Historic Concrete Specifications?

[Corey7320]

I am working on a seismic retrofit of 1930s-1940s era concrete buildings for the Dept of Veterans Affairs (VA). We have the original construction drawings but they only refer to Type C and Type B concrete. We are doing material testing but ASCE 41 dictates different amount of testing required depending on if you know the original design strength or not. It also plays into the knowledge factor used i beleive.

Is the Type C or B designation a standard from the time period or a standard for the VA at that time?

I have not been able to find reference to any documents that may have dictated the VA construction practices of the time like they now have.

 

[bridgebuster]

It is probably a VA specification. Just like today, every agency has its own designations.

The building may have been constructed by the Federal Works Agency or the Public Buildings Administration. These were predecessor agencies of the GSA.

 

[Corey7320]

Thanks. I'll dig into those agencies to see what i can find. I had another thought from a coworker that the UBC had very early versions that may have some basic design info for materials.

 

[concretemasonry]

If this a retrofit, you would be wise to determine the properties of the concrete in the existing structure and not worry about the mix designs or mix performance standards since the governing thing will be the actual concrete used in the structure, which is affected by the actual mix supplied(not just specified) and the quality of the placement and curing. - Without having the actual material properties, you are hanging out on a cloud somewhere.

Engineer and international traveler interested in construction techniques, problems and proper design.