Reinforcing for architectural concrete sign
Reinforcing for architectural concrete sign
(OP)
We're designing a sign for a client that is 8' wide x 6' high above grade x 8" thick solid concrete, cast-in-place. This hunk of concrete will have metal lettering and symbols attached to it. It will sit on a footer at 36" below grade (so the total height of the sign will be 9 feet from footer to top). The only live loads will be wind (90 mph).
Is there any reason to reinforce this thing, other than extending rebar up from the footer to tie it together? The concrete by itself is strong enough to resist the wind load.
Is there any reason to reinforce this thing, other than extending rebar up from the footer to tie it together? The concrete by itself is strong enough to resist the wind load.






RE: Reinforcing for architectural concrete sign
If you can truly handle the loads with the concrete well inside the elastic range, I suppose there isn't a reason to reinforce... But I don't think I would ever do it. I really don't think that's what the mass concrete provisions of the concrete codes is intended for.
I've designed a few such signs, and at least one of them was later hit by a car. I would hate to think what might have happened had I not reinforced it.
Also, is it cast in place? What about lifting stresses?
Cheers,
YS
B.Eng (Carleton)
Working in New Zealand, thinking of my snow covered home...
RE: Reinforcing for architectural concrete sign
RE: Reinforcing for architectural concrete sign
And depending on where you are, which code you're applying, and whether the sign is within 5m of a roadway, car impact IS a real load.
The automatic assumption that a poster is in the US is not appropriate, nor is any code all-inclusive of an engineer's duty of care...
Regards,
YS
B.Eng (Carleton)
Working in New Zealand, thinking of my snow covered home...