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Expert: - 9/8/2004


Question
According to BS code BS8110(similar to other codes), there is a requirement that the building must be strong enough to resist horizontal notional load equivalent to 1.5% of total DL applied at every floor simulataneously. If external wind load is less than notional load, then notional load shall be used instead of wind load.
My questions are:
1.) For normal building with basements, do we need to apply notional load to basement and groud levels? Please note that the passive and active coefficient of soil is about 10 times difference.
2.) Does serviceability limit state apply to notional load? For example, a low rise building with very big floor area may perform perfectly under wind load but may fail in drift under notional load.
3.)Does the notional load requirement apply for super-high rise building design.
4.) Any literature gives a better defination on "notional load"?

Your advice is very much appreciated.
Thank you.

Answer
Hi Steven,

Here are the answers:

1. Yes, apply it at basement and ground floor levels too.
2. Yes, the notional load is a requirement for robustness, so should meet ULS as well as SLS.
3. Yes, but usually the wind or earthquake loading is higher and so govern for load combinations.

I am afraid I do not have any references, but try typing the words in Google and see what turns up. I hope that helps!

Kind regards,

Arshad  

Civil Engineering

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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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