DEC 2016
Common Misunderstandings with Geotechnical Work
In his December 2015 editorial, the president of the Structural Engineering Institute of ASCE, David Odeh, suggested that the increasing complexity of design necessitated that structural engineers interact more with people in other disciplines.
Forward Thinking Engineers Are Automating Calculations, Are You?
Increasingly, the design and construction industry is relying on Building Information Modeling (BIM) to conceptualize, plan, detail, create, and guide the building of structures. As a result, the industry as a whole is moving toward more efficient processes. Surprisingly, structural calculations have not evolved in the same way.
APRIL 2015
THE ENGINEERING OF STRUCTURES AROUND US
New course being offered by edx.org. Explore how engineers design bridges and buildings in our communities and iconic structures around the world.
CINDER CONCRETE SLAB CONSTRUCTION
The great fires of the 1800s in Chicago, New York, and elsewhere spurred a technology race to develop the best fireproof floor system.
RURAL PHILIPPINE SHELTER CONSTRUCTION
Some common engineering challenges that need to be considered when doing construction overseas.
MARCH 2015
MILITARY TESTS INNOVATIVE BAFFLED BIOREACTOR
A new portable wastewater treatment system produces high-quality effluent while using less energy and maintenance than traditional methods.
BURNED BRIDGE OFFERS CLUES TO HOWE TRUSS BEHAVIOR
A charred railroad bridge gets a second life, providing researchers with insights into the behavior of posttensioned wood structures
CONCRETE SOLUTIONS TO AGING BRIDGES
University Park, Pa. — According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the state leads the nation in the number of bridges classified as “structurally deficient.”
CFSEI PUBLISHES NEW TECHNICAL NOTE
The Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI) has published a new Technical Note titled “Design for Splicing of Cold-Formed Steel Wall Studs”
WORKERS’ COMP: HOW MUCH FOR THAT ARM, EYE, OR FINGER?
Talk about adding insult to injury. Recently, Pro Publica investigated how much your parts are worth in terms of workers’ compensation benefits.
ENR ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST
Most of this year’s winning images center on the daily movement of human bodies on construction sites: Some are shown swinging in buckets past hole-punctured walls, while others are caught clinging to scaffolding at heart-stopping heights.
Rethinking the Green ApproachTerraced reforestation of a steep hillside provides a model for stormwater management in challenging settings.
ANSI approves 2015 NDS and SDPWS standardsThe American Wood Council (AWC) 2015 “National Design Specification (NDS) for Wood Construction” and “Special Design Provisions for Wind and Seismic” (SDPWS) standards have been approved as American National Standards by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
ACI releases reorganized ACI 318-14The American Concrete Institute (ACI) officially released the completely reorganized ACI 318-14: Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete.
Global Engineering Conference Ends on High Note with Closing KeynoteSOUTH BEND, Ind.ASCE’s Global Engineering Conference rounded out their experience with the third and final Distinguished Lecture, this one on “Envisioning a Better World: The Making of Community and Globally Impactful Engineers”
Innovation in Asphalt PavementsThinlay overlays and warm-mix asphalt help maintain an aging infrastructure.
Designing Post-Installed Anchors to the Latest StandardInternational Building Code and industry acceptance criteria have drastically changed requirements for how engineers specify products.
Cracks in Slabs and PavementsCracks in concrete slabs have different causes and different repair requirements.
ND civil engineers work to revolutionize construction in HaitiSOUTH BEND, Ind.— Five years after an earthquake devastated much of Haiti, a group of civil engineers from the University of Notre Dame is trying to revolutionize construction in the third world country.
Research identifies trends that will impact the development of rail for the coming 35 years and envisions the dramatic changes technology integration can bring.
Bamboo Reinforcement Could Help Developing Cities
Research on the use of a bamboo composite material in place of steel to strengthen concrete is producing positive results—and could help some developing countries urbanize.
Purdue students develop safe-water system for Dominican Republic community
A group of Purdue University students and faculty members have completed work on a system that makes safe drinking water available to a community in the Dominican Republic sickened by poor water.
‘Sensing skin’ quickly detects cracks, damage in concrete structures
Researchers have developed new ‘sensing skin’ technology designed to serve as an early warning system for concrete structures, allowing authorities to respond quickly to damage in everything from nuclear facilities to bridges.
U.S. DOT outlines steps for managing impending Highway Trust Fund shortfall
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx sent letters to state transportation departments and transit agencies outlining steps the Department of Transportation (DOT) will soon be forced to take to manage the impending insolvency of the Highway Trust Fund.
Engineers Testing 3-D Printing of Steel
Additive manufacturing of steel shows promise in producing small.
Beijing Development Aims To Blend with Nature
A new office, commercial, and residential development in Beijing, China, is inspired by an ancient Chinese art form that commonly depicts elements of nature, including mountains and waterfalls
Construction Disputes Take Less Time, More Money
A new report indicates that the cost of construction disputes has risen while the average resolution time has fallen slightly
U.S. Construction Spending Edges Up 0.1% in May
U.S. construction spending barely increased in May as gains in spending on non-residential projects such as office buildings and public construction were largely offset by a big drop in home building.
