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Assalam-o-alaikum! In the USA, no one can start working as an engineer, just by graduating from an accredited engineering university in civil (or some other) engineering discipline. Rather, each engineer has to pass a comprehensive examination, called Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam, before he/she is eligible for joining some government or private consulting organizations as Engineering Intern (EI) or Engineer-in-Training (EIT), for gaining relevant professional experience to work as independent engineer later on. This exam covers and reviews all the basic subjects, a freshly graduated engineer is expected to have studied in the university during the engineering education. The FE exam is a closed book exam, except that 'FE Reference handbook' (a standard booklet, developed by NCEES_ the exam developing and conducting organization), is the only source material the examinees may consult during the exam. FE reference handbook gives a very good overview of the type and extent of basic technical knowledge (subjects, tables, formulas, equations etc) and concepts, a fresh graduate engineer (whether civil/structural, or any other) must have, to enter into practical engineering field in a technologically advanced country, like USA. The study of 'Civil engineering' portion of this handbook and relevant 'exam specification' at the end, may help us understand level of engineering knowledge we should have, as well as the subject areas requiring improvement of knowledge and strengthening of concepts, in order to make us better engineers. FE Reference Handbook may be downloaded from NCEES website,using following link, free of cost. : http://ncees.org/exams/study-materials/download-fe-supplied-reference-handbook/ Note: You will have to enter your email address in the space provided on the above webpage, and to press 'Submit email' button. The site will send you a password on your given email address. You need to provide this password (on the above webpage) in order to obtain/unlock download link of the FE handbook. Regards.

Assalam-o-alaikum! Check out Figures 1 & 2, pertaining to recommended one-way slabs and beam reinforcing details, in Part C 'Figures and Tables' of ACI 315-99 on pages 20 & 21 respectively. These figures are also available in .ACI Detailing Manual -2004 (SP66) on same page numbers. Regards.

Do not provide the reinforcement that can resist the moment at slab/wall joint. In other words, provide no reinforcement on the earth side, in the basement wall, at the that joint.

Span of the diaphragm is the distance between vertical lateral load resisting elements. Yes, the same diaphragm can behave different in different directions. Also read and understand following statement from the article: The statement implies that when your are using shear walls in the building, the span of the diaphragm could be the distance (perpendicular to the lateral force) between shear walls, depending upon the relative stiffness of moment resisting frames and shear walls. If the building has no shear walls, then the span is the distance (perpendicular to the lateral force) between column lines, or two consecutive frames.

No need for expansion joint in footings...But dont consider it final answer..Discuss with others too... Regarding 5.3 inelastic displacement at roof..yes you need 7.5in gap but first ask why 5.3 inch? That means 132.5mm. Improve your framing. Is your building like 120m high? How many stories? And how much is W and base shear in terms of W?