Soil-Structure-Interaction (SSI) is a broad and interesting topic. Because of its complexity and unpredictability, engineers often require the use of sophisticated analysis techniques, including specialized software. …
Resilience has become a common term among engineers, policymakers, and the national community of construction industry professionals. NCSEA recently formed a Resilience subcommittee to develop positions and recommendations on issues concerning resilience-based planning and design. …
In 1893, John A. L. Waddell (see bio in STRUCTURE, February 2007) designed, based on the designs of Squire Whipple, a lift bridge over the south branch of the Chicago River at South Halsted Street. Plans were made to replace a damaged swing bridge at the site with another swing bridge but the “lake navigation interests” objected, arguing that the old bridge was “always a serious obstruction to navigation.” Their argument was heard by the Corps of Engineers who ruled that they “would not permit him [the Commissioner of Public Works Aldrich] to build any structure which would narrow the water-way to such an extent as would a rotating draw span.” …
Indemnification obligations are an important part of almost every design agreement. Stated simply, to indemnify someone means to financially protect them against specified claims. The party providing the financial protection (the “Indemnitor”) can be required to pay the amount of a judgment or settlement that is owed by the other party (the “Indemnitee”), or more commonly, can be required to reimburse the Indemnitee for costs the Indemnitee has incurred because of the specified claims. …
Towards the end of 2008, the New York City (NYC) Buildings Department (DOB) became aware that wind turbines had been installed on a couple of rooftops. The department is and has been firmly in favor of sustainable initiatives, but there were concerns these installations had insufficient engineering control. New York City’s high density of buildings and pedestrian traffic create a condition where any loose and free-falling piece of equipment may result in a severe accident. …
The Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete are specified in the American Concrete Institute’s ACI 318-14. As stated in Section 1.2.5, “This code covers the materials, design, construction and strength evaluation of structural concrete members and systems in any structure designed and constructed under the requirements of the general building code.” …
WSP was an Award winner for its Hanking Center project in the 2017 Annual Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards Program in the Category – New Buildings over $100M.
The Hanking Center in Shenzhen is China’s tallest steel-framed structure, rising 70 stories and 1,140 feet, with over 1,000,000 square feet of office space above six levels of retail. Tour an office floor and you will find a wide-open space with views in all four directions, but you will not find a restroom or an elevator lobby. That is unless you cross a narrow bridge spanning the 35 feet back to the service core, which is a separate 68-story, 1,110-foot tower. …
It was a clear, sunny Hawaiian morning on Saturday, January 13th, and I had just finished warming up my daughter’s soccer team, which was preparing to take the field when a message flashed on my cell phone: “BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.” …
Life-cycle assessment (LCA) is a quantitative means for assessing the environmental impact of an object. In structural engineering, the object of interest may be a building, bridge, or other structure. In order to provide a complete picture, the environmental impacts from the entire life-cycle of the object is considered: from the acquisition of the raw materials needed to form the members, through the energy and ancillary materials involved in the processing and transportation of these materials and members, excavation required during construction, future maintenance such as redecking or painting, up to the end use or disposal of the members. …
Here…is the gateway to Springfield and the towns to the east for almost an entire nation,” proclaimed Massachusetts Governor Channing Cox on August 2, 1922. It was Dedication Day for the new Hampden County Memorial Bridge, which spans the Connecticut River between the City of Springfield and Town of West Springfield in Western Massachusetts. Boston engineers Fay, Spofford & Thorndike, with architects Haven & Hoyt, designed the bridge, deemed a “finely-engineered example of a rare self-supporting arch rib reinforcement technique derived from the Melan tradition” [HAER Ma-114]. …