Design live loads for passenger cars parking garages

The objective of this study is to obtain a better understanding of five loa ds in passenger cars parking garages and to recommend an appropriate value for design. Load surveys were conducted in nine parking garages in Chicago and Urbana-Champaign, Ill., and Boston and Cambridge, Mass. Based on the su rvey data, statistical analyses were carried out on the equivalent uniforml y distributed loads, which produce the maximum column axial loads and beam midspan moments that the building is expected to experience during its life time. The dynamic amplifications due to vehicle motions on the decks and ra mps were also investigated. The results suggest a possible reduction of the design live load from the current value of 2.39 kN/m(2) (50 psf), as stipu lated in the ASCE-7-95 and other codes and standards, to 1.92 kN/m(2) (40 p sf), but with no allowance for reduction according to the bay area.