Foundation and Anchor Design Guide for Metal Building Systems

by Alexander Newman

This practical guide serves as the industry standard for foundation design of metal building systems. Developed in association with the Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA), "Foundation and Anchor Design for Metal Building Systems" fills the knowledge void in foundation design and construction by exploring the most common design solutions for pre-engineered building foundations, illustrating their design, and explaining the complex issues involved. The book describes a variety of possible designs, ranging from the most reliable (and often most expensive) foundation systems to less reliable (and typically less expensive) solutions. It aids structural engineers and contractors in the selection of the most appropriate and cost-effective system for any building. By explicitly recognizing the design differences between the foundations for metal building systems and conventional construction, the book helps owners and contractors develop realistic cost expectations for projects and avoid surprises. Building officials and plan checkers will be able to detect potentially inadequate foundation proposals prepared by those who do not fully grasp the complexities of designing pre-engineered building foundations. Owners and facility managers will understand the risks involved in accepting some lowest-cost foundation solutions that make the building difficult to renovate in the future.An authoritative guide to contemporary foundation systems for metal building systemsStep-by-step design examples for common foundation systemsDiscusses working details and reliability vs. cost All foundation ties coveredIn-depth coverage
Foundation Design Basics; Foundations for Metal Building Systems; Design of Isolated Column Footings; Foundation Walls and Wall Footings; Tie Rods, Hairpins, and Slab Ties; Moment-Resisting Foundations; Slab with Haunch, Trench Footings, Mats; Deep Foundations; Anchor Bolts and Other Embedments; Foundation Reactions

321 pages, ebook

First published September 8, 2012

Reviews

[D.M. Budd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another useful reference by Alexander Newman. This text is a succinct guide to foundation and anchor design for metal building systems. He presents methods to support thrust in the foundation and is able to provide basic recommendations for selecting an appropriate foundation system. His recommendations are provided with considerations to the building’s use through it’s lifespan, which gives the reader a chance to develop intuition of the design’s limitations.

Newman doesn’t shy away from flagging certain areas of foundation design that the code approaches with ambiguity. An example would be anchorage design (ie. ACI 318 Chapter 17 or A23.3 Appendix D) and the load combinations used in foundation design. However, his ability to rationalize methods that are not only compliant within the code’s wording, but have logical engineering intent, helps build trust with the reader.