Recommend Concrete Codes/Standards
Recommend Concrete Codes/Standards
(OP)
Concrete is not a strong suit for me but I would like to become more proficient. What are the required ACI standards that I should have in my library?
To a more specific question, is ACI 318 sufficient in designing a 2-way bending slab (roof or floor) with penetrations supporting concentrated loads? I have a client that wants me to do more detailed concrete work, but I am turning it down because I am not that strong in it. Simple beam spans are fine, which I am comfortable doing (and I currently assume for the roof, walls, and floors for doing the current work) but once a semi-large penetration is put in the roof/floor, I just don't know where to go. Also, shear and shearwall analysis does not scare me either. Finally, is this type of analysis something I can easily do without software help? If not, I only have RISA-3D.
Thanks!
To a more specific question, is ACI 318 sufficient in designing a 2-way bending slab (roof or floor) with penetrations supporting concentrated loads? I have a client that wants me to do more detailed concrete work, but I am turning it down because I am not that strong in it. Simple beam spans are fine, which I am comfortable doing (and I currently assume for the roof, walls, and floors for doing the current work) but once a semi-large penetration is put in the roof/floor, I just don't know where to go. Also, shear and shearwall analysis does not scare me either. Finally, is this type of analysis something I can easily do without software help? If not, I only have RISA-3D.
Thanks!
Juston Fluckey, SE, PE, AWS CWI
Engineering Consultant






RE: Recommend Concrete Codes/Standards
There's a bunch of good articles and references online regarding 2-way slabs. I'd also search here on eng-tips and bet you could find a lot of good info on floor penetrations.
The biggest note is, depending on your local, PT slabs may be something you would want to look into learning; but that's complex and I'd do that only after getting comfortable with regular concrete design.
Professional Engineer (ME, NH, MA) Structural Engineer (IL)
American Concrete Industries
www.americanconcrete.com
RE: Recommend Concrete Codes/Standards
I said 2-way because I assumed it had to be 2-way because of the penetration. For more information, these are factory built concrete buildings (usually 14'x20' or smaller) and the penetrations are probably 2'x'2. Is there a way to do the analysis using a conservative approach using simple spans? Walls, roof, and floor are poured monolithically and then welded together with embeded weld plates. I will dig into my
Juston Fluckey, SE, PE, AWS CWI
Engineering Consultant
RE: Recommend Concrete Codes/Standards
Also, I agree with TME. Post your problems here and we'll walk you through them as required.
I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.
RE: Recommend Concrete Codes/Standards
However, you can definitely idealize the slab as strips that span between other strips giving you a lower-bound approach to the capacity of the slab. Regarding RISA, I do a lot of our flat precast slab designs using the FEA in RISA and they often have openings or other geometric issues. I wouldn't attempt to do a large two-way building slab with this method but for the buried structures and simple slabs I typically design it's sufficient in my mind. I would think that you might be able to make it work for a 14'x20' building.
Professional Engineer (ME, NH, MA) Structural Engineer (IL)
American Concrete Industries
www.americanconcrete.com