Retrofitting Seismic Analysis for the Largest Concrete Cutting and Excavation Provider in the US

Our Client – Six-Decade Old Concrete Services Partner

Our client has been a trusted concrete services partner for various industries for over 60 years. Spread across 18 states in the United States and Canada, the company offers a wide range of concrete solutions including concrete scanning, cutting, sawing, breaking and removal.

The company uses ground penetrating radar (GPR) to locate pipes, conduits, utility lines, rebar, and voids within the concrete. By locating and identifying subsurface hazards, our client makes sure that all building areas remain safe and that projects are kept on time and budget as well.

Requirements for the Structural Modeling Project

The client approached us to tackle a structural modeling project, which included the analysis and design of an existing RCC building. The 13,000 feet building area, which falls under an earthquake zone, needed to be retrofitted according to structured seismic compliance.

We needed to put together a team that was highly experienced in BIM modeling. Additionally, we were tasked with tolerance testing about seismic standards, the results of which were communicated to the client before completing the remainder of the modeling process

Our team was required to follow ASCE (7-10) codes related to the minimum design loads for buildings and other large structures:

• Dead Load
• Live Load
• Wall Load
• Water Tank load
• Machinery Load
• Wind Load (wind speed taken as 115 Vmph)
• Seismic Load (Design Maps Detailed Report is generated from the USGS)

We were required to analyze ETAB software with as per the load combinations as given in the ASEC 7-10 code for Maximum Results. Our analysis included the Reaction, Forces, Moments, Axial Loads, Joint Displacement, and Story Drift.

Challenges Faced By ICW’s Team

To complete the project to our best ability, additional information was required. This could only be sourced by conducting surveys as we were working on existing structures rather than new buildings.

For additional information, surveys need to be carried out as the building are existing ones and not a new building. We were aware of the fact that the client had similar projects in the pipeline for a further 1000 buildings, so accuracy was of the utmost importance.

Our Detailed Structural Modelling, Analysis, and Design Process

To complete this project to the best of our ability, we developed a detailed, step-wise process that would enable the team to tackle any unforeseen challenges:

• After an initial meeting with the client, during which we developed a thorough understanding of the project parameters, we put together a team of 6 dedicated modeling professionals.
• We received a REVIT file of the original building from the client.
• Our team completed the following tasks:
  • Extracted 2D drafts
  • Developed a BIM model
  • Conducted seismic analysis and delivered the detailed reports.

Client Benefits - Accurate BIM Model and Seismic Analysis

While the project was not without challenges and complications, our team was able to iron out the finer details and tackle the tasks as efficiently as possible. With skilled analysis and BIM modeling experts working round the clock to deliver the final reports on time, we were able to ensure complete client satisfaction.

Note: References available on request