Search results for query: *

hokie, Is there any benefit to adding a second heavily-reinforced CMU bond beam at a lower point on the wall? The stresses are greatest at ~6 ft height. But the wall vertical rebar will need to penetrate the bottom of the bond beam blocks, and likely interfere with the horizontal rebar in the...

JLNJ, Yes, the short span at the rear of the dwelling. The client has also asked if this can be done as poured concrete walls. I will evaluate this as a rectangular concrete tank, like you describe...free at top, fixed at bottom. I have used the rectangular concrete tank manual for evaluating...

I am assisting a residential architect with this proposed dwelling (see attached). The foundation wall is 14' tall, with full height backfill at the rear wall, tapering down along the sidewalls. Client is an experienced block layer, so I sized a heavily reinforced 12" CMU wall (using RetainPro)...

I post a lot in the 'structural engineering general discussion' forum, but this is probably more appropriate here. Please see attached concept. I am assisting a residential architect with this proposed dwelling. The foundation wall is 14' tall, with full height backfill at the rear wall...

driftLimiter, I'm reading some discussions on 3-sided roof diaphragms and also considering an interior shear wall along the stairs to the upper level to possibly provide some rigidity, and reduce the tributary area to this gable wall. This design is a near replica of this example photo, and...

(Seismic Category A, Northern Minnesota, Exp. category 'B' assumed). A client needs engineering for this custom lake home (example image) with tall wall great room. Lots of glass, and the peak is approx. 25' tall. Also the roof cantilevers out ~6' at the peak. I have not put pencil to paper but...

Thank you dhengr and Ingenuity. Owners say the house was built early 80's, but I think this concrete beam might have been added later...maybe they lifted/moved the house to place it?? The basement poured walls appear newer then the rest of the dwelling. The main floor framing is a cobbled mess...

I am evaluating a SFD for excess deflection in the main floor framing. This residence has a in-ground pool in the basement. A pair of prestressed concrete beams span above the pool, the full length of the dwelling, approx. 52 ft. See attached sketch. Can someone tell me what type of prestressed...

I ended up using a W12x40 to span 15 ft, supporting ~22 ft trib. width of plank. My L+D total load deflection was ~L/400, and my live load deflection was ~L/1200. Weld plates bracing to plank at 4 ft spacing.

I assist high-end home builders with various structural engineering issues. A common feature locally in high-end single family dwellings are garages with large basements below. The garage floor system is 8" precast plank with a 4" sloped concrete topping. On particularly large garages, a steel...

Thanks for the input. The mason who bid the foundation work had originally figured in some concrete "dead men" along the end wall to provide the resistance to overturning. I think I will approach this as a cantilever retaining wall, and possibly utilize several dead men too.

This is a single story slab-on-grade, or patio home, tucked into a hillside. Typical 8 ft ceiling height. Gable end roof. No basement. Similar to a typical basement foundation, where the floor joists provide the lateral restraint against earth pressures, I assume the roof trusses (with blocking)...

Thank you for the good input! A concrete beam design makes more sense. The 18' opening exceeds the span table in the prescriptive table in IRC 608.8(9) for non-bearing walls, but I'm sure an engineered design is acceptable. If the contractor wishes, I can provide a steel beam option. Thanks!

New ICF wall construction with 18 ft overhead garage door on the gable end. From the tables in 2020 IRC 608.8, it will need to be a steel beam header. Are there typical details and instructions for the steel beam pocket and anchorage to the 6" ICF wall...

KootK, Celt, & HTURKAK, thanks for the good input. Koot: I am familiar with the "form saver" inserts, and I've also seen masons use rebar dowels and bend them like you describe. My initial thought is that the reinforced garage slab, if detailed correctly, should be capable of easily resisting...

I am assisting a custom home designer on a project with a basement sport court. One foundation wall of the sport court is adjacent to the garage (slab on grade). At this location, I am considering the foundation is restrained from lateral earth pressure at the top via dowels tied to the...

I am designing a frost-protected shallow foundation (FPSF) for a detached garage, in accordance with ASCE 32-01. Building will be heated and insulated, with 2" rigid insulation around the perimeter, at the vertical face of the grade beam, and extending out horizontal per ASCE 32-01. The client...

What experience have you had specifying Simpson Strong-Tie Special Moment Frames? I assist a number of custom home builders, architects, and residential designers here in the upper Midwest (Seismic Category A, 115 mph wind). I'm in a large metro area with a building/plan review department that...

Quick question about drawing a garage addition at an angle to existing residence. For drawing up the foundation plan, what is the preferred method of noting the angle? Do I use terms of "degrees" or "?/12" (like a roof pitch)? I drew the preliminary plan at 22.5 degrees, which equates to ~5/12...

@DaveAtkins, Thanks. I have not sized the beam yet, but initially assumed it would be deeper that the wall thickness. Evaluating it first as a restrained wall, depending on the heel at-rest pressure I use, I'll be dealing with a lateral load of ~1,500 to 2,000 lbs/ft up at the top. Conservative...