The Asbestos Impasse
Removing asbestos from the nation's buildings is a major task . Consulting engineers can play an important part in the process, locating and quantifying the carcinogenic material,...
U.S.-Japan Coordinated Program on Masonry Research
An overview of the U. S. -Japan Coordinated Program on Masonry Research is presented. The program consists of parallel efforts in Japan and the United States to develop design methods...
A Critical Look at Building Instrumentation in Earthquake Engineering
This paper discusses different issues and requirements existing in the area of building instrumentation. Strategies and types of equipment currently being used by the United States Geological...
Use of Vibration Tests to Determine Lateral Load Paths in Medium Rise Buildings
A structural system identification procedure is described in which an initial analytical model of a building is modified until it predicts accurately the mode shapes and natural frequencies...
Strengthening of a Multi-Story Building with Deflection Constraints
Occasionally the existing structural or nonstructural systems of a building being strengthened require the imposition of deflection constraints or limits in order to avoid an undesirable...
Regional Risk Assessment of Existing Buildings
This paper describes current research underway at Stanford University designed to develop a methodology for determining high risk buildings in a region. The work involves developing a...
Seismic Restraint of Hazardous Process Piping
The lack of appropriate guidelines for the design and installation of hazardous process piping in industrial facilities has created a potentially dangerous situation. Process piping carrying...
Wind Loads and Building Response Predictions Using Force Balance Techniques
The use of force balance techniques to measure mean and dynamic wind loads on models of buildings and structures is discussed. Advantages of using force balance techniques over estimating...
Building Identification: Needs and Means
The need to conduct 'system identification' of existing buildings by nondestructive testing is discussed. A recommended flow-chart is exemplified. Existing dynamic...
Evaluation of Seismic Strengthening of an Existing Building Using Base Isolation
This paper summarizes a study performed by Englekirk and Hart, Inc. to evaluate the feasibility of using base isolation to seismically upgrade an existing highrise building. To realize...
Earthquake Response of Five Story Reinforced Concrete Masonry Test Building
In 1986, a full-scale five story reinforced masonry test building is to be constructed in the Japan Building Research Institute Large-Scale Structure Test Laboratory, and through 1987...
Cladding Design for Tall Buildings
In the past twenty years, glass cladding has emerged as a popular and economic building material. Its use in tall buildings which are constructed in high-risk wind and seismic geographical...
Ambient Vibration Testing of the Foothill Communities Law and Justice Building
This paper presents the results of two ambient vibration tests conducted on the Foothill Communities Law and Justice Center Building. One ambient test was performed in 1985. The second...
The Atlantic Palace?Part II The Application of Wind Tunnel/Force Balance Techniques
A relatively new approach for determining overall wind-induced loads on a structure is described. This force balance technique is economical and flexible, and able to provide predictions...
It's Only Visual Inspection (Welding Inspection)
Unless specified otherwise in the Contract Documents, Visual Inspection will be performed on all fabrication/erection welding for projects that utilize the Specifications for the Design,...
A Recommended Federal Action Plan for Reducing Earthquake Hazards of Existing Buildings
In September 1985 a Five-Year Plan for reducing earthquake hazards of existing buildings was submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This plan, prepared by the Applied Technology...
Experimental Studies, Structural Design and Full-Scale Measurements for the Columbia Seafirst Center
The Columbia Seafirst Center is a 76-story office tower located in downtown Seattle, Washington. It rises to a height of about 940 feet above ground and is the world's 10th...
Damping in Tall Buildings: Its Variability and Treatment in Design
Increasingly, damping is being recognized as an important factor in the design of structures. It is at the same time a property which is relatively poorly defined, more acquired than engineered...
Damping Systems to Limit the Motion of Tall Buildings
Two types of damping systems have been used successfully in building applications - the Tuned Mass Damper, and Viscoelastic Damping Units. In the past, Tuned Mass Dampers were used in...
Design of Viscoelastic Dampers for Columbia Center Building
To reduce the dynamic response of a building with a given height and plan area to wind load, aside from inherent damping of the building, the designer has a few options available to him/her....
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