ASEISMIC DESIGN OF CIVIL ENGINEERING STRUCTURES BASICS AND TUTORIALS

ASEISMIC DESIGN OF CIVIL ENGINEERING STRUCTURES BASIC INFORMATION
What Are Aseismic Design Of Civil Engineering Structures?


The basic methods for providing wind resistance—shear walls, diagonal bracing, and rigid frames are also suitable for resisting seismic loads. Ductile rigid frames, however, are preferred because of large energy-absorbing capacity.

Building codes encourage their use by permitting them to be designed for smaller seismic loads than those required for shear walls and diagonal bracing. (Ductility is a property that enables a structural member to undergo considerable deformation without failing.

The more a member deforms, the more energy it can absorb and therefore the greater is the resistance it can offer to dynamic loads.) For tall, slender buildings, use of the basic methods alone in limiting drift to an acceptable level may not be cost-effective.

In such cases, improved response to the dynamic loads may be improved by installation of heavy masses near the roof, with their movements restricted by damping devices. Another alternative is installation of energy-absorbing devices at key points in the structural framing, such as at the bearings of bottom columns or the intersections of cross bracing.

Designers usually utilize floors and roofs, acting as horizontal diaphragms, to transmit lateral forces to the resisting structural members. Horizontal bracing, however, may be used instead.

Where openings occur in floors and roofs, for example for floors and elevators, structural framing should be provided around the openings to bypass the lateral forces.

As for wind loads, the weight of the building and of earth adjoining foundations are the only forces available to prevent the horizontal loads from overturning the building. Also, as for wind loads, the roof should be firmly anchored to the superstructure framing, which, in turn, should be securely attached to the foundations.

Furthermore, individual footings, especially pile and caisson footings, should be tied to each other to prevent relative movement. Building codes often limit the drift per story under the equivalent static seismic load.

Connections and intersections of curtain walls and partitions with each other or with the structural framing should allow for a relative movement of at least twice the calculated drift in each story. Such allowances for displacement may be larger than those normally required for dimensional changes caused by temperature variations.

(N. M. Newmark and E. Rosenblueth, ‘‘Fundamentals of Earthquake Engineering,’’ and J. S. Stratta, ‘‘Manual of Seismic Design,’’ Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.; ‘‘Standard Building Code,’’ Southern Building Code Congress International, Inc., 900 Montclair Road, Birmingham, AL 35213-1206; ‘‘Uniform Building Code,’’ International Conference of Building Officials, Inc., 5360 South Workman Mill Road, Whittier, CA 90601.)

QUALITY CONTROL FOR ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS BASICS AND TUTORIALS

QUALITY CONTROL FOR ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS BASIC INFORMATION
What Are Quality Controls For Architects And Engineers?


To maintain a consistently high level of quality in design and construction documentation, a rigorous internal review of the documents prepared by the architect or engineer, which draws on the full depth and experience of resources available, should be undertaken during the contract document phase.

Quality control can begin in the earliest stages of design, when criteria are established and developed as design guidelines for use throughout the project. At each stage of development, a coordination checklist, based on previous experience, can be utilized for the project through an independent internal or external technical checking program.

Computer file management may be used to enable the various technical disciplines to share graphic data and check for interference conditions, thereby enhancing technical coordination of the documents. Quality control should also continue throughout the construction phase with architect and engineer review of shop drawings and on-site observation of the work.

Quality Management Program.
To have a truly meaningful quality management program, all personnel must be committed to it. To help the professional staff understand the quality program, quality systems should be developed, updated, maintained, and administered to assist the architect and professional staff in providing quality service to clients.

An individual in each office may be assigned to assist in the quality management program. This person should undertake to instill in all personnel the importance of such a program in every aspect of the daily conduct of business.

The quality management program should set quality goals; develop professional interaction for meeting these goals among peers and peer groups; review building systems, specifications, and drawings to ensure quality; and see that these objectives are known to the public.

Such a program will result in a client base that will communicate the quality level of the architect to others in the community, profession, and international marketplace.

The architect’s image is of extreme importance in acquiring and maintaining clients, and the best quality management program focuses on client service and dedication to the profession.
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