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Recent content by FFIELD

  1. FFIELD

    Wood Beam Moment connection

    The first thing you learn when working with wood is that you do NOT make moment connections in wood. It is impracticale to do so. Have you ever seen one?
  2. FFIELD

    WWF in concrete over metal deck

    The answer is yes as long as the steel deck forms a composite section with the concrete. It therefore becomes reinforcing steel.
  3. FFIELD

    steel/aluminum connection

    When dirrerent metals are in contact with each other there is the possability for electric currents to pass through the interface. This depends on the moisture content at the surfaces and the different types of material surfaces. Something like a battery. If there is a current the metals can...
  4. FFIELD

    Blockwall Foundation with Rigid Insulation

    Sorry, no reduction. Use same lateral pressure. Most rigid insulations can carry a lot of weight over a square foot. Even if insulation compresses the lateral force would be the same.
  5. FFIELD

    Grade 2 bolt torque in fiberglass material.

    What type of forces will act on the bolt? Shear, Tention, Bearing? You may not want to torque the bolts at all. Just finger tighten or 1/8 turn.
  6. FFIELD

    Garage foundations using treated materials

    Properly treated and built wood foundations have been used for years and are approved in many parts of the country. Be careful about drainage around the wood. I personally would (no pun intended) rather have concrete but I am rather conservative.
  7. FFIELD

    friction factor of steel rubbing against steel

    Friction factor varies greatly depending on the condition of the steel surfaces. A dry lubricant such as teflon or graphite impregnated steel plates will help. Reinforced teflon can get down to as low as .08 to .1 sliding on a polished stainless plate. Badly rusted and pitted surfaces rubing...
  8. FFIELD

    Buckling column with varying moment of inertia

    Buckeling load for a column with a verying radius of gyration is a very difficult problem. Although there are theoretical ways to do this I guess, I have never seen any. Might try load testing an actual specimen. Compression on round bars is not a very good idea anyways as once the load does...
  9. FFIELD

    engineering survey for condo conversion

    ERV You are right but in my case the lawsuit was dropped and it still cost me $10k. Since it was dropped no countersuit was available to me. Even if it was I did not want to put out more money to sue a well healed oponent on the possability that I could recoup all my costs. By the way this...
  10. FFIELD

    engineering survey for condo conversion

    Being sued is a costly expense for anyone. Even if you are in the right you still have to hire a lawyer to defend yourself. I once was sued by a homeowners association who blanket sued all archatects, engineers, contractors who did any work on the general development. I designed a 3 ft high...
  11. FFIELD

    engineering survey for condo conversion

    Get Errors and omissions insurance in a value high enough to cover any potential law suits which I know is hard to figure. Add the cost to your basic rate and add for potential future loss of business time you will have to absorb when you are sued (which you probably will be). Charge the...
  12. FFIELD

    Garage Attic Conversion

    Lots of ways to skin a cat. Hire a Structural Engineer and don,t rely on a contractors advice.
  13. FFIELD

    Bearing on stone wall

    I agree with CSELLC, 50 kips is a lot of load. Without knowing the condition of the stones and morter in the loaded section of the wall I would not put my License on the line to save a few bucks. New Conc. columns and foundation is the reasonable way to go.
  14. FFIELD

    shear wall footing

    Design the foundation as you would do for any foundation that has overturning. Enercalc or RISA footing are two programs I use. Just make it wide enough and long enough to resist the overturning, given an allowable soil value. Reinforce the sides and end for cantilever action. Make sure that...
  15. FFIELD

    Grout slump for piles

    Is it grout or concret your asking about? If you don't know the difference you should not be designing piles.

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