Structural Design Discussion for EWB Reviewer building A

Codes Used
For load information ASCE 7-05 is used to determine vertical loads on the roof,
wind loads, and seismic loads. Concrete elements are designed per ACI 318-08.
Cold formed steel is designed per AISI 2007. Masonry walls are designed per IBC
2006. Both ultimate strength design and allowable stress design are used in this
project for the design of structural elements. However, care is taken to match
the method of design with the correct load combinations and load factors.
Vertical loads
Per ASCE 7-05, roof live loads are taken as 20 psf. Additional vertical loads are
due to dead loads caused by the weight of the structure and all permanently
affixed elements. Where appropriate vertical wind pressures are considered in
the design of the structures for this project.
Vertical Load System
The vertical load system is as follows. Vertical loads travel through the
structural elements in order as follows, metal roofing, roof beams or trusses, to
concrete frames and masonry walls, footings and finally to the ground. When
the structure is complete the walls are the primary vertical load bearing
elements. However, in the concrete frames are designed as if the walls were not
present. In many cases, this results in minimum steel requirements for
temperature and shrinkage being sufficient also for strength purposes. In those
locations where more than minimums are required, the increase is not
significantly more expensive.
Lateral Loads
Wind A document was found on the internet that gives wind values for
regions in the Caribbean and Central America. In particular, the document
contains basic wind speed contours for Honduras and Puerto Rico. ASCE 7-05
contains values for Puerto Rico, but not Honduras. Using the previous document
and ASCE7-05, and knowing the relationship between these two documents for
Puerto Rico, a value for Honduras consistent with ASCE 7-05 is obtained. Having
the basic wind speed, the design proceeds according to the simplified design
procedure contained in ASCE 7-05. The basic wind speed for the project site is
120 mph. The exposure chosen for the building site is exposure C, although one
could argue that the less severe case of exposure B is warranted. The wind
pressures are in the range of to psf. More details are provided in the
calculations.
Seismic A U.S. military document on the internet provides S1 and SD values
for seismic design in Puerto Rico and Honduras. Similar values are provided for

Puerto Rico in ASCE 7-05. Using a procedure similar to that explained for wind,
values for Honduras are obtained. Then, having obtained the values for
Honduras, seismic design proceeds using the procedures described in ASCE 705. The calculated seismic coefficient for the structure designed as part of this
project is 0.38.

Lateral Load System

For both wind and seismic design the concrete frames are designed as if the
masonry block is not present. (Although, in seismic design the concrete frames
are designed as if the masonry block weight contributes to the seismic forces.)
This is usually a conservative approach for the concrete frames. For many cases
the stiffest elements are the masonry walls and not the frames and hence the
walls will resist the lateral loads. The walls are verified for adequacy as well.
Therefore, the system is fairly redundant, but not overly costly for the extra
redundancy.
Foundations
On site investigations reveal very hard soil material. The clay is also found to be
high. Spread footings are used at the concrete columns and continuous footings
are included under all walls. It would be helpful to receive feedback regarding
the problem of high clay content.
EWB
We will appreciate having a review by EWB. We look forward to comments and
suggestions that may be new to us regarding construction in a third world
country and if our material specifications are reasonable.

structural design summary.doc