Please see the sketch below and discuss:
The wall #1 was designed for retaining height H1 and 1:1 slope backfill. All good. Now the client wants to build retaining wall #2. Technically we'll remove a decent soil mass behind the wall #1 to build the new wall and think there is no extra load or...
See this example in 2018 IBC SEAOC Structural/Seismic Design Manual. Basically just (Overturning moment / moment arm) + Uniform load * 1/2 stud bay for hold-down case.
Use Visicon to open ETABS file you can see visually tributary area for each column. The tributary area is estimated but good enough to see where the loads go to.
A quick re-design for the retaining wall mentioned above in SAFE and it seems to be ok. Restrained soils pressure = 62pcf, seismic soils pressure = 28pcf inverted triangle. Rebar shown below is in2/ft. Cracked long-term wall deflection is 0.5" at the middle. Current design shows #7 @ 4" o.c...
This is from my experience. This is how it has been done in my previous office (which designed hundreds of podium projects in the last 20 years) I haven't seen anyone design the podium using line loads and point loads from wood structure above but me (I did few jobs when the bearing walls were...
Client's side of the story: When they acquired the project, they made sure all consultants fully paid and had them sign the paper. Later on after escrow being closed, the architect told the client that since you are not in the original contract, you need to pay me 30 to 50k more for a new...
Most of the design firms (small or big) in LA ignore all seismic forces and omega on podium slab. Only averaging dead and live on the podium and call it a day.
Unfortunately, this is one of my biggest clients. They just bought this project with permit. I already informed the client that without the EOR engagement, the project is going to stop because I can't make changes to the project and there are tons of other things that don't match between...
Yes, typical construction in LA. 5 stories of wood on top of concrete slab podium.
Thanks. I am also scared of the retaining wall design in this project. Some portion of the wall is only 10" thick but retaining 16 to 22 feet of soils with 6-7-story neighboring building right next to the...
This is 5-story wood structure over the podium so:
Dead Load = 35psf (Roof, including all exterior & interior walls) + 4 * 50psf (Wood floors, including all exterior & interior walls) + 10psf (finishes on concrete floor) = 245psf
Live Load = 5 residential floors * 40psf * 0.5 (live load...
Hi all,
I was hired as a structural observer for a residential project in LA 5-story wood over 2-story garage basement) since the EOR refused to work with the new owner of the project. The contractor just poured half of the foundation. When I reviewed the structural slab I found some area in...
