New openings in existing tilt-up wall panels
New openings in existing tilt-up wall panels
(OP)
What is the design process for reinforcing new openings in existing tilt-up wall panels? The as built drawings are not available. What is the best way to reinforce these new openings?






RE: New openings in existing tilt-up wall panels
Mike McCann
McCann Engineering
RE: New openings in existing tilt-up wall panels
Unless there are already existing openings in the area, your reinforcement will be welded wire mesh evenly distributed with some additional trimmers around the edge.
You can often justify a door in the bottom of the panel by showing that the moment at the top of the opening is less than the maximum moment and taking the moment capacity as proportionate to the width.
If you only have discreet supports at each end of the panel then you will also need to justify the panels ability to span between these as a deep beam . This takes a bit more thought.
csd
RE: New openings in existing tilt-up wall panels
Mike McCann
McCann Engineering
RE: New openings in existing tilt-up wall panels
Mike McCann
McCann Engineering
RE: New openings in existing tilt-up wall panels
The min. shear reinf. required what section in ACI is that? What if the wall is a shear wall, but not load bearing?
thanks
RE: New openings in existing tilt-up wall panels
RE: New openings in existing tilt-up wall panels
Mike McCann
McCann Engineering
RE: New openings in existing tilt-up wall panels
I would expect around #4 at 12 each way, but who knows?
A decent testing and inspection firm can go out and do rebar location using a pachometer (fancy stud finder). This can determine the spacing and the ones with the bells and whistles can determine the size of the bar. There are of course other options, ground penetrating radar, x-ray, etc.