Journal of Architectural Engineering

South Carolina was among the first jurisdictions to adopt the 2000 International Residential Code (IRC). The adoption of this statewide building code met with significant opposition and resulted in moratoria being placed on all seismic design and wind-borne debris provisions in the code. A study was conducted to determine how well the IRC has been adopted by coastal South Carolina communities, with the discovery that most plan preparers and building departments are not following the IRC. This paper documents some of the activities and observations made during this process. The observations are troubling and point to a significant need for ongoing professional education. The findings also demonstrate the need for greater resources to be allocated not only to educational needs, but also to code enforcement.

Laboratory experiments subjected full-scale autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) cladding panel specimens to static monotonic loading and incrementally increased displacement amplitudes of cyclic racking movements. The objective of the study was to characterize the seismic performance of cladding panel walls made up of the newly introduced AAC in the U.S. market. The study found that conventional connectors used to attach AAC cladding panels to structural systems have not been designed for in-plane seismic resistance and would need to be redesigned in order to safely satisfy building code’s allowable drift.

The main objective of this research project was to develop a better understanding of the bearing strength of slabs on grade supporting load-bearing walls made of cold-formed steel studs and tracks used in residential and commercial multistory constructions. A total of 60 specimens were manufactured with four different configurations of stud-track assembly: single stud, single-stud wall, back-to-back, and back-to-back wall. The test results showed that the bearing strength was affected by the configurations of the stud-track assembly, and that the bearing strength gradually increased as the stud-track assembly was located at the inner side from the edge of the slab due to the confinement effect of the surrounding concrete. An analytical study using a finite-element model was performed to develop the analytical equations used to predict the bearing area of the stud-track assembly. Design guidelines were proposed based on the test results and the analytical study, which included the equations to compute the design bearing capacity of slabs on grade at varying distances from the edge of the slab to the stud-track assembly.

Sustainable design should be applied in all phases of the life cycle of a building, including programming, design, building construction, building operation, and finally demolition. This paper compares and contrasts sustainable design programs based on the life cycle of a building in North America, Europe, and Asia. Tables comparing programs from these three regions are provided for each phase in the life cycle of a building. These tables can be used by building design professionals as a reference guide to sustainable design around the world. The tables also highlight specific requirements or concerns that are applicable in a particular region. The similarities between different programs and regions can be taken into consideration during the planning of sustainable design work, regardless of the region of construction. Finally, references to more detailed program documents are provided so that interested readers can determine specific requirements that apply in a region of interest.