Civil Engineering/masonary infils

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Expert: - 12/27/2009


Question
dear sir
my question is regarding infill wals . ubc requires to provide expansion joint between side face of column and infill wall as per the max inelastic deformation. but I haven't seen such practise anywhere . though I believe its very logical to provide expansion joint there. please comment on this
thanks in advance

Answer
Hi Umar,

You are quite correct- this detail is very important especially where the in-fill blockwork does not have any openings such as windows, etc, and where the structures relie on lateral stability by means of MRF or SMRF, or a dual system.

You are also correct in noting that the practice is not common (especially in Middle East), and this compromises structural safety because if the infill blockwork is strong enough not to crumble during frame sway, the tops of columns can fail by shear as the columns cannot utilise thier inherent story-height ductility. The tallest building that I designed in East and Central Africa (Times Tower in Nairobi), does have separation between frames and infill panels as per UBC recommendations, and I recall at the time this detail was questioned by some people as no one else was utilising it!  

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Arshad Khan

Expertise

I can answer any questions to do with civil and structural engineering consultancy and construction industry in East Africa and the Middle East, and specifically with the analysis and design of reinforced concrete structures. My particular expertise is in the aseismic design and optimisation of tall buildings.

Experience

Employment history: 36 years in Construction and consultancy in the UK, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Africa, Somalia, Zambia, Austria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Doha and the U.A.E.

Organizations
.Fellow of Institution of Structural Engineers (UK) .Fellow of Institution of Civil Engineers(UK) .Member of the Institution of Engineers, Kenya .Registered Engineer, ERB, Kenya .Member of the Architectural Association of Kenya (Engineers Chapter) .Chartered Engineer (UK)

Publications
•1984: International Conference on the Art and Practice of Structural Design, London •1994: 3rd Int. Kerensky Conference in Structural Engineering, Singapore •2008: International Conference on High-Rise Towers, Abu Dhabi

Education/Credentials
BSc, 1st Class Hons, in Building Engineering, University of Bath, UK MSc in Concrete Structures and Technology, University of London. Diploma of Imperial College, UK.

Awards and Honors
•Science Congress Special Award (for 2-seater Hovercraft - 1968) •Institution of Civil Engineers Award for outstanding performance at Bath University (1975) •Concrete Society Postgraduate study Bursary Award (1976) •Consular Representative for British High Commission, Nairobi. (1995 to 1998) •Examiner for Institution of Civil Engineers Professional Interviews, Nairobi. (1997 to 1998) •Branch Representative in Vienna for PI assessment for Inst. of Struct. Engrs. (1999 to date)

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