ACI 351.2R

Abstract

This report is limited in scope to the engineering and construction of static equipment foundations. Static equipment, as used herein, refers to industrial equipment that does not contain significant moving parts, or that has operational characteristics essentially static in nature. Outlined and discussed herein are the various aspects of the analysis, design, and construction of foundations for equipment, such as vertical vessels, stacks, horizontal vessels, heat exchangers, spherical vessels, machine tools, and electrical equipment such as transformers. <br>This report does not include foundations for: <br>&#8226;&#160;Equipment, such as turbine generators, pumps, blowers, compressors, and presses, which have operational characteristics that are essentially dynamic in nature. ACI 351.3R covers concrete foundations for dynamic equipment; <br>&#8226;&#160;Vessels and tanks whose contents structurally bear directly on soil (for example, clarifiers and large-diameter storage tanks); <br>&#8226;&#160;Buildings, concrete silos, chimneys, and structures that contain static equipment; or <br>&#8226;&#160;Equipment sensitive to external vibration. These foundations are generally isolated from the neighboring dynamic equipment foundations to minimize transmission of vibration from other equipment. These foundations rarely require their own separate foundations and are usually located and supported in buildings. ACI 351.3R provides some guidance, although its scope is for equipment that generates dynamic forces. <br>The geotechnical engineering aspects of the analysis and design of static equipment foundations discussed herein are limited to general considerations. This report is essentially concerned with the structural analysis, design, and construction of static equipment foundations. <br><strong>Purpose</strong> <br>This document presents various design criteria and methods and procedures of analysis, design, and construction currently being applied to static equipment foundations by industry practitioners. The purpose of this report is to present these various methods and elicit critical discussion from the industry. This report is not intended to be a recommended practice; rather, it is a document that encourages discussion and comparison of ideas.