Leadership to Address the World’s Challenges
Who better than structural engineers (and civil engineers in general) have the skills, temperament, and understanding of the built environment to lead the next disruptive changes to advance society? …
For the practicing structural engineer, deciphering the wind provisions of ASCE 7 is an ever-present challenge. However, some would argue that the real challenge is addressing commonly encountered situations which are not directly addressed in the code. …
Most building codes worldwide have been developed to protect building occupant health and safety under likely loading, including earthquakes. Severe wind, snow, and live loads frequently occur during a building’s life. Therefore, in addition to protecting life safety, code requirements for these loads also result in a very low probability that buildings will be damaged by these loads. Earthquakes, however, occur rarely and most buildings never experience a significant earthquake. …
Part 3
Many structural engineers have not traditionally been involved in the analysis or design of building fire safety. When they have been, their focus has generally been on structural fire protection and, with some exceptions, their scope has been limited to ensuring compliance with prescriptive building code requirements for the fire resistance ratings of different building elements. However, structural fire protection is just one aspect of a comprehensive framework for building fire safety. …
Designing for Floor Vibrations Caused by Concerts
Concerts tend to create a worst case loading scenario for floor vibrations. Large groups of people are concentrated together, and the musical performance provides a synchronization signal for the audience to sway, bounce, or jump along with the music. …
When damaged members and connections are identified, it is imperative to assess the extent that the damage may impact the structural integrity of the cold-formed steel member or connection. As stated in the Engineers Notebook article, Evaluation of Cold-Formed Steel Members and Connections (STRUCTURE, February 2018), assessment should be made quickly to contain the damages or protect the public welfare. …
Design for SDC D, E, and F Buildings
This article presents an overview of the design requirements for shallow reinforced concrete foundations (spread footings and mat foundations) supporting buildings assigned to Seismic Design Category (SDC) D, E, or F. Also included is a proposed design method that goes beyond requirements in current codes and standards. Although the following discussion focuses exclusively on spread footings supporting members of the seismic-force-resisting system (SFRS), it is also applicable to mat foundations. …
Why Additional Credentialing is Necessary for Some Structures
Structural engineering licensure is a hotly debated topic within the structural engineering profession. One question that is often raised is “What structures (often referred to as Designated Structures) should structural engineers be required to design?” This article discusses: …
Governing Law and Forum Selection Provisions: Part 2
Design agreements often contain a governing law provision which specifies that the laws of a designated jurisdiction will govern any disputes arising from the agreement. Likewise, design agreements often contain forum or venue selection provisions that specify where the adjudication of any disputes will take place. …
A straight-line wind event took place in Rockwall, Texas, March 29, 2017, producing significant structural damage resulting in four red- and five yellow-tagged homes. The National Weather Service in Fort Worth estimated the storm’s wind speed to be 100 to 110 mph. Before demolition of the most impacted home (Figure 1), APA – The Engineered Wood Association (APA) field staff followed through with an opportunity to survey the damage. …