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STRUCTURE
14 th Annual NCSEA Excellence
in Structural Engineering Awards
A Joint Publication of NCSEA | CASE | SEI

December 2011 Soils & Foundations

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 Features CONTENTS December 2011

Columns
9 Editorial
The Japan Tohuku Tsunami
By Gary Chock, S.E.
10 Lessons Learned
Exploring the Deep
By Chris A. Kopchynski, P.E.
and Joel E. Bahma, P.E.
13 Building Blocks
Controlled Modulus Columns
By Michael Walker, P.E., Frederic
Masse and Sonia Swift, P.E.
16 Structural Design
Rational Approach to Design
and Analysis of Piers and
Marginal Wharves – Part 3
By Vitaly B. Feygin, P.E.
32 InSights
Structural Software Interoperability
By Raoul Karp, S.E.

22 NCSEA Excellence in
Structural Engineering Departments
Awards 34 CASE Business Practices
At their annual meeting in Oklahoma City, Why not “Risk Management”
OK on October 22, NCSEA announced the Development?
By Brent White, P.E., S.E., SECB
winners of the 2011 Excellence in Structural
Engineering Awards. Outstanding Project 42 Structural Forum
Awards were presented in eight categories. The Role of Structural Engineers
STRUCTURE presents an overview of all the in Clean Energy Supply
By Ashvin A. Shah, P.E., F. ASCE
winning entries.

In every Issue
®

STRUCTURE

on the Cover
6 Advertiser Index
The Zahner Facility Expansion is a 7,500 square foot structure
14 th Annual NCSEA Excellence
in Structural Engineering Awards

that houses fabrication and functions as the primary loading 35 Resource Guide
dock for their campus. It had to have a column-free floor and (Earth Retention)
24-foot interior clear height with an overhead crane that could 36 NCSEA News
A Joint Publication of NCSEA | CASE | SEI

reach every part of the floor. Zahner Sheet Metal is the premier 38 SEI Structural Columns
architectural metal fabricator in the world and is well known for 40 CASE in Point
December 2011 Soils & Foundations
producing iconic structures. See NCSEA Excellence in Structural
Engineering Awards on page 22.

Publication of any article, image, or advertisement in STRUCTURE® magazine does not constitute endorsement
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responsibility for the content of their submissions.

STRUCTURE magazine 5 December 2011

 ADVERTISER INDEX PLEASE SUPPORT THESE ADVERTISERS
Bentley Systems, Inc. ............................... 4 DBM Contractors, Inc. ........................... 6 NCEES ................................................. 15
Computers & Structures, Inc. ............... 44 Fyfe Co. LLC ........................................ 18 NCSEA ................................................. 11
CTS Cement Manufacturing Corp........ 19 Geopier Foundation Company................ 7 Pile Dynamics, Inc. ............................... 33
Hayward Baker, Inc. .............................. 12 Powers Fasteners, Inc. .............................. 2
IRVINE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY The IAPMO Group............................... 17 RISA Technologies ................................ 43
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ertisement.indd 1 Jon A. Schmidt,
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847-854-1666 951-587-2982
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CBI Consulting, Inc., Boston, MA Davis, CA [email protected]
Richard Hess, S.E., SECB Mike C. Mota, Ph.D., P.E.
Hess Engineering Inc., Los Alamitos, CA

Mark W. Holmberg, P.E.

CRSI, Williamstown, NJ

Evans Mountzouris, P.E.

EDITORIAL STAFF
Heath & Lineback Engineers, Inc., Marietta, GA The DiSalvo Ericson Group, Ridgefield, CT Executive Editor Jeanne Vogelzang, JD, CAE
[email protected]
Roger A. LaBoube, Ph.D., P.E. Greg Schindler, P.E., S.E.
CCFSS, Rolla, MO KPFF Consulting Engineers, Seattle, WA Editor Christine M. Sloat, P.E.
[email protected]
Brian J. Leshko, P.E. Stephen P. Schneider, Ph.D., P.E., S.E.
HDR Engineering, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA BergerABAM, Vancouver, WA Associate Editor Nikki Alger
[email protected]
John A. Mercer, P.E. John “Buddy” Showalter, P.E.
Mercer Engineering, PC, Minot, ND American Wood Council, Leesburg, VA
Graphic Designer Rob Fullmer
[email protected]
Web Developer William Radig
[email protected]

STRUCTURE® (Volume 18, Number 12). ISSN 1536-

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STRUCTURE magazine 6 December 2011

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STR 6-09
 The Japan Tohuku Tsunami
Editorial new trends,from
Learning newDisaster
techniques and current industry issues
By Gary Chock, S.E.

T
he ASCE-Structural Engineering Institute Tohoku Tsunami confusing, primarily emotive and generally disin-
Reconnaissance Team visited Japan in mid-April to examine clined to attempt to present numerical data and
tsunami effects to buildings, bridges, and coastal protective unable to provide useful summary analyses. Somehow, despite repeti-
structures within the inundation zone along over 150 miles tive opportunities, it never seemed to improve in content or accuracy.
of coastline. In the August and October issues of STRUCTURE®, we Before we made our first survey in April of this year, I had replied to a
reported on some of our observations and findings on the effects of media question that our greatest challenge was to remain focused and
the March 11, 2011 Tohoku Tsunami, generated by the Great East on task in the midst of the great expanse of destruction. Unfortunately,
Japan Earthquake of Moment Magnitude (Mw ) 9.0. Our objective it was the U.S. mass media itself that quickly lost discipline in cover-
every day was to operate as a mobile failure analysis investigative team ing the extent of the tsunami devastation, and in failing to follow the
to capture as much documentable evidence as daylight permitted. The societal and economic issues inherent in Japan’s desire to reconstruct
results of that intense work on the ground, combined with further with improved mitigation against tsunami rather than just rebuilding
independent research and collaboration with Japanese researchers, will as it was. This makes engineering investigations essential not only
soon be available from the ASCE Structural Engineering Institute as as a means of documenting perishable data, but also as a means of
a 350-page monograph, Tohoku Japan Tsunami of March 11, 2011 – conveying the full impact of disasters on communities.
Performance of Structures. This comprehensive report will bring forward On the other hand, English versions of NHK and Japanese print
factual information and numerous photographs on the following topics: media and various websites (including the Japan Society of Civil
• The Great East Japan Earthquake and Tohoku Tsunami Engineers) provided abundant, regularly updated detailed informa-
• Pre-Survey Preparatory Research tion, as well as offering a greater selection of unabbreviated videos of
• Tsunami Warning and Evacuation the tsunami that were very insightful. Rather than emphasizing some
• Flow Velocity Characteristics aspiring celebrity-newscaster’s face and ad-hoc commentary as we
• Debris Loading seem to do in the States, the Japanese reports primarily emphasized
• Building Performance actual footage of the disaster and informative content from the field.
• Bridge Performance These were often accompanied by illustrative maps of geography and
• Breakwaters presented diagrams of infrastructure or failure modes. How could that
• Seawalls and Tsunami Gates information possibly be considered boring? The present style of U.S.
• Quays and Wharves broadcast journalism coverage generally does the American public a
• Scour Effects disservice on critical events with societal issues of primary concern to
• Other Structures the engineer; that is, the risk of natural hazards, explanations of their
• Failure Mode Analyses effects using quantifiable systems of reference, and to what extent
• Initial Recovery Efforts engineered systems and emergency response plans have performed
• Recommendations for Tsunami Mitigation, Future Post- to their criteria and sometimes beyond.
Tsunami Surveys, and Research Needs It may well be that disciplined practitioners of engineering and
I would offer the comment that it has been particularly gratifying to see the physical sciences are now a counter-culture resource, one that
the results of the failure mode analysis – hydrodynamic loading formula- still values formulating hypothesis from facts and remaining open
tion arising from laboratory research appear to be working quite well in to changing a technological approach based on new data or better
predicting observed structural effects. Looking forward, the case studies insight. We go out to the construction site to validate constructabil-
from this reconnaissance and others will be highly beneficial to the pres- ity, and so, too, we visit the research community and disaster sites to
ent efforts to develop and validate a modern set of tsunami criteria and validate our design methods. For structural engineers, this cycle of
loading provisions for the U.S. The ASCE 7 Subcommittee on Tsunami research and development, practical application to the built environ-
Loads and Effects has nearly 30 members working on this effort. Recent ment, and learning from natural disasters and technological failures is
research in developing quantifiable measures of the reliability against fundamental to the integrity of our profession. This mode of technical
collapse inherent in current seismic design methodologies should also merit-based discernment is also part of a much-needed philosophical
provide a framework for tsunami design criteria. For this to someday counter-weight for society. Why not answer questions first from our
successfully save lives in addition to mitigating the level of physical perspective without watering it down, thereby forcing a follow-up
destruction, there is also a need for greater evacuation preparation along and deeper explanation of the engineering approach? Then, perhaps,
the Pacific coast. Robust tall buildings can serve as intuitively recognized we can deliberately strive to inject content-rich responses to such
refuges and, in seismic zones where a level of structural reserve capacity is questions facing society and, when necessary, more bluntly demand
typically provided, that may be quite economically achievable. However, that broadcast reporting and journalists provide the technological
in proximity of subduction zones, we may need to determine the expected knowledge the public needs and deserves. American society should
seismic performance level of buildings and essential facilities prior to the be challenged also to learn something meaningful from disasters.▪
onset of tsunami inundation.
From another perspective, in looking back at the experiences since Gary Chock, S.E. is the President of Martin & Chock, Inc. and chairs
March, I have been struck by the differences in media treatment the ASCE 7 Standard Tsunami Loads and Effects Subcommittee. He
of the earthquake disaster between the United States and Japan. led the ASCE 2011 Tohoku Tsunami Reconnaissance Team and the
Unfortunately, as an engineer I found the coverage from the U.S. EERI 2010 Chile Tsunami Reconnaissance Team. Mr. Chock is also an
mainstream 24/7 televised media too often to be factually shallow, NCSEA delegate from the Structural Engineers Association of Hawaii.

STRUCTURE magazine 9 December 2011

Lessons T
he Casselman Wind Power Project in
Pennsylvania sits atop parts of former
coal mines – unsuitable sites for con-

Learned
ventional wind-turbine foundations
(Figure 1). To enable Iberdrola Renewables to
construct wind turbines on these mine spoils,
a team of engineers from Barr Engineering Co.
designed a wind-turbine foundation that uses
problems and solutions
micropiles to reach the bedrock located 50 to
encountered by practicing 100 feet below ground.
structural engineers

The Project Begins

Wind whips over western Pennsylvania’s coal-rich
Allegheny Ridge, making it an ideal location for
wind turbines. In 2006, Iberdrola Renewables
began planning the region’s newest wind farm,
which would include a complete geotechnical
investigation of 23 prospective wind-turbine loca- Figure 1: A string of wind turbines along the ridge.
tions, the design of wind-turbine foundations, and
the observation of the foundations’ construction. millions of fatigue load cycles during the turbine’s
20-year expected life span. The wind’s aerodynamic
and mechanical forces concentrated at the top of the
Unstable Soils
Exploring the Deep
tower create a huge overturning moment at the tower
Field investigations, which base, and the wind-turbine foundation must be able
included soil boring and rock to resist this large, concentrated force.
coring, revealed the types of More than 90 percent of the thousands of wind-
Innovation in Wind-Turbine soils and rock present at the 23 proposed turbine turbine foundations that Barr has engineered are
sites. The subsurface conditions varied, and natural spread-footing foundations made of reinforced con-
Foundation Design soils consisting of sand, silty sand, silt, silty gravel, crete, with typical plan dimensions ranging from 40
and gravel with both low- and high-plasticity clay to 70 feet in diameter and depths of embedment 5 to
By Chris A. Kopchynski, P.E.
were found near the surface. Bedrock was found 10 feet below the surface. A spread footing transfers
and Joel E. Bahma, P.E.
anywhere from half a foot to nearly 100 feet below the large overturning moment to soils by bearing
the surface. The investigation also discovered that, downward on the soil at its base. Spread footings are
like much of southwestern Pennsylvania, this site relatively simple to construct and are the foundation
was formerly used for coal mining. Rocks and of choice for most wind projects. However, they
soil generated during mining excavations – the require stable soils 50 to 100 feet deep. At some
spoils – were dumped in massive, hill-like piles, sites with poor soils, spread footings can be used,
becoming the region’s dominant characteristic and but require modification of the underlying soils.
Chris Kopchynski, P.E. is a rising up to 96 feet above the bedrock. Beginning as Excavating and removing poor soils, and replacing
Vice President and Senior loose piles of rubble and stone, these piles became and re-compacting the site with engineered fill is
Structural Engineer at Barr overgrown with vegetation to resemble a natural one method, but this is feasible only to depths of
Engineering Co. in Minneapolis, landscape. The geotechnical behavior of mine spoils 15 feet. At the eight project sites, mine spoils were
Minnesota. He can be reached at is difficult to predict, and there is a major risk that too thick – in some places, nearly 100 feet thick –
[email protected]. structures built on such spoils will be exposed to for this technique to work. Dynamic compaction
ground subsidence and uncontrolled settlement. is another option, in which a large, heavy weight is
Joel Bahma, P.E. is a Vice
The geotechnical investigation found that 8 of the dropped from a fixed height to impact, compress,
President and Senior Civil
23 wind-turbine sites were on these unstable and and densify the loose soil. Again, this method was
Engineer at Barr Engineering.
risk-prone mine spoils. infeasible because the mine spoils contained too
He can be reached at
much clay and water, rendering dynamic compac-
[email protected].
tion ineffective. Because the mine spoils could not
An Engineering Challenge be modified using these lesser expensive methods,
Most buildings are not designed for significant a different approach was needed.
dynamic loads. Wind turbines, by contrast, are
designed as machines to catch and harness wind
energy and produce electricity. At times, wind force
The Foundation Solution
– a combination of aerodynamic and mechanical The foundation engineers determined that the most
forces – can be extreme and unpredictable, and viable option for Casselman would be deep-pile
the machine forces are widely varied and highly foundations. Each of the eight wind-turbine foun-
Figure 2: 24 micropiles installed and repetitive. A wind-turbine tower structure and its dations would be supported by piles that extended
ready for the pile cap. foundation receive a wide spectrum of millions upon through the mine spoils to carry the load from the

10 December 2011
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foundation to the competent bedrock beneath. The foundation design used 24 micropiles total construction budget for the eight micropile
The main problem was how to get these piles for each turbine. And each micropile was foundations was approximately $4 million, but
through the mine spoils. Large boulders found installed with an outward inclination of 15 final construction costs came in under budget
in the spoils could deflect the piles during driv- degrees, causing the spoils to press down on at approximately $3.2 million. Construction at
ing; augered piles would have similar problems the piles to increase stability and better handle the mine spoil sites enabled Iberdrola to meet
and be even further limited to installation depths the large overturning moment. Loads from significant financial and power-supply commit-
of 40 feet. To overcomes these issues, the engi- the wind-turbine tower were transferred to the ments made for the project.
neers selected micropiles – small piles only 8.5 piles by a six-foot-thick reinforced-concrete
inches in diameter that are often used when pile cap. The pile cap was heavily reinforced so
working in tight quarters or for underpinning that it could transfer the highly concentrated
Conclusion
structures, such as the subway tunnels around moment from the tower into large axial loads The deep-foundation design advances the state of
the World Trade Center re-construction. This through the micropiles. Although small, each the practice by making possible the safe construc-
would be the first time that micropiles would micropile has a 450,000-pound capacity when tion of wind turbines in otherwise unsuitable
be used to support wind-turbine foundations. filled with concrete and reinforcing steel. The soils. The design is transferable to other sites, and
The micropile installation method proved to micropiles installed at the Casselman tur- has been used successfully at similar projects in
be innovative. A rotary drill rig and pneumatic bine sites were expected to be subjected to a Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
hammer were used to install the outer steel maximum load of 180,000 pounds under the What might have remained an unusable tract of
shell of the micropile, which then served as most extreme conditions. Because the wind land is now the Casselman Wind Power Project,
the outer casing for the rotary drill bit. The turbine was expected to subject the micropiles which generates enough electricity to power
bit drilled through the mine spoils’ soil, rocks, to countless repetitive load cycles, the design 10,000 homes a year. The economic benefits
and boulders. High pressure air injected at the needed to consider stiffness and fatigue, which to the region, which has suffered job losses due
bit removed the cuttings by blowing them is unusual for conventional structures. to the decline of the coal industry, are notable.
up the casing to the surface. The pneumatic The project is expected to generate $375,000
hammer advanced the casing with the drill annually for the local economy through taxes,
bit as it removed material. As the drill bit
Successful Construction easement payments, and landowner revenue.
and outer casing advanced through the mine Preliminary micropile foundation engineer- Permanent jobs will be created, and local people
spoils, additional lengths of micropile casing ing began in October 2006 and the micropile will help run and maintain the facility. In addi-
were attached through threaded connections. foundations’ construction was completed in tion, the project will help Pennsylvania meet
Drilling continued until bedrock was reached, December 2007 – in time to meet Iberdrola’s its 2021 target that 18 percent of all energy
and the casing was socketed an additional 15 critical schedule for delivery and installation of generated in the State come from alternative
feet into the bedrock (Figure 2). the wind-turbine towers and machinery. The or renewable energy sources.▪

STRUCTURE magazine 11 December 2011

W Building
ith widespread acceptance in the • Reduces schedule for installation.
market place, many engineers are • Reduces the cost of a structure needing a
choosing ground improvement traditional deep foundation, and its design,

Blocks
techniques to provide a suitable by replacing pile caps, grade beams and
subgrade for shallow foundations at sites that structural slabs with spread footings and
would have traditionally required deep foun- slabs-on-grade.
dations. This article discusses the Controlled • Improves the performance of a methane
Modulus Column (CMC) ground improvement barrier system, when required, by eliminating
updates and information
technique and some case histories highlighting complex detailing around pile caps.
the use of this technique. CMCs are a sustainable • Eliminates the need to hang utilities under on structural materials
and cost-effective ground improvement technol- a structural slab, as utilities are installed
ogy that transmit load from the foundation to a directly within the load transfer layer.
lower bearing stratum through a compacted soil • With CMCs, the slab-on-grade can be built
load transfer layer and the composite CMC/soil after the building is erected, in a controlled
matrix. CMCs are constructed using 2000-3000 environment, resulting in a better quality
psi grout and range in diameter from 11 to 18 finish. With traditional pile foundations,
inches. CMCs have been installed in a variety of the structural slab is typically built before
soils including uncontrolled fill, organics, peat, the building.
soft to stiff clay, silt, municipal solid waste, and • Reduces the carbon footprint associated
loose sands. Typically, the CMCs are installed with foundations.
through the soft or compressible soils and into While CMCs are an attractive financial and
dense sand, stiff clay, glacial till, or other compe- sustainable option,
tent material that serves as the bearing stratum. it has also been

Controlled Modulus Columns

The CMC installation is an attractive option from demonstrated that
an environmental perspective because it utilizes the performance of
reverse flight augers, which displace the soil laterally. the system is com-
This installation technique achieves two goals: it parable to that of
densifies the soil around the CMC, which improves deep pile foundations. Typical CMC designs limit An Attractive Alternative
load transfer into the element, and it eliminates total settlement of a structure to 1 inch and differ-
spoils and the associated disposal requirements ential settlement to 0.5 inch. Foundation subgrade By Michael Walker, P.E.,
and costs. The use of traditional augers, used to is typically evaluated for both strength (bearing Frederic Masse and
install auger-cast piles or drilled caissons, might capacity) and service (settlement). The traditional Sonia Swift, P.E.
appear to result in a similar foundation system approach was to use piles to control settlement at
but would not include the benefits of the CMC sites with poor quality soils. The piles became the
installation technique. In addition, the hole cre- supporting elements for the foundation and were
ated by the displacement auger is backfilled with designed to resist lateral and vertical loads applied to
pressurized cement grout that further densifies the the foundation. However, the pile capacity required
surrounding soils. The result is a CMC element to control settlement may be significantly lower
that is significantly stiffer than the soil around it. than that required to support the foundations.
Therefore, the CMCs attract load from above, and Therefore, the service goal may require an inef- Michael Walker, P.E. is a Vice
transmit that load to the more-competent deeper ficient system because the pile system ignores the President of GEI Consultants
soils or bearing stratum. In the past, CMCs have strength of the soil surrounding the piles. Ground (Woburn, MA), a multi-disciplined
been designed with a central steel reinforcing bar, improvement is typically more efficient because team of engineers and scientists.
if additional strength is required. its design utilizes the strength of the surrounding Michael may be reached at
When selecting the appropriate ground soil and additional soil-improved strength to meet [email protected].
improvement technology, knowledge of the service load requirements.
Frederic Masse is Vice President
benefits of each system is key. Because CMCs While the use of CMCs for building foundations
of Engineering for Menard
are a relatively new technology many potential are provided in the following case studies, CMCs
(Bridgeville, PA), a ground
users are not aware of their benefits. Some of also have been used for a variety of other applica-
improvement services firm.
these benefits include: tions including foundations for tanks, mechanically
Frederic may be reached at
• Promotes development of brownfield sites stabilized earth (MSE) walls, and embankments.
[email protected].
underlain by poor quality soils.
• Avoids excavation and replacement of poor Sonia Swift, P.E. is a project
quality soils and limits spoil, reducing
Philadelphia Produce Market engineer at GEI Consultants.
waste generation. Ground improvement using Controlled Modulus Sonia may be reached at
• Avoids driving long steel piles to bedrock. Columns (CMCs) was used at the site of a 550,000 [email protected].
• Provides a cost-effective solution compared square-foot warehouse on the southeast corner of
to conventional pile foundation systems. Essington Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
• Allows for the lengths of CMCs to be The original foundation design proposed the use
adjusted in the field without splicing of either 8-inch-diameter timber piles or 12-inch-
or cutting. diameter grouted steel pipe piles, both driven to

STRUCTURE magazine 13
CMC Installation at the Essington Warehouse Site. Multiple rigs were on site
to accelerate the construction schedule.

a depth of approximately 50 feet. In addition, thickened reinforced

pile caps, internal grade beams, and a 12-inch-thick reinforced, 2-way
structural slab would be required to connect the piles to the superstruc-
ture. Instead, the warehouse was supported using 12.5-inch-diameter
CMCs drilled to a depth of approximately 35 feet. The CMCs were
placed under individual footings and beneath the slab. The CMC
support allowed for the use of spread footings and a 6-inch-thick
slab-on-grade, and eliminated the need for internal grade beams.
The main purpose of the CMCs was to minimize the settlement
of the warehouse, which could have been significant if some type of
support was not provided. The building was constructed over munici-
pal solid waste and organic soils that were present in the subsurface
profile. CMCs were designed to penetrate the municipal solid waste
and organic soil and terminate in the dense sand at depth.
Because the site was a former landfill, the spoils would likely require
special, costly handling for disposal. An obvious advantage to using
CMCs, or any displacement installation method, is that no spoils are
generated. In addition, CMCs contain grout only, which is a more
sustainable material than reinforced concrete or steel. A comparison of
the environmental impacts of a pile foundation and the CMC ground
improvement showed a 25% reduction in the carbon footprint of the
foundations when using CMCs. 
The carbon footprint offset calculation was based on the difference
in quantity and carbon footprint values for the concrete, steel, and
grout associated with the two different schemes. It does not include
any benefits of the accelerated schedule associated with the CMC
design, nor with the additional carbon footprint required to dispose
of extra, potentially contaminated, soils associated with the deep
foundation scheme.
The ground improvement was completed in the summer of 2009,
and the structure is in the final phases of construction.

Bayonne Crossing
Ground improvement using CMC was used at the site of seven
new buildings, which form a new shopping complex, at Bayonne
Crossing in Bayonne, New Jersey. The seven buildings vary in size
from a restaurant measuring 1,645 square-feet to a box store mea-
CMC Layout at the Essington Warehouse. CMC support was provided in a
suring 146,583 square-feet. The difference in use, proposed loading,
grid pattern beneath the slab and beneath a utility line running along the
structural performance criteria, and soil conditions required specific exterior of the building.
analysis and design of the CMC system for each building. The CMC
size, spacing and configuration can easily be modified to optimize
the system for varying building geometries, loading and subsurface as design and construction progressed and the benefits of using the
conditions. The CMCs were placed under individual footings and CMC system became obvious, CMCs were selected for the remainder
beneath the slabs for each of the structures, as required. The original of the buildings.
design proposed the use of timber piles; however, CMCs were selected The soils at the site contained uncontrolled, contaminated fill,
as an alternative design by the Contractor. The CMC support allowed organics and sand. Environmental investigations performed at the site
for the use of spread footings and 4- to 6-inch-thick slabs-on-grade, identified potential chemical hazards that may be present, including
and eliminated the need for internal grade beams and pile caps. volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semi-volatile organic compounds
Originally, CMCs were only selected to replace the piles for one of (SVOCs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and metals including
the buildings, a Lowes Home Improvement Warehouse. However, hexavalent chromium. Because the soils at the site were contaminated,

STRUCTURE magazine 14 December 2011

 Because of the contamination at the site, using CMCs with the
auger displacement system eliminated spoils, and reduced the time
and costs associated with permitting and soil disposal. In addition, the
schedule for the installation of the foundation system was significantly
reduced. While a formal carbon footprint offset calculation has not
been performed, past experience leads to anticipation of a 15 to 25%
reduction in the carbon footprint of the foundations by selecting
CMCs instead of pile foundations. As discussed previously, this would
account for the difference in quantity and carbon footprint values
for the concrete, timber, and grout associated with the two different
schemes. It does not include any benefits of the accelerated schedule
associated with the CMC design, nor with the additional carbon
footprint required to dispose of extra, potentially contaminated soils
associated with the deep foundation scheme.
The ground improvement was completed in the summer of 2010
and the structures are currently under construction.
Aerial photograph of the completed Essington Produce Market Warehouse.
Courtesy of R. Alan Adams Photography. Conclusion
uncontrolled and compressible, CMCs were an attractive foundation The use of ground improvement and the CMC system provide cost
option. In addition to the benefits described previously, the CMC and schedule savings and a more sustainable method for construc-
installation auger can also penetrate obstructions in the underly- tion of foundations on sites with poor quality soils as compared to a
ing soils that may damage concrete piles or significantly slow the more traditional solution using piles, piles caps, grade beams and a
advancement of steel piles. The CMCs were designed to penetrate structural slab. The CMC system is especially suited to Brownfield
the uncontrolled fill and organic soil, and terminate in the dense developments, and has been successfully designed and applied to a
sand at depth. More than 4,500 CMCs were installed beneath the number of projects for warehouses, retail developments and condo-
seven buildings over 4 to 5 months. The length of the CMCs varied miniums. A carbon footprint calculation can be used to demonstrate
depending on the depth to the dense sand layer, with a total of over the benefits of the system. A more detailed calculation, including soil
165,000 linear feet of CMCs being installed. disposal issues should be considered.▪

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STRUCTURE magazine 15 December 2011

Structural
Part 1 of this series of articles ran in the May 2011 issue of STRUCTURE, and Part 2 in the November
2011 issue. Please note that the numbering of figures, equations and tables is continuous across all
articles. Part 1 and 2 can be accessed in the Archives at www.STRUCTUREmag.org.

DeSign
C
onventional crane girders are sup- This simplified modeling technique neglects the
ported by transverse pile caps and t-z spring value developed within the top 5-7 feet
intermediate piles spaced at 6 to 8 feet below the mudline; however, it yields reasonably
design issues for on center. Operation safety requires conservative results, making pile elastic supports
structural engineers installation of crane girders at a distance of 6.0 only slightly softer.
to 7.5 feet from the pier face. The crane girder Another point that is worth mentioning: Elastic
is designed as a beam on an elastic foundation. Foundation for piles supporting crane beams,
Finite Element analysis programs treat the pile as unlike EF for piles of the transverse or longitudinal
an elastic spring support. The pile length for that bents, can be modeled with simplified soil springs
analysis is based on pile embedment adequate based only on the linear part of the P-y curves.
to develop the pile design load capacity at no The crane load for crane girder design should be
appreciable vertical movement of the pile tip. modeled as a series of point loads from the wheels
Pile embedment length can be determined from of two bogies. Load on the wheels of each bogie
analysis of two geotechnical curves: is based on several critical load cases, including
• t-z curve, describes relationship between the case of over the corner lift. All lift loads must
skin friction stress (t) and vertical incorporate an impact factor. Impact force, taken
displacement (z) as a percent of the vertical force, is applied only to
• q-z curve, the crane wheel loads, and is considered only in
establishes the design of the crane girders and their connec-
Rational Approach to Design relationship
between tip
tions. Impact is not considered in the pile analysis.
The size of vertical impact force is a debatable
and Analysis of Piers and resistance stress
(q) and vertical
issue. The primary reasons for vertical impact are:
• Vertical crane rail misalignment (≤ ¼-inch)
Marginal Wharves displacement (z) • Load lift-off and unloading
Investigation of both The paper presented by Griggs at the Canadian
curves is extremely Structural Engineering Conference in 1976 indi-
Design of Seaside and important for profiles with weak or moderately cated that the vertical impact force determined
Land Side Crane Girders stiff soils. during tests have not exceeded 7% of the vertical
Each pile for a crane girder analysis should be static load on the crane wheel. The Whiting Crane
Supporting Portal Cranes modeled with two boundary conditions, based on: Handbook further elaborates: “Actual tests have
Part 3 • Pile length to the point of “fixity”. A pile is shown that impact on the crane girders rarely exceeds
a vertical beam on an Elastic Foundation 5% to 7% of static load, even for relatively fast hoist
By Vitaly B. Feygin, P.E. (EF). As such, the pile does not have a well speeds, due to cushioning effect resulting from the
defined fixity point. It is, rather, convenient torsion – spring action of the ropes and leaf-spring
approximated by the first “0” deflection action of the girders.” The results, presented by
point, and well developed shear and flex- Griggs and explained by Whiting Crane Handbook,
ural forces along the pile elastic curve with are described by ramped impulse equation:
Vitaly B. Feygin, P.E. is a
at least two (2) “0” slope points.
Marine Structural Engineer. δmax = δst [1+ T/�τ *sin(�τ/T)] (Equation 3)
The definition of “pile fixity point” in
He is a Principal Structural
reality describes partial fixity with linear
Engineer with Marine and Where,
rotational spring,
Industrial Consultants, with [1+ T/�τ *sin(�τ/T)] – is dynamic amplification
offices in Baltimore and kr=M / Θ factor (see Timoshento, et al)
Tampa. He is an author of two τ – is the duration of the impulse, and
where,
patents related to Sea Walls, T – is the first mode, known as Fundamental
Θ – is slope of the pile elastic curve and
Composite Cofferdams, Bridge mode, natural period.
M – pile flexural moment at 0-deflection
Fenders and Port Structures.
point, sometimes defined as “point Table 2 shows the dependence of dynamic ampli-
Mr. Feygin can be contacted at
of fixity” fication on the gradual rise of (τ).
[email protected].
• Partial fixity modeled with partially The summary of suggested vertical impacts ref-
restrained pile “tip” rotation, and vertical erenced by different sources is illustrated in Table
spring support. Vertical spring support is 3. Vertical impact is taken as a percent of the total
based on the linear elastic part of the t-z or force from the dead weight of the container crane or
q-z curves developed for pile length below percent of the reaction caused by over the corner lift.
The online version of this the partially restraint “fixity” point. The probability of over the corner lift and simul-
article contains detailed The pile tip in that model is defined not by the taneous crane run along the rail is next to zero.
references. Please visit actual pile tip elevation, but the elevation of the Modern high capacity container cranes do not
www.STRUCTUREmag.org. 0-deflection point. have an over the corner lift option; therefore,

16 December 2011
Table 2: Theoretical impact value based on ramped
impulse formula.
data does not exist, the maximum recom- deck at MLW or MLLW events. It also provides
mended operational wind speed magnitude convenience for rubber fender installation. If
τ/T δmax=δst (1+T/πτ*sin(πτ/T)) is restricted to 25 mph. the installation of a fascia beam is not feasible
due to a high tide zone, the designer should
1.00 1.00δst consider the installation of discrete fascia panels
Tie Downs, Stowage Pins, and fender piles. The spacing of the fender piles
0.50 1.63δst
Crane Rail Stops should be adequate to prevent a small craft or
0.25 1.90δst tug boat from getting under the deck.
Omissions in design of these seemingly
0.125 1.97δst unimportant crane way elements frequently
0.00 2.00δst become the reason for catastrophic failures Natural Frequency, Seismic
and expensive losses. Design criteria and
lift reaction attributed to the front and back design of these elements will be covered in a
Loads and Load Combinations
bogies is equally shared by all wheels of the separate article scheduled to be published in Determination of the structure’s Natural
two bogies. Reduction in the impact load can a future issue of STRUCTURE® magazine. Frequency (fn =1/Tn) is based on the spring
significantly improve economical viability value of the combined resisting system.
of the crane girder design. The load combi- Seismic analysis will include a sufficient
nations suggested for design of waterfront
Fascia Beam number of modes to obtain combined mass
crane runways are presented in Tables 4 and It is very practical to install a continuous fascia participation of at least 90% of the pier mass
5 (page 19). beam along the pier edge. A fascia beam can and attributed live load. The seismic response
All piles supporting the front crane girder prevent small craft from getting under the wharf of the pier structure is dominated by the first
have to be designed for maximum gravity
Table 3: Vertical impact on crane railway.
load produced by over the corner lift, or the
most critical lift condition combined with Reference Description
downward wind reaction. No impact load
is considered in the pile analysis. The back Griggs ≤ 7% of the crane static load
crane girder should be designed for loads Whiting Crane Handbook 15% from sum of hoist lifted load and weight of
that exclude uplift reaction. The Engineer grappling device.
shall consult with the local Port Authority on
allowed operational wind magnitude. If such Russian Standard, SNIP 2.01.7-85 10% of the crane static load

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STRUCTURE magazine 17 December 2011

or Fundamental Mode of response. Most of within the Excitation or Response Spectrum Similarly, equivalent stiffness of the plastic
the pier mass is concentrated in the deck, and Period Chart. hinge section:
vibrates in that mode. The first mode Natural The Modified (Plastic Response) Base Shear
EcIeff p.h. = Mp/km
Period of the structure is determined using on the Pile Bent is determined using; V bs =
the well known expression: Csm *W/R. R is the reduction in structural Where,
response due to plastic deformations, damping Mp – is the idealized plastic hinge moment,
Tn =2π*[W/(g*K)] 1/2
and over-strength. AASHTO Specifications and
Where, provide reduction factors only for basic types km – is the curvature at the strain limit cor-
(W) is the self-weight of the bent + 20% live of resisting systems. When the resisting system responding to the investigated level of
load on the deck + 40% of crane self-weight consists of two elastic resisting mechanisms, seismic event.
(g) is the gravity acceleration in ft/sec2 or R analysis becomes identical to an analysis of
m/sec2 springs in series. Both parameters are physi-
(K) is the combined spring constant of the cally related.
Notes on Corrosion Protection
equivalent bent. However, analysis of frame ductility is based The biggest enemies of structural steel in a
on Moment-curvature relationship and a marine environment are:
The first mode spectral analysis method,
reduced stiffness element placed within the • corrosion
used for analysis of waterfront structures,
length of the plastic hinge, while analysis • abrasion
is frequently reduced to the Uniform Load
of other participating systems are based on • ice
Method. The quasi-static seismic force deter-
comparable plastic deformations within the The first two items can be readily addressed
mined from this method is equal to:
plastic plateau of the material. by modern technology. However, even the
pe = Csm *W Ductility of the pile bent is based on the best corrosion protection material will be
reduced effective stiffness of the concrete pile: eventually peeled off the steel by sheets of ice
Where, in a tidal zone.
EcIeff cr. = My/kyi
Csm – Elastic Seismic Response Coefficient.
Pile Protection
The Elastic Seismic Response Coefficient Where,
(Csm) is determined from formulas described My – is the moment at the point where first Frequently, epoxy coating applied to pipe piles
in Chapter 3.10.4.2 of AASHTO LRFD tension rebar yields, and subjected to ice action is more damaging to
Bridge Design Specifications. It should be kyi – is the curvature corresponding to the the piles than no coating at all. Salinity of the
based on the point where the Fundamental first rebar yield point, where concrete water in estuaries makes an excellent electro-
Period of vibration, Tn, of the Pile Bent falls strain reaches 0.002. lyte. The smallest chip in the epoxy coating
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Fyfe Ad-Oct 2010.indd 1 12/1/10 10:55 AM

STRUCTURE magazine 18 December 2011
Table 4: Suggested Load Combinations. Service Loads.
Mode Operating Stowed
WOP1 * WOP2** WOP3***
Crane Dead Load, DL 1.0 1.0 0.66 1.0 /(0.66)
Lift System, LS 1.0 1.0 0.66 1.0 /(0.66)
Lifted Load, LL 1.0 1.0
Impact Load, IL 0.1(LS+LL) 0.1(DL+LS+LL)
Operational Wind, 1.0 / (0) 1.0 / (0)
OWL
Storm Wind Load, 1.0
SWL
Earthquake Load, EQ
Collision Load, CL 0.66(DL+LS)
Table 5: Suggested Load Combinations. Factored Loads.
Mode Operating Stowed
WOP1 * WOP2** WOP3***
Crane Dead Load, 1.2 1.2 1.0 1.2 / (1.0)
DL
Lift System, LS 1.2 1.2 1.0 1.2 / (1.0)

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Lifted Load, LL 1.6 1.6
Impact Load, IL 0.1*1.6(LS+LL) 0.1*1.6(DL+LS+LL)
Operational Wind, 1.6 / (0) 1.6 / (0)
OWL
Storm Wind Load, 1.6
SWL
Earthquake Load, EQ
Collision Load, CL 1.0(DL+LS)
NOTES:
* Load Combination for load pick up
** Load Combination for load carried by crane along the crane way within
the crane loading bay.
*** Impact on Crane Stop
Factors shown in parenthesis ( ) are given for case when wind load causes uplift.

may instantly initiate the corrosion process. A corrosion had started at flange edges and grad-
galvanic bridge establishes itself between the ually progressed towards the web. At some
anode and cathode. Any source of potential point, the web of the HP-section became the
difference can create the galvanic bridge: anode for the flanges and deteriorated at a
• stress concentration much faster rate than the flanges themselves.
• proximity of the “new” and “old” metal Obviously, the section with rounded surfaces
• sharp edges on flanges and no sharp transitions stands a better chance
• temperature difference (temperature of long term survival in a saline and abrasive
difference is frequently coupled with environment. However, pipe pile sections will
difference in amount of dissolved oxygen) stand a much better chance if their surfaces
• variation in oxygen content against the within the pile length, with boundaries 2 feet
water depth above MHW and 5 feet below MLW, were
• mudline acidity protected with HDPE or Fiberglass Jackets.
• metabolic activity of sulfate-reducing This arrangement is a viable option in cold and
bacteria in low water moderate climates. An alternate design option
• metabolic activity of anaerobic sulfate- is to increase the steel thickness to account for
reducing bacteria at the mudline the annual corrosion rate. The corrosion rate in
Interesting phenomenon was reported by cold climates is much lower than in moderate
divers who investigated corrosion and dete- climate zones. In climates where ice compres-
rioration of HP-sections, where accelerated sion strength is low and solid ice sheets do not

STRUCTURE magazine 19 December 2011

form around the pile, the best protection is tidal zone as well. The most dangerous type Welds and Fasteners
provided by material produced by Flexcrete: of corrosion for steel girders is Accelerated
Selection of correct material for welds and
Cemprotec E942. Kobayashi suggested that Low Water Corrosion (ALWC). This form of
fasteners in waterfront construction is fre-
steel with traditional coal tar coating corrodes corrosion, also known as bacteriological cor-
quently a neglected subject. However, the
more severely in tidal and submerged zones rosion, is frequently found in areas of sharp
wrong selection of weld or bolt material can
than in a splash zone. Fast corrosion in the angular changes in the surface, and is charac-
bear catastrophic consequences. Frequently
tidal zone can be attributed to mechanical terized by soft orange corrosion residue, the
observed extreme rust on welds and bolts
abrasion and deterioration of the coating due life product of sulphate-reducing bacteria.
in splash, tidal zone and zone of permanent
to ice and wave activity. Corrosion in the zone Bacteria can reduce seawater sulphates into
submergence testifies to the significance of
of continuous immersion, however, cannot sulphuric acid. The annual rate of ALWC
the problem. The root of the problem is
be easily explained. Corrosion mechanisms corrosion can be as high as 1 millimeter per
the dissimilarity of weld and base metal. In
in that zone can be extremely complex. Even annum. The best way to address this type
the presence of oxygen and an electrolyte,
variation in the content of oxygen can create of corrosion is not to use open sections and
galvanic bridge quickly establishes itself
an initial galvanic bridge. In that case, the area to reduce the number of sharp angles. This
between dissimilar metals. If a weld, or even
with lower content of oxygen is anodic towards issue is of particular importance to girder
a fastener, becomes anodic to the base metal,
the area with higher oxygen content. Also, rust bearing supports, where such deterioration
the weld or fastener begins to quickly dete-
entraps oxygen, creating a never ending pro- should be prevented at any cost. The usage
riorate. However, the rate of corrosion can
cess. Deterioration, blistering and peel-off of of Cemprotec E942 can solve the problem.
slow down as newer, less corroded, steel is
coal tar epoxy coating within 2 to 5 feet below Cemprotec E942 allows 5 times thicker coat-
always anodic towards more corroded steel.
the MLW was frequently observed by divers ing than traditional coal tar epoxy coating,
Cathodic protection frequently favored by
during underwater inspection. Traditional coal and tolerates much lower forms of surface
structural engineers for protection of sub-
tar epoxy coatings showed quick deterioration preparation. The material also provides a
merged steel elements can also aggravate
and peeling, initiated by mechanical abrasion, quick fix maintenance solution. However,
fatigue problems, as it increases production
aggravated by corrosion and sun UV radiation. steel girders should not be the first choice
of hydrogen and encourages “hydrogen
Restoration of traditional coal tar epoxy coat- in tidal zones where ice sheets can develop
embrittlement” of the connection. The pros
ing below the water is a technically impossible thickness in excess of 4 inches, and where
and cons of cathodic protection should be
task. Such restoration requires application of a girders can be partially submerged during
carefully reviewed for fully submerged struc-
zinc phosphate primer, but the whole process high tides.
tures, and particularly for fracture critical
has low dampness tolerance and cannot be
Abrasion elements with stress ratio -1≤ R ≤ 1. For
used underwater. That makes the repair process
more information on that subject, interested
of the surface applied corrosion protection a Abrasion resistance of structural steel girders
readers are referred to Survival of Long Span
very complicated issue. A very thin layer of can be improved by avoiding sharp angles and
Crane Truss in Marine Environment.
coal tar almost certainly guarantees abrasion protection of the steel in area of ice fluctuation
In addition, the designer should discuss with
damage, early corrosion in a tidal zone and with HDPE or Fiberglass-petrolatum jackets.
the owner all pros and cons of using spiral
deterioration of protection in a splash zone. An
Buoyancy welded pipes for piles in a waterfront project.
alternative coating, E942 offered by Flexcrete
While use of spiral welded pipes is well justified
Technologies Ltd., makes corrosion protection Buoyancy mostly affects structure during erec-
in fresh water environments, their susceptibility
much more durable, simplifies application and tion. A floating structure could be difficult
to corrosion makes them less suitable for projects
reduces maintenance cost. The coating is damp to set in place. A contractor should proceed
in brackish or sea water, unless they are filled
tolerant, tolerates early immersion, has superior with erection during the low water tide, and
with concrete and protected with zinc impreg-
abrasion resistance, and high alkalinity that the structure should be fully-anchored before
nated cementitious epoxy coating on exterior.
passivates the steel. However, in areas subjected high tide.
Additional provisions for protection of
to heavy ice build-up, HDPE or Fiberglass-
Ice Crushing Force such piles in an ice fluctuation zone should
petrolatum jackets placed over zones of high
also apply.
abrasion should be considered. The ice crushing force acting on the box
girder skin can be easily addressed by closely
spaced internal diaphragms. The skin of the
Sheet Pile Walls
Protection of Steel Girders girder should be designed as a membrane Combined sheet pile walls utilizing soldier
Structural steel can significantly increase the supported by diaphragms. Skin deflection piles can stabilize the wall against backfill
span of the pile cap and reduce the number should be controlled between support- induced down drag. Using sheet piles in
of piles required. However, there are several ing diaphragms. Skin deflection between tension-compression elements of A-frames
issues that have to be addressed by the steel diaphragms creates an effect similar to should be avoided for the following reasons:
girder designer: “tension field action” in the plate girder, • possible down drag forces, and
• Corrosion when the plate girder behaves like a truss. • weak uplift capacity of sheet piles.
• Abrasion In that case, stiffeners behave like struts and If a sheet pile wall is used as a resisting
• Buoyancy a buckled web behaves as a tension diago- mechanism of the wharf, consideration of a
• Ice Crushing nal. Deflection of such a truss is larger than combination sheet pile wall is strongly recom-
the deflection of the original plate girder. mended. Soldier piles of a combination wall
Corrosion
Therefore, Serviceability of a girder with can prevent settlement due to soil down drag,
A steel girder is most likely to be located in a distorted webs and bottom flange should and enhance wall stability against circular
splash zone, but it might be overlapped by a be closely investigated. slip failure.▪

STRUCTURE magazine 20 December 2011

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ExcEllEncE in Structural EnginEEring
NCSEA 14th ANNuAl AwArdS ProgrAm

A
2011 Panel of Judges t their annual meeting in Oklahoma City, OK on October 22, NCSEA
announced the winners of the 2011 Excellence in Structural Engineering
The judging was held Wednesday August 17,
Awards. This awards program annually highlights some of the best
2011 in New York City, at the offices of Thornton
examples of structural ingenuity throughout the world. Awards are
Tomasetti. The 2011 awards jury included the fol-
divided into eight categories: four building categories which are separated based
lowing individuals:
on construction cost, a bridge or transportation structure category, international
Eli Gottlieb, P.E. structures, forensic-renovation-retrofit-rehabilitation structures and an “other”
Thornton Tomasetti category which encompasses all types of non-building or bridge structures. All
structures must have been completed, or substantially completed, within the
Vesna Hadzibabic, P.E., LEED AP
past three calendar years.
NYC School Construction Authority
The 2011 Awards Committee was chaired by Carrie Johnson (Wallace Engineering,
Scott Hughes, P.E. Tulsa OK). The judging took place in New York City this year, and the judges
Robert Silman Associates were all members of the Structural Engineers Association of New York (SEAoNY).
Ms. Johnson noted: “We had a record number of entries this year, and the quality
Tim Lynch, P.E.
and complexity of projects being entered continues to grow. The judges had an
New York City Department of Buildings
enormous task to evaluate all of the projects, and they did an outstanding job.
Chris Cerino, P.E. The judging was really close in several of the categories, and the judges indicated
STV Incorporated that they had an interesting time reading about the various creative ways structural
engineers resolve unique and challenging problems.”
Karl Rubenacker, P.E., S.E.
Outstanding Project Awards were presented in eight categories. Please join
Gilsanz Murray Steficek, LLP
STRUCTURE® magazine and NCSEA in congratulating all of the winners.
Jeff Thompson, P.E., LEED AP More in-depth articles on several of the 2011 winners will appear in the Spotlight
Buro Happold Department of the magazine over the course of the 2012 editorial year.

STRUCTURE magazine 22 December 2011

NEW BUiLDiNGS UNDER $10 MiLLiON
Outstanding Project
Fishers Island Residence
Fishers Island, NY Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
The design of the Fishers island Residence is a response to its unique island setting
and the very specific personal interests of the client. To this end, Thomas Phifer
and Partners designed a 4,600 square-foot house that is unmistakably modern,
but equally organic in its relation to the surrounding garden and landscape. As
the project’s structural engineers, SOM faced a unique challenge: to develop
structural systems which could simultaneously meet the aesthetic architectural
requirements and be economically viable and constructible given the site con-
straints and limited contractor capacity.

Award Winner Award Winner

Raymond and Susan Brochstein Pavilion A. Zahner Company Facility
Houston, TX Haynes Whaley Associates Kansas City, MO Wallace Engineering Structural
Consultants, Inc.

Brochstein Pavilion at Rice University is a simple building; it is a

6,042 square-foot coffee house with 10,700 square-foot of covered The Zahner Facility Expansion houses fabrication and functions as
outdoor seating that is square in plan. But, as the saying goes, “the the primary loading dock for their campus. Well-known for produc-
devil is in the details.” The architecture is understated simplicity. The ing iconic structures, Zahner gave the architect free reign to push
building has floor-to-ceiling glass on all sides. The glass framing, the the envelope on curtainwall design in a desire to create an icon in
structure, perforated metal ceiling, overhead shading devices, and their hometown of Kansas City. The result is a billowing wave of
interior elements are all white. This simplicity puts the structural aluminum that flows down the wall and around the corner. Daylight
design and details front and center. The modern design is a break from passes between the deep structural “fins” which act as mullions. The
Rice’s traditional architecture, and Brochstein Pavilion has become fins are built up aluminum plate girders comprised of a cut plate web
the social hub of the campus. that has a shaped closed section flange attached.

STRUCTURE magazine 23 December 2011

NEW BUiLDiNGS $10 MiLLiON TO $30 MiLLiON
Outstanding Project
HL 23
New York, NY DeSimone Consulting Engineers
Located in Manhattan’s West Chelsea District at the corner of 23rd street and 10th
Avenue, the HL23 project creates a new 14-story, 85,000 square-foot ultra-luxury
residential building. The floor plate of the building, which is smaller at the base
than at the top, owes its uniqueness to the existing elevated Exposed Retrofitted
Highline Railway, located at the eastern portion of the building lot. A steel plate
shear wall (SPSW) is located at the elevator and stair locations, and braced frames
have been utilized for the secondary lateral system at the building perimeter.

Courtesy of Rinze van Brug.

Award Winner Award Winner

Pasadena Department of Water & Power Building Airport Traffic Control Tower
Pasadena, CA Brandow & Johnston, Inc. Dayton, OH AECOM

Courtesy of Sibylle Allgaier, Heliphoto.

The 31,400 square-foot two-story new office building will also in celebration of the 100th anniversary of flight, AECOM drew archi-
serve the City of Pasadena as an Emergency Operations Center. As tectural and structural inspiration for the design of this new Federal
the building is located in a very high seismic zone, a state of the art Aviation Administration tower from the Wright brothers’ legacy of
Buckling Restrained Braced Frame (BRBF) system was utilized as ambition, discipline and vision. The design goal was to provide an
the lateral system. The BRBF system was exposed along these faces, icon for the city of Dayton that exhibited both function and beauty. A
and provided a clean and more aesthetically pleasing finished system. diamond patterned, tapered steel structure veiled in glass encloses the
The entire design team utilized Revit. This allowed the team to deter- central core of the tower as it reaches 225 feet above the surrounding
mine any clashes between the structural system and the mechanical/ site. The $12 million tower now stands as a landmark for tourists, as
electrical/plumbing systems early on. well as a tribute to the Wright brothers.
The building is LEED certified Gold.

STRUCTURE magazine 24 December 2011

New BuildiNgs $30 MillioN to $100 MillioN
Outstanding Project
Shriners Hospitals for Children
Portland, OR Catena Consulting Engineers
The shriners Hospitals for ChildrentM is a network of 22 hospitals special-
izing in the care of children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord
injuries, and cleft lip and palate. with an aging facility in Portland, the
shriners expanded the existing hospital on a constrained site that demanded
a creative structural solution. The result: a five-story, 73,000 square-foot
hospital addition that spans 90 feet over an existing four-story parking
structure. The concept saved the owner $20 million in project costs by using
Buckling Restrained Braced Frames for seismic resistance, an innovative
system that saved in construction over 10% in structural costs.

Award Winner Award Winner

Gateway Center – Westchester Community College Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas
Valhalla, NY Leslie E. Robertson Associates, RLLP Irving, TX Datum Engineers, Inc.

Courtesy of Jeff Goldberg/Esto. The irving Convention Center is the first of several phases of a new
entertainment district. in order to minimize the building footprint
This 70,000 square-foot project consists of three new buildings. The to conserve land for other development, the architect and owner
gateway, a large and open volume serving as a lobby, is flanked by wanted to utilize a stacked design. The lighter convention func-
two buildings which house classrooms, offices, an auditorium, stu- tions – ballrooms, meeting rooms, and food service – were located
dent lounge and a cafeteria. The gateway’s unique structural design on multiple elevated floors above the main convention space. This
consists of architecturally exposed, stackable steel “boxes,” which are arrangement presents unique engineering challenges due to the long
prefabricated and bolted together on site. A steel bridge crosses the spans and vibration transmission through the floors. other archi-
gateway and links the three campus buildings. The site is further tectural elements, such as the long cantilevered roof elements, and
distinguished by a 65-foot tall steel tower, which is lit at night to serve elevated terraces above column-free glass entries, created additional
as a beacon for the campus. This facility received a leed gold rating. considerations that required carefully coordinated solutions.

STRUCTURE magazine 25 December 2011

NEW BUiLDiNGS OVER $100 MiLLiON
Outstanding Project
Ray and Dagmar Dolby Regeneration Medicine Building
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, CA Forell/Elsesser Engineers, Inc.
and Nabih Youssef & Associates

This new 70,000 square-foot facility, located on a steep hillside, houses several teams studying
tissue development and cell based approaches to treating disease. The design-build team was chal-
lenged to design and construct this serpentine building supported on a triangular space frame,
perched on a steep unstable hill. The structure, which is supported on “Triple” Friction Pendulum
isolation bearings capable of translating up to 26 inches, was analyzed using non-linear response
history analyses to verify that the superstructure would remain essentially elastic during an MCE
event, and to assess the tendency of the structure to uplift at the uphill edge. integrated Project
Delivery techniques allowed the building to be completed in just two and one-half years.

Photos courtesy of Robert Canfield and Bruce Damonte.

Award Winner Award Winner

Bank of Oklahoma Center (BOK) Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater
Tulsa, OK Thornton Tomasetti, Inc. Washington, DC Fast + Epp

Courtesy of Nic Lehoux.

The anchor of Tulsa’s Vision 2025, the city’s comprehensive down- Arena Stage involved the upgrade of two heritage theatres and the
town revitalization effort, is the new $178 million, 18,500-seat Bank addition of a new experimental theatre, and support spaces under a
of Oklahoma (BOK) Center. The elliptically shaped, 600,000 square- new roof and timber façade – a catalyst for redevelopment of a derelict
foot, multi-purpose event facility features lower and upper bowl Washington, DC neighborhood one mile south of the National Mall.
seating, a premium level composed of 32 suites and club seating, Significant acoustic issues in the heritage components were a chal-
and accommodates concerts, hockey, arena football, basketball, and lenge to resolve while providing aesthetically and functionally excellent
community events. Since its completion in 2008, the BOK Center new facilities on a tight budget. The 500-foot long roof is supported
has become an icon for the City of Tulsa and has helped shaped the on the new concrete “Cradle” theater and the 650-foot long glazed
downtown area. The building is dynamic and exciting, a physical timber façade, forming an acoustic barrier around the freestanding
interpretation of the spirit of the people of Tulsa. heritage theatres.

STRUCTURE magazine 26 December 2011

NEW BRiDGE AND TRANSPORTATiON STRUCTURES
Outstanding Project
Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge
Des Moines, IA T.Y. Lin International
Soaring 890 feet above the Colorado River, the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman
Memorial Bridge is the first concrete-steel hybrid arch bridge in the United States.
The innovative hybrid structure is designed to complement the historic Hoover
Dam with the high-performance concrete arch, while limiting the load demands
with a modern steel superstructure. The 1,900-foot long Colorado River cross-
ing is the highest and longest concrete arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere,
featuring the world’s tallest precast concrete columns of their type. With a 1,060-
foot main span, America’s newest wonder exemplifies creative achievement and
innovation of modern day structural engineering.

Award Winner Award Winner

Washington Bypass Mexicantown Bagley Street Pedestrian Bridge
Washington, NC Flatiron and AECOM Detroit, MI HNTB Michigan Inc.

The Washington Bypass was a design-build project consisting of a

6.8-mile greenfield bypass route around the city of Washington, NC
on U.S. 17, including a 2.8-mile bridge over the Tar River and sur-
rounding wetlands. Detroit’s new Mexicantown Pedestrian Bridge is the first cable-
To minimize the construction footprint, the team developed an stayed bridge in the world designed with a single plane of stays and
innovative top-down construction approach using a now patented an eccentrically supported deck system. it is also the first cable-stayed
overhead Tilting Lead Gantry (TLG). The project resulted in minimal bridge in the U.S. designed with a curved alignment, a single pylon
impact to the wetlands and an accelerated construction schedule, and inclined in both directions supporting a single plane of stays, a single,
has since been recognized with the Federal Highway Administration’s variable width steel box girder composite deck system, and tuned mass
Environmental Excellence Award, the Construction innovation dampers for both vertical and lateral responses to pedestrian dynam-
Forum’s NOVA Award, the American ARTBA’s Globe Award (honor- ics. it re-integrates a community, and operationally and aesthetically
able mention), and the AGC of America’s Aon Build America Award. enhances the busiest international trade crossing in North America.

STRUCTURE magazine 27 December 2011

iNTERNATiONAL STRUCTURES OVER $100 MiLLiON
Outstanding Project
Bitexco Financial Tower
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Leslie E. Robertson Associates, RLLP
An iconic landmark, the 263 meter Bitexco Financial Tower provides a model for
Vietnam’s global emergence through a sophisticated and sustainable structure built
with 21st century construction standards. innovative structural engineering decisions
which influenced basement excavation, helipad assemblage, and the outrigger truss
design, along with high safety practices onsite, ensured that the project finished
before the targeted national celebration. Constructed with locally produced concrete
and numerous sustainable features such as LED lighting, the office tower appears
as a symbolic beacon towards the future of Vietnam, at all hours, with an energy
and material saving design considerate of the world of tomorrow.

Award Winner Award Winner

Altra Sede Regione Lombardia U.S. Embassy
Milan, Italy Thornton Tomasetti Inc. Beijing, China Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP

Courtesy of Tim Hursley.

Courtesy of Simon Hsu.
The new U.S. Embassy in Beijing has redefined the possibilities of
The Altra Sede Regione Lombardia is the Lombardy Regional embassy design by responding to the strictest of security requirements
Government’s new headquarters complex. A competition to design with elegant, integrated solutions. The structural team creatively
the new government seat and civic square required entrants to consider reorganized conventional materials and assemblies of architecturally-
a visible symbolic and functional presence in their designs. The final exposed reinforced concrete, structural steel, and blast-resistant glass
architectural design, by Pei Cobb Freed and Partners, was inspired to create a secure compound that presents an open and welcoming
by the region’s interweaving mountain peaks, rivers and valleys and face to the City of Beijing. An expressive response to difficult design
includes general assembly spaces, offices and areas for social interac- conditions was accomplished through this innovative application of
tion. The project includes five nine-story wave-like buildings totaling conventional embassy design materials. At 500,000 square feet, the
an area of 98,000 square meters, a 43-story tower, three parking new U.S. Embassy is the second largest non-military compound ever
levels and a plaza. undertaken by the United States government.

STRUCTURE magazine 28 December 2011

FORENSiC/RENOVATiON/RETROFiT/REHABiLiTATiON STRUCTURES
Outstanding Project
Warner Drive
Culver City, CA Structural Focus
The Warner Drive project involved renovating an existing one-story warehouse
to create an upscale venue for parties or production space. A new 110-foot steel
truss supports the roof, allowing for the removal of interior columns, and special
construction sequencing allowed for truss installation without shoring the roof.
in addition, a new one-story parking garage was built below the existing building
and a two-story office space was added to the front of the warehouse. The exposed
truss and exposed wood framing create a functional and architecturally inspiring
spacing, giving new life to a once forgotten building.

Photos courtesy of Michael Schmidt.

Award Winner Award Winner

Pier Stabilization and Partial Demolition The Carquinez Senior Apartments
Chester, PA William J. Castle, P.E. & Associates, P.C. Richmond, CA Tipping Mar

With an extremely low budget, a ground-floor retrofit for the 36,000

square-foot Carquinez, achieving life-safety at the DBE hazard (475-
in 2009, a pier structure on the Delaware River was evaluated to year return period) and collapse prevention at the MCE (2,475-year
determine the best procedure to remove a partially collapsed section return period) was achieved with structural ingenuity. A weak-story
of dock measuring approximately 150 by 80 feet, without damage building with strong-but-brittle upper stories, it also possessed an
to the existing structure. Due to shifting of the structure and severe inherent torsional imbalance. The solution required designers to
deterioration of the piles, the pier had to be stabilized prior to demoli- strengthen the ground floor while protecting the upper floors, harness-
tion to prevent further damage or possible injury. To accommodate ing the strength of the upper floors without taxing them.
the confined location and limited capacity of the area to be removed, The final design: four new eight-foot-long concrete walls founded
a precision method of removal was utilized for the demolition of the on new grade beams with micropiles. The toughened ground story
deteriorated concrete and steel section. Demolition was completed created base absorption, acting as a filter to absorb most of the seismic
by January 2010. energy and protect the upper floors.

STRUCTURE magazine 29 December 2011

OTHER STRUCTURES
Outstanding Project
Left Coast Lifter
San Francisco Bay, CA Liftech Consultants
The Left Coast Lifter is a barge-mounted crane designed to erect
the major components of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge
self-anchored suspension span. Owned by American Bridge/Fluor
Daniel Joint Venture, and fabricated by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy
industries Co., Ltd., it is the largest barge crane on the West Coast.
The boom, or arm, is 25 stories tall and can lift 1700 metric tons,
equivalent to approximately one thousand automobiles. The barge is
towed by tugboat and adjusted using the barge’s computer-controlled
positioning system. The structure can be folded down onto the barge
for transport overseas or within United States waterways.

Award Winner Award Winner

Cai Guo-Qiang – I Want to Believe Exhibit, Staring Lake Observatory
Inopportune: Stage One Eden Prairie, MN Larson Engineering, Inc.
New York, NY Gilsanz Murray Steficek

Courtesy of Roger Poctar.

The Cai Guo-Qiang: i Want to Believe exhibition in New York’s land- Staring Lake Observatory is a truly unique public building.
mark Guggenheim Museum was a site-specific installation, designed Unassuming by design, this 16- by 16-foot “cabin in the woods”
by the artist. inopportune: Stage One, Cai’s largest installation to structure is an atypical public observatory and blends beautifully into
date, presented cars suspended in the void of the central atrium of its wooded lakeshore setting. Most telescope observatories have a track
the Frank Lloyd Wright rotunda. supported sliding roof, or dome with sliding window, through which
Structural engineering creativity was necessary for all facets of the a telescope is aimed at the sky. Staring Lake Observatory has two
installation: determining cable tensions, checking skylight ribs, analyz- rustic, wood-sided walls that swing open and a green, metal rotating
ing the rotunda floor, assessing the system for hanging each car – the roof that allows an unobstructed view of the sky, and showcases one
cables, winches, shackles, etc., and providing reinforcing as needed of the largest reflecting telescopes in Minnesota.▪
within each car.

STRUCTURE magazine 30 December 2011

Struggling with what kind of foundation pile to use?

MDRS™ does the thinking for you.

INTRODUCING! MacLean Design Recommendation System

(MDRS™) allows you to design custom helical piles for all your
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• Online design tool which creates • Meets ICC-ES AC358 ESR-3032 for:
helical foundation piles based on • RCS: 1-1/2” and 1-3/4”
input factors including: • Pipe Piles: 2-7/8” and 3-1/2”
• Soil data
• Loading conditions • Generates complete set of submittal
documents for each helical pile project
• Automatically generates appropriate including:
helical foundation pile per project • Product drawings
guidelines in minutes • Specifications
• Construction QA/QC forms
• Allows helical foundation pile to be
fine tuned for “value engineering” • Creates helical foundation piles for a
variety of applications including:
• Side by side comparison of different • New construction
helical foundation piles • Tieback
• Walkways
• User-friendly for all experience levels • Solar power

TM

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www.MacLeanDixie.com
 I
n the last two decades, the number of dis- of these your software product supports, as they are
crete structural software products we use not necessarily always interoperable.
has increased dramatically, along with their CIS/2’s weakness is primarily its lack of robust

InSIghtS
capabilities, complexity and power. But the support for non-steel materials, lack of an organiza-
ability of these products to interoperate has not tion or process to continue its development, and its
always kept pace. flexibility in implementation (more on this later).
“In spite of the great progress of the last decade,
new trends, new techniques many obstacles must still be overcome. … Industry Foundation Classes – IFC
and current industry issues We now have to zero in on the key issue,
Industry Foundation Classes are data models that
the Achilles heel of (structural) computer
are developed under the auspices of the building
programs…Compatibility!”
SMART Organization. IFCs have the ambitious
Hard to believe, but this quote was made over goal of providing a data model for interoperability
twenty years ago by Charles Thornton and Emmanuel for the entire building industry. IFCs greatest suc-
Valivaskis in the ASCE Computing Journal. This cess has been in adoption by BIM physical modeling
article looks at some of what has been done to products, particularly the IFC2x3 Coordination
address interoperability in the Structural Software View (for review and coordination) with over 100
(SSW) Industry, asks why we are not quite there certified implementers. There are multiple ongoing
yet, and postulates on some of the directions the IFC Extension efforts by special interest groups to
industry is taking to address interoperability. fill in the gaps in IFCs data models. These projects
and the mechanism to initiate such a project are
well defined (see buildingSMART website noted in
The Road Travelled the online version of this article). While IFCs are
Structural Software Structural software typically
communicates information
continuing to be developed, there is work ongoing
in identifying subsets of the IFC data that is required
Interoperability in one of two ways. Products
either interoperate indi-
to facilitate specific workflows between products.
These subsets of the data are commonly referred to
rectly, passing information as Model View Definitions (MVDs). Several MVDs
By Raoul Karp, S.E.
through an intermediate common format most have already been defined, including the previously
often an Open Standard format; or directly with mentioned Coordination View and also a Structural
product-to-product communication, most often Analysis View for interoperability mainly between
with vendor (proprietary) solutions. analysis products.
IFCs weaknesses include some gaps in the data
model that already exist in competing standards
Open Standards (see Robert Lipman’s NIST article on the CIS/2
To efficiently move information from multiple IFC Gap Analysis), relatively few certified MVDs,
SSW products to each other, a lingua franca is the slow pace of consensus building to evolve
needed, a common data format that each product standards and create MVDs and, similar to CIS,
can read from and write to. AutoCAD DXF could the flexibility for vendor implementation that can
Raoul Karp, S.E. is Director be considered the first such format in our industry. cause interoperability issues.
of Product Management in the The richness of information contained in software
Integrated Engineering Group today has outgrown the DXF standard, and many
at Bentley Systems. Raoul has different organizations have been urgently trying to
Direct Interoperability
published several articles on the fill the gaps through development of more robust It is often the case, for strategic or technical reasons,
evolution of design and software Open Standards. Within our industry, two stan- that a direct product-to-product link provides the
interoperation and participated dards – namely CIMSteel (CIS/2) and Industry best or only interoperability option. These direct
in industry initiatives such as Foundation Classes (IFC) – have achieved the links often have the advantage that they can share
ATC-75 for Structural IFC widest market adoption. Both these standards are additional data and intelligence that may not be
definition. He can be contacted typically exposed as a file import/export option in available through an open standard.
at [email protected]. popular structural software. While direct links are common in the industry
and offer competitive advantage in some cases, this
solution is not scalable and is difficult to maintain by
CIMsteel (CIS/2) software vendors as the number of products increases.
Computer Integrated Manufacturing of
Constructional Steelwork Standard is possibly
the most commercially successful of all current
Are We There Yet?
The online version of this article standards in the SSW industry. CIS/2 is a robust Despite significant work in development of stan-
includes source references and standard covering all things steel, from gross geome- dards for interoperability, it remains the single
links to product websites. Visit try to, literally, the nuts and bolts. The CIS standard largest impediment to increased productivity
www.STRUCTUREmag.org. has three different models: Analysis, Design, and in our industry (McGraw Hill SmartMarket).
Manufacturing. It is important to understand which Unlike traditional 2D CAD, when dealing with

32 December 2011
objects, attributes and their relationships in in CIS/2 and IFC. You need to understand detection, scheduling, and more are provided
a 3D Model, the differences between how which version that each of your products by others including Autodesk’s Navisworks©
products manage data becomes significantly can produce and consume. Saying a product and Bentley Systems’ Navigator products.
more divergent and complex. is CIS or IFC compatible is sometimes only However, as long as there are software com-
half the story. panies that hold dominant positions in the
Physical vs Analytical Models
market or that produce multiple products in
Roundtrip Interoperability
Depending on the domain problem being one or more market segments, the incentive
addressed, some structural software may The real power of interoperability is evident to provide tight, direct links will exist and
require the absolute true life physical loca- when a product can continue to synchronize continue to be developed.
tion and extents of a structure (for drawings, updates of models over time. This technique There is also precedence in other industries,
clash, or detailing), while others are looking requires vendors to manage change between such as with JT Open in the mechani-
for an acceptable simplification of the struc- subsequent updates. Some vendors like cal industry, for a collaborative approach
ture (analysis for example). The interoperation Graphisoft, Tekla, and Autodesk have pro- amongst software vendors to create a
between two products with this fundamen- vided technology to allow the user to manage platform for interoperability. This system
tal difference in data format is a challenge. change at the individual object level from pulls together the best parts of the direct
Some vendors have decided to create products within their products. Others like Bentley approach (an API) and indirect approach
where both physical and analytical models are Systems’ Integrated Structural Modeling (common intermediate model). Bentley’s
produced together (Autodesk Revit, Tekla manage the change in a standalone synchro- Integrated Structural Modeling Platform
Structures, Nemetsheck SCIA, and Bentley nization product. It is important to confirm (ISM) provides similar advantages of visu-
AECOsim for example). The end-user is then if full round-tripping is possible with the alization, change management, revision
required to be skilled in both disciplines to product and standard in use, and not just history, and interoperability through a strict
effectively create models with these tools, and assume it is. API or Open Standards. ISM is address-
facilitate appropriate interoperability and ing Bentley’s own internal interoperability
keep these two models in sync. needs, as well as providing a platform for
Where both physical and analytical models
Next Stop? other vendors to integrate and realize all
are not available in a single product, the The need for improved interoperability is the aforementioned benefits.
burden falls on the software vendor to appro- not going away, but vendors consistently
“Only when the barriers of integration
priately infer one from the other during have to make investment decisions that pit
and compatibility are removed will we be
interoperation; in many cases this requires Open Standard development priorities against
ready to cross the final hurdle, to deliver
hands-on decision making by the end-user, Direct API links.
our analysis and designs to the constructors
effectively slowing down and making the On the Open Standards front, IFC is
directly from our computers to theirs.”
interoperability less efficient. In general, there likely to garner more and more of the atten-
Thornton/Valivaskis
has been greater market success interoperat- tion. Companies like Tekla, Nemetsheck,
ing between products that utilize the same Solibri, and Data Design System also pro- While much has been done, there is much
fundamental data type model, be it physical vide free tools like BIMsight, IFC Viewer, still to do to realize Thorton’s and Valivaskis
or analytical. Model Viewer, and DDS Viewer to allow vision of interoperability. This challenge is
visualization and coordination between IFC as significant and pertinent today as it was
Data Intelligence – Lowest
models. Similar tools with capabilities of clash twenty years ago.▪
Common Denominator
With Open Standards, we must under-
stand that the modeling intelligence that
a product may associate with its data will
PIT, LITE and PDA
be lost in translation. For example, an Part of your toolkit for reusing existing foundations
elevator shaft object that pierces a slab

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creating an opening, or framing member PIT tests for
layout relationships, are typically not concrete quality and
part of the information shared between unknown length
products. The user should consider this
LITE evaluates
when deciding where they want to model
depth of steel piles
their data such that it is most efficient
for them. PDA assesses
Choose Your Flavor bearing capacity

Open Standards allow vendor interpre- PDA

tation and flexibility in how some data
is specified. Some vendors choose to
implement multiple versions of the Open
Standard, each one targeted as a specific Cleveland, OH USA
product and its particular implementation +1 216-831-6131
LITE PIT
(flavor) of the standard. Similar issues can
arise with different implementation levels www.pile.com [email protected]

STRUCTURE magazine 33 December 2011

 CASE BuSinESS PrACtiCES business issues

Why not “Risk Management” Development? The Council of American Structural Engineers
(CASE) is a national association of struc-
By Brent White, P.E., S.E., SECB
tural engineering firms. CASE provides a

S
forum for action to improve the business of
tructural Engineering is a highly What does it take to develop Risk Management
structural engineering through implementa-
technical profession that requires skills? When prospective engineers are gaining
tion of best practices, reduced professional
years of effort from the engineer an education, the technical aspects of the pro-
liability exposure and increased profitability.
to become competent and profi- fession command the most attention. Most of
cient. The process to become technically us did not even think of things like effective Our mission is to improve the practice of
proficient to practice structural engineering verbal and written communication, contracts, structural engineering by providing business
includes years of education, more time and company practice procedures manuals, manag- practice resources, improving quality, and
effort (years) to gain enough experience ing project schedules, or consistency in firm enhancing management practices to reduce
to become a licensed engineer, and addi- deliverables, among the many other issues that the frequency and severity of claims.
tional time and effort (years) to become a face us as we interact with co-workers, clients,
Our vision is to be the leading provider of
licensed structural engineer. Additionally, the public, etc. These issues are real, and are
risk management and business practice educa-
we all invest large amounts of time to keep critical in managing the risk we face daily in
tion and information for use in the structural
current through continuing education. the practice of structural engineering.
engineering practice.
In many states, continuing education is If we are serious about managing our risks,
a requirement. Regardless of whether the what should we do? Larger engineering firms
state requires it or not, it is a necessity for may have policies, procedures, education pro- assignments, contacts, and other key informa-
anyone practicing structural engineering grams, etc., to help employees manage risk. tion for managing a project. The tool has two
to continue to develop and enhance their Many others may not even be thinking about versions, a long and short form that allow adap-
technical knowledge and skills. Professional these issues. tion to specific projects and individual firms.
competence in structural engineering prac- CASE has developed tools that will help Managing the use of Computers and Software
tice is essential to secure the health, safety engineers develop risk management skills. in the Structural Engineering Office is a white
and welfare of the public. These tools can help practicing structural paper and template that helps a firm assess its
Securing the health and welfare of our engineers and firms enhance risk management computing and software usage and needs. The
structural engineering practices and firms development. CASE currently has more than whitepaper provides suggestions for company
is also essential. Risk Management is an issue 20 tools in its Risk Management Toolkit that discussion and evaluation of how computers
that we should all be concerned with, not are available for anyone and any firm inter- and software are being used, how they should
just company principals and project manag- ested in developing risk management skills. be used, and development of a computer and
ers. As structural engineers, do we expend Recently released tools include: Developing software use policy.
the appropriate amount of time and effort a Culture of Quality, Staffing and Revenue So…what about Risk Management devel-
to be proficient in Risk Management? Only Projection, Project Work Plan Template, and opment? Do we need to do more? I suggest
we, as individual engineers and collectively Managing the use of Computers and Software we can all do more to avoid risk in our firms
as firms, can answer that question. Many in the Structural Engineering Office. CASE and engineering practice. The CASE tools
firms and engineers do an admirable job in and SEI have jointly released a whitepaper mentioned here, as well as others previously
understanding risk and developing plans to titled, Building Information Modeling for the released, help provide a basis for developing
mitigate it. Risk Management is a cultural Engineer of Record. our own risk management programs.
issue that can and should permeate the entire Developing a Culture of Quality is a white- A listing and description of all the CASE
firm practicing structural engineering. paper and PowerPoint presentation that is tools can be found on the CASE website,
intended to help firms have a meaning- www.acec.org/case. For more information
ful discussion about the firm’s culture. regarding specifics of CASE tools contact
Company culture is hard to define, but Stacy Bartoletti, Toolkit Committee Chair,
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it defines the firm and is a basis on which [email protected]. All tools are
decisions are made, including practice free of charge for CASE member firms.
The easiest to use software for calculating decisions regarding risk management. Tools are available to non-member firms for
wind, seismic, snow and other loadings for The Staffing and Revenue Projection tool is nominal fees. If you are interested in joining
IBC, ASCE7, and all state codes based on a spreadsheet that will facilitate managing CASE, refer to the website or contact Heather
these codes ($195.00). a firm’s staffing requirements. It utilizes Talbert, [email protected].▪
company revenue projections and history
Tilt-up Concrete Wall Panels ($95.00).
to project immediate and near term staff- Brent White, P.E., S.E., SECB
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($100.00). crucial in properly accomplishing required president of ARW Engineers in Ogden,
Concrete beams with torsion ($45.00). engineering tasks and avoiding claims. Utah. He serves on the CASE Toolkit
The Project Work Plan Template is an Committee and is a past-president of the
Demos at: www.struware.com outline document that can be custom- Structural Engineers Association of Utah.
ized by individual firms to outline tasks,

STRUCTURE magazine 34 December 2011

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STRUCTURE magazine 35 November 2011

 NCSEA’s 19 th Annual Conference
Ethics, licensing, building codes, how to speak to the media,
software decisions – so much to talk about and so little time.
And that was only Thursday! Friday provided additional lectures
News form the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations

and panel discussions on everything from being part of an

international structural engineering practice to running your
own structural engineering business. And, of course, there were
some interesting discussions of the Oklahoma City and World
Trade Center disasters, forensic investigations, and the code
changes that followed. The pictures below, however, provide
you with a birds’ eye view of who came and what they did when
they were not in the lecture hall.
NCSEA Past Presidents

Service Award winner Marc Barter Delahay Award winner Jim Harris Jim Malley, Outgoing President, and Tom
DiBlasi, Incoming President

First MO Executive Director meeting

NCSEA News

Thank you to OSEA

and to the MO Executive Directors
On behalf of the NCSEA Board of Directors, Staff, and
Committee Chairs, NCSEA extends our sincere thanks and
appreciation for all of the hard work and behind-the-scenes
efforts that OSEA undertook to help make NCSEA’s 19th
Annual Conference in Oklahoma City extremely successful!
NCSEA also thanks the 8 Member Organization Executive
Directors who started up their own group at this meeting,
shared ideas, and discussed how to do the best possible job
for NCSEA’s Member Organizations.
John Joyce, Aaron Landrum, Alan Kirkpatrick, O.J. Johnston, Sarah
James Malley, NCSEA President 2010-2011
Woodard, Carisa Ramming, John Kelley, Carrie Johnson, Dustin Cole
and Shannon Koeninger.
STRUCTURE magazine 36 December 2011
 NCSEA News
NCSEA Winter Institute
February 10 -11, 2012, New Orleans, Louisiana
Soft Soil – Water and Wind
The centerpiece of the New Orleans Hurricane and Storm
Damage Risk Reduction System (HSDRRS), the Inner Harbor
Navigation Canal (IHNC) – Lake Borgne Surge Barrier, is
designed to reduce risk for some of southeast Louisiana’s most
vulnerable areas (New Orleans East, metro New Orleans,
Gentilly, Ninth Ward and St. Bernard Parish) from storm surge
generated in Lake Borgne and the Gulf of Mexico during a
100-year event. Nearly two miles long and 26 feet high, it is ASCE 7-10 Wind Loading and Design, by Bill Coulbourne,
the largest design-build civil works project in the history of the P.E., national expert in wind and flood mitigation, certified
Corps and will be the focal point of the 2012 Winter Institute in structural engineering and building inspection engineering,
Friday afternoon “visit-and-learn” field trip. who has been involved in FEMA Mitigation Assessment Teams
Friday morning, Angela DeSoto Duncan, P.E., a 24-year vet- for over 15 years.
eran with the Corps of Engineers and the Corps Design Lead for Design Aspects of Fluid-Containing Walls, Soil-Retaining Walls
the IHNC-Lake Borgne Barrier, will provide an overview of the and Flood Walls on Soft Soils, by Mike Sheridan, P.E., Lead
IHNC and Lake Borgne Surge Barrier project. Additional lec- Structural Engineer for the Memphis District of the US Army

News from the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations

tures, prior to the field trip, will include: Geotechnical Engineering Corps of Engineers.
and Test Pile Program, Lake Borgne Hurricane Surge Barrier, by Building Design for Coastal Flooding and Hurricane and Tornado
William Gwyn, P.E., the Geotechnical Engineer of Record; Shelter Design, by Bill Coulbourne, P.E. (see above).
Structural Design of Gates, by Dale Miller, P.E., S.E., the Project Foundations in Soft and Challenging Soils and Design of Piles
Engineer of Record; and IHNC – Overcoming Construction and Piers for Lateral Loads, by Mike Wysockey, P.E., Ph.D.,
Challenges, by Charles M. Hess, Vice President of Operations president of Thatcher Engineering, a specialty subcontractor
for Shaw Environment and Infrastructure, Inc. and Shaw’s working in design-build earth retention, pile driving, drilled
FEMA Account Manager. foundations, and marine construction.
The Friday evening networking reception will be followed Register at www.ncsea.com. Reserve your room at the Hotel
by your own opportunity to enjoy New Orleans. 7.25 PDH Monteleone by January 17, 2012, and pay the reduced rate of
lectures on Saturday will include: $165 per night.

NCSEA Webinar
December

1 Flatness & Levelness of Floors, Old Specifications/New Methods

This presentation explains how & why the F-Number system should be implemented on construction projects when concrete
floor slabs are utilized. Use of a nonstandard test method and failure to specify floor profiles often lead to conflict and litigation.
Therefore, in order to ensure a quality slab, the following should be specified: Overall Ff / Fl values, minimum local values,
timeliness of testing, penalty for not achieving the overall values, and remedy for violating the minimum local values. Several
American Concrete Institute (ACI) documents that are guides for specifying floor quality will be discussed. Also discussed will
be ASTM E1155 (determining Ff floor flatness and Fl floor levelness numbers) and its proper implementation.
Mark A. Cheek, P.E., FACI is Vice-President of Beta Testing & Inspection, LLC, New Orleans, Louisiana. He
has more than 20 years of experience in construction materials testing and inspection. He is a past president of
the Louisiana ACI Chapter and is a member of several American Concrete Institute International Committees.
He is an examiner for ACI and NRMCA. Mark received his BS in Civil Engineering from the University of
New Orleans and is a registered professional engineer in Louisiana and Mississippi.
AL

EN

The cost is $250 per internet connection. Several people may attend for one connection fee.
UR

GIN
CT

EE
RU

RS
ST

NCSEA
This course will award 1.5 hours of continuing education.
G

N
UIN

TIO

The times will be 10:00 am Pacific, 11:00 am Mountain, 12:00 pm Central, and 1:00 pm Eastern.
IN

CA
NT

U
CO

ED

Diamond
Reviewed Approved in All 50 States

STRUCTURE magazine 37 December 2011

 2012 Structures Congress
March 29-31, 2012
Chicago, Illinois
The Newsletter of the Structural Engineering Institute of ASCE

Registration Now Open – Forge Connections in the Windy City

Register early to take advantage of reduced rates – www.asce.org/SEI.

Structural engineers from across the nation and around the

world will gather in Chicago to attend technical sessions, net-
work with peers, and learn more about the latest products and
services from exhibitors. This is an opportunity to collaborate
with, and learn from, structural engineering leaders from prac- Networking opportunities include Thursday evening’s Grand
tice, academia, government, and industry. Opening Reception, sponsored by the Precast/Prestressed
Eleven tracks of technical sessions will educate attendees about Concrete Institute. Panoramic views of Chicago from the 80th
buildings, bridges, and non-building structures. Individual and floor of the landmark Aon Building will be one of the highlights
mini-tracks are organized to explore seismic issues, research, of Friday’s evening reception at The Mid-America Club, sponsored
education, and analysis and computation methods. One track by Alfred Benesch and Company and Thornton Thomasetti, Inc.
of invited sessions will celebrate the rich structural engineer- Other events include Student and Young Professional focused
ing history of Chicago. In addition, the conference will host programs, pre-conference workshops, post-conference seminars,
the Council of American Structural Engineers’ Spring Risk and much more.
Management Convocation. For complete information see the SEI website: www.asce.org/SEI.

August 23, 2011 Virginia Earthquake

Call for Photos and Observations
The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) visit www.eqclearinghouse.org/2011-08-23-virginia/. Use
seeks photos and observations of damage from the August 23 the Interactive Map to post observations and photos to a
Virginia earthquake. Because of the wide geographical impact particular location. To add a post of observations, send an
of the event, the Institute is eager to find members and other email to [email protected]. If you have photos
interested professionals up and down the East Coast who can and/or observations that you are willing to share with EERI
contribute to EERI’s Virtual Clearinghouse on the earthquake. but that cannot be displayed publicly on the map, please
Of interest are impacts on structures, geotechnical elements, contact Justin Marshall of Auburn University directly at
transportation, bridges, monuments, non-structural mem- [email protected]. He is compiling such sensitive
Structural Columns

bers, and more. Participation in earthquake reconnaissance information on a map that will be shared only within the
is critical to improving the understanding of how natural earthquake engineering research community.
hazards affect our environment. To access the clearinghouse,

2012 Khan Distinguished Lecture Series

Dates and Speakers Announced
The dates and speakers have now been set for the Spring 2012 Khan Distinguished Lecture
Series to be held at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA.

1st Lecture – Friday, February 17, 4:10 pm 3rd Lecture – Friday, April 20, 4:10 pm
Ross B. Corotis, Denver Business Challenge Ted V. Galambos, Professor Emeritus, Structural
Professor of Engineering, University of Engineering, University of Minnesota,
Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO Minneapolis, MN
Natural Hazard Risk: Public Perceptions & The Safety of Bridges
Political Perversities
For more information about the Fazlur R. Khan
2nd Lecture – Friday, March 23, 4:10 pm
Distinguished Lecture series, see the Lehigh University website:
Sharon L. Wood, Robert L. Parker Sr. Professor
www.lehigh.edu/~infrk/.
in Engineering and Chair, Department of Civil,
Architectural and Environmental Engineering,
University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Opportunities and Challenges for Infrastructure
Monitoring

STRUCTURE magazine 38 December 2011

 Structural Columns
Bridges 2012 Calendar
Save When You Buy 2 or More
To mark 75 years of service in 2012, the Golden Gate Bridge,
one of its iconic towers tethered by sweeping cables, is featured
on the cover of the Bridges 2012 calendar. A must-have for
bridge lovers, the ASCE Bridges calendar continues to delight
and inform. A new, elegant design showcases 12 extraordinary
bridges from the United States and around the world. Each
featured bridge is accompanied by an explanation of its techni-
cal or historical significance and an inset highlighting a unique
characteristic. Order your copy and view bridge photos online
at www.asce.org/calendar, or call ASCE at 800-548-2723 or
703-295-6300 to place your order. an ideal holiday gift that leaves a lasting impression and truly
$12.95 (plus S&H) single copy connects with your clients and colleagues. To order or for more
$10.00 (plus S&H) per calendar for orders of 2 or more copies details on the imprint calendar pricing, please download the
Imprint Your Company Name – Advertise your company order form online at www.asce.org/calendar or contact Chi
name and logo all year long with ASCE’s Bridges 2012 Calendar, Wang at [email protected].

Save on ASCE Structural New Civil Engineering

On-Demand Online Courses Magazine Website
The New Online Course Aluminum Structural Design with the Be sure to visit the new Civil Engineering magazine website –

The Newsletter of the Structural Engineering Institute of ASCE

2010 Aluminum Design Manual is on sale. www.asce.org/cemagazine – which brings you all new news
Save 25% off (*) this and other On-Demand Online Courses and feature content weekly, going live each Tuesday. Articles
through December 31, 2011. Use Promotional code ASCE25 have commenting capabilities, enabling you to offer feedback.
at check out. Visit the ASCE Continuing Education Website From this site, you can also link to the magazine’s new digital
www.asce.org/onlinecourses for details and a list of courses on sale. edition, which provides enhanced content in the form of video
*Other discounts do not apply. Offer not valid on Live webi- and slide shows. Just click on the thumbnail in the upper left
nars, Archived Webinars, P.E. or F.E. Exam Review Courses, hand corner of the website. Let us know what you think at
Bulk Purchase Discounts or Online Course Sets. [email protected].

Hurricane Program Strengthens

Joint ATC & SEI Conference
As hurricane season is officially underway, several events have Chris Jones, P.E., M. ASCE – met recently in Miami to finalize
already impacted the East Coast of the United States and the Gulf the technical program and organize conference events.
region. Hurricane Irene affected inland and northern areas in unex-
pected ways. Engineers, researchers, builders, manufacturers, and ATC and SEI are pleased to announce
building officials strive to keep ahead of threatening storms with confirmed and invited plenary speakers.
new and updated design approaches, construction methods, and Julie Rochman, the President of Institute of Business and
building and infrastructure products. The ATC & SEI Advances Home Safety (IBHS), will share the organization’s vision and role
in Hurricane Engineering Conference: Learning from Our Past, to in reducing the effects of the hurricane hazard to the domestic
be held October 24-26, 2012, in Miami will bring wind, flood, built environment. Additionally, Tim Reinhold, Ph.D., IBHS
and meteorological experts together to discuss and learn about vice president for engineering and research, will present the
how hurricane engineering has evolved since Hurricane Andrew work of the organization’s new full-scale wind tunnel testing
wreaked havoc on South Florida and Louisiana nearly 20 years ago. facility. Reinhold will discuss how this facility can be utilized
In preparation for the conference next year, the steering com- by hurricane practitioners and researchers to gather important
mittee – including co-chairs Larry Griffis, P.E., M. ASCE, and information about the effect the hurricane hazard has on specific
building systems and components.
Errata Stephanie Abrams of the Weather Channel has been invited
to speak at the opening plenary. She graduated from Florida
SEI posts up-to-date errata information for our publications State University and got interested in weather by experiencing
at www.asce.org/SEI. Click on “Publications” on our the effects of Hurricane Andrew.
menu, and select “Errata.” If you have any errata that you Visit www.atc-sei.org to learn more about the program as
would like to submit, please email it to Paul Sgambati well as exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities.
at [email protected].

STRUCTURE magazine 39 December 2011

 Case Risk Management Convocation
a Great Success in Vegas!
CASE put on a great Risk Management Convocation in
tandem with ACEC’s Fall Conference in Las Vegas – an apt
location for talking about risk.
CASE kicked off its Convocation with a session entitled
ConsensusDOCS: Friend or Foe? Presented by Hobie Andrews
The Newsletter of the Council of American Structural Engineers

of Vandevender and Black, this session addressed the

ConsensusDOCS, a new family of form contracts that was
first introduced in 2007.  There are several provisions in these approach to BIM would benefit the industry and help firms
documents that are quite different from the more traditional better serve their clients.
families of form contracts (AIA, EJCDC, DBIA, etc.), many Gregg Bundschuh of Greyling Insurance Brokerage and Risk
of which add to the design professional’s risk.  The purpose of Consulting, Inc. lead the session Risks Associated with Technology.
the session was to introduce the ConsensusDOCS contracts, to He noted that design firms are exposed to various risks on each
identify some of the critical provisions, and to suggest alternate project. Most of the risk management items that garner the
language that might balance the playing field and better assure most attention are design processes such as software, quality
that professional liability coverage remains in place. assurance, etc. However, there are risks associated with the use
A major topic of the Convocation was BIM. In his session BIM of technology. This session focused on these issues which include
and the Bottom Line, David Odeh of Odeh Engineers, Inc. used data integrity, hardware security, business continuity/disaster
the recent CASE white paper on BIM to guide the discussion. recovery, as well as the increasing use of BIM.
Many session attendees were just starting to use BIM in their
To read the CASE White Paper on BIM, go to
practices, but all noted that it is quickly becoming an industry
www.acec.org/case/publications.cfm.
standard. Coordination between engineering disciplines on an
Thanks to all of our speakers and attendees!

Case Documents Highlight

The CASE Toolkit Committee met at the ACEC Fall Conference in Las Vegas and worked on advancing the devel-
opment of several Tools. Those tools discussed including the anticipated release dates are identified below:

FOUNDATION TOOL NAME RELEASE DATE

2. Prevention and Proactivity 2-3 Guideline to Performance Evaluations ON SALE NOW
2. Prevention and Proactivity 2-4 Risk Management Plan Template January 2012
5. Education 5-4 Talking Points Around Selling Value Versus Commodity TBA 2012
9. Contract Documents 9-2 Quality Assurance Plan Template December 2011

These documents will be available for purchase at the ACEC Bookstore: www.booksforengineers.com.
Remember, if you are an existing CASE member, you get 24/7 access to these and all CASE documents for free!
CASE in Point

Case Salutes a Founding Member

CASE lost one of its founding members this fall. Richard In 1973, Mr. Williams organized his own firm of Richard L.
Linwood Williams, 78, formerly of Roanoke, Va., died on Williams Consulting Engineers, Inc., in Roanoke which spe-
Thursday, October 6, 2011, in Columbia, MD. Mr. Williams cialized in Civil, Structural and Sanitary Services. He devoted
was a Registered Professional Engineer, active in the CEC/VA extraordinary amounts of time and energy to CEC/VA, ACEC,
(now ACEC/Virginia) and served as Chairman of Government and ASCE and also served on the Architectural Lay Advisory
Affairs, Membership, Political Action, Long Range Planning and Committee of Virginia Western Community College since
Joint Active Committees. He also served as CEC/VA Western 1970, as well as an instructor in steel and concrete structures.
Regional Vice President for three terms, President-Elect (1978 to In 1987, he was the first chairman of the Council of American
1979), President (1979 to 1980), and Director (1980 to 1981). Structural Engineers (CASE).
Mr. Williams then served as ACEC National Director from CASE would like to take this opportunity to salute a man who
Virginia and ACEC Vice President. Mr. Williams was also a dedicated his professional career to promoting, improving, and
charter member of the Construction Specifications Institute teaching the practice of structural engineering.
and a member of the VA Water Pollution Control Association.

STRUCTURE magazine 40 December 2011

 CASE in Point
Donate to the Case JOIN CASE!
Scholarship Fund! The Council of American Structural
Engineers (CASE) is a national association
The ACEC Council of American Structural Engineers (CASE) of structural engineering firms. CASE provides a forum for action
is currently seeking contributions to help make the structural to improve the business of structural engineering through imple-
engineering scholarship program a success. The CASE scholar- mentation of best practices, reduced professional liability exposure
ship, administered by the ACEC College of Fellows, is awarded and increased profitability. Our mission is to improve the practice
to a student seeking a Bachelor’s degree, at minimum, in an of structural engineering by providing business practice resources,
ABET-accredited engineering program. improving quality, and enhancing management practices to reduce
We have all witnessed the stiff competition from other dis- the frequency and severity of claims. Our vision is to be the leading
ciplines and professions eager to obtain the best and brightest provider of risk management and business practice education, and
young talent from a dwindling pool of engineering graduates. information for use in the structural engineering practice.
One way to enhance the ability of students in pursuing their Your membership gets you free access to contracts covering various
dreams to become professional engineers is to offer incentives situations, as well as access to guidance on AIA documents, free
in educational support. national guidelines for the structural engineer of record, designed
In addition, the CASE scholarship offers an excellent oppor- to help corporate and municipal clients understand the scope of
tunity for your firm to recommend eligible candidates for services structural engineers do and do not provide, free access to
our scholarship. If your firm already has a scholarship pro- tools which are designed to keep you up to date on how much
gram, remember that potential candidates can also apply risk your firm is taking on and how to reduce that risk, biannual
for the CASE Scholarship or any other ACEC scholarship CASE convocations dedicated to Best Practice structural engineer-
currently available. ing, bi-monthly Business Practice and Risk Management Newsletter,

CASE is a part of the American Council of Engineering Companies

Your monetary support is vital in helping CASE and ACEC AND free downloads of all CASE documents 24/7.
increase scholarships to those students who are the future of our For more information go to www.acec.org/case or contact
industry. All donations toward the program may be eligible for Heather Talbert at [email protected]. You must be an ACEC
tax deduction and you don’t have to be an ACEC member to member to join CASE. You can follow ACEC Coalitions on
donate! Contact Heather Talbert at [email protected] to donate. Twitter–@ACECCoalitions.

Case Business Practice Corner

If you would like more information on the items below, please a negotiated point in a contract it stands a much better chance
contact Ed Bajer, [email protected]. of holding up in court. EJCDC E-500 Owner/Engineer agree-
ment contains (in an exhibit to the agreement) three alternative
LOL provisions. It is available at www.contractscentral.net.
Company Files on Home Computers?
Most firms strongly discourage, if not outright prohibit, this
practice. It is very difficult to share these files and, should legal
Marketing to Major
action befall those files, a home computer and everything on it Engineering Prime Contractors
would be subject to the discovery process. Additionally, there are
All major primes receive a large number of company marketing
client confidentiality concerns. Firms have client confidentiality
offers. It is important to stand out and communicate the exclusiv-
agreements with many clients. Having files on a home computer
ity of your firm. One way to do this is by focusing on a service
could violate them. Virtual Private Networking (VPN) systems
you provide that is not widely available. Big primes usually have
are used to create a secure connection between one computer and
a small business development office that can help direct you to
another computer or network. When you have a VPN connection
the proper business unit that can use your specific capabilities.
established, it’s like you have a personal network cable running
Register in the prime’s database even if a working relationship
from your computer to a firm location, regardless of where you
already exists. Be sure the information is meaningful, rather than
are or whether you’re using physical cables at all. Documents can
cutting and pasting a statement of work. If contacted, show up
be worked on and saved through the company central servers.
with your key people including leadership and technical.

Getting Limitation of Liability (LOL) In Competition with Big Name Firms

into a Contract Big name firms are going after every project. Pay close attention
$50,000 or the amount of the engineer’s fee is a common LOL. to the “relevant experience” section of the proposal. Possibly get
The experience of engineering firms getting this into a contract, an independent review of your proposals. Take the extra step to
however, is all over the map. Some jurisdictions do not allow it explain to the client why size does not matter on the project. You
as a matter of public policy. Some owners and clients flatly reject can always try teaming with a large firm to develop a track record.
them. Some jurisdictions do allow LOL through precedential No one is against big firms, but clients need to be reminded it is
court decisions, and some firms will rarely work without them. the small firms that keep expenses down and eliminating them
It should be a negotiated point and may be better described as from consideration will result in fewer proposals and higher costs.
risk allocation, which to many is more acceptable. Also, if it is

STRUCTURE magazine 41 December 2011

Structural Forum opinions on topics of current importance to structural engineers

The Role of Structural Engineers in Clean Energy Supply

By Ashvin A. Shah, P.E., F. ASCE

T
he ASCE Code of Ethics includes hardest problems in clean energy, we’ll fund construction (0.36 million tons/year), build-
“enhancement of the environ- the Apollo projects of our time.” ing construction (1.89 million tons/year),
ment” in its first fundamental and industrial construction (1.46 million
In light of this, along with specific policy
principle and “sustainable devel- tons/year). Unlike the wind energy market,
direction from leaders of America’s scientists
opment” in its first fundamental canon. The these mature fabricated steel markets are sup-
and engineers for “accelerating the develop-
SEI Sustainability Committee has issued ported by well-established teams of design
ment of renewable energy resources,” it is
Sustainability Guidelines for the Structural professionals (architects and engineers), steel
worthwhile for structural engineers to define
Engineer. Structural engineers are active suppliers, fabricators, and erectors operating
their role in the clean energy supply effort.
in “green” building design and in working with well-developed standards and regulations
Wind energy serves as one example. Today,
with material producers to reduce the energy adopted by various trade associations and per-
wind energy has become competitive with
embodied in structures. mitting authorities.  Consequently, the DOE
fossil fuel energy primarily because of domes-
Much of this activity is in support of the statement that maintaining a pace of 16,000
tic commercial development, even though
pioneering work by the U.S. Green Building MW/year of wind energy development “…
other countries – such as Denmark, Germany,
Council (USGBC) to promote energy conser- for a decade is an enormous challenge…” is
China, and India – started at least a decade
vation in buildings, beginning in 1994 with entirely valid, and structural engineers have an
sooner. In four years (2005-2009), the
its LEED Green Building Rating System. opportunity to work with other stakeholders
installed wind energy capacity in the U.S. has
ASCE has recently announced its own pro- to support this ambitious pace.
grown from less than 5,000 MW to 35,000
gram for establishing a similar rating system Wind energy is distributed-scale clean
MW. By contrast, the total installed capac-
for “green” infrastructure. An energy effi- energy and serves as an example for scien-
ity of photovoltaic (PV) energy in the U.S.
ciency drive exists in all sectors of the U.S. tists and engineers to emulate for developing
is only 11,000 MW after more than thirty
economy, often supported by the Department other technologies such as combined heat
years of heavily subsidized efforts in product
of Energy (DOE) and the American Council and power (CHP) plants, solar PV, concen-
development and commercialization. A DOE
for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). trated solar PV (with CHP), concentrated
report states: “U.S. is on a trajectory that
In contrast to these well-developed efficiency solar thermal (with CHP and hybrid with
may lead to 20% of electricity coming from
initiatives that began over thirty years ago, the biomass or natural gas), biomass/bioenergy,
wind but ramping up further to ~16 GW/
issue of clean energy supply lags far behind thermal energy storage and heat pumps, elec-
year and maintaining that pace for a decade
but deserves the attention of engineers in trical energy storage, and smart grid. These
is an enormous challenge, and is far from
general, and structural engineers in particular, technologies have unresolved technical, com-
pre-determined.”
as energy systems integrators. mercial, social, and environmental issues that
The involvement of structural engineers in
In 2002, the Architecture 2030 Challenge require multidisciplinary engineering effort
wind energy development is evident from
was initiated by architect Edward Mazria with which may be led by structural engineers in
three recent articles: on wind tower foun-
a goal for buildings to become carbon-neutral their natural role as system integrators.
dations (Malhotra, 2010), on wind tower
by 2030 “…by implementing innovative sus- The push for clean energy supply is taking
structures (Hansen, 2010), and on wind
tainable design strategies, generating on-site shape globally, but not in as organized a fash-
turbine blade testing (Hines et al, 2011).
renewable power and/or purchasing (20% ion as the energy efficiency effort in the U.S.
Structural engineers have a major role in
maximum) renewable energy”. The opportunity exists for structural engineers
meeting this “enormous challenge” of main-
There are some who believe that this is pos- to reach out to other design professionals and
taining wind energy growth, primarily due to:
sible by a combination of energy efficiency collectively respond to President Obama’s
an increasing number of wind turbine suppli-
and clean energy supply. There are others who clean energy challenge by implementing the
ers in global and U.S. markets; the increasing
aim for a lesser goal of eliminating coal-fired policy direction from America’s leaders in
size of turbines, towers, and wind blades;
power globally by 2030 and reducing gas- and science and engineering for “accelerating the
increasingly contentious debates on social and
oil-based power more gradually to become development of renewable energy resources.”▪
environmental impacts of utility-scale wind
carbon-neutral by 2050.
turbines (on- and off-shore); and, increasing
While debates on greenhouse gas reduction Ashvin A. Shah, P.E. ([email protected]),
awareness of distributed-scale wind energy.
scenarios may go on among science-based is a structural engineer in Scarsdale, New
The potential of wind energy for the fab-
independent organizations, President Barack York. He is active in voluntary work in
ricated steel market is substantial. The
Obama’s State of the Union address on clean energy technologies with engineers in
structural steel required for wind turbine sup-
January 25, 2011 issued a specific challenge: India and the U.S.
port is about 113 tons/MW, so the total steel
“We’re telling America’s scientists and engi- required for 16,000 MW/year is about 1.8 The online version of this article
neers that if they assemble teams of the million tons/year, which is comparable with contains detailed references. Please visit
best minds in their fields, and focus on the the mature fabricated steel markets for bridge www.STRUCTUREmag.org.

STRUCTURE magazine 42 December 2011

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