Practical applications · A Practical Guide to Seismic Flexible Retaining Wall Design

So, you’ve just been handed a project with a decently sized retaining wall, and it’s in a location with some seismic kick. Immediately, you know that your standard static analysis isn’t going to cut it. The response of a retaining wall to seismic loading is a complex soil-structure interaction problem, and figuring out the right approach can be daunting. This is a classic example of where we move beyond simplified prescriptive rules and into the world of engineered precision using Part 4 principles.

read more

Standards · Engineered Precision (Part 4) vs. Prescriptive Paths (Part 9)

This post will focus on something fundamental to our everyday lives as structural engineers in Canada: the National Building Code of Canada (NBCC) and, more specifically, how we navigate the structural design requirements of Part 4 versus Part 9. Ever found yourself scratching your head over whether a project really needs the full Part 4 treatment, or if Part 9’s prescriptive paths are sufficient? You’re not alone.

read more

Standards · Design principles · Industry insights · Practical applications · Part 4’s Leap vs. Part 9’s Sticking Point

In this post we’ll be looking at seismic. Specifically, let’s chew on something that’s been a hot topic since the NBCC 2020 dropped: the growing gap in seismic design philosophies between Part 4 (Structural Design) and Part 9 (Housing and Small Buildings). If you’re juggling projects that dance on the edge of Part 9’s limits or work across different seismic zones in Canada, this is a conversation you need to be in on.

read more

Design principles · Practical applications · Industry insights · PBD Toolkit Part 3: Analysis, Modeling & Verification

In our first two posts on Performance-Based Design (PBD), we covered the “what and why” – shifting from prescriptive codes to targeting specific building performance – and then we looked at the “who and how” of setting those crucial performance objectives. If you missed them, I’d suggest giving them a read first as we’re about to jump into the deep end of the pool.

read more