Think of Egypt, and three monumental engineering endeavors immediately come to mind: the pyramids – timeless, iconic, pioneering. But arguably more critical to the survival of this nation of almost 90 million people is the infrastructure of its modern capital, Cairo, home to a massive 20% of the country’s population and host to several million commuters daily. …
Frank Heger was a vanguard of the engineering industry, a visionary with his work, and a champion for public safety. From the late 1970s to 1982, the author witnessed the evolution of Frank’s most well-known work in geodesic spheres, “Spaceship Earth” at Disney’s Epcot Center. In 1980, he developed the revolutionary Soil-Pipe Interaction Design Analysis (SPIDA) software – the first-ever computer program combining heavy mathematical and theoretical computations for the design of buried pipe systems. In addition, Heger performed outstanding investigative work for the L’Ambience Plaza Collapse in 1987, which led to receiving the 1992 Construction Index Excellence Award for his personal research into the matter. …
America’s First Covered Bridge
A crossing of the Schuylkill River on the extension of Market (Formerly High) Street in Philadelphia had been a pressing need for many years when, in 1723, an act was passed entitled “An Act for establishing a ferry over the river Schuylkill, at the end of the High Street of Philadelphia.” In 1767, a bridge over the river at the Middle Ferry was first proposed. …
The story of William LeMessurier’s engineering accomplishments was featured in the September 2012 issue of STRUCTURE magazine. The author, Richard G. Weingardt, quoted William Theon, a long-time personal friend and professional partner: “Bill loved teaching as much as engineering and was always at his best with an audience.” This is a chapter in Bill’s productive life not covered in Mr. Weingardt’s article – a time when he was working with students on collaborative projects, often sponsored by industry. …
Tube Structure Pioneer and Foundation Innovator
In addition to his many breakthrough structural innovations, noted New Orleans structural engineer and Tulane University professor of architecture, William J. (“Bill”) Mouton, Jr. (Figure 1) also stood out for an incredible list of other accomplishments. He held more than 20 patents, including erosion control concepts for Louisiana’s wetlands, regeneration systems for rebuilding sand beaches, a unique mono-track system for high-speed mass transit, and a counter-rotating combustion engine. …
Ammann was born on March 26, 1879, in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, the home of the famous 18th century Grubenman wooden bridge. His family was of moderate means with his father in manufacturing and his mother in hat making. At an early age he showed an aptitude for mathematics and began studying for a civil engineering degree at the Polytechnikum in Zürich, Switzerland. He graduated in 1902. …
Although mostly known as a world-class designer and builder of innovative steel bridges when he founded his consulting engineering firm in 1892, it was not long before Frank Chittenden Osborn (Figure 1) greatly expanded his practice to include the design of a wide array of structures, not the least of them being large-scale sports facilities. …
Modjeski, (ne. Rudolphe Modrzejewska) was born in Cracow, Poland on January 27, 1861. His mother was an internationally known actress who encouraged him to become a concert pianist. But, at an early age, he determined he would become a civil engineer. His family came to the United States to attend the Centennial Celebration in Philadelphia and start an orange farm near Anaheim, California. His mother continued her acting career and Modjeski attended schools in the San Francisco area for a short time. In 1878, Ralph went to France to prepare for study at the École des Ponts et Chaussés, one of the leading schools of Civil Engineering in Europe. After failing admission on his first attempt, he was accepted and graduated in 1885 at the top of his class. Shortly after, he returned to the United States. …