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Civil Engineering/Partition Load on slab

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Expert: - 5/25/2011


Question
Can the partition wall loads be applied on the slab as area loads or it can only be applied as line load?
How does it effect if we apply the partition wall line load as area load?
And how the partition wall line load is converted into area load i.e., in Ksf instead of K/ft?
is it this --> [Specific unit Weight (Kcf) x Volume of Wall (i.e. l x b x h)]/[total area of the slab on which wall is placed]

Answer
Hi Owais,

If the partitions are lightweight (timber/fibreboard) demountable type, then you can assume a UDL of 1.0 to 1.5 kN/m2 over the whole slab, or affected slab.

If the partitions are blockwork and you know the locations, then you need to work out the load and apply it either as a line load or an area load within a limited floor space- such as around toilets, etc.

The conversion from wall load per elevation m2 to line load depends on the geometry of the slab, whether it is one-way or two-way spanning and extent of wall. As a general rule, if the wall runs all along the span of the slab, you can assume the full load being carried by a width of slab equal to span/5, or conservatively span/6.

If the wall runs perpendicular to slab span, then you can consider that as a point load for unit width of slab being designed. If the slab is 2-way spanning, it becomes more complicated and you need to use a combination of the above two methods.

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Arshad Khan

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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.

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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

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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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