1. RICE-ECCLES STADIUM
Understanding the Structure and Joints

2. 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)

3. Seating Arrangement
• West side has additional six story
structure
• Multiple bracing

4. Gravity Load Support System
• Steel Deck with concrete
topping
• Inclined Beams
• Columns
• Foundation

5. Lateral Load Support System
• Braces in multiple
direction in west
side, only lateral
bracing in east
side
• Concentric
• W- sections
• Round HSS

6. W- section Braces Round HSS Braces
Lateral Load Support System
• Better performance in buckling load
• Larger radius of gyration reducing the
slender ratio

7. 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

8. Lateral Torsional Buckling
• Local Torsional Buckling of member
• occurs due to buckling of compression flange

9. Connection Details
• Steel deck sheet to beams
• Seat Type Connection
• Welded
• Bearing Length = 2.5”

10. Connection Details
• Brace Connections
• W-shapes
• Bolted to gusset plate
• Gusset Plate Connection
• Beam interface- Welded
• Column interface - Bolted

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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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14. 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)

15. Economization of Sections
• Column Section Reduction
• Welded all around