This article references several detailed Tables. Unfortunately, space constraints dictate not reprinting Table 1 from the May 2016 issue of STRUCTURE.
Efficiency and economy of structures are important parts of structural engineering. Efficiency and economy are not new ideas: engineers build many remarkable bridges and buildings under strict financial constraints. …
Structural repairs are never “one size fits all” and, by combining flexibility and creativity, structural engineering professionals can employ innovative approaches to repair older wooden structures. These creative solutions can foster goodwill with existing clients, gain new design commissions, and help develop a reputation as a thought leader in the process. …
The world needs great leaders. We need better leaders in our government, in our companies, in our associations and organizations, and in our committees and teams. There are many articles and books published on leadership, but this article is based on my thirty years of working with structural engineering offices, associations, and committees. I have seen firsthand the many opportunities that are available where engineers can demonstrate leadership. …
Following the tragic ceiling collapse in the Interstate 90 Connector Tunnel in Boston, Massachusetts, on July 10, 2006, the National Transportation Safety Board’s Highway Accident Report, NTSB Number HAR-07/02, identified several safety issues including, “inadequate regulatory requirements for tunnel inspections.” On July 6, 2012, President Obama signed the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), which required the Secretary to establish national standards for tunnel inspections. Thus, the impetus for a tunnel safety inspection program can be traced back nearly ten years, with the requirement to develop national tunnel inspection standards mandated nearly four years ago. …
DeSimone Consulting Engineers was an Award Winner for the 170 Amsterdam project in the 2015 NCSEA Annual Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards program (Category – New Buildings $30M to $100M).
Located on a long narrow site on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, 170 Amsterdam, a $75 million project, provides the benefits of floor to ceiling windows without compromising energy efficiency. …
After forty-five years of experience as a structural engineering manager, including much trial and error, I have learned what works well and what does not. Based on what I have learned, I would like to offer this advice on five important topics. …
The following article is a reflection of Brian Petruzzi’s experience at the 2015 NCSEA Summit, with contributions provided by Jera Schlotthauer.
There has been an ongoing conversation within NCSEA over the last few years on the importance of Young Member Groups. …
Have you heard or read about engineers becoming dissatisfied with the profession, their employer, or their career and pursuing employment in other occupations? Some suggest the source of dissatisfaction is a result of a conflict between the work the engineer is engaged in and their values and passions. In his book Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies, author Jim Collins encouraged companies to ask themselves, “What do we stand for and why do we exist?” …
As voluminous as our codes have become, they do not provide guidance to all situations. Students in structural design classes often ask the professor, “What is the procedure I need to follow?” The question they should be asking is “What is the underlying behavior?” Only then will they begin to develop engineering judgment and be able to correctly implement code provisions in their designs. …
Software programs for structural engineers continue to escalate in complexity, as engineers become increasingly reliant on those tools to increase accuracy in analysis and efficiency during design. To solve complex problems efficiently, and to gain a more in-depth understanding of the elements being analyzed, structural engineers are using Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Of course, each of the different FEA programs has their idiosyncrasies, all of which require designers to pay close attention when using these programs. …