Installed between 1952 and 1973, the 78-inch and 96-inch-diameter Bay Division Pipelines (BDPLs) 3 and 4 are two of the major regional transmission pipelines in the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s (SFPUC’s) Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System. …
Most structural engineers are creative in the sense of finding a structural solution to an architectural challenge, but they are not often thought of as artistic. Once in a great while, a design team and an owner come together and the whole is truly more than the sum of its parts. …
Part 1 of this series discussed the investigation of an existing timber-framed, multi-story building, that is over one hundred years old, and the resulting evacuation of the occupants due to an unsafe condition at the main support columns of the building. This installment discusses the nature of the deterioration observed and the solutions considered for repair. …
Structural engineers are starting to see wisps of the cloud. What has become common in many industries – working from the cloud – is beginning to see daylight among those engaged in construction. …
I’m very excited about the upcoming 2014 NCSEA Conference in New Orleans. This year, we once again focused on putting together a schedule of well-known speakers with topics that the practicing structural engineer can really use, and we continued last year’s practice of offering concurrent sessions that allow attendees a choice between topics. …
Structural engineers in certain parts of the country have practiced under a separate licensing law for many years, most under a title act, not by choice, but by compromise. Two states have full practice acts limiting the practice of structural engineering to structural engineers and architects, also a compromise. …
Until the middle of the 19th Century, wood was commonly used as a primary structural building material in many types of non-residential buildings around the world. Many of these timber-built structures remain standing and are still in use today, including factories, warehouses, schools, temples, and churches – some dating as far back as the seventh century. …
Steel joist and deck systems are already an efficient means of construction, but there are ways an engineer can design these systems more efficiently and cost effectively. Techniques include designing support framing to maximize deck strength utilization, selecting seat sizes to accommodate long joist top chord extensions, …
Life safety has always been a fundamental goal of U.S. building codes. With the introduction of the International Building Codes (IBC) in 2000, new demands have been placed on engineers, manufacturers and builders who produce structures in earthquake-prone regions. Prior to the IBC, engineers were accustomed to designing buildings to prevent damage such as buckling and yielding. …
The Wood Frame Construction Manual (WFCM) for One- and Two-Family Dwellings was updated and is designated ANSI/AWC WFCM-2012 (Figure 1). The 2012 WFCM was developed by the American Wood Council’s (AWC) Wood Design Standards Committee and is referenced in the 2012 International Residential Code (IRC) and 2012 International Building Code (IBC). …