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Civil Engineering/structural design for duplex house

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Expert: - 1/14/2011


Question
sir,
i read your answers for some questions related to house construction, i got most of the answers thank you. now i'm going to construct a duplex building of total 2000 sqft using builder. as per his design columns are 9"X12" using 12mm and 10 mm rods and the span of 13 feet with a total 12 columns. and he is using 10mm and 6 mm rods for slab and 12mm 4 rods for 9" beams. is this steel specifications are sufficient or i have to ask for 12mm and 16 mm rods for construction. and he is using locally available tmt steel brands. please answer me

Answer
Hi Suneel,

I am happy to hear that you read my past answers before asking more.

The information you have provided is not sufficient to give a definitive answer, but from experience I would agree with you that certainly the rebar in the beams should be more than what you have indicated. I suggest you ask for the structural calculations and get a local engineer to vet them. The X-section area of the columns rebar should be between 0.5 to 1.0% of the concrete cross section area, assuming that the columns are not too heavily loaded.

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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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