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Civil Engineering/RCC wall retaining Scrap

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Expert: - 1/26/2010


Question
Dear SIr,
I hope that you are fine and keeping good.
I have to design a RCC Chamber which will serve to store steel scrap in it. Scrap would compromise of small granular pieces of steel and loading and unloading of scrap would also take place in the same chamber.
My Question is
Shall i design the RCC walls of the chamber as retaining wall???
As scrap would be granular and would behave like a granular material..
If yes then what density of steel to take as?? 490lb/cuft ???

Need your advice.

Best Regards,
Muhammad Umar

Answer
Hi Umar,

This is an unusual type of loading and it really depends on size/shape of the pieces. The lateral pressure on the RC retaining walls will need to be determined by methods used for grain silos, but the density of the material should be taken as somehere between 55-65 kN/m3, to make allowance for air spaces.

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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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