23 minute read
Spotlight
Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge
Clark County, Nevada, USA and Mohave County, Arizona, USA
By David Goodyear, P.E., S.E., P.Eng
T. Y. Lin International was an Outstanding Award winner for the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge project in the 2011 NCSEA Annual Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards Program (Category – New Bridge and Transportation Structures).
Soaring 900 feet above the Colorado River, the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge frames one of the foremost engineering wonders of the world – the Hoover Dam. The 1,900 foot long Colorado River crossing is the centerpiece of the $240 million, four-lane Hoover Dam Bypass Project. The lead Agency for the project was the Central Federal Lands Division of the US Federal Highway Administration, led by Dave Zanetell as Program Manager (PM). The Bypass design team consisted of HDR, Jacobs and TY Lin International (TYLI). HDR managed the consultant team and led design of the Nevada roadway, Jacobs led design of the Arizona roadway, and TYLI led the design of the landmark Colorado River span. With a main span of 1,060 feet, this bridge is the fourth-longest, single-span concrete arch bridge in the world. In addition to the NCSEA Outstanding Project Award, this project was also awarded the ASCE OPAL and ACEC Grand Conceptor Awards for design. Like most Agency let projects, the bridge design effort began with a bridge type study. However, the new crossing had been studied since 1968, and the PM saw an opportunity to use past work to screen bridge type candidates and move directly into final design. Stakeholders all agreed that a deck arch bridge was preferred, and the design team moved forward to assess the options within that bridge type. The type study focused on concrete and steel arch structures at two different span lengths – one at 1,060 feet and the second at 1,325 feet to span a rock fault zone being studied in parallel with the type study. Once the geologists confirmed that the rock formations would allow the shorter span, the economical choices came down to the concrete arch with composite deck and a Glen Canyon-type trussed steel arch. . A defining moment for the project came prior to a stakeholder meeting to discuss the draft type study. Dave Zanetell reviewed the draft type study report authored by David Goodyear. He confided in David his concern that the type selection needed to reflect the special character
Photo courtesy of Jamey Stillings Photography.
of the Hoover site. The cost estimates showed a small preference for the concrete alternative, but Dave’s perspective was clearly broader than first cost. While a repeat of a Glen Canyon-type steel design might be easier to administer, he believed it would not be the right solution for the Hoover site and the generations of visitors to the Dam. This foresight was an example of the talent that would result in a signature project that realized budgetary and contextual design results. As designers we can dream, but without visionary clients, dreams are rarely realized. The ensuing meeting with the Design Advisory Panel affirmed the type selection recommendation, and the Executive Committee of Agency leads unanimously selected the design you now see framing the view of Hoover Dam. The character and form of the bridge is classical, but the bridge design is unique. Every innovation was vetted by CFL and the Structural Management Group convened to review design, from the choice to use high strength concrete for stiffness of the long span arch to the unique composite connection between the steel tub girders and post-tensioned integral concrete caps. The framing system and sections that were defined at the end of the type study withstood the scrutiny of final design and review, with the only change in structural section being a 6-inch deepening of the integral concrete caps. Building this form was anything but simple. Reaching over 1,000 feet across a hard rock canyon in 120-degree heat is a challenge not for the faint of heart. The construction contract was awarded in September of 2004 to Obayashi-PSM, JV. The Bridge was built using a variety of limited access techniques similar to those assumed for design. The arch ribs were supported with temporary stay cables hanging from temporary towers. The towers in turn were supported over the skewback piers, which had been designed for this erection method. The concrete segments for the arch were poured using four headings of self-advancing form travelers. Most of the arch segments were placed at night to avoid the triple-digit desert temperatures. The construction project was beset with a major accident at the beginning of arch construction. Winds resulted in the loss of the high-line crane needed to service work over the canyon. Instead of crippling the project, this event produced a more organized and determined construction team that would go on to achieve impressive results in completing the 52 cast-in-place arch sections on an accelerated schedule, closing within ¾-inch over the midpoint of the canyon!
Conclusion
The Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge now frames the view of the Black Canyon from Hoover Dam for the coming generations of tourists, and is the cornerstone in a new, efficient highway system funnelling commercial traffic between the states of Nevada and Arizona. The project reflects the skill and determination of the people who built it, all of whom take pride in their accomplishment.▪ David Goodyear, P.E., S.E., P.Eng is the Chief Bridge Engineer for T.Y. Lin International, and led the design for the new Colorado River Bridge at Hoover Dam as the Engineer of Record. David has served as Chairman of the PTI Committee on Cable-Stayed Bridges and was a member of the NCHRP team that authored the initial Concrete Segmental Guide Specifications with PTI.
ASSOC I A T I O N S NATIONAL COUNCI L
NCSEA News The 2012 NCSEA
Special Awards Honorees
The following awards were presented at the Awards Banquet on October 5 during the 2012 NCSEA Annual Conference in St. Louis.
The James M. Delahay Award
Jim Robinson, P.E., S.E., SECB
The James M. Delahay Award is presented at the recommendation of the NCSEA Code Advisory Committee to recognize outstanding individual contributions towards the development of building codes and standards. It is given in the spirit of its namesake, a person who made a long and lasting contribution to the code development process. Jim Robinson is the president of Robinson Associates Consulting Engineers, Inc., a structural engineering firm in Atlanta. A graduate of Georgia Tech, Jim holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering, both with a major in Structures. He has served as a board member of the Applied Technology Council, The Structural Engineers Association of Georgia, the American Council of Engineering Companies, the Coalition of American Structural Engineers, and the International Concrete Repair Institute/Georgia. Jim currently serves as a member of the NCEES Structural Exam Committee and as a Diplomat of the Board of Forensic Engineering and Technology of the American College of Forensic Examiners, as a member of the ASTM Forensic Engineering Committee, and as a member of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers, where he has been elected Senior Member. In the area of Code Development, Jim has served on the Standard Building Code’s Wind Load Committee, the International Building Code’s Structural Committee, NCSEA’s General Engineering Code Advisory Committee, and NCSEA’s Special Inspections Code Advisory Committee; and he currently serves on NCSEA’s Wind Engineering Code Advisory Committee. In his spare time, he loves to talk about, play with, and entertain his three grandchildren.
The NCSEA Service Award
The NCSEA Service Award is presented to an individual or individuals who have worked for the betterment of NCSEA to a degree that is beyond the norm of volunteerism. It is given to someone who has made a clear and indisputable contribution to the organization and therefore to the profession. Emile Troup, P.E.
Emile Troup served as Regional Engineer for AISC and, subsequently, as a consultant on the application and design of steel structures. Now retired, he is a past president of NCSEA and was the first recipient of the association’s Robert C. Cornforth Award in 2001. He received Lifetime Achievement Awards from AISC in 2003 and the Connecticut Structural Engineers Coalition/ACEC in 2006, as well as the award for Outstanding Civil Engineering Alumnus of Northeastern University in 2004. Emile is a life member of ASCE and BSCE, as well as a member of the Fire Protection Committee of the Council of American Structural Engineers, the AISC Specification Task Group on Structural Design for Fire Conditions, and the Task Group on QA/QC. He is a member of SEAMass, a past president of the Boston Society of Civil Engineers, and a past trustee of The Engineering Center Education Trust (Boston). Emile has served as Coordinator of Vendor Relations for NCSEA for over 10 years, managing and coordinating the trade show for NCSEA’s Annual Conference. He is retiring from this position after the 2012 Annual Conference in St. Louis. NCSEA thanks Emile for his tireless efforts on behalf of the association. We are all going to miss that ten-gallon cowboy hat and dry sense of humor. Michael Tylk, S.E., SECB
Michael Tylk has 40 years of experience and volunteerism in the structural engineering field. Retired from his position as a principal in the firm of Tylk Gustafson Reckers Wilson Andrews LLC (TGRWA, LLC), he received his Master of Science in Architectural Engineering and his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Mike has served as president, treasurer and director for both NCSEA and SEAOI; and he was the recipient of the NCSEA Robert C. Cornforth Award in 2004. He also served on the SEAOI Structural Engineers Political Action Committee and the Structural Engineers Foundation. Mike has been a member of the Chicago Committee on High Rise Buildings and the AISC Code of Standard Practice Committee, as well as many ad-hoc committees and advisory boards for the City of Chicago. He has been chairing the NCSEA Winter Institute since 2005, covering every aspect of the meeting, from planning and chairing to moving materials cross-country and hosting the social hour.
The Robert C. Cornforth Award
Ronald Milmed, P.E., SECB
e Robert C. Cornforth Award is presented to an individual in recognition of exceptional dedication and exemplary service to the organization and to the structural engineering profession. Nominees are presented to the NCSEA Board by the Member Organizations. Ronald Milmed, P.E., SECB, currently enjoying his retirement, was a vice president and principal for Bliss and Nyitray of Miami, Florida, where he worked for over 40 years. A registered professional engineer in Florida, he served as Project Principal and Project Engineer for a large variety of structural design projects. Milmed is a founding member of FSEA and has served on the Board and two terms as president in 2006 and 2007. He was instrumental in forming local FSEA chapters in Ft. Myers, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, Palm Beach and Tallahassee, and he served as president of the South Florida chapter for 2001 and 2002. He serves on FSEA’s Licensing Committee, chaired the Peer Review Committee and the Bylaw Committee, serves as FSEA’s liaison to the Florida Board of Professional Engineers, and was co-chair of FSEA’s Peer Review Committee to the Broward County Board of Rules and Appeals. He was recently awarded life membership in FSEA in recognition of his contributions. Ron is also a past board member of ACI South Florida and a past Board member of NCSEA, where he continues to serve on the Licensing Committee and as FSEA’s delegate.
NCSEA Webinars
October
Tools for Structural Assessment
11 Part 1: Visual & Physical Surveys, Destructive and Non-Destructive Testing e rst in a two-part series, topics for this webinar will include performing good visual surveys, tools for establishing structural geometry, sampling for destructive testing, laboratory testing and analysis of structural materials, and non-destructive testing. Presenter: Matthew Carlton, P.E., has served as the project manager large-scale projects involving construction and design defects, materials failures, structural deterioration, and collapses, and has evaluated and designed repairs for concrete, steel, masonry, and wood structures and a variety of architectural systems.
is course will award 1.5 hours of continuing education. e times are 10:00 am Paci c, 11:00 am Mountain, 12:00 pm Central, and 1:00 pm Eastern. Approved in all 50 states. $225 –NCSEA member, $250 – SEI/CASE member, $275 – non-member, FlexPlan option available.
For more information and to register for these webinars, visit www.ncsea.com. October
26 Training for Post-Disaster Assessment is California Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA) Safety Assessment Program (SAP), presented by NCSEA, is one of only two post-disaster assessment programs that will be compliant with the requirements of the forthcoming Federal Resource Typing Standards for engineer emergency responders. e program consists of three webinar segments held over one day’s time. Licensed design professionals and certi ed building o cials will be eligible for SAP Evaluator certi cation and credentials following completion of this program and submission of required documentation. Presenter: Scott Nacheman, MSc.Eng., AIA is a Vice President in the Chicago o ce of ornton Tomasetti and coordinates the rm’s Property Loss Consulting Practice within the Chicago o ce, with responsibilities for response and condition assessment of damage caused by res, hurricanes, tornados and structural collapses. He currently chairs NCSEA’s Structural Engineers Emergency Response (SEER) Committee and has served as a re ghter, re lieutenant and instructor in New York and Illinois, as well as a Structures Specialist with regional, state and Federal Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces.
Only $500/site for the day, with unlimited attendees.
Save the Date! Winter Leadership Meeting NCSEA News
T R U C TURAL S
ASSOC I A T I O N S NATIONAL COUNCI L
The Newsletter of the Structural Engineering Institute of ASCE Structural Columns
Columbus, Ohio November 4-8, 2012
A new generation of utility engineers is overcoming unprecedented challenges to find Solutions to Building the Grid of Tomorrow. The Electrical Transmission and Substation Structures Conference is widely recognized as a one-of-a-kind conference that focuses specifically on transmission and substation structure issues to help utility engineers meet the daily challenges of today’s high-stakes energy environment. This must-attend event offers an ideal setting for learning and networking for utilities and suppliers. Tours: Participants will have the unique opportunity to witness several transmission construction techniques and supplier demonstrations in a single day. Demonstrations will take place at three (3) American Electric Power (AEP) facilities located within a 30-minute drive from the Hyatt Regency Convention Center. For more information visit the ETS conference website at http://content.asce.org/conferences/ets2012/index.html.
Errata
SEI posts up-to-date errata information for our publications at www.asce.org/SEI. Click on “Publications” on our menu, and select “Errata.” If you have any errata that you would like to submit, please email it to Paul Sgambati at psgambati@asce.org.
2013 Ammann Fellowship Call for Nominations
The O. H. Ammann Research Fellowship in Structural Engineering is awarded annually to a member of ASCE or SEI for the purpose of encouraging the creation of new knowledge in the field of structural design and construction. All members or applicants for membership are eligible. Applicants will submit a description of their research, an essay about why they chose to become a structural engineer, and their academic transcripts. This fellowship award is at least $5,000 and can be up to $10,000. The deadline for 2013 Ammann applications is November 1, 2012. For more information and to download an application visit the SEI website at http://content.seinstitute.org/inside/ammann.html.
New Concrete Transmission Pole Structures Manual
Now Available
Prestressed Concrete Transmission Pole Structures: Recommended Practice for Design and Installation is a complete engineering reference on staticcast and spun-cast prestressed concrete poles for electric distribution and transmission power lines. This Manual of Practice contains critical information for all aspects of a prestressed concrete pole project, including applications, concepts, materials, connections, foundations, manufacture, installation, and testing. This manual was prepared by SEI’s Task Committee on Concrete Transmission Pole Structures of the Committee of Electrical Transmission Structures. Topics in this manual include: considerations for the design process; specifications for concrete and steel materials; design choices, criteria, and methodology; quality assurance during manufacture; assembly and erection; and inspection, maintenance, and repair. Appendixes offer sample documents showing specifications for the purchase of static and spun cast prestressed concrete poles. Utility engineers responsible for the design of transmission and distribution lines, pole manufacturers, power line constructors, and inspectors will find this manual to be useful for basic training and as an ongoing reference. To order, visit the ASCE Bookstore website: www.asce.org/bookstore.
Call for 2013 SEI/ASCE Award Nominations
Nominations are being sought for the 2013 SEI and ASCE Structural Awards. The objective of the Awards program is to advance the engineering profession by emphasizing exceptionally meritorious achievement, so this is an opportunity to recognize colleagues who are worthy of this honor. Nomination deadlines begin October 1, 2012 with most deadlines falling on November 1, 2012. Visit the SEI Awards and Honors page at
http://content.seinstitute.org/inside/honorawards.html
for more information and nomination procedures.
Miami, Florida October 24-26, 2012
This is the first conference to focus exclusively on wind and flood topics of interest to professionals who design, engineer, regulate and build projects in hurricane affected areas. Visit the conference website at www.atc-sei.org/ to view the technical program and see why the educational sessions make this an event not to be missed. Industry luminaries such as Larry Griffis, Chris Jones, David Prevatt, Ron Cook, Scott Douglass and Peter Irwin will be there. Topics include wind design using ASCE 7-10, building code changes in Florida and in the 2012 International Building Code, storm surge inundation modeling, and discussion of wind pressure modeling using new wind tunnels.
Boston Design Forum
Northeastern University Raytheon Amphitheater Thursday, October 18, 2012 5:30 – 9:00pm
Join moderator Jerry Hajjar and panelists: Matthys Levy, Mike Davis, Matt Eckleman, and Josiah Stevenson, as they present a panel discussion on the issue of Design in a Time of Change. A thoughtful dialogue amongst all design professionals – students, researchers, and practitioners – is sought to advance the current state of practice to new design paradigms in a time of change. This event is open to the public and sponsored by the Structural Engineering Institute of ASCE; space is limited and pre-registration is required. More information is available on the SEI website at www.asce.org/SEI. Cooperating organizations include Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section and Northeastern University. For more information or to register visit the SEI website at www.asce.org/SEI.
SEI/ASCE Student Structural Design Competition
Call for Applications
SEI sponsors a structural design competition for student teams. Innovative projects demonstrating excellence in structural engineering are invited for submission. A written submission will be judged, and three finalist teams will be invited to present their designs at the Structures 2013 Congress in Pittsburgh, PA, May 2 – 4, 2013. The finalist teams will be judged on an oral presentation during the conference, and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards will be determined as a combination of the written and oral presentations. Awards include cash prizes and complimentary registration to the conference for the three finalist teams (up to three student registrations and one full registration for the faculty advisor). The three finalist teams will be notified within four weeks of the submission deadline and invited to Structures 2013 Congress to compete for the final awards and cash prizes. Details regarding the oral presentation will be provided with the invitation to Structures Congress 2013. Eligibility: Any team of undergraduate civil engineering students is eligible to submit a structural design. Projects from classes and other university assignments may be used (e.g. capstone design classes, senior assignments, class design projects). Projects solely performed as an employee of a design firm for which no university credit was obtained are not eligible. A maximum of one design from each university will be allowed. Any structural engineering design will be accepted, including but not limited to new building and bridge design, and existing building and bridge retrofit. For more information about the Student Structural Design Competition and how to enter, visit the SEI website: www.asce.org/SEI.
Become an SEI Fellow
SEI established the SEI Fellow (F.SEI) grade of membership to recognize a select group of distinguished SEI members as leaders and mentors in the structural engineering profession. SEI members who meet SEI Fellow criteria are encouraged to apply to advance to the grade of SEI Fellow. The benefits of becoming an SEI Fellow include recognition via SEI communications and at the annual Structures Congress along with a distinctive SEI Fellow wall plaque and pin, and use of the F.SEI designation. There is no increase in dues for the SEI Fellow member grade. Visit www.asce.org/SEI for SEI Fellow benefits, requirements, and instructions to apply online. Completed application packages are due December 1 for induction at Structures Congress the following year.
CASE in Point
Poor communication is frequently cited among the top reasons for deteriorated client relationships and claims. It is the intent of Th e Project Communication Matrix and Coordination Log tool to make it easier to maintain consistent project communication standards, and to document and communicate project coordination decisions. Th is Excel-based tool, which is easily adaptable for each individual fi rm’s needs, provides an easy to use and effi cient way to (1) establish and maintain project-specifi c communication standards, and (2) document key project-specifi c deadlines and program/coordination decisions that can be communicated to a client or team member for verifi cation. Tool 5-4: Negotiation Talking Points
Th is tool provides an outline of items to consider during fee negotiations for private sector and for public sector projects. Th e tool off ers suggestions of what to do and what not to do in diff erent sets of circumstances, and provides reminders of ethical and professional obligations that must be kept in mind during these negotiations. CASE Tool 4-5 and 5-4 are available at www.booksforengineers.com.
Glenn Bishop Awarded CASE Past Chairman’s Award
Glenn Bishop, the founding member of LBYD, Inc. was awarded the CASE Past Chairman’s Award for over 20 years of service to CASE. Glenn received his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Civil Engineering from Th e University of Alabama. He serves on the University of Alabama Leadership Board for Th e School of Engineering, Th e University of Alabama Civil Engineering Department Board of Advisors and Th e University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Engineering Board of Advisors. As an active member of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), Glenn served as President of the Alabama Chapter of ACEC. LBYD, Inc. was one of the founding members of CASE, with Glenn as their lead representative. He has been an active contributor to the CASE National Guidelines Committee, serving as the chair from 2004-2008, and was an integral participant in the preparation of documents, such as the commentary on AISC Code of Standard Practice for Steel Buildings and Bridges and Guideline Addressing Coordination and Completeness of Structural Construction Documents. His name is on every current CASE national practice guideline. Glenn continues to serve CASE and the National Guidelines Committee through his ongoing participation.
Get an ACEC Designation
Executives at engineering fi rms develop a unique skill set that transcends the technical practice of engineering – the skill and adroitness of running an engineering business. Experience managing programs, projects, personnel and budgets will drive a fi rm’s profi tability. Th ese vital skills are not learned in technical programs, but are acquired through company programs, from industry groups, such as ACEC, and via direct business practice experience. ACEC, as the industry leader in best business practices, recognizes that business acumen is critical to success, but diffi cult to quantify for a client. ACEC is proud to off er its designation program – a way for our members to codify their experience and use it to market their services. ACEC’s Professional Designation programs are designed to recognize a singular attainment of relevant experience and education by worthy professionals in the engineering industry. ACEC’s Professional Designation programs set the national standards for business management and leadership excellence in the engineering industry. ACEC off ers three professional designations, and each has a diff erent set of criteria for eligibility to capture an individual’s level of experience and education. Th e Management Engineer – MgtEngSM – is designed for professionals working in project, program, or business management roles within an engineering fi rm or related to the engineering industry. Th e Executive Engineer – ExecEngSM – is designed for leaders in the industry. Executive Engineers have attained the highest level of achievement in industry leadership and experience. Th e Management Professional – MgtProSM – is designed for non-P.E. managers working in non-profi ts or government agencies related to the engineering industry or business managers within engineering fi rms.
Contact Kerri McGovern at kmcgovern@acec.org for more information or visit www.acec.org/education/designations/index.cfm.
You can follow ACEC Coalitions on Twitter – @ACECCoalitions.
CASE Releases Performance-Based Design White Paper
Performance-Based Design (PBD) is a relatively new and powerful approach to structural engineering born from ongoing efforts to resolve the differences between the actual observed performance and the expected performance of structures. Previously observed differences between the actual and expected performances of structures, especially because of earthquakes, has led to advances in the understanding of system and material performance by the research and practicing community that at times go beyond the prescriptive requirements often found in the building codes. With the improvements in the capability of relevant analytical tools and computing technology, structural engineers are increasingly using PBD for new design, and for evaluation or retrofit of existing structures, to better predict building performance, provide more economical designs, or address when the prescriptive provisions of the building code just do not apply. To download a copy of this white paper, visit www.acec.org/case/publications.
CASE in Point
CASE Business Practice Corner
If you would like more information on the items below, please contact Ed Bajer, ebajer@acec.org. Home Address on Business Cards
With the increasing number of employees working from home, firms have begun to receive requests for business cards that reflect home addresses as the company address. This is not a good idea. Aside from misleading clients, many states require a registration for each place of business. It could also lead to problems with state licensing boards and local business taxing. An easy solution is to just add email and fax number to the card.
Consequences of a Bad Contract Ninety-Five Per Cent of Lawsuits Involving Design Professionals are Settled
But, frequently, only after years of discovery, countersuits and substantial legal costs. Thus the benefit of having a mediation clause in the contract that requires it before a suit can be filed. Good mediation language will include the terms “non-binding” with an end date for negotiations. It should also include the possibility of extending the end date or shifting to another form of dispute resolution, if necessary. A lawsuit is always available to parties; with so many cases being settled eventually in mediation, why not start there in the first place.
What are the liability exposures of a bad contract? You might exceed your liability insurance limits, expose yourself to something uncovered by your policy, go beyond your scope of services, expose officers and directors. A good contract will establish the “rules” under which you will play, definitively outline the scope of service and the duties and responsibilities of the parties, properly allocate risks (and rewards) and if a problem arises offer a dispute resolution.
CASE is on LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a great virtual resource for networking, education, and now, connecting with CASE. Join the CASE LinkedIn Group today! www.linkedin.com.
