Walking Columns – A Proposed Design Methodology

The use of walking columns in cast-in-place concrete construction is now commonplace. But while walking columns appear in virtually all concrete buildings, there are no widely recognized, published, and accepted design methodologies for design and detailing of such columns. While the fundamentals of walking column analysis and design are grounded in basic statics, the design and detailing of the various components (and connections between components) of the walking column system – the column, compression and tension ties, diaphragm, and shear walls are sometimes given less attention that required. Likewise, a thorough understanding of the load paths involved as walking column brace forces find their way out of the columns, through diaphragms and into the shear walls is critical. What does the computer address with regard to walking column diaphragm forces? And how can those diaphragm forces be quickly and easily analyzed with manual calculations? This seminar will answer those questions. 

About Our Speaker
Clifford Schwinger is a structural engineer and Quality Assurance Manager at The Harman Group. He graduated from Lehigh University in 1976, is a member of the AISC Committee on Manuals, and has been with The Harman Group since 1986.