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Detention Vault Walls

Detention Vault Walls

Detention Vault Walls

(OP)
Outside of the allowances of the ACI code, does anyone have any particular structural concerns with using only one layer of reinforcing in a 10" thick wall holding back earth and water for an underground R/C detention vault?

I normally use two layers, one at each face(2/3, 1/3 distribution), but the owner wants only one layer in the center, and, although other local structural engineers do that, it still bothers me.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

RE: Detention Vault Walls

This isn't a deal breakerr, but if you have waterstop, it's nice to have reinforcing on both sides of it. It allows it to be tied off in two directions.

RE: Detention Vault Walls

I don't think there is a problem, but I hope y'all design for full and empty conditions, and for variation in outside soil conditions. (You mention something about 1/3-2/3 distribution, which seems generic, so it would appear that you are using minimum reinforcement ratios.) I'm sure you are following ACI 350, and I don't have a copy of that handy. 318 doesn't address this situation.

One thing to ponder is that the deeper reinforcement is in a slab (or wall), the wider cracks at the surface will be. I would think that a single, centrally-located layer would be structurally inefficient, but at minimum steel, that might not matter, aside from doing a poor job of restraining crack width.

RE: Detention Vault Walls

What TX said.

RE: Detention Vault Walls

Seems like with that much clear cover you could have some excessive crack widths.

RE: Detention Vault Walls

(OP)
And what I thought...

I guess it's what the client can tolerate. Thanks for the opinions guys. Good to know I'm not off base here. :)

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

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