×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Expansion in SDC E

Expansion in SDC E

Expansion in SDC E

(OP)
I am going to be working on an expansion to an existing warehouse that is located in Seismic Design Category E. The building was designed in 1978 thus there is a very distinct possibility that the detailing does not meet current code. The main seismic load resisting system is precast shear walls which wrap around all four sides of the warehouse.
Of course, since the warehouse is to be expanded a certain amount of mobility is expected going from the existing structure to the expansion. The architect has accounted for this by proposing openings in the existing wall. This is of concern structurally for a few reasons.
1. The rigidity of the current wall is compromised.
2. The compromised wall will now support lateral loading from the expansion.
3. There is an opening in the wall that needs to be designed for with regards to flexure.
There is a question that I have with regards to a building of this nature. Since a portion of the seismic load resisting system for the existing building is compromised, what does that mean with regards to the analysis of the existing building as a whole. Would I need to make sure that the whole of the existing building meets code, or would I have to simply check the wall for the structural issues mentioned above? Where would I go to find out how to properly approach this?

RE: Expansion in SDC E

I would look for a building code intended for existing buildings. In the US, that's the IEBC. That code would addess your questions if you're in the US. You may have a different one applicable in your location.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources