14th Australia New Zealand Conference on Geomechanics, Cairns, 2023
The New Zealand Building Code (like many others) is a performance-based standard; however, the application of performance-based design is rare in practice. Typical design practice considers the capacity of individual elements in the building and does not allow for the full load-displacement response of the building system. Show more…This paper presents a case study where a performance-based design approach was used for the design of a new building on an existing foundation system and how it was able to illustrate compliance with the New Zealand Building code. The case study found that a capacity-based design approach was likely an impractical way to illustrate compliance with the Building Code. Given the significant negative project impacts including programme delays, environmental impacts and cost increases associated with adopting a new foundation system, a performance-based assessment was completed. With strong interaction between the geotechnical and structural engineers, a non-linear vertical pile spring analysis was undertaken, allowing the design team to demonstrate that the existing foundation system complied with the building code, avoiding the significant negative project impacts.Show less…
