Top-to-Bottom Construction in High-Rise Buildings
This top-to-bottom construction method, called jackblock is a cousin of lift-slab. The main components are the jack and concrete block, hence the name. The top story of a building is constructed...
Design and Construction of Long-Span Metal Culverts
Long-span metal culverts are built of corrugated-metal plates bolted together. They have spans exceeding 15 ft. Principal applications include use as drainage structures, grade separations,...
The Personalized System of Instruction: Death Knell for the Lecture�
In most universities, teaching methods have not changed substantially since the invention of the printing press 500 years ago. Yet in recent years, some engineering schools have shown...
Non-Government Consensus Standards: Changes in the Wind�
Article clarifies the standards-writing climate in the U.S. today. Among key thrusts are: (1)The Federal Trade Commission just published a draft regulation that would significantly change...
Fledgling Standards-Writing Program: Progress Report
Officially reborn just over two years ago, ASCE's standards effort now includes more than a dozen standards-writing committees at work or now being formed. Focus is in four...
1977 Clean Air Act: Cheapest Way to Clean Up the Environment�
What impact is the Clean Air Act of 1977 having on American industry? Is the law the most cost effective way to clean up the nation's air? The power industry dislikes the...
World's Tallest Offshore Platform Stands in 1025 Ft of Water
During the summer and fall of 1977 and 1978, Shell Oil installed the world's deepest drilling and production platform in water. Located in 1025-ft of water at the Cognac tract...
U.S.-China Relations: Friends Now, Partners Tomorrow
Now that diplomatic relations are resumed, U.S. firms are vying for a share of the big development contracts China has to offer: ports and waterways development, earthquake engineering,...
Concrete Microwave Tower is Award Winner
A microwave tower in Florida was built of cast-in-place concrete instead of steel, because: (1)Concrete was considered more esthetic than steel; and (2)concrete was more resistant than...
Construction Risk: Who Pays�
A report is given on the January 1979 Construction Risk and Liability Sharing Conference sponsored by ASCE's Construction Division Committees on Contract Administration and...
Thames River Flood Barrier
For 200 years, flood tides have surged into the Thames flooding London and its vicinity. Ground subsidence in the area and the melting of the polar ice cap is combining to worsen the problem....
The Computer Service Bureau: What Role Today�
Given the fact that minicomputers are finding their way into more and more engineering offices today, it is timely to ask: does the computer service bureau still have a role to play? This...
Highway Embankment Doubles as Dam
By slightly modifying the design of a highway and its drainage, Pennsylvania engineers were able to reclaim about 100 acres of former swampland for residential use. Without extra cost...
Stamford's Urban Renewal Project Takes Off
Stamford, Conn. is one of the most fiscally sound cities in the United States. And a key reason is that over the past 13 years, it has become the home of 16 of the nation's...
New Umbrella Society for Engineering is Taking Shape
If all goes as planned (and the prognosis is good), 1980 will see the start of operation of a new umbrella society in engineering. The joint creation of many engineering specialty societies...
First U.S. Carrousel Racetrack Sewage Plant: simple, economical, excellent removeal.
Campbellsville, Kentucky will be the first community in the U.S. to use a promising new sewage treatment process�� the so-called Carrousel process. The process uses turbine aerators both...
Women Engineers: Here to Stay
Women represent 51% of the U.S. population; 1% of the engineering profession. That is now changing and, consequently, women graduates are highly sought after. But once hired, many women...
Nuclear Waste Disposal: Is there a safe solution?
Will fission nuclear power play a major role in the American power industry during the next 50 years? Whether or not it does will largely depend on whether the federal Department of Energy...
Underground Buildings Save Energy
While properly designed underground buildings use less energy for heating and cooling, that's not always the reason they're underground. For example, San Francisco's...
Special Projects Strengthen CE Student Development
Some remarkable accomplishments are being racked up by ASCE's Student Chapters and Clubs across the U.S. Among last year's programs, here are some of the more...
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