Structural Engineer Needed – SAP2000 Model Verification, Reinforced Concrete, Load-Bearing Masonry, and Seismic Design Hello everyone,

### Structural Engineer Needed – SAP2000 Model Verification, Reinforced Concrete, Load-Bearing Masonry, and Seismic Design Hello everyone, I am looking for an **experienced structural engineer specializing in reinforced concrete, load-bearing masonry, and seismic design** to review, verify, and complete the structural design of a two-story residential building (Ground Floor + First Floor) located in **Les Cayes, Haiti, near Antoine-Simon Airport**. ### 1. Existing Structural Model I have developed a structural model using **SAP2000**, including columns, beams, and slabs. The load-bearing masonry walls have not yet been incorporated into the model. The engineer must be able to interpret the architectural layout, incorporate the structural contribution of these walls, and reassess the overall structural behavior and load distribution. ### 2. Structural Characteristics - Clear floor height: 2.90 m per story. - Load-bearing walls: 150 mm thick concrete masonry blocks. - Wall panels: Approximately 5–6 m long, generally with two windows measuring 1.20 × 1.20 m each. - Vertical wall reinforcement: 1/2-inch diameter bars spaced at 600 mm. - Horizontal wall reinforcement: Two 3/8-inch diameter bars with cross-ties every three courses of blocks. - Reinforcing steel: Grade 40. - Ground-floor columns: 360 × 360 mm, reinforced with 10 × 1/2-inch Grade 40 bars. - First-floor columns: Preliminary sections of 250 × 250 mm and 200 × 250 mm, subject to verification and optimization. - Kitchen and open-to-below drop beams: Preliminary sections of 250 × 500 mm. - **Perimeter reinforced concrete beams (ring beams) supported by the load-bearing masonry walls and receiving the floor slab loads.** Their dimensions, reinforcement, continuity, and connections must be verified. ### 3. Special Structural Features The kitchen drop beams will have no intermediate load-bearing walls, but load-bearing masonry walls will be provided at both ends. A similar arrangement is planned for the first-floor drop beams surrounding the open-to-below area. The perimeter beams will be supported by the load-bearing masonry walls and will contribute to load transfer, structural continuity, and the connection between the slabs and masonry walls. The project also includes a sloped entrance porch, part of an office area, and a portion of the original garage converted into a bedroom. ### 4. Current Construction Status - Foundations and footings: Already constructed. - Ground-floor columns: Already constructed. - First-floor columns: Not yet constructed; their dimensions and reinforcement may be modified. - Load-bearing masonry walls: Currently under construction. ### 5. Required Structural Review and Deliverables The scope of work includes: 1. **Complete verification of the existing SAP2000 model**, including geometry, materials, sections, boundary conditions, structural connections, and modeling assumptions. 2. **Comprehensive verification of all parameters entered under SAP2000's Define → Load Patterns, Load Cases, Load Combinations, and Mass Source**, using the **Haitian National Building Code (CNBH 2025)** as the primary reference. 3. **Detailed seismic load verification**, including seismic hazard parameters, site classification, response spectrum, seismic coefficients, response modification factor (R), seismic mass, base shear, modal participation, building periods, and lateral displacements. 4. **Detailed wind load verification**, including basic wind speed, exposure category, topographic effects, pressure coefficients, wind pressures, and load distribution according to CNBH 2025. 5. Verification of dead loads, live loads, roof loads, and all applicable load combinations. 6. Integration and structural assessment of the load-bearing masonry walls, including the effects of window openings. 7. **Verification and design of perimeter reinforced concrete beams (ring beams) supported by the load-bearing masonry walls and carrying the slab loads**, including bending, shear, reinforcement, anchorage, and connections to the masonry and columns. 8. Verification and design of ground-floor and first-floor slabs, including bending moments, shear forces, deflections, and reinforcement requirements. 9. Verification and optimization of the kitchen and open-to-below drop beams, including possible section reductions where structurally justified. 10. Verification and optimization of the first-floor columns, including dimensions and reinforcement. 11. Structural assessment of the already constructed foundations and ground-floor columns. 12. Preparation of **detailed reinforcement drawings** for slabs, perimeter beams, drop beams, columns, and structural connections, including anchorage, lap splices, and seismic detailing. ### 6. Mandatory Design Code **The primary reference standard for this project is the Haitian National Building Code (CNBH 2025).** All structural loading assumptions, parameters, and values entered into SAP2000 must be independently reviewed and verified against the applicable provisions of CNBH 2025, **with particular emphasis on seismic and wind loading**. Where CNBH 2025 refers to other standards or does not provide sufficient technical guidance, appropriate complementary standards may be used, provided their applicability is clearly justified. **ACI 318 was considered in the initial SAP2000 reinforced concrete design**, but the engineer must verify that the final design and detailing satisfy the applicable requirements. The engineer should not simply accept the existing SAP2000 inputs or analysis results without independent verification. ### 7. Available Documentation I can provide the existing SAP2000 model, architectural floor plans, layout images, available structural drawings, and additional project information. ### Project Objective My objective is to obtain a **comprehensive, independent structural verification**, ensure that all SAP2000 loading parameters—especially seismic and wind loads—are consistent with CNBH 2025, and