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Civil Engineering/CORE CUTTING IN RCC BEAM

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Expert: - 4/13/2011


Question
MY question is whether it is safe to core cut into a RCC Beam to provide for piping of Spilt Air Conditioners? If it is alredy done then what are the means to rectify. The hole dia is approximately 3cms.

Answer
Hi Vidhushekhar,

This depends on the depth of the beam- if the beam is only 10cms deep, then cutting a 3 cm hole may be a problem, but if the beam is more than 15 or 20 cms deep, then a 3 cms hole should be no problem, so long as you place it centrally in the depth (so as to not cut main top or bottom rebar) and also so long as you place the hole within the middle half span of the beam. The latter is to avoid reducing the shear area near supports, where shear forces are the highest.

However, if your calculations show that shear stress is not critical with reduced shear area, then the hole can be placed near supports too- but do avoid cutting ant shear links (stirrups).

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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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