the foundation mass, is factored by 1.0, being a restoring force. M + HD - PK WL/2 < 0

This gives a minimum value of W for stability.

OTHER POINTS TO NOTE

The designs will need to consider and address where applicable the affect of Dynamic loads - (eg loads arising from the operation of machinery and gantry loads - see BS 6399: Part 1). Predictable impact - see BS 6399: Part 1. Accidental impact - consider whether stability frames or bracing should be key elements which protect against disproportionate collapse. Fire damage stability during and after the fire. Although the prescriptive approach to the design for fire has served reasonably well in the past, there is a need to consider the capacity and robustness of connections during the fire and cooling period immediately after the fire to minimise the possibility of instability particularly due to connection failure. Consideration will need to be given as to whether a fully fire engineered design solution would be more appropriate than a prescriptive approach. Temporary stability and stability during construction and during alterations and demolition of buildings. Secondary moments induced by sway. Floors and roofs should have adequate strength and stiffness to transfer all horizontal loadings to shear frames, bracing cores etc.

WSP Group

TRM 27

TECHNICAL REFERENCE MANUAL

Civil & Structural STABILITY FURTHER READING

Rev 6 Date 7/05 Page 6 of 5

Stability of buildings, Institution of Structural Engineers, December 1988. Building Regulations Parts A and B 2004 BS 8110 BS 5795 TRM 11 Review check lists TRM 66 Sheds and similar buildings an aide memoire TRM 130 Disproportionate collapse TRM 140 Flat slabs TRM 195 Transfer structures Project Life Cycle check lists

KEYWORDS

Stability, collapse, fire, braced and unbraced structures, accidental loads.

Author of rev 6 Sponsor Revision record 7/05

John Brighton, GTC Group Technical Centre Rev 6, updated with additional information

WSP Group