Recasting a Foundry (Available only in <italic>Structures</italic> Special Issue)

Loomis, Gary W.; Knepper, Dave P.; ,

Recasting a Foundry (Available only in Structures Special Issue)

by Gary W. Loomis, Principal Structural Engineer; Gilbert/Commonwealth and Parsons Main, 2675 Morgantown Rd., Reading, PA 19607,
Dave P. Knepper, Sr. Structural Engineer; Gilbert/Commonwealth and Parsons Main, Reading, PA,

Serial Information: Civil Engineering—ASCE, 1996, Vol. 66, Issue 5, Pg. 14A-16A

Document Type: Feature article

Abstract:

Even as the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard sails toward closure under the 1991 Base Realignment and Closure Law, work at the base foundry has accelerated since the 1980s. The foundry uses several unique production processes, including high melting capacity and the ability to produce 141 different alloys. It currently performs more than 700 no-bake castings annually for East Coast naval activities. After the shipyard closed early this year, the base remained operational. The East Coast Amalgamated Foundry will produce propellers, propeller shaft sleeves and miscellaneous castings as needed for emergency ship repair. A $4 million renovation, scheduled to begin this summer and be completed by spring 1997, will upgrade the facility, which began operation in 1918, and make it safe for human occupancy. Following a detailed structural condition assessment, the 80-year-old foundry at the Philadelphia Naval Base is ready to undergo renovation for a new commercial life. Use of a 3-D, finite element analysis minimized the required structural modifications and resulted in major savings in construction costs.

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