Tokyo Institute of Technology

Department of Civil Engineering

Second Semester 2005
Professor Kamran M. Nemati

ATCE II − Advanced Topics in Civil Engineering

Answers to Assignment # 2

Problem:
Design forms for 13’-8” high wall to be concreted at the rate of 5 ft per hour, internally
vibrated. Assume the mix is made with Type I cement, with no pozzolans or admixtures, and
that the temperature of concrete at placing is 75°F. The unit weight of concrete is 150 pcf
with a slump of 3.75 inches. The forms will be used only once, so short-term loading stresses
will apply.
Use form grade plywood sheathing 7/8 in. thick in 5×10-ft sheets, and 5,250-lb coil ties are on
hand. Framing lumber of No. 2 Douglas Fir-Larch is to be purchased as required.

STEP 1: FIND PRESSURE. [5 points]

The concrete used for this project satisfied the
conditions of Table 5-4.
Using Table 5-4, for R = 5 ft/hr, and T = 75°F
(by extrapolation), the minimum pressure for
design is:
Temperature, °F Max. Lateral
Pressure, psf
70 793
75 P
80 712
80 − 70 712 − 793
=
80 − 75 712 − P
− 81 10 81
= = 2 => P − 712 = = 40.5 9000 R
712 − P 5 2 or using equation: P = 150 +
T
P = 752.5 psf; say P = 750 psf
9000 × 5
P = 150 +
75
Then the depth of the hydrostatic load zone, for P = 150 + 600 = 750 psf
a concrete with a unit weight of 150 pcf is:
P 750 psf
= = 5 ft.
150 150 pcf
ATCE II – Advanced Topics in Civil Engineering Answer to Problem Set 2 Page 2 of 9

Hydrostatic 5’
Load Zone
The diagram of lateral pressure
on wall form is shown here: 13’-8”
8’-8”

750 psf
STEP 2: SHEATHING
5×10 sheets of plywood will be used. Use plywood the “strong way” (face grain parallel to
plywood span). Design for uniformly spaced supports at 1-ft center-to-center.

CHECK BENDING [10 points]

Consider a 12-in. wide strip of plywood.

For continuous beams (more than three
supports) the following equation is used:
fS
l = 10.95
w

From Table 4-2, the bending stress for plywood is 1545 psi.

The problem states that the forms will be used only once (single-use form), the bending stress
must be multiplied by an adjustment factor of 1.25 for short term loading.
Hence, the allowable stress: f = 1.25 × 1545 ≅ 1930 psi
From Table 4-3, the section modulus, S, for 7/8-in. plywood is: 0.515 in.3

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P 750 psf
w, loading of the beam for a 1-ft wide strip of plywood is w = = = 750 lb/lf
12 in. 12 in.

Substituting in the equation: l = 10.95

(1930)(0.515) = 10.95 1.33 = 12.61 in.
750
CHECK DEFLECTION [10 points]
Again considering a 12-in. width of plywood sheathing, check the maximum allowable
deflection (∆) of the sheathing for l/360 of the span and 1/16 in., whichever is less.
From Table 4-2, the values for modulus of elasticity for plywood can be found as E =
1,500,000 psi, and Table 4-3 renders the value for the moment of inertia for plies parallel to
the span as I = 0.278 in.4.
EI 1500000 × 0.278
For ∆ = l/360 ⇒ l = 1.693 = 1.693 = 1.69 × 8.223 = 13.90 in.
w 750

EI 1500000 × 0.278
For ∆ = 1/16 in. ⇒ l = 3.234 = 3.234 = 3.23 × 4.86 = 15.68 in.
w 750

CHECK ROLLING SHEAR [10 points]

From Table 4-2, allowable Fs (rolling shear stress) can be found to be Fs = 57 psi, which
should be multiplied by 1.25 for short-term loading. Therefore, the allowable rolling shear
stress is: FS = 57 × 1.25 = 71 psi
Ib
From Table 4-3, the value of the rolling shear constant, , can be found as 8.050 in2.
Q
Use the equation for maximum shear for a continuous plyform and solve for L:
FS Ib 71
L= × = × 8.050 = 1.27 ft. = 15.24 in.
0.6 w Q 0.6 × 750
SPACING OF THE STUDS [5 points]
From the above calculations, the smallest value obtained for l is 12.61 in. (bending governs),
meaning that the studs CANNOT be placed any further than 12.61 inches apart.

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ATCE II – Advanced Topics in Civil Engineering Answer to Problem Set 2 Page 4 of 9

We are using 10-ft.-wide plywood sheets. The sheets should have stud support at the joints.
Therefore an equal-spacing of studs at 12-inches satisfies all conditions.

∴USE STUDS WITH THE SPACING OF 1-FT.

STEP 3:
STUD SIZE and SPACING OF WALES
(Wales support the studs)
Design for 2×4 S4S studs. Find the maximum
span that can support a lateral pressure of 750
psf.
Equivalent uniform load, w, is the max. lateral pressure times the stud spacing. Hence:
750 psf × 12 in.
w (stud ) = = 750 lb/lf
12 in./ft.
Studs can be considered as continuous beams subjected to uniform loading. Like the previous
set of calculations, check for allowable span for bending, deflection, and shear.

CHECK BENDING [10 points]

Assume using No. 2 Douglas Fir-Larch studs. From Table 4-2, the extreme fiber bending
stress, Fb, is 875 psi. However, this value should be adjusted.
The first adjustment factor is the short-term loading factor of 1.25. The second adjustment
factor is the size factor obtained from Table 4-2B, which is 1.5.
Therefore: Fb′ = 875 psi × 1.25 × 1.5 = 1640 psi

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The values of section modulus, S, for 2×4 S4S No. 2 Douglas Fir-Larch can be obtained from
Table 4-1B as 3.06 in.3.

The allowable stud span as a continuous beam is:

Fb′S 1640 × 3.06

l = 10.95 = 10.95 = 28.32 in.
w 750

CHECK DEFLECTION [10 points]

The allowable deflection is less than l/360 of the span and 1/8 in., whichever is less.
Using Table 4-2, the values for modulus of elasticity for 2×4 S4S No. 2 Douglas Fir-Larch is
E = 1,600,000 psi, and in Table 4-1B the value for the moment of inertia for is: I = 5.36 in.4.
EI 1600000 × 5.36
For ∆ = l/360 ⇒ l = 1.693 = 1.693 = 1.69 × 22.53 = 38.07 in.
w 750

EI 1600000 × 5.36
For ∆ = 1/8 in. ⇒ l = 3.844 = 3.844 = 3.84 × 10.34 = 39.71 in.
w 750
CHECK SHEAR [10 points]
From Table 4-2, allowable Fv (rolling shear stress) can be found to be Fs = 95 psi, which
should be multiplied by 1.25 for short-term loading, as well as by a factor of 2.0 for horizontal
shear adjustment. Therefore, the allowable shear stress is:
FV′ = 95 × 1.25 × 2 = 238 psi
A 2×4 S4S has an actual b = 1 ½ in. and d = 3 ½ in., which is obtained from Table 4-1B. Use
the equation for maximum shear for a continuous beam and solve for l:
1 1
238 ×1 × 3
F ′ bd 2 2 + 2 × 3 1 = 22.2 + 7 = 29.2 in.
l = 13.33 V + 2d = 13.33
w 750 2
SPACING OF THE WALES [5 points]
From the stud spans calculated above, the shortest span is based on bending which is 28.32
inches. This means the wales, which are the stud supports CANNOT be spaced more than

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28.32 inches apart (this span can be increased near the top, since in the top 5 ft., the pressure
decreases linearly from 750 psf to 0). The top and bottom wales are often set about 1 ft from
top and bottom of wall forms.

12”
13’-8” – 2’ = 11’-8” or 140” 2’-2”
remains for spacing the other 2’-4”
5’-0”
wales, which can be no more than 2’-4”
28.32 inches apart.
2’-4”
Set wales at 28 inches (2’-4”) P = 750 psf
2’-4”
equal spacing.
2’-4”

STEPS 4 & 5: TIE DESIGN, 2’-4”

WALE SIZE and TIE SPACING 2’-4”

[5 points]
2’-4”
From the pressure diagram, the
equivalent uniform load per lineal 2’-4”

foot of wale is determined to be 2’-2”

(750 psf)(2.33 ft) = 1750 lb/lf. 12” P = 750 psf

The problem statement indicates that

5000-lb coil ties are available and
will be used. With the maximum
load per lineal foot of wale being
1750 lbs, then the maximum tie
spacing is:
Tie capacity 5250 lb
= = 3 ft.
Wale load 1750 lb/ft

CHECK BENDING [5 points]

Maximum bending moment for a uniformly loaded continuous beam (more than 3 supports)
wl 2
is: M Max = in. - lb.
120
The maximum moment of the member being designed is: M Max = Fb′S .

wl 2 wl 2
Therefore: Fb′S = or S=
120 120 Fb′
Fb′ is the allowable stress in the extreme fiber and was calculated to be 1640 psi (refer to page
4 of this handout). The span, l, is 3 ft. or 36 inches, and w = 1750 lb/lf.
Therefore the required section modulus, S, can be calculated using the above equation:
wl 2 1750 × 36 2
S= = = 11.52 in.3
′
120 Fb 120 × 1640
In order to avoid drilling of timbers, they commonly use double-member wale. So the
required section modulus of 11.52 in.3 is for two members.

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Referring to Table 4-1B, double 2×4s will yield a section modulus of 2×3.06 or 6.12 in.3,
which is less than 11.52 in.3, and therefore not acceptable. 3×4, will result in: S = 2× 5.10 =
10.20 in.3 < 11.52 in.3, which is also not acceptable. Checking the next larger size, 4×4, will
result in: S = 2× 7.15 = 14.30 in.3 > 11.52 in.3, which satisfies the section modulus
requirements. ⇒ Use double 4×4 wales.
CHECK SHEAR [5 points]
To check the horizontal shear for the double 4x4 wales, use the horizontal shear stress
formula for a uniformly loaded continuous beam. From Table 4-1B, the value of bd for a 4×4
member can be obtained as: 12.25 in.2.

0. 9 w  2d  0.9 × 1750  2 × 3. 5 
fV = L− = × 3 −  = 64.29 × 2.42 ≅ 155.4 psi 〈 238 psi ⇒ O.K.
bd  12  2 × 12.25  12 
Therefore the stress in the double 4×4 members meets the requirements. (The value of the
adjusted allowable shear stress of 238 psi was calculated before − refer to page 6 of this
handout).

STEP 6: BEARING CHECK [5 points]

Check: 1) bearing of the studs on wales and 2) bearing between the tie washer or tie holders
and wales.
From Table 4-2, the value of compression ⊥
to grain, Fc⊥, for No. 2 2×4 Douglas Fir-
Larch is 625 psi.
TIES: Assume a 3½ in.-square tie washer.
Then the bearing area is: 3 ½″
4x4
(3½″)2 − ¾″×3½″ = 12.25 − 2.63 = 9.63 in.2
Since this is a short bearing length, Fc⊥ 4x4
should be multiplied by a factor of 1.11 3 ½″
(refer to Table 1.1 in Lesson One for 3½ in.
bearing length):
Adjusted Fc⊥′ = 625 (1.11) = 694 psi

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The actual bearing stress is then:

Maximum tie load 5250 lb
= = 545 psi < 694 psi ⇒ O.K.
bearing area 9.63 in.2

STUDS ON WALES: [5 points]

The bearing area between 2×4 studs and
double 3×4 wales can be calculated as:
3 ½″
2 × (1½″×3½″) = 2 × 5.25 = 10.5 in.2
Load transfer to the wale = ½ the stud span
above and below the wale × the lateral
pressure × the stud spacing
3 ½″

28 2 + 28 2
× 750 psf × 1 ft = 1750 lb
12

1750 lb
bearing stress = = 167 psi < 625 psi ⇒ O.K.
10.5 in.2

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STEP 7: LATTERAL BRACING

Consider the necessary bracing for a wall form 13’-8” ft. high, above grade, in an area where
the local building code specifies a minimum 20 psf wind loading.
Table 5-7 in the text indicated that 136.7 lb per lineal foot (by extrapolation) should be used
for design of bracing, since the wind force prescribed by local code gives a value larger than
the 100 lb/ft minimum established by ACI Committee 347.
STRUT BRACING
If wooden strut bracing is provided, strong enough to take either a tension or compression
load, then single side bracing may be used. Nailed connections at either end must be strong
enough to transmit the tension load, and wales or other form members must be strong enough
to transmit accumulated horizontal forces to the strut bracing.
If wooden bracing is attached 1 or 2 feet below the top of the wall, the bracing must carry
more than the 136.7 lb per ft load applied at the top.
H’ the horizontal bracing force 2 feet from H
the top of the wall would have to be H’=160.13 lb/ft
 13.67' 
  × 136.7 lb/lf = 160.13 lb per ft
 11.67'  13’-8”
11’-8”
in order to balance the 136.7 lb/lf design
load applied at the top of the wall.

If end of the brace is put 8 feet from the wall, use the relationship between sides of the right
triangle to find the length of brace and load it must carry.

t = h2 + x2 H’=160.13 lb/ft

t = 11.67 2 + 8 2 = 200.19 = 14.15 ft

14.15'
(tension) compression in strut = H ′ × t
8' h= 11’-8”
14.15'
(tension) compression in strut = 160.13 ×
8'
= 283.2 lb per foot of wall

X= 8’

If struts are spaced every 8 feet along the wall, then 8×283.2 or 2266 lb must be carried by
each brace. Many wood members strong enough to carry this load in compression will also
be adequate in tension.

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