I have been told that horizontal joint reinforcement is not allowed by the 2011 Building Code Requirements for Masonry Structures (TMS 402-11/ACI 530-11/ASCE 5-11) for shear reinforcement in high seismic zones. Where is this stated and why? Are there plans to change this to allow joint reinforcement? …
The American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC) Board of Review approved changes to design values for all grades and all sizes of visually-graded Southern Pine and Mixed Southern Pine lumber, with a recommended effective date of June 1, 2013 to allow for their orderly implementation. …
For the critical examination or condition assessment of masonry façades, what is a good reference for practicing engineers to use? …
Steel deck is often installed using arc spot welds, either with or without weld washers. Arc spot welds, often referred to as “puddle welds”, are similar to plug welds except that the thin top sheet does not require a hole to be pre-punched prior to welding. This article will focus on what an arc spot weld is, how the weld is made, and how to ensure quality welds are produced. …
Recent changes were made to ASTM C90 related to the minimum web requirements for loadbearing concrete masonry units (CMU). What, if any, impact do these changes have on the design of concrete masonry assemblies? …