Title: Concrete Q & A: Load Factors are Load Factors

Author(s): Paul Mlakar, David Rogowsky and James Wight

Publication: Commentary Reference

Volume:

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 75-76

Keywords:

DOI:

Date: 7/1/2010

Abstract:
My company has recently negotiated a contract to provide design services for wind turbine foundations. The turbine manufacturer will provide the allowable soil pressure and forces at the tower base (including shear and overturning moment due to wind as well as dead load due to turbine and tower weight). I plan to size the footings using the service loads and an allowable soil pressure. For design of the reinforced concrete in the footing, should I factor the reactions or the loads? It makes a difference to the pressure distribution because under service loads, the footing is in full contact with the soil, but with factored loads, there is footing uplift.