2 LIMIT STATES DESIGN OF R.C. STRUCTURES INTRODUCTION • Purpose Of Structural Design: The purpose of structural design is providing a safe structure complying with the user’s requirements. The design should evolve a structural solution for safety and serviceability throughout the design life, which gives the greatest overall economy for the first cost end for maintenance costs. • Limit states: Limit states are concerned with structural safety and serviceability and cover all forms of failure. A structure could be rendered unfit for use in many ways and these factors are conveniently grouped into three major categories. – Ultimate limit states: collapse of the structure due to normal or exceptional loadings or the occurrence of exceptional events like earthquake etc. – Serviceability limit states: Deflection, cracking and vibration. – Other limit states: Fatigue, Durability, Fire resistance, Lightning etc. It is often possible that a given structure is required to satisfy...
