how to identify shear studs in existing building?
how to identify shear studs in existing building?
(OP)
We have a drawings for the existing building, Building has a composite slab resting on steel beams & girders. we are calculating the allowable load for this existing building. But we don't know that building has shear studs or not. so i want to know is there any procedure to get info. about the shear studs in existing building?






RE: how to identify shear studs in existing building?
RE: how to identify shear studs in existing building?
RE: how to identify shear studs in existing building?
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
RE: how to identify shear studs in existing building?
Unfortunately you need to know the size and also the total number on each member.
It seems that the studs take quite a bit of heat to install and you might see burn marks on the bottom of the top flanges.
You might also chip some concrete out to see what one actually is once you think you've located one using another method.
I'm not sure if there is a standard or minimum concrete cover required on top required to have the studs (or whatever shear item was used) fully effective? Maybe it wouldn't be far down to chip in your exploration.
Anyone know about the cover?
RE: how to identify shear studs in existing building?
I'm in the US Northeast, and the last time I had a GPR done inside a building it was something like $1,200 for the day. There was a general contractor in the middle of it, and it was a government job so I'm not sure how the markups compare to your situation. The purpose of the GPR was not just to locate rebar, but also to locate electrical ducts and various utilities in the floor of a machine shop to install a new machine foundation. Think of it as a dig-safe indoors. As msquared48 mentioned you may be able to do this with simpler equipment, but I am always impressed with the level of detail you get from GPR with a skilled operator. From the fuzzy images on the screen the operator was able to locate the rebar in the shop floor, the two layers of rebar in an existing 24" thick machine foundation to be removed, and all of the electrical ducts encased in the floor. When we cut the floor open everything was exactly as described.
As I mentioned I am not sure what it will pick up on an elevated slab, if anything at all? But I think it would be worth your while to discuss it with a GPR company in your area. You will still need to dig out some studs to confirm their size etc, but the GPR might locate all of the studs for you.