PCI Online Academy: Lateral Loads

This online academy covers wind and seismic loads for the design of lateral force resisting systems as well as diaphragms in precast concrete structures. It reviews the requirements for force determination and the detailing per ASCE 7 and ACI 318 codes. The impacts of these requirements will be examined for intermediate precast walls and special precast walls in an example structure throughout the lecture series. Diaphragm force determination following ASCE 7-16 will be presented, including simplifying assumptions for diaphragm behavior and force transfer within the diaphragm. This includes lateral forces that a structure undergoes and the associated free body diagrams of the system. Additionally, the series offers a review of lateral force resisting system components and their interrelationship to the building code and standards with respect to response modification factors, over strength factors, and deflection amplification factors. Attendees will learn how to calculate wind loads as well as seismic loads for low to high seismic applications, including classical equivalent lateral force procedure and dynamic analysis methods (e.g., response spectrum analysis), and comprehensive design and detailing of structural components.

 

Series Breakdown

  • Session 1: Introduction and Background – Lateral Loads
  • Session 2: Wind Forces for Main Wind Force Resisting System (MWFRS), and Components & Cladding (CC) Pressures
  • Session 3: Seismic Forces for Seismic Design Categories (SDC) A and B
  • Session 4: Diaphragm Design for Wind and Seismic Design Categories (SDC) A and B
  • Session 5: Seismic Forces for Seismic Design Categories (SDC) C and Higher, Part 1
  • Session 6: Seismic Forces for Seismic Design Categories (SDC) C and Higher, Part 2
  • Session 7: Seismic Forces for Seismic Design Categories (SDC) C and Higher, Part 3
  • Session 8: Diaphragm Design for Seismic Design Categories (SDC) C and Higher, Part 1
  • Session 9: Diaphragm Design for Seismic Design Categories (SDC) C and Higher, Part 2


Classes will be held on November 5, 12, 19, 26; December 3, 10, 17; January 7, 14 from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm CT.  Each session will be hosted online allowing you to access the content from the comfort of your home, office, hotel room, or anyplace with an internet connection!  Recordings of each session will be made available to all registered attendees in case of absence or if you'd like to review the content. 

Technical Requirements

All courses for the PCI Online Academy will run via the GoToTraining.com software. To participate fully in the course, participants will need internet access. 

IMPORTANT: You will receive an email from customercare@gototraining.com within 24 hours. This email contains the link you will need to join the online training session. If you don’t receive it, please be sure to check your spam folder and contact bmissaggia@pci.org immediately so we can provide the link for you.

Cancellation Policy

A $75 cancellation fee will be assessed to those attendees who cancel their registrations up to the start of the series. If an insufficient number of people register, PCI could cancel or reschedule this academy. In the event that PCI must cancel an online academy, your registration will be transferred to a future academy or, at your request, can be fully refunded. Personnel substitutions are welcomed.

Academy Presenters

 

Ismail “Baha” Kuzucu, PhD
Structural Engineer, The Consulting Engineers Group, Inc.

David P. Nasser, PE
President/CEO, The Consulting Engineers Group, Inc.

Chris C. Kercsmar, PE
Executive Vice President, The Consulting Engineers Group, Inc.
When
11/5/2025 5:00 PM - 1/14/2026 6:30 PM
Central Standard Time
Registration
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Registration ends 12/3/2025 5:00 PM CST

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