The design of concrete wall panels as an integral part of the building's structure is common. This provides clean exterior walls for racking. The thickness is in the range 12 (unbraced height) divided by 50, but obviously would be determined by job conditions. The weight is kept between 45 and 55 tonnes, while heights of 23m or greater are used. Widths should be in the 7.5 to 10.5m range due to rigging ease. Joist and girder connections are generally done with the following (see Figures 1-7): SK-1 and SK-4 use an embedded plate cast into the panel face with a seat welded to it, while SK-2 and SK-3 use a void (pocket) cast into the panel. SK-2 and SK3, while more tedious, are safer methods since they bring the load closer to the centre line of the panel and reduce the moment produced by the eccentricity in SK-1 brought about by the load being some distance from the panel's centre line. Additionally, should a stud fail on the embedded unit, the member will sit in the pocket with probably little long-term effect. SK-5 shows the deck angle welded directly to the unit embedded in the panel.
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