Ramps between Parking Garages (AASHTO)

[epitome1170]

I am designing two parking garages side by side, but they are seperated by two "ramps" (each two lanes) that are about 400' long.

The garages are being designed for the loads specified in IBC (40psf), but my thought is that the ramps will need to be designed by AASHTO. Is that a typical assumption? Is there a special provision in AASHTO that would cover this as opposed to the main vehicular live load that exerts exceptional forces based on highway traffic?

 

[JAE]

I'm not sure AASHTO would apply unless you are allowing HS20 trucks to drive on these ramps.

You can certainly use AASHTO wheel loading as a guide - but most parking garages have a 7 ft. height clearance +/- and large trucks can't fit in there.

As far as code compliance with design - I also don't think AASHTO would apply. It is a ramp between garages, basically a building element vs. a highway.

Unless of course your DOT is part of the owner/funding for the garages - then it's up to them.

 

[epitome1170]

I am not allowing large trucks to enter the garages and the garage is for retail outlets, so a DOT will not be involved. However, a municipality will obviously have to approve the basis for the design. This one in particular is not always the easiest to deal with and will want to know the basis of the loadings, so is there a portion of a code that would pertain to these ramps?

 

[ron9876]

If height is restricted then 40 psf is the way to go. The cost of designing for truck loading compared to standard loading would be quite large I would think.

 

[bridgebuster]

I agree with JAE