Inefficiencies exist in the design-bid-build delivery of typical commercial construction projects. There is a solution that requires little additional effort by the design team. The object is to provide bids that are more accurate, create less haggling over change orders, generate a better relationship between the contractor and the design team, and ultimately lead to a less costly project. …
In the best of all possible worlds, engineers and their clients will negotiate their contract, the engineer will provide the agreed-upon services, and the client will pay the agreed-upon amount. In the real world, there is always the chance that something will go wrong, there will be a dispute, and the dispute will result in arbitration or litigation. …
When embarking on a successful job search, it is paramount to effectively research companies and interview with them. The information gathered allows you to make a better decision on a company when changing jobs. You want to make a good move… moreover, companies want you to make a good decision too. They are putting a lot on the line when adding a new person to the team. …
When damaged cold-formed steel members or connections are identified, it is imperative they are assessed to determine the extent of the compromise to the structural integrity and the load carrying ability. Often, such assessment has to be made quickly to contain the propagation of damage to adjacent members and to protect the public welfare. Replacement of material is always an option. However, it may not be the most economical or expeditious solution. …
McNamara·Salvia Structural Engineers was an Outstanding Award Winner for its Exchange at 100 Federal Street project in the 2017 Annual Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards Program in the Category – New Buildings under $20M. …
Structural Engineers of Record (SER) should all be well trained by insurance providers and legal professionals to avoid the realm of means and methods of construction – that sometimes grey area where the contractor is responsible for temporarily supporting partially erected structural elements even though they may not fully understand the statics of force transfer, temporary construction loads, and effects of environmental loads that may occur. …
According to Wikipedia, a New Year’s resolution is a tradition in which a person resolves to change an undesired trait or behavior, to accomplish a personal goal, or otherwise improve their lives. According to Urban Dictionary, a New Year’s resolution is a goal that you propose then forget about the next day. With that in mind, I would like to offer nine New Year’s resolutions to improve your life as a structural engineer. Most of them you already know but, like any good resolution, you just need a gentle reminder. …
Post-tensioning is the most significant development in the concrete construction industry since steel reinforcement was first employed in the mid-1800s. Post-tensioning (PT) delivers roughly four times the tensile strength compared to conventional reinforcement and significantly reduces (or eliminates) concrete cracking, thus enabling thinner slab construction – reducing the environmental impacts, saving material and labor costs, and shortening construction schedules. Post-tensioning also brings a host of seismic advantages to a structure and enables architects to employ concrete in artful shapes and sizes once thought impossible. …
Flat plate voided concrete slab systems have been used for many years in Europe and other parts of the world. These systems are becoming increasingly popular in the U.S. This is due to many inherent benefits which include reduced self-weight (resulting in smaller column sizes and foundations as well as smaller seismic forces); larger allowable superimposed loads for given span lengths; economical longer spans; reduced floor-to-floor heights; and accelerated construction schedules. …
Have you ever been asked to provide an underlayment recommendation to level, resurface, or fill space over a structural element? This article can provide a framework for developing appropriate options. …