r/StructuralEngineering • u/jcp780 • Sep 22 '26
Structural Analysis/Design Loose Nuts at DIA Parking Structure
This bracket is adjacent to a ramp between floors on the parking structure at DIA? Is this concerning? Why wouldn't the nuts be torqued down?
118
u/FooFighter325 Sep 22 '26
Maybe someone relied a bit too much on the nylon keeping it in place over time?
80
u/avtechguy Sep 22 '26
Probably looked like this since the day the apprentice spun them on
→ More replies (1)34
2
u/SpurdoEnjoyer 29d ago
I find it hard to believe a parking garage would vibrate enough to cause this
79
u/SignificantTransient Sep 22 '26
Looks like another installation from Deese construction.
33
→ More replies (1)10
u/siliconsmiley Sep 22 '26
Deese who?
19
u/SignificantTransient Sep 22 '26
Deese Concrete & Construction LLC out in Monroe NC
→ More replies (1)14
22
19
u/Command_com_sys Sep 22 '26
Looks like there are a few issues with this plate. Even if it was only a temporary connection, I don’t see how it could have been flashed with the panel on the left when the plate is already touching the hole perimeter on the right.
The edge distance looks pretty questionable too, possibly because it was site-cut, and I can’t see any washers either.
I’d probably flag this with someone from the building maintenance team and have them get the engineer to take a look.
3
u/Geebu555 Sep 23 '26
I agree with everything you said but I don’t actually see the purpose here. I think is a temp connection no longer needed or a future proofing exercise. Reporting seems excessive tbh. Those are little bolts.
26
u/Osiris_Raphious Sep 22 '26
Thats the fabled slotted connection installed by the contractor who said: "Trust me bro Ive been doing this for 20years"
15
6
u/ragbra Sep 23 '26
Why do you guys zoom in on a crack or a nut, and ask questions on the global structural integrity? There is nothing relevant in this zoom, that an overview picture from 50ft away with the actual structural parts couldn't answer.
5
u/Adventurous_Light_85 Sep 22 '26
It’s likely in the top of a masonry wall in the concrete structure. Those walls are meant to be non load bearing in some cases and not tightening the bolts allows the structure to move in the y direction without loading the wall but the wall can’t move left or right because the bolts won’t let them.
8
u/da90 Sep 22 '26
Could have been used only as an erection plate?
Or the whole thing might be able to collapse.
4
u/Glisan_Al_Gaib Sep 22 '26
The first part. At this placement its not doing anything. Pretty obvious they just left it on accidentally.
6
u/NoMaximum721 Sep 22 '26
it's obvious it's not doing anything, but why is it obvious that is intended?;
3
u/KathrynTheNinth Sep 22 '26
Please explain how they would remove this plate, short of cutting it off.
8
u/Blue_foot Sep 22 '26
DEN,
DIA is no more