AISC releases SpeedCore design guide for building concrete-filled composite steel plate shear wall core systems
By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor
The American Institute of Steel Construction has released Design Guide 38, SpeedCore Systems for Steel Structures.
The document pertains to the nonproprietary concrete-filled composite steel plate shear wall core system that “shaved a whopping 10 months off the erection schedule of Seattle’s 58-story Rainier Square,” according to an AISC news release. The guide covers coupled and uncoupled systems in planar, C-shaped, and I-shaped configurations.
It also includes critical information about designing for wind, fire, and seismic considerations, along with extensive design examples. SpeedCore provides extraordinary strength and stability, and it’s being used in seismic zones like Seattle and California. It also offers superior impact and blast resistance, and its predictable structure with no hidden reinforcing bars makes it great for future adaptive reuse.
“SpeedCore is a game-changer when it comes to the rapid design and erection of steel buildings because there’s no waiting for concrete to cure,” said Christopher H. Raebel, SE, PE, PhD, AISC vice president of engineering and research. “It’s possible to build four floors in a week. The new Design Guide provides a complete toolkit to harness the potential of this innovative structural system.”