Ok, so I wrote a report on a system, providing a summary of the data from our inspections and then recommendations for repair or replacement.
My boss reviewed the report and told me to change a number of my recommendations. His reasoning was, "The client won't like what you've proposed. They...
Hey all,
For larger diameter buried waterlines that we need to remove from service (16" diameter and larger), we specify that a flowable fill should be used to fill the pipe.
For this particular application, the soil bearing capacity is very low (N60 blowcounts of less than 8). The project...
Anyone know of a good resource for designing thrust restraint collars?
The application is a 16-inch diameter ducitle iron watermain along a busy roadway in Virginia.
I'm looking at options for thrust restraint (thrust collars, thrust blocks, restrained joints, combinations of these) and was...
All,
How do ya'll show connects to existing ductile iron (say, class 350, push-on joints) with new ductile iron (class 350, push-on joints)?
In other words, do you show a sleeved coupling (http://www.ejprescott.com/products/Clamps/DuctileIronPipeCouplings.pdf) from the plain end of the...
Hey all,
Looking for some advice from senior engineers. I recently had an issue where the contractor had interpreted our specifications in such a way as to omit some portion of the work.
After discussing in detail with my Boss, we agreed that the contractor's interpretation was incorrect and...
All,
I know we're all in different industries and different office environments - but terms my boss always throws around are "efficiency" and "economies of scale" when talking about billable hours.
Just curious - how efficient (% of total time spent at work actually working) would each of you...
All,
One of my local clients has hired my firm to design a waterline replacement project. About 3,000 LF of transite pipe to be replaced with 6-in diameter ductile iron.
At the tie-ins (where the DI meets existing pipe) I am specifying solid sleeve cast couplings (smith-blair or equivalent)...
Hey all,
I'm back! Ok, so here's the deal: My first buried waterline design project for a local county Utility Dept. went out for bid and the response was tremendous (the result of a slow economy, I guess).
So, after doing our due diligence, we accept the lowest bid and award the project...
Hey all,
I am a relatively inexperienced engineer working for a seasoned engineering manager. We work for a consulting firm, doing civil-related projects.
She has about 10+ years of experience with this company and I have been here less than 2 years. We are both P.E.s.
My question is to those...
This seems an obvious question, but I can't seem to confirm the obvious answer....
In my mind, a casing pipe would be required when the anticipated loads (soil + road bed + traffic) exceed the maximum allowable which the carrier pipe can support.
So, I assume casing pipe requirements are a...
All,
Here is the situation: We have a rural water system which consists of a well, one lead pump, one lag pump, one 250K gallon aboveground storage tank, a pneumatic control valve, and underground piping.
I need to take the tank out of service for maintenance. In the interim (about 3 weeks)...
I have a client who is trying to heat the contents of a 60' diameter by 40' tall AST using steam from a firetube boiler (approximately 2800 pph of 150# steam).
My question is: What is the best method to use? The environmental engineer onsite and I currently disagree. I believe a...
What calculator would everyone recommend for the FE exam? I have a Texas Instruments TI-86 that I have used for years and feel comfortable with, but I am not sure a 'programmable' calculator is allowed. Any thoughts?
All,
Trying to sell a customer on a VFD versus a butterfly damper that is currently installed downstream of an industrial blower. Customer won't let me gather onsite data or conduct any tests, but is willing to look at the 'facts', as he put it. He said, if I can prove on paper that a VFD is...
