Structural engineers are not traditionally involved in the analysis or design of building fire safety. When they are, their focus is generally on structural fire protection and, with some exceptions, their scope is limited to ensuring compliance with prescriptive building code requirements for the fire resistance ratings of different building elements. …
Part 1 of this article (STRUCTURE, October 2017) showed that if column and wall supports restrain the shortening of a post-tensioned member at stressing, part or all of the precompression intended for the post-tensioned member will be diverted to the supports. …
The lateral force-resisting system tends to be one of the most challenging aspects of the structural design of a building. In today’s wood-framed construction, designers consistently see larger buildings combined with bigger and more numerous window and door openings. This construction trend usually translates into reduced areas for lateral resistance throughout the structure. …
Today’s design, engineering, and construction professionals face a host of complex construction challenges. Industry initiatives focus on building a safer, more sustainable built environment. Owners seek maximum return on investments. Engineers pursue innovative technologies that maximize asset life and minimize life-cycle costs. …
A key aspect of reinforced concrete design is the calculation of the required reinforcing area and the required development and splice lengths for proper reinforcement details. In most structures, the reinforcement is cast with the concrete and subsequent concrete pours, i.e. “new” concrete, is placed around the cast-in-place reinforcement protruding from the existing concrete. …
Anthropogenic (human-caused) emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) into the atmosphere, particularly carbon dioxide, are causing dramatic changes to the earth’s climate and oceans. These changes are described in detail in the authoritative and comprehensive reports written by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. …
Changes to the 2018 International Building Code (IBC) and 2018 International Existing Buildings Code (IEBC) were approved by the International Code Council (ICC) during their 2015/2016 code development cycle. This article outlines changes to the code requirements for wood construction, the majority of which are changes to the IBC. Only a few changes for exterior balconies involve the IEBC. …
Searching for a job can be a long and challenging process. Regardless if you are a recent college graduate or an experienced engineer, read on to learn about the three critical steps that will result in a more productive and helpful job search. …
Alfred Benesch & Company was an Award Winner for its Chicago Riverwalk project in the 2017 Annual Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards Program in the Category – Other Structures.
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The extraordinary devastation left by storms, earthquakes, and wildfires in 2017 dominated the news media for months. Many of our colleagues around the globe were directly affected by these events but still rose to the challenge by volunteering as emergency responders or by joining teams to study and report on lessons learned. Whether impacted or not, structural engineers keep the public safe from disasters every day. …