Question

In North Carolina houses along the shore are usually built on pilings in order to avoid damage due to floods. You are in charge of designing columns that will support a beach house in NC. What factors would you need to consider when determining the size of and material used for these columns? What level of safety factor (1.2 < N < 4.0) would you use? Explain your answer please.

Answer 1

The following are the factors that should be considered while determining the size of columns are

1.Load calculation

2.Calculation of bending moment and shear stress

3.Type of section

4.Calculation of steel i.e. main bars and distribution bars

5.Development length

6.Shear,deflection is to be checked

7.Size determination

The materials used for designing these columns are Stone,brick,timber,block,concrete,steel etc which have good compressive strength.

I use 1.7 factor of safety because it is the minimum standard requirement for columns to withstand heavy loads.