While doing bridge painting inspections on bridges in northern Massachusetts I remember a bascule bridge over the Merrimack River that had the lift machinery removed 30 years previous. As part of the bridge cleaning contract the old machine pit had to be cleaned of several feet of pigeon...
I do not think we should be so quick to pass judgement on the engineer or the DOT in this instance. The engineer and DOT people involved will be questioned I am sure and if they were negligent it will come to light, but as engineers, particularly bridge and structures we have make decisions...
"At a minimum I think any structure that has been deemed unsafe or inadequate should be conveyed to the public so they can make a conscious decision on whether or not to use the structure."
How do you do that without scaring the travelling public un-necessarily and cause them to lose confidence...
Thanks Hokie66.
I appreciate your help. I am making the recommendation to replace the deck due to its condition and to monitor the structure with a regular inspection program. I like the idea of clamping the bridge deck members and will make this recommendation as well.
Jim
Hokie66
I am in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
We use a lot of southern pine, but we believe that the original wood (at least the beams)was hardwood brought in from the western US. We have no existing plans or information about the bridge other than what we have been able to observe through...
I have a wooden bridge that my client is going to be repairing. The superstructure is glu-lam beams (6' o.c.) with a wood deck that consists of 2x4's laid on the narrow edge over the entire length of the bridge. The deck is deteriorting and the client wants to replace decking in kind to retain...
Whodapookie
You bring up a good point. When I applied for the exam in Massachussetts the board assigned me to the STR I exam based on my experience. When I recieved my MA PE it had a structural designation on it. When I applied to Georgia for a license by comity I was granted it without having...
Southeastern US
DOT work here is about 2.86. Other work is around 3.0. This is federally audited and includes a 10% min profit (max for DOT work)
Multiplier is a 2 edged sword. As mulitplier increases your burn rate increases and gives you less time to do the work as the engineer, but your...
Thanks for your responses.
This is a feasibilty study so some of the details can be left to final design. I have been trying to get some advice from our planners on this but have had no luck. I have been using the guidance for pedestrain friendly design published by our state DOT. The minimum...
Does anyone have some guidance on the sizing of the opening for a pedestrian/ bike tunnel?
My project involves building a cut and cover tunnel under an existing road way very close to a busy intersection. It is 200 feet long, and ther is no possibility of changing the existing roadway profile...
Cedent
Although Georgia does not require separate disciplines at this time, it may in the future. You also do not know where you may be asked to perform work at some point in your career.
I agree with those who recommend sticking w/ the Structural I exam. It is a difficult exam, but it...
The HS-20 axle load configuration is 32k-32k-8k at 14 ft min spacing. I would probably use all three axles (assume 14 ft spacing) with a 32 kip load on the slab over two barrels and an 8 kip load somewhere on the third barrel, and run a few cases to maximize the loads. This will take advantage...
I hire entry level engineers (bridge designers) at between $40K and $46 K,full benefits(medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D etc), 401K, employee stock purchase plan. Location is Southeastern US. In So Cal I would think you could find a position with equal compensation and most likely better.
I...
An FEA model is how I have done it and seen it done.
and would provide you with all of the forces you are concerned with. The complexity of the model is up to you and what is available in your design budget. I would try to keep it a simple as possible though.
