Metal Bldg. Hairpins
Metal Bldg. Hairpins
(OP)
I have a metal bldg foundation to design in Texas. The arch. is providing slab leave-outs for the tennants. Where do I place the hairpins in the area of the slab leave-outs? I do have grade beams connecting columns that are across from one another.






RE: Metal Bldg. Hairpins
The next question is if you have a grade beam from pier to pier why do you need the hairpin?
Hairpins are cheap but in many conditions are not properly designed and just thrown in. I would highly suggest against any type of hairpin design when portions of the slab are left out or if the possibility exists for future slab work trench etc.
I used grade beams on the last one I did it was around a 90' clear span.
RE: Metal Bldg. Hairpins
RE: Metal Bldg. Hairpins
RE: Metal Bldg. Hairpins
RE: Metal Bldg. Hairpins
If your frames are spanning 100' I suggest using the grade beam if they are spanning 60' you may get away with mement resisting foundation design. Either way if the slab is in question don't use hairpins for horz. spreading.
I also isolate my pier from my perimeter slab or wall foundation. These metal building move all over the place and I try to avoid residual stresses in the rest of the foundation which tend to cause cracking.
I live in the North East so things may be a bit different up here with snow loading controlling the design typically.
RE: Metal Bldg. Hairpins
It is possible to design footings, whether earth supported or on piles, to resist the shear, tension and bending from the columns, so that is the approach that I take.
RE: Metal Bldg. Hairpins
RE: Metal Bldg. Hairpins
Do any of you use lower limits?
K2skis-Have you seen movement in buildings with large spans/design forces, or in a variety of metal building types.
RE: Metal Bldg. Hairpins