Metal Building - Lateral Load Question
Metal Building - Lateral Load Question
(OP)
I am designing the foundation system for a metal building. Due to poor soils and large building loads (100' spans and bridge cranes), the building will be supported on auger cast piles. The outward thrust of the exterior columns is ~30 kips. Additionally the high interior slab loads may cause slab settlement greater than 6".
I have designed foundation for alot of metal buildings using hairpins, direct ties and drag struts, but all of these systems may be compromised with the potential settlement of the interior slab. Is there another type of lateral restraint that I can consider for these footings?
Thanks for any help.
I have designed foundation for alot of metal buildings using hairpins, direct ties and drag struts, but all of these systems may be compromised with the potential settlement of the interior slab. Is there another type of lateral restraint that I can consider for these footings?
Thanks for any help.






RE: Metal Building - Lateral Load Question
Did you look at inclining a few of the auger cast piles?
RE: Metal Building - Lateral Load Question
RE: Metal Building - Lateral Load Question
But you'd also be helped by spreading out the piling and creating a tension-compression couple between piles in a group to resist the lateral moment at the column footing due to vertical eccentricity between the column base reaction and the pile cap elevation.
RE: Metal Building - Lateral Load Question
RE: Metal Building - Lateral Load Question
RE: Metal Building - Lateral Load Question
RE: Metal Building - Lateral Load Question
RE: Metal Building - Lateral Load Question
Even with over-excavating and pre-consolidation I have seen slabs become unusable after 10 or 15 years with potential settlements of that magnitude. Spend the money now and do it right.
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering