Research Grants

To enhance the ability of leaders and building design and construction project teams to innovate in the delivery of construction projects through integrated project delivery processes, by identifying the factors that impact innovation on a project and the practices and processes that encourage and facilitate innovation.

To address the need for quantum-level improvements in the design, specification, and construction of cast-in-place concrete and its interfaces with other elements as related to dimensional tolerances.

The research seeks to determine, analytically and without bias, the influence that project delivery methods can have on achieving sustainable, high performance building projects. Goals for this project are to provide building owners, planners, designers, constructors and operators with recommendations, tools and guidelines for (a) determining the most effective delivery and project management strategies, and for (b) applying best practices by which project teams can capitalize on the delivery method selected.

ACI Foundation will develop a strategic plan for the development of Industry Foundation Classes (IFCs) for Structural Concrete Components, to foster interoperability between disparate Building Information Modeling (BIM) software platforms. This is the initial step in the creation of an extensive suite of interoperable attributes for the IFC exchanges of structural concrete components. The Plan will synthesize the state of the art of IFC interoperability and prioritize the attribute exchanges that will best benefit the industry. The research will be conducted under the direction of the Applied Technology Council (ATC). The products will describe the findings of the feasibility study on encouraging utilization by the design and construction community.

Owner organizations play a vital role in the effectiveness of a building project team by defining their needs early and by understanding how the project team will author and employ the building information throughout the planning, design, construction, and turnover work. From initial research it has been found that very few owners define their actual needs, nor realize how this information can be leveraged in their management systems. To maximize operational efficiency in the utilization of BIM, an organization must develop an understanding of the operating systems within their organization, and how BIM can add value to their day-to-day activities. The goal of this research project is to develop and broadly disseminate a Guide for Owners that will provide a structured procedure for planning and implementing BIM within their organization.

The research proposed here will seek to improve understanding of the impact of high strength on modern concrete construction in the United States by developing comparative design data. Specifically, design of structural components from a series of buildings designed recently for construction in the United States using Grade 60 reinforcing steel will be redesigned using high strength steel with yield strength ranging from 80 ksi to 110 ksi. Building component designs typical of regions of low, moderate and high seismicity will be considered.

A benchmarking framework is needed to document and measure current and future-state processes in masonry design and construction. This framework should define how to describe and classify the people, tools, materials and information used in masonry processes in different project phases and on different building types. The framework also includes metrics for measuring the value (costs and benefits) of these BIM processes. With this framework in place, we can then observe, document, measure, and compare the impact of current and future state processes. With sufficient case studies, we will then be able to develop hypotheses about which BIM-based processes can provide the greatest business value for our masonry industry stakeholders. This proposal defines several tasks to achieve these objectives.

Limited tests are available that investigate the relation between bend diameter and the ductility, or conversely the brittleness, of reinforcing bars at bends. No such tests exist for the newly developed high-strength reinforcement having yield strengths of 80 and 100 ksi.

There are three categories of experimental tests that are useful for investigating the behavior of bends in reinforcing bars, with each category of tests geared to answer a particular question:
- Visual inspections of bends (ASTM bend tests)
- Bend-rebend tests
- Bend tests in concrete

Tall buildings in regions of high seismicity commonly are designed by performance-based approaches. These approaches enable the efficient design of buildings that are taller and that use materials, systems, and devices that might not be permitted under the prescriptive provisions of building codes. Many of these buildings are designed under the Guidelines for Performance-Based Seismic Design (PBSD) of Tall Buildings, Version 1.0 (TBI Guidelines, 2010). The TBI Guidelines were developed under the auspices of the Tall Buildings Initiative of the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center (PEER). In a rapidly developing engineering field, however, the TBI Guidelines have become partially out of date. This project will develop, write, and publish Version 2.0 of the TBI Guidelines, bringing the document fully up to date with current knowledge.

The proposed research will include surveying the thousands of individuals who have previously attended BIMForum conferences since 2008 to document their current usage of BxP and BIM in general. This research will be conducted under the direction of the BIMForum BIM Execution Plan (BxP) taskforce. The BIMForum's research will include online assessments, online video interviews, as well as in person interviews. This work will also collaborate with the Structural Engineering Institute's (SEI) BIM Committees national BIM Survey data from 2005 to 2016 and the National Institute of Steel Detailer's research in BIM and BxP usage in structural steel fabrication modeling. The BxP research would also include collaboration with the Precast Concrete Institute (PCI), BIM for Masonry (BIM-M) and the American Concrete Institute (ACI). This effort will also include the input from the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), American Institute of Architects, and the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC).

The Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) of ASCE is pursuing, as part of its Vision, the advancement of performance based design. The 2016 edition of ASCE 7 Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures, introduced the target reliability tables into the basic requirements for structural design within Chapter 1 General Provisions. As part of the pathway to develop and provide a performance-based design approach for wind, system reliability targets must be developed into the basic requirements to achieve target performance objectives corresponding to various levels of wind hazard. Previously funded, ongoing work to develop system reliabilities for wind needs to be peer reviewed and proposed into the consensus process of ASCE 7-22 for inclusion into Chapter 1. Furthermore, there is no existing guidance for designers on how to conceive of a performance-based approach for wind beyond the ASCE 7 provisions that permit its use.

There is an increasing economic incentive to use Grade 80 and Grade 100 reinforcing steel in seismic and non-seismic applications. The Charles Pankow Foundation (CPF) has led a coordinated research program to advance the use of high-strength reinforcement in buildings assigned to all Seismic Design Categories. The CPF program has addressed the market for high-strength reinforcement, mechanical properties of high-strength reinforcement, reinforcement detailing requirements, and structural elements including beams, columns, walls, and coupling beams. The goal of this research project is to develop recommendations for the safe and efficient design of thick foundation mats using high-strength reinforcement. These elements are critical to the performance of many buildings. They are also elements where high-strength reinforcement is likely to see extensive use. Previous tests have demonstrated that shear strength is sensitive to (a) thickness of structural member (the so-called size effect) and (b) flexural tension strain and crack width. Foundation mats with high strength reinforcement typically are thick and will have higher average tensile strains and crack widths than foundation mats using Grade 60 reinforcement, leading to questions about available shear strength. This research is to conduct tests on two deep, one-way beams to explore shear strength and minimum shear reinforcement requirements for deep foundation elements using high-strength reinforcement.

Rebar cages are the skeleton of reinforced concrete components commonly used in building construction. Deep foundations in many types of buildings and civil works utilize Cast-in-Drilled Hole (CIDH) piles and/or slurry wall foundations (SWF). The largest and heaviest rebar cages on the jobsite are those used in SWF and CIDH piles. A rebar cage collapse during their construction would create a critical safety hazard for construction crew, and subsequent legal litigation, construction schedule delays, and thus, excessive cost and losses. The industry currently lacks proper engineering design and detailing procedure to safeguard the stability of these rebar cages in various construction stages. This experimental research will examine the behavior of CIDH/SWF rebar cages using innovative mechanical connectors (U-bolts, threaded rod with plate, and wire rope connectors) during various types of loading conditions. Strength values of the various mechanical connectors will be published.

This information will be used to:
- Establish rapid assessment and safety evaluation for CIDH/SWF rebar cages.
- Develop a procedure to predict the distribution of the internal forces in CIDH/SWF cages during all phases of construction.
- Establish guidelines and better practices for constructing and handling CIDH/SWF rebar cages.

The results of this research will help inform industry design guidelines for fabrication and site handling of large rebar cages utilizing innovative mechanical connectors. The results of the proposed study will also be applicable to rebar cages of above grade columns.

Unlike seismic design, where performance-based design has become common in areas with high seismic hazards, wind design is still based on prescriptive code provisions and linear elastic response under ASCE 7 strength-level demands. In some locations, use of prescriptive wind design provisions leads to significantly higher costs and unintended negative consequences, e.g., for elements or actions that are capacity-protected as part of the seismic design such as the foundation, diaphragms, and wall shear. Developing and implementing performance-based wind design (PBWD), where limited nonlinearity is allowed in ductile elements/actions, offers substantial advantages over use of prescriptive code approaches and addresses these critical issues for both design of new buildings and evaluation of existing buildings, both in the US and around the world. The objectives of the research are to conduct large-scale testing on ordinary reinforced concrete walls with C-shaped and rectangular cross-sections to develop performance-based wind design (PBWD) recommendations for ACI Committees 375 and 318. The study focuses on “ordinary” structural walls because they, along with coupling beams, provide the lion’s share of the building lateral strength and stiffness needed to limit damage to both structural and nonstructural elements during strong windstorms.

This research initiatives investigation of a new, modular steel floor framing and diaphragm system for commercial building structures with broad applicability, including high seismic zones. The proposed system has key benefits of increasing the speed of construction, including eliminating the pouring of a concrete deck.  This type of system is key to achieving the goals of the AISC Need for Speed initiative to reduce the time from conception to occupancy for steel building structures.

The current state of practice for evaluating spandrel assembly thermal performance is lacking, and analytical approaches are inconsistent. Building codes and standards are also inadequate, leading to variable design execution on projects. While energy codes have become more stringent, spandrel assembly technologies have largely remained the same. There is a need for improved design guidelines, to bring consistency to calculation methods, to identify opportunities to improve materials, details, and systems, and inform future code provisions. This is Phase 2 of a four-phase research program to produce a Design Guidance Document. This Phase 2 scope will engage in an iterative approach of testing and modeling to develop a validated thermal simulation procedure. The Engineering Team developed a detailed plan in collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Birch Point Consulting that includes testing and modeling of six common spandrel system types (test articles), each with up to three variations for a total of 18 variants (tests). 

This research is conducted by the team of RDH Building Science, Inc. (RDH), Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH), and Morrison Hershfield (MH). The US Department of Energy is key to the project through involvement by both Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and ORNL. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is also involved with the project.

Phase II objective is to understand the failure mechanism of rebar cages and provide practical analysis, design, and detailing guidelines to prevent failure of below-ground rebar cages reinforced with mechanical connectors as well as above-ground cages that may be braced by wire ropes (guy wires). Phase II aims to leverage the knowledge gained in Phase I and understand the failure mechanism of rebar cages under lateral loading conditions through uneven tightening of wire ropes (guy wires), environmental loads, or accidental loads. These conditions are, for example, common during the installation of above-ground rebar cages. The objective is to provide practical analysis, design, and detailing guidelines to prevent failure of rebar cages reinforced with mechanical connectors.

This research initiatives investigation of a new, modular steel floor framing and diaphragm system for commercial building structures with broad applicability, including high seismic zones. The proposed system has key benefits of increasing the speed of construction, including eliminating the pouring of a concrete deck.  This type of system is key to achieving the goals of the AISC Need for Speed initiative to reduce the time from conception to occupancy for steel building structures.

Phase 3 will continue development of the modular floor system prototype, continue additional documentation/re-design of building archetypes that utilize the FastFloor system as the module evolves over the life of the project, and conduct analysis of the archetype building(s) to predict their expected structural behavior under predominantly (a) gravity loading and (b) lateral loading. The research will also characterize all critical connections that are (a) part of the FastFloor module and (b) would be necessary for connection in an actual building and conduct non-structural vibration and acoustic tests with fire consultation with the Industry Advisory Panel.

To develop a precast concrete diaphragm system comprised of untopped double tee units and a combination of ductile and strong connectors, using full-scale testing of components and half-scale shake table testing.

Through nearly full-scale testing of reinforced concrete coupling beams with embedded structural steel sections, assess the behavior, modeling, and detailing required for structural steel reinforced coupling beams subjected to reversed cyclic loading. Extrapolation of prior tests on relatively small sections to such large sections has yielded questionable results. In the proposed test program, large scale tests will be conducted on realistic scale specimens to address this gap. Test results will be synthesized and presented to ACI and ASCE Committees as a proposed code change for incorporation into the next cycle of the IBC and material codes.

The tall building design community is in need of a testing program aimed at resolving the requirements for beam hoop reinforcement necessary to achieve adequate performance in large beams in special moment resisting frames (SMRF) in seismic environments. Reinforced concrete SMRFs are a common lateral force resisting system in regions of high seismicity. For tall reinforced concrete SMRF systems, beam cross sections with depth as large as 4 feet are not uncommon. Amount of confinement reinforcement for beam plastic hinges is still a matter of discussion, especially for higher concrete compressive strengths. No test data exist for large members to verify the adequacy of such hoop layout and spacing in satisfying the large plastic rotation demands for major earthquakes. It is important to establish the appropriate requirements. The results of this research study will be proposed for adoption as an ACI 318 code provision that will ensure improved seismic performance of certain reinforced concrete moment frame buildings.

To understand experimentally the effects of dynamic loading on precast concrete cladding façade systems, allowing a newly realistic assessment of the performance of the concrete cladding, its steel connections, and punch-out windows. A full-scale 5-story concrete frame building will be tested with seismic loading on the NEES@UCSD outdoor shake table. The building will be equipped with cladding details associated with current practice, as well as develop new innovative details designed to minimize damage. These unique full-scale tests will result in performance data of both existing and newly developed cladding subsystems, under realistic dynamic loading environments that the panel assemblies must endure in the field.

The project will produce an empirical guide to successful owner practices regarding roles, team integration, team behavior, delivery method, and project performance in the building design and construction industry. The research will develop a project delivery performance database that will support a variety of near-term and long-term products. The database will be the engine that informs a series of project deliverables to include owner's manuals, written for various industry sectors and experience levels, which offer how-to guidance for setting up and participating in a successful project. The primary benefit to the construction industry is to provide a repeatable process for making highly effective, key project decisions. The researchers will work with the industry champions to ensure that the research products are relevant and contain concise, fact-based information for owner decision-making. The team will proactively disseminate these products through industry and academic channels for a wide and lasting benefit.

Phase Two - DESIGN: Phase Two of the National BIM Standard process involves translation of the exchange requirements into IFC-based code, and instructions for translator implementation by software companies. Phase One identified three critical exchanges and two priority exchanges as the focus for Phase Two. Model View Definitions (MVDs) that realize the requirements of these exchanges will be generated. The steps in this phase include innovations developed by the Technical Support Team (For members, see Appendix) and will utilize Semantic Exchange Modules (SEMs).

The proposed research is aimed at evaluating various types of fiber reinforced concretes (FRCs) for use in earthquake-resistant coupling beams in order to simplify reinforcement detailing by reducing reliance on diagonal and transverse reinforcement required for adequate seismic performance. The results of the research will support a code change allowing for the more efficient use of fiber reinforced concretes for coupling beams.

In this project the Georgia Tech team will depart to a degree from our previous approach of being platform neutral. Though we fully support the Open BIM approach and will develop neutral schemas (i.e., IFCs) for masonry wall information models in Phase III, we recognize that Autodesk Revit is the one of the primary BIM authoring tool in use in North America. Therefore, we feel that for maximum impact, we should focus on a single BIM authoring tool first, in order to lead others by example. However it is important to point out our commitment to make our work extensible to other BIM systems through the development of neutral specifications. Therefore, we feel that for maximum impact, we should focus on Revit, while also ensuring that our work is extensible to other BIM systems through the development of IFCs.

This project will help establish cyclic deformation (strain) demands and acceptance criteria for low-cycle fatigue resistance of steel reinforcement in concrete structures subjected to earthquakes. Together with supporting data and information from other research involving testing of reinforced concrete components, the data on cyclic loading demands and reliability- based acceptance criteria that are developed through this project will facilitate the safe use of HS reinforcement in seismic force resisting systems.

The key objectives of this project are to (1) develop a reliability-based methodology for determining the minimum required low-cycle fatigue resistance of steel reinforcement in the seismic design of concrete structures, (2) apply the methodology to assess the cyclic strain/deformation demands in concrete components for a series of archetype concrete shear wall and frame building structures subjected to earthquakes, and (3) develop acceptance criteria for steel reinforcement in concrete structures, which are consistent with the seismic reliability criteria for buildings in ASCE 7 and related building code standards.

To support the adoption of high strength reinforcement (fy > 60 ksi) into widespread use, it is fundamental that appropriate development and splice lengths be calculated. This need is outline in the roadmap for the use of high strength reinforced as presented in ATC 1151. Designers need an expression that is codified for use in practice. This research will develop a design expression which will be proposed for adoption by ACI 318 and will enable appropriate design and detailing of concrete structures containing high strength reinforcement. The research will address splices for seismic and non-seismic applications. Special attention shall be given to splicing of high- strength reinforcement at the bases of walls for structures required to resist earthquake demands. Current regulations do not allow lap splices in or near plastic hinges in beams and columns, but that is not the case for structural walls. This is of potential concern because 1) designers today rely more on walls and less on frames for lateral resistance and 2) the following issues indicate a need to revisit the subject of lap splices.

The goal of this research is to empirically compare the cost, schedule and quality performance of design-bid-build, construction manager at risk and design-build delivery methods. Using the same methodology as employed by Konchar and Sanvido (1998), but with a data set of contemporary projects, the comparison will leverage a mixed-method approach, split into two main phases: (I) prediction of performance through multiple linear regression modeling and (II) assessment of model robustness and validity through case studies.

The reinforced concrete construction industry increasingly is using continuously wound ties (CWT) constructed of a single piece of reinforcement. CWTs improve construction speed, and when made of High-Strength Steel can alleviate rebar congestion and reduce the total amount of reinforcement. The term CWTs can refer to either: (1) a circular or rectangular helical made of a single piece of reinforcing bar; or (2) a single hoop set with multiple legs made of a single piece of reinforcing steel. This research will focus on the second type. The current ACI 318 Code considers CWTs to be equivalent to a conventional hoop set made up of individual pieces of reinforcement. A performance better than conventional hoops is expected because most of the legs in CWTs do not need to rely on development length of hooked bars. Physical testing is needed to evaluate performance of CWTs (fabricated from ASTM A706 Grade 60 and ASTM A615 Grade 100) as well as their configuration limitations. It is likely that the expected improved performance may be considered in Code provisions, thereby reducing reinforcement quantities and congestion, enhancing confinement effectiveness in high-strength concrete (HSC), and improving the utilization of HSS.

Provide experimentally-verified bolted splice details for Composite Plate Shear Walls—Concrete Filled (SpeedCore) for use across the nation in those regions where field bolted splices are preferred over welded ones. This includes non-seismic regions, regions of moderate seismicity, and where wind demands exceed elastic seismic demands and govern splice design. Cyclic response up to the limits permitted by the ASCE Pre-standard for Performance-Based Wind Design may also be considered.

The research sought to determine key owner decision-making characteristics that impact project delivery method outcomes. Based on our understanding of the impact, we developed a tool that owners and project teams could use to understand how an owner's decision-making profile impacts outcomes for different project delivery methods. To determine key decision-making characteristics, we conducted an extensive review of business, management, and organizational literature on decision-making, which covered decision-making speed, organizational change, and innovation. Out of this review, we identified fourteen important decision-making characteristics, eventually narrowing our selection down to seven that are most relevant to building owner decisions around capital projects. These seven became our Decisionmaking Profile Characteristics (DMPC). We then conducted an extensive review of literature related to project delivery methods (PDM) and PDM selection in architecture/engineering/construction (AEC). Out of this review, we identified nine factors affecting the success of a project. These became the Project Delivery Method Criteria (PDMC). Next, we needed to assess how the DMPC impacted each PDMC. We conducted an industry survey of owners that asked participants about the decision-making characteristics that impacted project delivery selection. We also asked participants to reflect on a specific project they had worked on to reflect on the relationships between their DMPCs and the project outcomes. The survey resulted in 278 cases with 109 cases extracted for further analysis-consisting of 68 cases with 100% complete responses, 32 cases with 90% complete responses, and 9 cases with 80% complete responses. With these 109 cases we conducted data analysis including, but not limited to, data wrangling, data cleaning, data pre-processing, exploratory data analysis, data visualization, respondents and projects demographics analysis, Pearson correlation, and linear regression.

Mass timber construction is gaining great interest in recent years from the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. While a number of mass timber building have been built, most of them locate in low-seismic regions with non-wood lateral systems such as concrete core or steel braced frame. Mass timber rocking wall lateral system have been studied quite extensively and the knowledge and R&D deliverables have been accumulated to a point that this new system can be codified into ASCE 7. This project will conduct a FEMA P695 study to determine seismic design parameters for this new mass timber lateral system for ASCE7 adoption.

This project represents an essential step to codify the first resilient wood-based lateral system in the U.S.

This research evaluates how alternative forms of Design-Build (DB) project delivery methods, such as progressive DB and the use of target pricing, address risk and insurance challenges for the engineering and design community. The goal of this research is to provide data driven guidance for owners regarding successful practices to implement alternative forms of DB.

Objective: The objective of this research is to provide owners and industry members with guidance to implement alternative forms of DB in an effort to reduce risk and insurance challenges in project delivery. The working hypothesis is that alternative forms of DB, such as those that use Qualification-Based Selection (QBS) and target pricing, can address the challenges that face owners and industry partners. This work will use rigorous research methods to collect firm and project data and evaluate the impact of alternative forms of DB. The outcome of this research will be guidance and recommendations to avoid significant claims and delays that are being experienced on large DB projects.

To develop a design procedure for the Corrugated Sheet Steel Shear Wall (CSSSW) lateral bracing system for inclusion into the ASCE-7 code document. The proposed lateral bracing system utilizes a low profile metal deck as sheathing fastened to light-framed cold-formed steel framing using screws. The CSSSW is the key element of a new lateral bracing system for use with light-framed, cold-formed steel buildings. The lateral load resistance of this structural element originates with the shear strength of the corrugated sheet steel and the shear resistance of the screws connecting the sheeting to the cold-formed steel framing.

To develop performance-based seismic design guidelines, ready for adoption by local jurisdictions and code-writing organizations, to facilitate the rapid acceptance of tall buildings in seismically active regions designed by alternative procedures.

To develop an innovative, economical building wall system that can survive a large earthquake with little damage, that will prove superior to conventional structural systems in speed, cost and durability. Proposed is a hybrid precast concrete wall system which combines mild steel reinforcement with high-strength post-tensioning steel to resist lateral forces. The objective of the research is to provide the required experimental, analytical and design validation for the classification of hybrid precast wall systems as special reinforced concrete shear walls based on ACI 318 and ACI ITG T5.1.

The research will build on and extend the findings of a recent NSF study to investigate the bidirectional loading effects on C-shaped and core wall configurations. The scope of the proposed project includes testing of wall subassemblages under bidirectional loading, and the results of previous shake-table tests suggest that bidirectional loading has a significant effect on wall stiffness. The results of these experimental tests will enable validating response and damage-predication models for both single walls and complete core systems, as well as to develop recommendations for Performance-Based Seismic Design methodologies that account for the effect of bidirectional loading.

The purpose of the research project is to attain test data to confirm and codify a design protocol for a new type of cast-in-place concrete shear wall system that incorporates vertical post-tensioned tendons. The primary research product will be a complete Design Guide ready to be employed on actual commercial building construction projects in all seismic zones. The defining feature of the hybrid wall system is the rocking/flexural response and self-centering capability provided by un-bonded vertical post-tensioned tendons coupled with the energy dissipation provided by the reinforcing bars. The new system has the potential to significantly reduce the cost of building seismically safe concrete structures using currently available construction methods and materials. Structural engineers will employ the final work product to design buildings for the ultimate benefit of the general public.

Column base connections are arguably the most critical connections in steel moment frames, transferring forces from the entire structure into the foundation. However, there is very little published information on their rational design, due to the lack of sufficient experimental knowledge regarding these connections. This project will conduct targeted experiments; develop design guidelines and aids, and achieve adoption and codification of these guidelines through a research program involving extensive collaboration between academia and industry.

This project will take the first major step in realizing interoperability standards for reinforced concrete construction in buildings by developing the National BIM Standard for cast-in-place (CIP) concrete. The scope of Phase One is to define CIP concrete workflows and activities in a process map. Project data exchanges between activities will be identified and documented, and the exchanges will then be specified in terms of their information content. These content definitions become exchange requirements for information exchanges specified in IFC and later implemented by software companies. These requirements are termed the Information Delivery Manual (IDM). The process for developing an IDM is described in A Guide for Development and Preparation of a National BIM Exchange Standard, published by the Charles Pankow Foundation and PCI in 2010. The proposed work builds significantly on existing research and products recently developed for the precast concrete domain.

This first Phase II proposal focuses on the development and prototyping of an electronic data model for masonry units. In this project, we will work with the initiative's Material Supply Working Group to develop requirements for digital representation of masonry units. The project is denoted as the Masonry Unit Database or MUD. The goal is to develop a data model to capture all of the geometric and non-geometric information needed to select, specify and purchase masonry units.

The CPF is presently sponsoring Project ATC-115: Development of a Roadmap on Use of High-Strength Reinforcement in Reinforced Concrete Design, which is being carried out by the Applied Technology Council (ATC). At the same time, the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI) has formed a task group that is seeking to establish a possible new manufacturing specification for high-strength reinforcement with improved ductility. These two efforts are only loosely coordinated, with a CRSI staff member appointed to the Project Review Panel of the ATC-115 project.

CPF would like to strengthen the interaction between the ATC-115 project, the CRSI task group efforts, and relevant research projects being funded by CPF. To that end, CPF is asking WJE to provide professional structural engineering research services to develop tentative requirements for tensile properties of a high-strength, ductile reinforcing bar, and to facilitate coordination among the various involved entities, such as ATC, CRSI, and the CPF-funded researchers. The development effort is to include participation in selected web conferences and in-person meetings related to the ATC-115 project, the CRSI task group efforts, and the CPF-funded research.

This project will define acceptable uniform elongations and low-cycle fatigue performance for high-strength reinforcing bars (HSRB) in concrete construction based on bar properties and seismic hazard level. HSRB are defined as bars having a yield strength of 80 ksi or higher. This project will identify key parameters affecting the fatigue performance of HSRB and deliver specification limits that will ensure minimum performance is achieved in production of HSRB.

Reinforced concrete coupling beams, often used with special structural walls, have a large deformation capacity if detailed in accordance with ACI 318-14. These beams are typically difficult to construct due to congestion of the reinforcement, which can limit their design strength. Verification of the performance of coupling beams with HSS used as diagonal, longitudinal, and transverse reinforcement could allow for greater nominal shear and flexural strengths for given beam dimensions.

The overall goal is to develop research-based code change proposals for AISC Specification 360-XX (Appendix 4-Fire Design) to include structural performance-based design methodology and / or standard fire ratings for CF-CPSW walls and floor-to-wall connections while accounting for the effects of different material, geometric, loading, and fire (heating) scenarios.

The use of short-grouted ductile rebar connectors would significantly simplify the construction of precast wall and frame structures; however, existing Type II grouted connectors do not have the ductility capacity to develop the high cyclic rebar strain demands at yielding joints. This research project will address this market need using a non-proprietary and cost-effective, high-performance, yet simple, grouted connector using available corrugated steel ducts and grout products. This research will conduct the required ACI ITG 5.1 and ITG 1.1 validation testing of precast wall and frame structures using the proposed connectors in high seismic regions. The specific structural systems to be validated and related test specimens will include Special Shear Walls, Rocking Shear Walls, and Special Moment Resisting Frame Columns.

This project will develop performance-based fire-resistant design provisions for the complete floor system consisting of composite floors, SpeedCore walls, and wall-to-floor connections. The design provisions will consider both standard and design fire scenarios. Design methods will account for the complexities of behavior including thermal deformations (expansion / contraction, bowing), restraints including axial and flexural deformations and forces induced in the connections, and connection limit states including fracture failure. Different types of shear connections between the wall and floor system will be considered.

The Professional’s Guide to Managing the Design Phase of a Design-Build Project (Guide) has been the go-to resource for design-build (DB) professionals for a decade and is utilized in company, university and DBIA training.  Needed is an updated and expanded Guide to reflect the state-of-practice and a path forward, with common principles that apply to all DB projects and market sectors, and specific guidance for the Building sector. Additionally, “playbooks” that provide targeted design management guidance for four additional market sectors will be created to assist professionals in navigating the differences in procurement processes, project scope, team composition, and BIM-readiness and more. A common glossary of terms regarding DB contracting mechanisms that are consistent for both U.S. and international audiences will be created and underpin the Guide and Playbooks. This project is being done in collaboration with Iowa State University (RGA #04-21) and University of New Mexico (RGA #05-21).  

Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete (ACI 318-19) applies a restriction to use of mechanical splices for high strength rebar (Gr80 and 100 bars) in hinge regions. This restriction puts Gr80 and 100 bars at a constructability disadvantage compared with Gr60 bars. The main objectives for the proposed research are to 1) develop design criteria for mechanical splices in hinge regions that would result in adequate performance for Gr80 and 100 bars, and 2) redefine performance criteria for mechanical splices to allow their use in hinge regions.

This research initiatives investigation of a new, modular steel floor framing and diaphragm system for commercial building structures with broad applicability, including high seismic zones. The proposed system has key benefits of increasing the speed of construction, including eliminating the pouring of a concrete deck.  This type of system is key to achieving the goals of the AISC Need for Speed initiative to reduce the time from conception to occupancy for steel building structures.

Phase I investigated the viability of their design using computational simulation and experimental testing. Phase II will conduct a wide range of prototype structural analyses, including gravity loading, vibration and acoustics tests, viability of the flooring’s use in existing building designs, and assessment of the new flooring’s interaction with the rest of a building’s structural systems.

Research will identify the competencies (e.g., staff knowledge, skills, and abilities) and capacities (e.g., data management procedures, technology) needed by owner organizations to manage key categories of risks on design-build projects.  To accomplish this task, we will engage with project managers within owner and OA organizations who currently deliver design-build projects.  Through semi-structured interviews with these experts, we will develop a comprehensive list of staff competencies and capacities needed to manage the nine risk categories found in the BOAT.  This comprehensive list will then be vetted through a series of in-person, regional workshops with a broader set of participants. A secondary focus of the regional workshops is to identify additional competencies or capacities that may be needed under different owner organizational cultures. 

This is a combined project with RGA #04-24.

To develop and codify a new detailing option which aims to improve the constructability of diagonally reinforced coupling (or link) beams for tall building construction to resist earthquake loads while maintaining adequate strength and ductility. Construction of coupling beams that satisfy the strength and detailing requirements set forth in ACI 318-05 for diagonally reinforced coupling beams has proven cumbersome and costly. Test results from this project indicate that the new detailing approach provides equal if not improved behavior as compared to the alternative detailing approach; that simple modeling approaches reasonably capture measured force versus deformation behavior, and that including a reinforced and post-tensioned slab had only a modest impact on strength, stiffness, ductility, and observed damage. The outcomes of this research were incorporated in the new ACI 318-08 published in January, 2008, which reflects a remarkable project duration of only 21 months from grant award to ultimate codification.

To develop and disseminate a method by which building project teams can create a Building Information Modeling (BIM) Execution Plan in the early stages of a building project. Many owners and project teams are currently struggling with defining the appropriate level of modeling to perform on a construction project, based on the current state of practice and their future information needs. The proposed Guide, developed primarily for facility owners and other early project participants, will focus on the decisions required to define the scope of BIM implementation on the project; identify process impacts of using BIM; define the team characteristics needed to achieve the modeling, and quantify the value proposition for the appropriate level of BIM modeling at the various stages in the project lifecycle.

Anchorages to concrete foundations for steel braced frames must be designed for significant tensile (uplift) forces due to overturning effects and to develop the tensile capacity of diagonal braces. There is no experimental or scientific data to support the strength estimation or design of such anchorages. This research project will directly address the lack of test data and design guidelines for tension anchor bolt groups by conducting targeted experiments on practically detailed test specimens.

Specific objectives of the proposed study are -
To develop and disseminate fundamental understanding of the failure modes and force transfer mechanisms in anchor group details subjected to tension uplift;
To develop, validate and establish design provisions for these details that are otherwise specifically excluded from ACI 318-08 Appendix D;
To advocate for qualified details that can economically achieve design strength for high uplift forces, and
To develop a code change proposal for adoption by ACI 318 of the provisions and details proven by this research.

The project will investigate the structural and thermal performance of improved thermally broken assemblies that bridge building envelopes in steel-framed structures to enhance the energy efficiency of a broad range of steel building structures. Examples of such assemblies include cladding shelf angle assemblies, supports for rooftop equipment, and support for cladding projections such as exterior light shelves, canopies, or shading devices. The project includes studying thermal break strategies such as the incorporation of fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) shims between exterior elements and their steel attachments. The research will include ensuring the use of FRP or related technologies within steel connections is safe and effective. The resulting options for designing thermal breaks will help mitigate the unnecessary loss of energy in steel structures and will open a new range of products for use in the building industry. Structural engineers and building owners will benefit from the results of this research through having cost-effective options for mitigating the loss of energy in steel buildings. A final report will be issued at the project completion, in keeping with a complete dissemination plan, which will include a discussion of all key methodologies and results from this project.

The analytical assessment of the currently available methodologies for measuring yield-stress of non-prestressed steel reinforcement for concrete.

The proposed study will explore critical material and structural behaviors at the boundaries of high-strength steel properties that can currently be achieved. Key steel properties that will be explored are: 1) the tensile-to-yield strength ratio (T/Y ratio), 2) the ultimate or uniform elongation, su, and 3) the low-cycle fatigue performance relevant to seismic applications. Material and structural tests on concrete columns are proposed to be conducted by Wassim Ghannoum, University of Texas, Austin, and are not funded as part of this proposal. This proposal (UC Berkeley) is to conduct tests of beams, and to determine how beam rotation capacity is affected by material properties. The tests will provide much needed experimental evidence to define structurally acceptable properties for steel mills to target in production and the research community to use in structural testing. In addition, this proposal will also carry out limited analytical studies of archetype buildings to establish seismic demands for beams and columns; and additional analytical studies to develop models for plastic-rotation capacity of beams and to extract implications for non-seismic designs.

This project provides guidance to industry professionals looking to integrate carbon into life cycle based decision making through the creation of an environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) practice guide and establishment of embodied carbon benchmarks of buildings. This practice guide will focus on aiding carbon reduction in the building construction sector (both new construction and renovation) through the use of whole building LCA. The guide will integrate concurrent work developed by others into one common practice guide document.

Much has been written about IPD and its associated benefits. However, essentially all available material on IPD is of a theoretical or research nature. Parties who are interested in not just learning about IPD but in actually doing it are hard pressed to find actionable information. "What have been proven to be effective tools and processes? When do we employ them? How do we best organize our team for success?" Questions like these (and many others!) emerge on every IPD project, and to date are answered in an on-the-job fashion, through those experienced in the model from past projects, or through consultants. There is no practical guide to help teams navigate an IPD project. Industry will benefit significantly from a comprehensive "how-to" resource about IPD to address exactly the kinds of questions described above. This is not a sales or theory piece. Somebody's decided to do IPD; this is where they go to ask "now what?" and get definitive answers as to how to proceed. Users of the Guide will include industry stakeholders from every industry sector, with a special emphasis on owners.

The Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) of ASCE is pursuing, as part of its Vision, the advancement of performance-based design (PBD). Advancing the adoption of performance-based structural fire engineering (SFE) within the AEC industry will benefit public safety while delivering more efficient and economic building designs. However, the adoption of SFE in the U.S. is hindered by the lack of participation by structural engineers, the lack of trial designs demonstrating the potential benefits to stakeholders, and the unfamiliarity with the approach by building officials. This Research project is intended to support the development of state-of-the-art exemplar procedural guidance to properly execute a SFE design in accordance with the new ASCE/SEI 7-16 Appendix E industry standard, to demonstrate its benefits. The project will employ a scientific and engineering approach using the procedures outlined in MOP-138 to quantify the fire exposure and structural behavior of existing building designs during fire. The final document will be freely available to the public.

The Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) of ASCE is pursuing the update and simplification of the 2016 edition of ASCE 7 Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures approach to wind design. The pressure coefficients for the Main Wind-Force Resisting System (MWFRS) in chapter 27 of ASCE 7-16 for buildings above 60 ft date from the mid-1970s. While tweaks have been made over the years, a systematic study using modern wind tunnel test methods for code-based design has not been conducted in over 40 years. In particular, our knowledge of both the role of turbulence on aerodynamic loading and the turbulence levels in the atmospheric boundary layer have evolved considerably over this time period. As a result of these factors, the ASCE 7-22 Wind Loads Sub-Committee wishes to review and possibly update the chapter 27 MWFRS wind load coefficients. This research is to obtain additional test data so as to provide information for other height aspect ratios, where the height ratio is defined as the height of the building to the least horizontal dimension.

The Professional’s Guide to Managing the Design Phase of a Design-Build Project (Guide) has been the go-to resource for design-build (DB) professionals for a decade and is utilized in company, university and DBIA training.  Needed is an updated and expanded Guide to reflect the state-of-practice and a path forward, with common principles that apply to all DB projects and market sectors, and specific guidance for the Building sector. Additionally, “playbooks” that provide targeted design management guidance for four additional market sectors will be created to assist professionals in navigating the differences in procurement processes, project scope, team composition, and BIM-readiness and more. A common glossary of terms regarding DB contracting mechanisms that are consistent for both U.S. and international audiences will be created and underpin the Guide and Playbooks. This project is being done in collaboration with University of Florida (RGA #03-21) and University of New Mexico (RGA #05-21).

The current state of practice for evaluating spandrel assembly thermal performance is lacking, and analytical approaches are inconsistent. Building codes and standards are also inadequate, leading to variable design execution on projects. While energy codes have become more stringent, spandrel assembly technologies have largely remained the same. There is a need for improved design guidelines, to bring consistency to calculation methods, to identify opportunities to improve materials, details, and systems, and inform future code provisions. This is Phase 1 of a four-phase research program to produce a Design Guidance Document. Phase 1 - Design Test Program jump starts this effort by conducting a literature search of available information on the topic, a survey of stakeholders to understand the scope and prevalence of different spandrel systems, an energy study, a Computational Fluids Dynamics analysis to explore cavity airflow impacts as well as the specification of the test program to be conducted in subsequent phases. This research is conducted by the team of Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH), Morrison Hershfield (MH), and RDH Building Science, Inc. (RDH).

RGA #04-23 aims to investigate the diaphragm and vibration behavior of steel-cross laminated timber (CLT) floors through experimental testing and numerical simulations.

Goal: This research will catalyze innovation within the building construction field by enabling efficient and effective designs of steel-CLT floors. There is growing interest in using mass timber products in buildings. One ideal combination of building materials is steel and mass timber, as they uniquely complement each other with sustainability benefits, the ability to span longer distances with steel beams, and a high-degree of prefabrication that has the potential to increase the speed of construction.

Industry need: Steel-CLT buildings are currently being constructed throughout the US. However, the existing design guides for diaphragm and vibration design have not been developed through experimental data. Therefore, the design of steel-CLT buildings may be overly conservative. This research will perform experimental investigations on steel-CLT diaphragm performance and vibration behavior to understand the behavior of steel-CLT diaphragms and develop design guidance for practicing structural engineers.

Research will identify the competencies (e.g., staff knowledge, skills, and abilities) and capacities (e.g., data management procedures, technology) needed by owner organizations to manage key categories of risks on design-build projects.  To accomplish this task, we will engage with project managers within owner and OA organizations who currently deliver design-build projects.  Through semi-structured interviews with these experts, we will develop a comprehensive list of staff competencies and capacities needed to manage the nine risk categories found in the BOAT.  This comprehensive list will then be vetted through a series of in-person, regional workshops with a broader set of participants. A secondary focus of the regional workshops is to identify additional competencies or capacities that may be needed under different owner organizational cultures. 

This is a combined project with RGA #03-24.

To complete the development and fielding of GreenFormat, a new CSI Format for presenting structured product data about sustainability for the purpose of evaluation and specification of building products. The project produced an industry standard reporting format and a database-driven website for manufacturers to list, and for construction professionals to find, sustainable performance data on building products.

In this context, "green" refers to concretes made with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) replacing varying amounts of portland cements to reduce the carbon footprint. Replacing large amounts of portland cement with SCMs can result in slower concrete setting and slower strength gain at both early and later ages. This research explores the relation between cylinder strengths and core strengths for low-cement content concretes.

This proposal responds to a request by the Charles Pankow Foundation to structure a project to develop a roadmap on the use of high-strength reinforcement in general reinforced concrete design and construction. As currently envisioned, this work will be patterned after similar work performed by the Applied Technology Council (ATC) developing applied research programs for other clients, and will build on the results of an ongoing project related to use of high-strength reinforcement in seismic design funded by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

The proposed study will explore critical material and structural behaviors at the boundaries of high-strength steel properties that can currently be achieved. Key steel properties that will be explored are: 1) the tensile-to-yield strength ratio (T/Y ratio), 2) the ultimate or uniform elongation, and 3) the low-cycle fatigue performance. Material and structural tests on concrete columns will be conducted to compare behaviors at the high and low ends of the steel properties in production. Such tests will provide much needed experimental evidence to define structurally acceptable properties for steel mills to target in production and the research community to use in structural testing.

The Water Reuse Practice Guide (WRPG) will be published as an e-book that will serve as a free on-line resource for building design practitioners and professionals that will demystify the integration of water reuse functionality into the building design process. Readers will be able to view the document on-line or download a printable version. It will be much like the American Institute of Architects' "An Architect's Guide to Integrating Energy Modeling into the Design Process," in terms of format and availability.

This project seeks R-Factors developed from FEMA P-695 studies for Coupled Composite Plate Shear Walls-Concrete Filled (Coupled-C-PSW/CF), for inclusion in ASCE-7, higher than R-factors for corresponding non-coupled walls. C-PSW/CFs is foreseen to become an efficient option for the lateral force resisting system of buildings when relatively large seismic demands lead to the design of concrete shear walls with dense reinforcement and large thickness, or steel plate shear walls with relatively thick web plates and large boundary elements. This system will be predominantly used in high-rise buildings having a core-wall system with coupled beams. Coupled systems are anticipated to be more ductile and have more redundancy, but ASCE currently does not assign them higher R-factors. This study uses the FEMA P-695 methodology to substantiate the R-factors for such Coupled-C-PSW/CF structures.

This research expands the available data on the anchorage strength of high-strength headed reinforcing bars to include the largest sizes currently permitted in the ACI Building Code, No. 14 and No. 18, and use those results to verify the applicability of the currently proposed design criteria. Headed reinforcement is permitted under the provisions of ACI 318. Those provisions, however, limit the bar size to No. 11 and smaller. The study includes headed bars in concrete with nominal compressive strengths ranging from 5,000 to 16,000 psi to produce stresses in the bars at anchorage failure ranging from 55 to 148 ksi. Bar spacing ranges from 3 to 10 bar diameters. Heads with bearing areas and multiple configurations matching those permitted in practice are tested. A limited number of tests are also be performed on large-size hooked bars to determine if the relationship developed in previous tests, indicating that headed bar anchorage length equals approximately 80% of that for hooked bars, is appropriate for the largest size bars.

Results of the tests will be used to propose modifications to current code provisions with the goal of broadening the application of headed bars and significantly reducing congestion in reinforced concrete members. This final report describes the test methods, test results, and development of the design criteria and recommendations.

Project Co-funders: ACI Foundation $50,000, BarSplice Products $45,000, Headed Reinforcement Corporation $45,000, nVENT Lenton, CRSI Education and Research Foundation $45,000, Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute $25,000

This research focused on coupled core wall systems (CCW) that utilize structural rolled and/or built-up steel coupling beams used in low-seismic and wind applications. The detailing of the coupling beam along its span and within the embedded region will be evaluated, which will allow for minimal inelastic coupling beam demands during wind events.

When the beam shear demands in CCW systems become relatively large, the typical reinforced concrete beam is no longer adequate. It is common, in these cases, to either use a concrete-encased structural steel coupling beam or simply a steel coupling beam. These are commonly used in mid- to high-rise towers. The current requirements for the analysis, design, and detailing for steel and concrete encased steel coupling beams provide for high seismic applications, however, fall short in regard to applications for wind events. There is an industry need to address this research gap in order to design using the ASCE/SEI Prestandard for Performance Based Wind Design (ASCE, 2019) which allows for modest nonlinear response of selective members.

This is a companion effort to RGA #06-19, Nonlinear Wind Design of Steel Reinforced Concrete (SRC) Coupling Beams.

The Professional’s Guide to Managing the Design Phase of a Design-Build Project (Guide) has been the go-to resource for design-build (DB) professionals for a decade and is utilized in company, university and DBIA training.  Needed is an updated and expanded Guide to reflect the state-of-practice and a path forward, with common principles that apply to all DB projects and market sectors, and specific guidance for the Building sector. Additionally, “playbooks” that provide targeted design management guidance for four additional market sectors will be created to assist professionals in navigating the differences in procurement processes, project scope, team composition, and BIM-readiness and more. A common glossary of terms regarding DB contracting mechanisms that are consistent for both U.S. and international audiences will be created and underpin the Guide and Playbooks. This project is being done in collaboration with University of Florida (RGA #03-21) and Iowa State University (RGA #04-21).

Current building codes, provisions and specifications such as AISC (2016), ASCE7 (2022), NFPA 5000 (2021) and IBC (2021) provide requirements for designing building structures under fire loading. The developed approaches include: (i) prescriptive, and (ii) performance-based design methods. Prescriptive design methods have been around for several decades, and are well known to architects, engineers, and Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).

However, performance-based structural fire design (PBSFD) is relatively new and somewhat unknown to architects, engineers, and AHJ. This project will develop educational / training materials to introduce AHJ to the topic of performance-based structural fire design (PBSFD). These materials will assist AHJ to gain an understanding of the goals, objectives, fire scenarios, thermal and structural analyses for PBSFD. After completing the training, AHJ will be able to review PBSFD designs along with their assumptions, limitations, and caveats. They will be able to effectively manage relationships between the engineering team and the peer review panel and make final decisions based on building codes for steel, concrete masonry and wood structures.

The research consists of four tasks: (1) Data acquisition; (2) Data analysis; (3) Stochastic load modeling; (4) Load analysis and design load recommendation. Data on vehicle fleet compositions will be acquired from S&P Global or alternate sources. Data will be acquired that describes fleet compositions for all 50 states and for multiple years over approximately the last decade. The datasets will include vehicle make, model and model-year, in addition to vehicle weights. The raw vehicle fleet data will be post-processed to establish probability distributions for vehicle fleet characteristics including make, model, model-year and vehicle weight. Such analysis will be performed for each database corresponding to particular states and years in order to permit evaluation of temporal and geographic variation of fleet characteristics. A stochastic model, possibly following the approach of Wen and Yeo1 and extreme value analysis as used recently with German data5 will be implemented for parking garage live loads. The purpose of the model is to be able to conduct Monte Carlo simulation or other probabilistic analysis of the equivalent uniform design load (EUDL) imposed on parking garage floors by vehicles. The model will simulate vehicles parking on a garage floor with the vehicle type (make, model, year and weight) sampled from the fleet distributions established in task (2). Monte Carlo simulation using this model will result in sufficient samples of garage live load scenarios to establish, in task (4), distributions of effective live loads on garage floors and, through analysis of structural demands on structural members, EUDL values. In addition to uniform, random, assignment of vehicles to parking spaces in the model, special cases will be investigated corresponding to EV concentration around charging stations and possible fleet parking areas in which single vehicle types may be concentrated. This research will provide a probabilistic and stochastic structural approach to the problem recently described in purely vehicle weight analysis in Structure magazine6. Upon completion of the research tasks, a final technical report will be prepared that addresses two questions: (1) has the current 40 psf value been consistent with historical load scenarios? and (2) do data, simulations, load assessment and structural analysis support a revision to the 40 psf values and, if so, to what value?

To address the need for a rapidly-constructable core-wall system that will avoid the use of time-consuming climbing forms and significantly shorten the time required to construct core walls in multi-story buildings.

To develop an extended set of IFCs for Structural Components for inclusion in the International Alliance for Interoperability (IAI). The project outcomes will improve productivity in the design and construction industry by developing a basis for incorporating and integrating structural design codes, analysis tools and methods into the IFCs of the IAI effort.

Develop for submission to the National BIM Standard Committee the National BIM Standard for the precast concrete domain. Develop the Information Delivery Manual (IDM) and corollary work needed for the BIM standard for workflows dealing with the broad domain of precast buildings in general, including stemmed deck members, flat deck members, beams, columns, load bearing walls and spandrels, piles, and architectural facades. Development of the National BIM Standard for precast concrete will follow the NBIMS process defined in Chapter Five of the National BIM Standard, Volume 1.

Recent advancements in automatic steel bar bending machines allow fabrication of "continuous stirrups". This stirrup type is viewed to be more efficient than standard stirrups. The closed nature of continuous stirrups can enhance strength and ductility of the members, and overall structural performance. This research project will evaluate behavior and capacity of continuous stirrups as shear and torsion reinforcement as well as confinement steel, and will formulate design and detailing provisions for continuous stirrups. In close collaboration with the industry advisory committee, the research team will develop Code provisions for adoption in ACI 318. The proposed continuous stirrup system will benefit engineers in the cast-in-place and precast industries, and can be employed in building and bridge construction. Fabrication, jobsite productivity, and accuracy of stirrup placement during construction will all be enhanced. These benefits will result in potential cost reductions and a larger market share for concrete structures.

This grant is made by CPF to the PCI Foundation in support of the following research project.
A National Science Foundation (NSF) Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEESR) shake table test is planned for this fall at UCSD to demonstrate a new system for anchoring floor systems that limits seismic forces. To benchmark the system, a direct comparison to an equivalent traditional structure is desired during the shake table program. Thus, the testing program will include the investigation of a traditional system, and it is the desire of the research team to test a system of interest to the engineering profession.

A study of the effects of uniform elongation and ft/fy on the deformation capacity of unsymmetrical walls has been identified by members of ATC 115 as a high-priority item. Results from this study will provide a basis for defining acceptable mechanical properties in specifications of high-strength steel reinforcing bars. Because of their geometry, tests of flanged walls are critical for evaluating the reinforcement strain capacity needed to ensure that earthquake-resistant structures have acceptable drift capacity. The primary aim of this study is to determine the minimum uniform elongation required of high-strength reinforcing bars used in seismic applications. The study will also examine whether ft/fy impacts the required minimum uniform elongation by altering the spread of plasticity in the vicinity of the wall-yielding region.

There is increasing interest in the use of coupled Concrete-Filled Composite Plate Shear Walls (CF-CPSW) core wall structures for the design of high-rise steel buildings, particularly to optimize their design for wind or seismic load combinations. AEC firms will be able to optimize the design of high-rise buildings in high wind or seismic zones using these coupled CF_CPSW core wall structures. They will be able to address the challenges associated with conventional concrete core wall structures by finding a solution in steel-concrete composition structures. Coupled CF-CPSW core wall structures leverage steel pre-fabrication in the shop, and stay-in-place formwork to reduce the time spent at the site and thus improve the construction schedule.

The proposed project will generate experimental data, numerical models, and lead to the development of design guidelines that will empower engineers to consider coupled CF-CPSW core wall structures to optimize the design and construction schedule of high-rise buildings, thus bringing economic opportunities to the AEC industry.

The proposed study will examine the application of the FEMA P695 Methodology to ED-RCCW buildings less than 240 ft. in height to determine appropriate values of R, C_d, and Ω₀; for buildings greater than 240 ft. tall, ASCE 7 requires a dual system. The study will follow the same general approach as used for the trial studies outlined in NIST (2010) for RC shear wall buildings as summarized by Gogus and Wallace (2015). A single configuration, with two cantilever walls coupled by a single "column" of coupling beams over the building height will be considered to illustrate findings for a range of building heights and design parameters. Important design variables are anticipated to be coupling beam aspect ratio (ln/h) and strength (Vn), and wall cross section geometry, i.e., planar wall versus flanged wall cross section. The expectation is that trial values of R, C_d, and Ω₀ will be selected, and the objective of either confirming these values or iterating to refine these values. Iteration may be limited to a subset of the initial study.

Owners, designers, engineers and contractors are turning their attention to embodied carbon associated with building materials and seeking information on these products so they can make informed, smart choices. This task has been fraught with problems - from the lack of data to data too complex to evaluate. In response to this problem, this proposes a solution that would enable the building industry to easily access and view material carbon emissions data, allowing them to make carbon smart choices during material specifications and procurement.

This research will characterize the nonlinear response of steel reinforced concrete (SRC) coupling beams under wind demands. SRC coupling beams, an alternative to rebar-reinforced concrete coupling beams, reduce reinforcement congestion in the coupled walls and simplify construction. Current design guidelines for SRC coupling beams consider nonlinear response to seismic demands. There is a lack of research on the behavior and residual deformation capacity of SRC coupling beams subjected to many loading cycles at modest peak ductility demands. There is an industry need to address this research gap in order to design for modest coupling beam nonlinearity using the ASCE/SEI Prestandard for Performance Based Wind Design (ASCE, 2019). This is a companion effort to RGA #05-19, Steel Coupling Beams in Low-Seismic and Wind Applications

Dating back to the 1800’s, there have been live load surveys and analyses, particularly of area-dependent loads in office buildings. While some occupancy loads have received careful examination, assembly has almost been an afterthought. Indeed, there has been no systematic review and consideration of reliability-based scenarios for assembly requirements. The driving rationale for the present study, therefore, is a modern determination of these loads. The critical benchmark of success for this research will be a more consistent, reliable and economic design load for assembly areas in buildings, enacted first through the ASCE/SEI 7 Standard, and subsequently by adoption into the International Building Code and materials standards.

Results from seismic tests have indicated poor performance by slab-column connections reinforced with an orthogonal shear stud layout which meets the requirements of ACI 318-08. Recent testing however suggests that seismic performance could be substantially enhanced by using slab-column connections reinforced with a radial layout of shear studs, as opposed to the traditional orthogonal layout. In this research project testing of two large-scale slab-column subassemblies with different shear stud layouts under combined gravity load and bi-axial lateral displacements will be conducted. Analysis of the data will enable developing a set of guidelines ready for practitioners' use, with examples, for the design of slab-column connections with radial shear stud reinforcement. The data generated from this research, together with the design recommendations and code change proposal, will benefit the building industry by providing practicing engineers with the necessary tools for the safe and economical use of shear studs in slab-column connections.

The purpose and expected outcome of the funding that this research proposal is to create an industry-wide standard to measure the schedule performance of construction contractors on an ongoing basis that functions not merely a posteriori, but a priori - not only be reflective, but predictive, and be applicable to any project and at any level of detail. If successful, it will enhance the transparency of project productivity and enable the identification of any under-performing activities, projects, or firms.

This research is an empirical evaluation of the role that execution planning has in maximizing the value gained from various uses of Building Information Modeling (BIM). Upon completion, this research will provide the industry with our first focused look at the effectiveness of BIM execution planning. The results will inform decisions regarding BIM implementation and support the "BIM Done Right" initiative, which sees an integrated BIM process as a catalyst for delivering greater value to the owner. This research project is being done in conjunction with RGA #08-17 at Penn State.

Column base connections are arguably the most critical connections in Steel Moment Frames (SMFs), transferring forces from the entire structure into the foundation. The role of these connections is even more critical in the seismic response of SMFs because their strength, rotational stiffness and hysteretic characteristics interact with the frame, influencing force/moment distribution in the frame. This study will expand upon the available data on SMF column base connections and force transfer mechanisms including exposed with base plate and anchor rods, embedded and slab over-topped connections. The results will provide validated way to design and model these connections.

Specific objectives of the proposed research are:

To develop and disseminate fundamental understanding of the force transfer mechanisms of commonly used and previously untested embedded base connections (including those with an overtopping slab) under monotonic and cyclic loading.

To develop design methods/procedures and criteria for these connections that result in economical and reliable column base connections.

To develop and investigate repairable base connections, and their viability within seismically designed moment resisting frames.

To integrate connection response (developed in this and previous studies) with building response to develop strategies that fully leverage interactions between base and frame to obtain economical and safe designs.

To develop design aids, examples, software and other tools to facilitate the adoption of these new design insights and methods by the engineering practice.

To attain building code changes that adopt the products of this research in an effective and timely manner.

This study is follow-on to the previous study and findings reported in the Embedded Column Base Connections Subjected to Flexure and Axial Load: Tests and Strength Models (CPF Grant #03-11).

To explore and define the functional requirements for a Building Information Model standard for architectural precast concrete, focusing on the multiple exchanges between architect and precast contractor, and to compile the Information Delivery Model (IDM) for architectural precast concrete.

The objectives of the work supported by the CPF grant were:

(1) to develop and demonstrate untopped and topped precast diaphragm systems that will provide good performance in regions of high seismic hazard

(2) to produce a design and detailing procedure for these systems for high seismic zones

(3) to codify this design procedure and create design aids

Note: The Charles Pankow Foundation research grant supported concluding phases of work resulting from a larger, integrated project supported in previous years by the National Science Foundation and the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute. Further information on this larger work can be provided by Professor Robert Fleischman, University of Arizona: rfleisch@email.arizona.edu.

A principal impediment to the use of higher-strength reinforcing steel for all reinforced concrete applications are the limitations in the ACI Code on the parameters for performance of anchorage hooks. The profession is currently operating without an understanding of the performance of hooks using reinforcing steel with yield strengths above 68 ksi and concrete with compressive strengths above 5,100 psi. The use of reinforcing steel with yield strengths of 75 to 80 ksi is now common; concrete with compressive strengths between 10,000 to 15,000 psi is now used for many applications, and bars with yield strengths up to 120 ksi are now available. Yet yield strength for bars is currently limited to 80 ksi by code.

The initial test matrix consists of 150 hook tests with varying bar sizes and hook angles and lengths. The basic test specimen will represent a beam anchored by hooked bars framing into an exterior column. The goal of the experimental study is to gain a firm understanding of the variation in hook strength as a function of bar size, concrete strength, member geometry, and transverse reinforcement.

The test results will be used to establish a reliability-based design expression for development length. Both simplified and detailed forms of the design expression will be formulated in a fashion parallel with the current approach for straight reinforcing steel. Recommendations on the use and detailing of transverse reinforcing steel in the hook region will be provided. The research team will work closely with members of ACI Committees 318, 349, and 359 to implement the proposed design criteria in the shortest possible time.

Co-Funding: Total of $320,000: Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI): $150,000; Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI): $90,000; KU Transportation Research Institute (KUTRI): $80,000

The Building Information Modeling for Masonry (BIM-M) Initiative has entered Phase III of the four phases originally envisioned when we created the BIM-M Roadmap [1, 2]. Phase I and II of the initiative were funded by the BIM-M associations representing material supply, building professionals, contractors and labor, with administrative oversight and technical leadership from the Pankow Foundation. At this time the initiative is beginning to implement the workflows, data models and standards developed during the first two phases. The Pankow Foundation has agreed to support the technical oversight for the commercialization and standardization of the Masonry Unit Database or "MUD" as it will be noted in this document.

This research is an empirical evaluation of the role that execution planning has in maximizing the value gained from various uses of Building Information Modeling (BIM). Upon completion, this research will provide the industry with our first focused look at the effectiveness of BIM execution planning. The results will inform decisions regarding BIM implementation and support the "BIM Done Right" initiative, which sees an integrated BIM process as a catalyst for delivering greater value to the owner.
This research project is being done in conjunction with RGA #07-17 at The University of Florida.

To select a preferred design and to deliver a complete design procedure for a cementitious structural insulated panel (CSIP) system, ready to be employed on actual, multi-story building construction projects and to be adopted by building construction practitioners and their customers.

To develop a framework for analyzing, adopting and fostering innovations to support a construction organization's strategic competitiveness objectives and enhance construction project operations and processes

To test the seismic efficacy of a thin wall type of shear wall that has the potential to provide safer buildings in the six- to seven-story range to effectively meet California's growing need for lower cost buildings, and to publish design guidelines for practitioners' use in designing these systems.