Lab 1 Introduction: For the instructor
Objective:
After completion of lab 1 the student should:
1. Be familiar with the layout of the AISC building case study, the distribution of the
different areas, as well as the elevations and any elevation changes.
2. Be able to identify and calculate the loads that a building will be subjected to. These
include dead and live loads, wind, rain and seismic loads.
Handouts: The handouts for this lab include the architectural drawings (A-1 thru A-5) as well as
sheets 1 thru 12 from AISC 01 thru AISC 07. Sheets 1 thru 5 (AISC 01) have general
information about the AISC office building such as framing system choice, materials, site
characteristics, fire requirements and other assumptions. Sheet 7 (AISC 03) is a run-down of the
loads transmitted from the slab and roof to joists, girders and columns. Sheet 6 (AISC 02) is a
run-down of the loads transmitted only to the columns. Sheet 8 (AISC 04) is about roof and floor
deck selection and sheets 9 thru 12 (AISC 5 thru 7) are a summary of the rain, wind and snow
load calculations.
Description: The intention is to make the AISC office-building project as real as possible to the
students. During the first lab session of the semester the project should be presented to students;
they represent the engineering firm in charge of the structural design of the building. The
instructor may discuss the layout of the building with the class as well as the steps to be followed
during lab sessions in order to design the different structural elements of the building. Sheets 1
thru 5 (AISC 01) and the architectural drawings should be provided during this first lab session
to let students familiarize themselves with the layout of the building. Students then are to
calculate sheet 6 (AISC 02), which is a run-down of the loads transmitted to the columns as
mentioned before. Sheet 7 is a more challenging option for the students to solve during this first
lab session since it also includes a run-down of loads transmitted to slabs, joists and girders. It is
intended with sheet 6 to make it easier for the student to understand the run-down of the loads
that is given on sheet 7. Following the procedures set forth in ASCE 7-02, students are to
calculate sheets 9 thru 12, which are a summary of wind, snow and rain loads. Even though
sheets 9 thru 12 are also part of lab 1, students are not expected to solve them on the first lab
session. For example, sheets 6 & 7 (Vertical load tables) can be solved by the students during
the first lab session of the semester. The week after, sheet 10 (AISC 06 - Wind load) or any other
one mentioned before is provided to the student to solve. It normally takes a full lab period to
complete sheets 6 & 7. The wind load sheet could be solved by the students in less than a twohours lab session. For solution of AISC 04-Deck Selection the Vulcraft deck selection catalog is
required.
Lab 1 Introduction: For the student
Objective:
After completion of lab 1 you should:
1. Be familiar with the layout of the AISC building case study, the distribution of the
different areas, as well as the elevations and any elevation changes.
2. Be able to identify and calculate the loads that a building will be subjected to. These
include dead and live loads, wind, rain and seismic loads.
Handouts: The handouts for this lab include the architectural drawings (A-1 thru A-5) as well as
sheets 1 thru 12. Sheets 1 thru 5 have general information about the AISC office building such as
framing system choice, materials, site characteristics, fire requirements and other assumptions.
Sheet 7 is a run-down of the loads transmitted from the slab and roof to joists, girders and
columns. Sheet 6 is a run-down of the loads transmitted only to the columns. Sheet 8 is about
roof and floor deck selection and sheets 9 thru 12 are a summary of the rain, wind and snow load
calculations.
Description: The intention is to make the AISC office-building project as real as possible.
During the first lab session of the semester the project is presented. Students represent the
engineering firm in charge of the structural design of the building. The instructor is to discuss the
layout of the building with the class as well as the steps to be followed during lab sessions in
order to design the different structural elements of the building. Sheets 1 thru 5 and the
architectural drawings should be provided during this first lab session to let students familiarize
themselves with the layout of the building. Students then are to calculate sheet 6, which is a rundown of the loads transmitted to the columns as mentioned before. Sheet 7 is a more challenging
exercise since it also includes a run-down of loads transmitted to slabs, joists and girders. It is
intended with sheet 6 to make it easier for the student to understand the run-down of the loads
that is given on sheet 7. Following the procedures set forth in ASCE 7-02, students are to
calculate wind, rain a snow loads. For solution of sheet 4 the Vulcraft deck selection catalog
must be used.