Covered Bridge Connection (Available in Structural Engineering Special Issue only)
A 145-year-old timber bridge in Downsville, New York, now rests on the longest glue-laminated wood beams ever produced in the United States. Six 53 m (174 ft) long chords were threaded...
Into the Fourth Dimension
A team of contractors designed a pharmaceutical plant entirely in 3-D CAD, then linked the renderings to a cost program and scheduling software, adding a fourth dimension�time�to the process....
Power Struggle
The Florida Light and Power Company could have replaced its deteriorating, H-shaped wooden power poles in the Tomoka River with exact duplicates, but they chose to use hybrid steel-and-concrete...
On the Wild Side
Designers of today's roller coasters are constantly looking for new ways to exhilarate riders, from higher drops to tighter turns to launch mechanisms that exert more force...
Domesticating Steel
Residential contractors, nervous about fluctuations in lumber prices and quality, would welcome steel framing into the housing market if the necessary infrastructure were in place. Despite...
Wood Engineering in the 21st Century
Research Needs and Goals
These proceedings,
Federal Triangle Finale
At 3.1 million sq ft, the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center is the second largest U.S. federal building ever constructed; only the Pentagon is larger. After more than...
Construction Robots
The Search for New Building Technology in Japan
This book presents Japan's achievements in the development and application of over 100 construction robots and five automated systems. The Japanese have progressed far beyond...
Timber!
For engineers accustomed to working with steel, using large wood beams in structural applications can be an unusual experience. Three Midwestern construction projects�a nature center,...
Who's Surfing? We're Working!
Now that the novelty has worn off, how are engineers using the Internet in their everyday work? Productively is the answer, as both firms and software developers make use of the Internet...
Florida's Big Bellies
FPL designed and installed double reverse tapered poles, affectionately called big belly because the width gradually increases toward the middle and narrows at both ends. The poles replace...
Turnback Project Moves Ahead
The $202 million Muni Metro Turnback (MMT) Project, scheduled for completion in September 1996, includes an 840 ft section consisting of twin steel-lined tunnels that connects to the Embarcadero...
Validation of the Simplified Audit Process at a Roofing Tar Paper Speciality Product Manufacturer -
The Simplified Audit Process (SAP) is presently tested in a roofing tar paper speciality product manufacturer in Joliette, Quebec. The steps involved in the process had helped the company...
The Timberlake Dam Failure: A Hydrometeorological Assessment
Extremely heavy rainfall over the Timberlake basin in southwest Virginia on 23 June 1995 caused an earthen dam to fail and resulted in fatalities. The meteorological conditions are examined...
Swimming in Style
The Deerfield Academy's new $10 million swimming and squash facility, built in the floodplain of a river, is a jewel-box created from glue-laminated timber, galvanized steel,...
Reinforced Glued Laminated Timber
In record time, reinforced glued laminated timber (glulam) has moved from an experimental product to wide-spread commercial acceptance. Several case studies illustrate applications and...
Marine Borers Are Back
Cleaning up the nation's harbors has brought a resurgence in marine borer activity. These organisms, mainly the teredo and the limnoria, eat at timber piers, undermining critical...
Wood Working
Engineers may be more accustomed to working with concrete and steel, but for certain projects aesthetics, cost or other considerations may make wood the preferred choice. According to...
Construction Congress
This proceedings,
Load Duration Effects in an 85-Year-Old Timber Structure
Duration of load (DOL) effects are assessed in 85-year-old heavy timber trusses using five common DOL models. These models are based on the idea of static damage accumulation. Material...
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