Water pressure on concrete basement wall
Water pressure on concrete basement wall
(OP)
Hi,
Is there a mathematical relation between the flow/current of a river and the pressure against a wall. I have to design a new foundation for a house that was dammaged last year by the flooding, flooding is happening each year in that region, but last year it was very bad. Last year the river had such a current that the (unreinforced concrete wall) did not resist. So I'm trying to figure out what kind of pressure are we dealing with. Any idea ?
Is there a mathematical relation between the flow/current of a river and the pressure against a wall. I have to design a new foundation for a house that was dammaged last year by the flooding, flooding is happening each year in that region, but last year it was very bad. Last year the river had such a current that the (unreinforced concrete wall) did not resist. So I'm trying to figure out what kind of pressure are we dealing with. Any idea ?






RE: Water pressure on concrete basement wall
RE: Water pressure on concrete basement wall
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
http://mmcengineering.tripod.com
RE: Water pressure on concrete basement wall
There are many concerns that must be dealt with when it comes to flooding and constructing on water. You have move than pressure to deal with. If you must build by a river, hire a competent person. You may need pilings under the structure to keep it from washing out, again.
Regards,
Lutfi
RE: Water pressure on concrete basement wall
Why I'm designing the wall in such a region ? Believe it or not, but last year more than 4000 homes were damaged. And the canadian (Québec) governement, I guess to keep the voters, decided to pay (with our taxes) to rebuilt the foundation of the houses, first we need to make the foundation higher than the 100 year flood level, and to make sure that adequate reinforcement is present.
But still I do agree that is pretty dumb to rebuild in that region...
RE: Water pressure on concrete basement wall
You may well also get a Geotech involved here.
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
http://mmcengineering.tripod.com
RE: Water pressure on concrete basement wall
It's more likely that the static pressure failed the wall. Usually homes are built in the flood plain (slow rising, slow moving), not in the path of the river.
RE: Water pressure on concrete basement wall
• Engineering Principles and Practices for Retrofitting Floodprone Structures, FEMA 259, 2001
• Homeowner's Guide to Retrofitting, Six Ways to Protect Your Home From Flooding, FEMA P312, 2009
RE: Water pressure on concrete basement wall
RE: Water pressure on concrete basement wall
So, moving? This should be a definite reality, not just a pipedream.
FEMA has a limited budget for this, plus is slow to respond to the disasters as we are well aware. Helping ourselves to permanently fix the problem is the best answer in the long run. Gets to be a political football with developers and homeowners who have lived there for years though.
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
http://mmcengineering.tripod.com