Elevated Swimming Pool

[tclat]

Hi all,

I have a pool that with is base being about 8 feet above the ground. The pool is fairly long and narrow (45'x15'). I'm have some discussion with other engineer's in the office about analyzing it.

One engineer feels that I should treat the pool slab to pool wall connection as a pin so that the moment from the pool wall which extends above does not induce negative moment in the pool slab. This will result in primarily maximum positive bending moment in the slab. I'm having some doubts as to if this is really the way for this to be done. I am thinking of that keeping the slab to wall connection as fixed which makes the primary moment in the slab negative.

Any thoughts?

 

[tclat]

Hi,

I should also mention that the pool walls extend to the ground. In essence, one engineer is saying to treat the pool slab as only a strut/tie for the pool walls. This does not seem right to me. The problem I have is that for the proposed mechanism to work, doesn't the pool slab need to "fail" first before it can start to work as a strut/tie?

Thanks.

 

[hokie66]

I have no idea why your colleague doesn't want to make the joint rigid.

 

[berkshire]

What is underneath the pool?
B.E.

 

[JacksPanic]

Is the pool base slab suspended? Can you upload a section through the pool?

 

[tclat]

Yes... pool base slab is elevated in one section. Pool pump room is located beneath.

My colleage doesn't feel the joint is truly rigid and that we may underestimate the amount of positive steel required. The pool is being tanked with a thick rubber membrane so minor cracking would not be an major issue. I'll probably analyze both ways to see how the numbers come out.

Thanks

 

[rowingengineer]

I would model it with both situations and reo for the worst in each location.

http://www.nceng.com.au/

"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning."

 

[hokie66]

Agree with rowingengineer. Your colleague is correct that the joint will not be completely rigid, but that is no reason to reinforce it as a pin. Make suspended swimming pools structures robust.