IStructE - The Institution of Structural Engineers
Book Review
Narayanan, R.S. and Goodchild, C.H., Concise Eurocode 2: for the design of in-situ concrete framed buildings to BS EN 1992-1-1: 2004 and its UK National Annex: 2005, Camberley: Concrete Centre, 2006, ISBN 1-904818-35-8, £45
This book integrates Concrete Eurocode BS EN 1992-1-1 clauses and UK National Annex specific requirements, and is worth having for that alone. At £45 and 107 pages, it is also compares well with £122 and 256 pages for the two BSI documents.
It is intended to cover all the Code clauses required for the general design of in-situ concrete framed buildings within the United Kingdom. ‘Concise’ means that clauses for prestressed, precast and lightweight concrete have been omitted; it does not (thankfully) mean ‘simplified’. It appears to cover all the requirements of the Code clauses, making it generally unnecessary to refer to the Code itself.
It is not a ‘how to’ handbook on concrete design. For the reviewer this was initially disappointing, until it was realised that this was not the purpose of the book. The Concrete Centre series of (downloadable) Eurocode 2 design guides are a good starting point for detail design guidance.
Clauses have been reorganised and - in some cases - reworded, to make them more readable. A slightly small but clear font has been used, and the general page layout is ‘easier on the eye’ and easier to follow than the Eurocode.
Cross-references to the Eurocode and the National Annex are clearly given in the margins. Where additional comments and design aids are included, these are clearly differentiated from Code content. Symbols are helpfully defined both in a lengthy table at the beginning, and within the particular sections where they are used. A glossary of Eurocode terminology is unfortunately absent, but most terms are explained in the ‘Basis of design’ section.
The layout of the book is similar to that of the Eurocode, and follows this general scheme:
• Basis of design, materials, durability, fire resistance and cover
• Structural analysis
• Bending and axial force, shear, torsion, serviceability
• Detailing and tying
• Plain concrete
• Design aids
• Simple foundations
The ‘Basis of design’ section brings in the relevant clauses on loading - or ‘actions’ as we must now call them - which are found in the general BS EN 1990 ‘Basis of structural design’ Eurocode, rather than in the Concrete Eurocode. This covers the various partial load factors and load combinations to be considered for the serviceability and ultimate limit states.
The detailing and tying sections are quite extensive - 20 pages - for a book of this size. This is reassuring, given the importance of issues like curtailment and anchorage in reinforced concrete design.
The ‘Design aids’ section looks almost out of place, with 16 pages of equations, tables and design charts for beams, one-way slabs, columns and design for punching shear. Here the book crosses the line into ‘handbook’ territory. Until there is occasion to use this book ‘in anger’ for design it is hard to judge whether this will prove a helpful summary, or too brief to be genuinely useful.
Overall the book is a concise and well laid-out guide to the Concrete Eurocode requirements, and provides a far more intelligible reference than the Eurocode document itself.
John Golding
If you would be interested in reviewing any of the books listed here that have not yet been reviewed or would like to offer your services for future book reviews please contact our Library Manager Rob Thomas.
|
