Student’s Name (Please Print) (Last: ) __________________________________(First: )____________________

University of California, Berkeley

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Materials
Comprehensive Examinations- Spring 2015

DESIGN Question
Consider only one of the two 6-story frames shown below. The frame is subjected to lateral loads
due to earthquakes as shown and gravity loads. Foundation design is not part of this problem.
The loads shown are factored loads. You need to make assumption on any information or
equations that you need to do this problem and are not given on this sheet. You will be graded
based on validity of your assumptions.

If you considered the R/C frame, then check the compression column on the right side
and establish how much factored gravity load the column can take. The cross section of R/C
column is given below.
If you considered the STEEL frame, then check the compression column on the right
side and establish how much factored gravity load the column can take. The cross section of the
steel column is a W12x120 with following properties given in the attached table from the AISC
Manual. The steel for the column is A913 Gr 65 with Fy= 65 ksi.

Notice that you only need to consider steel OR reinforced concrete frame not both.

25 ft
25 ft
40 kips 48 kips
14 ft 14 ft
25 kips 35 kips
14 ft 14 ft
20 kips 28 kips
14 ft 14 ft
15 kips 21 kips
14 ft 14 ft
10 kips 14 kips
14 ft
5 kips 7 kips 14 ft
Ground 14 ft Ground Floor
Floor 14 ft

y
Concrete 18”x18”
W12x120 f’c=6,000 psi,
3
A913 Gr. 65 w =150 lb / ft
(Fy=65 ksi) x
#4 Ties @ 10”c/c x

Steel Column Section 8 #10 rebars

(dia=1.25 in.) y
Fy = 60 ksi
R/C Column Section

STEEL OR REINF. CONC.

 University of California, Berkeley
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Structural Engineering , Mechanics and Materials

Comprehensive Examinations- Spring 2014

DESIGN Question
Consider ONLY one of the steel or reinforced concrete beam-columns shown below loaded
axially and laterally. The cross section of the beam-column is shown in the figures. The axial
factored load is 500 kips. Calculate the factored lateral load Q that can be applied to this beam-
column.

Check all bending and shear failure modes and indicate whether or not the beam-column is
adequate to carry the loads. The steel beam is sufficiently braced and lateral-torsional buckling
is not a consideration. All the information you need for this problem are given below, still, if
you feel you need a piece of information that is not given, make a reasonable assumption and
continue the problem. No questions can be asked during the exam. You can use approximate
equations if you do not remember exact equation, but, you have to explain the approximation and
how that approximation might affect your answer.

STEEL or CONCRETE
Q kips 500 kips Q kips
500 kips

500 kips 500 kips

20 ft 20 ft
20 ft 20 ft

y 20” x 30” R/C Beam

y PL 1” x 20” (both flanges)
8 # 10 rebars
PL 3/4”x 30” (diameter=1.25’)
x x
x
x
Continuous Welds # 4 ties @ 8”c/c

y Steel : Fy=36 ksi, Fu=58ksi Steel rebars : Fy=60ksi,

y
Concrete: f’c=6,000 psi