The value could be increased but it needs incorporation of aggregate interlock effect in increasing shear carrying capacity. But if even if this value is increased, the flat slab shear carrying capacity might indicate lesser thickness of slab to be used, but i doubt if it will tie with meeting...
I have not come across some codes indicating proposed location of column joints (I would like to know if there is..)
Locating column joint is based on engineering judgement. As most columns are under compression, the decision to locate joint will be governed mostly by horizontal loads at that...
STAAD is a good software and can give what designers need most. However, try for Robot Millenium it has more features and output options than STAAD. It saves you from a lot of minor tedious work in presenting your calculation skecthes etc. You have more options is reinforcement selection and all...
It's common while designing joist slab. However, for solid slab design, I don't think it's very common. Since the inertia of the beam is almost same as that of slab, the whole system tends to behave like flat plate rather than beam/slab system. Deflection control will govern large slab depth and...
It's worth to identify what type of lift system you have ie a hydraulic one or normal pulley type. In both cases, the centroidal resultant force should be checked against footing center of gravity to avoid soil tension or rather having eccentric footing. If it's a hydraulic one, then verify with...
Ring foundation comprising of circular base slab and ringwall should be most efective one. The most optimum approach is to analyze using FE to most economical results. Windload/Seismic will govern most cases when the tank is empty/full.
