RICE-ECCLES STADIUM

Understanding the Structure and Joints

General Information

• Built : 1927 – Utes Stadium (20000 capacity)

1972 – Rice Stadium (renovated by Robert Rice)

2002 – Rice – Eccles Olympic Stadium

($10 million donation by Spencer Eccles)

• Architects – FFKR Architects

• Structural Designer – Reavley Engineers and Associates

• Seating – 45600 (Current)

56000 (Planned Expansion)

Seating Arrangement

• West side has additional six story structure

• Multiple bracing

Gravity Load Support System

• Steel Deck with concrete topping

• Inclined Beams• Columns• Foundation

Lateral Load Support System

• Braces in multiple direction in west side, only lateral bracing in east side

• Concentric

• W- sections

• Round HSS

W- section Braces Round HSS Braces

Lateral Load Support System

• Better performance in buckling load• Larger radius of gyration reducing the

slender ratio

Horizontal Stability

• Concreted Steel sheet as rigid floor diaphragm

• Horizontal stiffener beams to support columns and beams laterally

Yellow – Load carrying Beam

Blue – Columns

Red – Lateral Stiffener Beams

Lateral Torsional Buckling

• Local Torsional Buckling of member

• occurs due to buckling of compression flange

Connection Details

• Steel deck sheet to beams

• Seat Type Connection

• Welded

• Bearing Length = 2.5”

Connection Details

• Brace Connections

• W-shapes• Bolted to gusset plate

• Gusset Plate Connection• Beam interface- Welded

• Column interface - Bolted

Connection Details

• Brace Connections

• Round HSS • Slit and welded to gusset plate

• Longitudinal Weld all around

• No augmentation

• Gusset Plate Connection• Beam interface- Welded

• Column interface - Bolted

Connection Details

• Beam to Concrete

• Seat Type to Concrete column

• Web stiffener right above the connection

• Embedded Plate Connection to Wall

• Shear transfer from beam to concrete wall

Connection Details

• Beam Splice Connection

• Web only connected but not flange

• Bolted to one beam and shop welded to the other for easy fabrication

• Web stiffener to prevent web crippling

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Connection Details

• Column to foundation

• Column welded to base plate – fillet weld all around

• Base Plate anchored to the foundation

• Base plate designed for uplift of the column being an open structure

(Pic. Courtesy NEEShub)

Economization of Sections

• Column Section Reduction

• Welded all around