There was an article in the March 2025 article of Structure Mag by O'Rourke titled Roof Snow Drift due to Ground Snow Load.
See here: https://www.structuremag.org/article/roof-snow-drifts-due-toground-snow/
This got me thinking about stepped roofs and what fetch distances should be used. In...
I suppose my main question is, what do you use as a "minimum lateral earth pressure" when designing temporary excavation bracing.
This project involves excavation bracing for an 11' deep basement for a new home. The basement is fairly tight to the lot lines, but the neighboring structures are...
We need to excavate below an existing RCP to install a new diversion box. The pipe is active and filled with water. The contractor is asking to support the RCP via option-1 and option-2 below. Typically, we completely support the pipe with straps and beams above in this case. We can do that...
We have some general notes and a detail regarding conduit running horizontally through concrete slabs. One of those notes is to provide rebar perpendicular to pipe embedments. This is in accordance with ACI 318-19 section 20.6.4 which says to provide at least 0.002 x area of concrete normal to...
I am checking a soldier pile design with 'mixed soils' (i.e. uses friction angle and cohesion). The way I typically apply lateral earth pressures to the pile is to multiple the active forces above the dredge line by the pile spacing and the passive & active forces below the dredge line by the...
I've gone down a hole and am trying to come out the other side with understanding "best practices" for fasteners used in exterior applications (not necessarily in a marine environment. Generally speaking I'm referring to aluminum cladding components (i.e. clip angles) that are part of a...
This is just a follow up to my original post about this. See Here: Non-Loadbearing CMF walls as LFRS
Attended a CFSEI webinar that basically said don't do this. If you do, they provide some guidance, but it's really a poor lateral solution...
I'm trying to compare the work flow between RISA and RAMSS for modeling light framed buildings with particular interest in podium buildings. There are two important qualities tah I'm focused on which is the one-way distribution of gravity loads on the floor system (trib width method) and the...
We are replacing some old load bearing hollow clay tile walls with new HCT. I'm looking for any general feedback to my approach and what you would specify for mortar and grout.
The walls will have some reinforcement in them at jambs and my plan is to use new reinforced HCT lintels (I'm not a...
This is for a large opening in the middle of a column strip in a two-way slab. Below I show two different longitudinal design strip layouts. The first just starts and stops the longitudinal design strip on each side of the opening. The second adds design strips on each side.
My questions are...
I have a situation where we have steel roof beams connected to concrete columns and we need to create a rigid frame. The loads are fairly light and EQ is SDC B. I thought about doing end-plate moment connections to the column, but I have a few concerns.
Major concerns are:
1. Developing the...
I have a one-way slab (non-PT) spanning over PT beams. The concrete strength was either poured wrong or is coming in way low (4,000psi vs 6,000psi spec'd). When I go back to look at the design with the lower concrete strength, I get 18.3.3 failures (i.e. tensile stress at service load failures)...
A client wants to use triangular windows in a dormer and sent the photos below as an example. The problem is, the ridge isn't direclty supported. Traditional framing rules are that you either need to support the ridge or tie the rafters (if it can't spread, it can't come down). However, I want...
Is there a tolerance for rebar out of straightness (preferably an ACI reference)?
Can a straight rebar be "wavy" or "curved". If there is no published tolerance, is there reasonable limit or a way to evaluate this condition?
I'd really enjoy a good reference on fasteners used in building enclosures which addresses dissimilar materials. Most of my information comes from the fastener supplier/manufacturer which I guess is good and bad. However, here is my specific question:
What type of fastener would you specify for...
Generally, I'm looking for information on anchorage zone reinforcement design, but I have a few questions to hopefully clear up some concepts. Skip to the end for my TLDR questions.
I'm mostly interested in the analysis / design of anchorages for a typical PT T-beam. Reviewing PTI's...
Two questions regarding post tensioned podium slabs:
1) Do you use a bottom mat of reinforcement. It seems that they are fairly common, help distribute loading, and help minimize/distribute restraint cracks. However, if "challenged" do you think they are 'necessary'.
2) You have most of your...
The basic question:
You need to check the fasteners for a rainscreen cladding system. You are looking for tension on the fasteners.
From ASCE:
There are two parapet cases for parapets: Case A which applies to the windward side parapet and Case B which applies to the leeward side parapet. Since...
The contractor has submitted a mix design requesting the use of 56-day strengths for "vertical concrete members" as opposed to 28 days. It seems that this is more common for high strength concrete (which this mix is 6,000psi) and I don't see an issue with it off hand. However, I'm trying to...
