Civil Engineering/Tie Beams

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Expert: - 3/24/2010


Question
Sir,
I live in Seismic Zone V area (Guwahati, India) and am building a 3 storey building.The columns are at 7.5 ft depth and the
soil is original(not fillup) , hard clay.
Size of the footings are (1.5meter X 1.5 Meter) and (2.1mtr X 2.0 meter)
Size of columns are (300mm X 300 mm) and (350mm X 300 mm)
My question is:-
1) What should be the position (depth)of the Tie Beam?
2) Since the structural position of columns are different from some walls, how are the tie beams/ plinth beams to be placed?
Please specify the depths

Thanx

Kaushik

Answer
Hi Kaushik,

This is difficult to answer as it depends on various aspects. However, generally the tops of tie (gound) beams can be just below the natural gound level. You can span primary beams between columns and then have secondary ones (below walls) spanning between the primary ones.

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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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