We have a project under construction. 175' long integral abutment bridge. Due to a number of issues related to pile driving at one abutment, the owner asked about changing one abutment to semi-integral and using drilled-in micropiles. The designer said it was impossible because under an extreme...
Is anyone familiar with AAHTOWARE load rating software? We're looking at a project that requires girder strengthening. Early on, we checked them using MDX; everything was fine. Recently, the owner provide AASHTOWARE input files. Wen we ran them, the ratings are typically 20% lower for LRFD and...
We have a small bridge under construction, 60' long x 60' wide. The superstructure is prestressed adjacent box beams. 10 box beams being erected in two stages. Stage 1 is finished. The fabricator is shipping the beams tomorrow morning; they're supposed to be erected tomorrow night. A little bit...
I noticed that stud manufacturers don’t recommend vertical welding for studs larger than 5/8 or 3/4” diameter yet they have no objections to an overhead weld for the same diameter. To me, a vertical weld is easier than overhead.
I asked two colleagues on the fabrication side if they knew why...
I'm looking at the design of a structure that will temporarily support a section of a viaduct while the structure it normally rests on is being replaced; illustration below. The pier columns are round HSS. The designer used a k factor of 0.8. In my mind k should be well north of 1.0. To me it's...
I was just wondering do murals like this violate MUTCD since the pavement markings are obscured? I wouldn't be surprised to see a TV ad by an ambulance chasing lawyer saying "...if you were injured because the traffic markings were painted over, you could receive a huge cash settlement..." No...
If you need some free PDHs to break up the monotony of self-isolation:
AISC is offering NASCC: The Virtual Steel Conference, April 21-24, up to 18 PDHs
Link
The Short Span Bridge Association in association with the American Galvanizers Association is offering "The Shelter in Place" webinar...
Perhaps a bit off-topic, since this could apply to more than the engineering profession, is your employer turning into your nanny? Is your employer trying to be your mother, father, big sister, and best friend?
Earlier this month, nanny, kicked off the 2020 edition of the Wellness program. To...
I'm working on a project where we're lengthening a bridge. The plan is to splice a new stringer to the existing. However, we're looking at a non-traditional flange splice on the tension side of the beam - countersunk bolts -to avoid impacting the vertical clearance over the road below. Someone...
Has anyone lengthened an existing steel bridge? Google wasn't any help. Here's my dilemma:
I'm working on a design-build tender. The project involves a number of bridge replacements and bridge retrofits. On the retrofit bridges, the owner wants to lengthen the existing W33 stringers and keep...
I’m a bridge engineer and occasionally I have to design a utility pole.
We’re working for a contractor and he needs to hang traffic signals between two poles. The span wire will be 34’-6” above grade. The signal designer came up with Class H-1 poles embedded 9’. The electrician can't get 45'...
We're working for a contractor and we designed a sheet piling wall that requires 35' sheet piles to support a 10' SOE. Today, the contractor said 35' sheets would be a special order. I can appreciate his dilemma because he has to drive 1/2 mile of sheeting and it's on the critical path. He's...
Another interesting IT experience this week.IBM is our IT support and has been for the past 6 months. I requested a temporary administrator's password to install vendor software. The (Lack of) Help Desk sends an email "ticked resolved and closed: but no password. I tried again; got a password...
I have a question about hollow core slabs: Can they be used in outdoor applications? There's a disagreement in the office; someone is doing a preliminary design of a railroad platform, using 15" non-prestressed hollow core; someone else said there's a code requirement that prohibits this (but...
