Civil Engineering/Expansion joints

Advertisement

Expert: - 1/16/2010


Question
QUESTION: Dear sir,
I am doing under ground powerhouse structure design.Its my first job.my question is what are the preliminary studies for under ground structures.
please give me the details and in which way i have to move...
Thank you sir

ANSWER: Hi Sudha,

You need detailed site investigations data so as to determine soil properties and water table, so that you can work out the loading on to the buried structures. Thereafter you can design the structures like any basement, taking account of over-burden pressures, surcharges and traffic loading.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank u for your reply,

total length of the power house structure is 116m,in this structure in which distance and what thickness i have to provide expansion joints for column.
send me the general details about expansion joints  

Answer
Hi Sudha,

If this is a buried structure, you do not need any expansion joints as the temperature will be fairly constant during operation. During construction you could incorporate some temporary pour strips in slabs, walls and roofs, say every 30-50m, depending on local conditions.

Civil Engineering

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

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)

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.