Articles

The proper assessment of shear coupling is necessary for the evaluation of laminated glass performance between the bounding layered and monolithic limits. The most common simplified design approach consists in defining the effective thickness, i.e., the thickness of a monolithic section with equivalent flexural properties.

Multi-unit residential construction continues to see an increasing prevalence of “five-over-one” stick-built framing systems wherein the superstructure of residential units are supported on a podium structure above parking, retail, amenities, or all-of-the-above. While the design focus is typically on the efficiency of the residential units or to maximize the height of stick-built construction, due consideration is required for a properly designed, detailed, specified, and constructed podium structure.

Critical businesses – from finance and networking to water and electric utilities – have robust digital infrastructure systems that rely on a vast network of data centers and internet exchange hubs to deliver essential online services. These facilities can be housed and managed on site or outsourced to external colocation centers, and vary greatly in size and complexity. Our reliance on these digital backbones to underpin business services is rapidly expanding across all sectors of daily life. In today’s technology-driven world, a business’s financial well-being depends on the continuous operation of these facilities’ assets – triggering significant investment to maximize digital infrastructure reliability and downtime.

Abstract

The 2015 edition of the International Building Code (IBC)...