buoyancy design
buoyancy design
(OP)
Buoyancy design for structure with conventional steel columns and rigid mat foundation. What safety factor for buoyancy design is required? To resist buoyancy forces, can floor live loads above be used or only dead load?





RE: buoyancy design
Don't usually use live loads at all unless there is some assurance that part of the live load will definitely be there all the time....That usually makes it into a dead load.
RE: buoyancy design
In the UK we use a MINIMUM factor of safety of 1.1 against flotation based on the highest credible water level around the structure (more often 1.2 is used). The reason for the low FoS is based on the fact that you know EXACTLY what the uplift force due to water load is.
Andy Machon
RE: buoyancy design
RE: buoyancy design
RE: buoyancy design
The following safety factors are recommended by "Duncan" in his foundation design book:
"S.F.=2.0 for basements and other parts of buildings subject to severe damage due to uplift"
"S.F.=1.5 for underground tanks and vaults not structurally connected to the building proper"