It is more important than ever due to the increase in grade-marked products entering the U.S.
Registered design professionals (RDPs) typically specify in their construction documents the assumed lumber grade, moisture content, and species or species combination of the dimension lumber (2-4 inches thick) used in their design work. For example, in the materials section of the construction documents, a note might state:
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In steel-reinforced concrete (steel-RC) structures, reinforcing steels corrosion reduces the structure’s lifespan and requires expensive repairs. When steel-RC structures are exposed to moisture coupled with chlorides and CO2, concrete deterioration is caused, leading to significant repairs typically after 25 years of service. As the structure ages, major repairs can be expected every ten years until it needs to be replaced, typically after 50 to 75 years of continuous service. Researchers and engineers have been studying corrosion in concrete structures and exploring ways to prevent it. The use of Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) reinforcing bars was considered in the early 1960s as one potential solution for preventing corrosion in reinforced con-crete. There was a significant development in FRP research, field demonstrations, and commercialization starting in the 1980s and continuing since then.
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As the energy market transitions towards having a larger renewable energy component, the solar energy industry has experienced fastpaced growth. In particular, the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry has grown rapidly over the last decade, which has presented numerous challenges. One significant growing pain has been the lack of design guidance on solar PV structures from the building codes. The building code (referred to herein as the “Code”) is typically some version of the state building code based on the International Building Code (IBC) as adopted by the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).
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With the increasing focus on resilience, interest in stainless steel has likewise grown. As part of that growth, a new design specification for structural stainless steel and a new companion code of standard practice were approved by AISC in 2021. These two documents, Specification for Structural Stainless Steel Buildings (ANSI/AISC 370-21) and Code of Standard Practice for Structural Stainless Steel Buildings (AISC 313-21), are the first standards in the U.S. to address hot-rolled, extruded, and welded stainless steel sections. The new specification (AISC 370) builds on the first edition of AISC Design Guide 27: Structural Stainless Steel, published in 2013, updating it to incorporate the results of the latest worldwide research on the behavior of stainless steel structural elements. In addition, a new edition of AISC Design Guide 27 was published in April 2022, with extensive tables and supporting material to supplement the AISC 370 specification.
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Pedestrian and multi-use trail bridges have become more popular as public and private entities invest in alternative modes of transportation, human-scale design, and user safety. The design of these structures is typically adapted from vehicular bridge design methodology. While the scale of pedestrian bridges simplifies portions of the analysis, such as considering multiple lanes and certain load combinations, it adds several wrinkles, including vibration and increased attention to lateral loads. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) LRFD Guide Specifications for the Design of Pedestrian Bridges (AASHTO Pedestrian Bridge Guide) addresses these design aspects unique to pedestrian structures. Its use is strongly recommended by AASHTO’s Load and Resistance Factor Bridge Design Specifications (AASHTO LRFD) when designing pedestrian bridges and other structures not carrying full highway loading. In fact, a recent survey of state bridge offices found that over 90% of states explicitly require the use of the AASHTO Pedestrian Bridge Guide when designing such facilities in their jurisdiction. Despite a guide specification dedicated to pedestrian bridges, evaluating wind load on these structures involves consulting and cross-referencing various specifications based on different analysis methods. The indirect approach to wind loading makes it difficult for engineers to ensure appropriate design procedures are followed and fails to provide consistent reliability across the industry. This article reviews the evolution of wind load criteria, examines current wind load criteria for pedestrian bridges, and provides a path towards establishing a consistent design methodology for wind loading on pedestrian bridges.
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The next edition of the Aluminum Association’s Aluminum Design Manual (ADM) became available in January 2020 (Figure 1). Updated every five years, the Manual includes the Specification for Aluminum Structures which provides for allowable strength and load and resistance factor design of aluminum structures, members, and connections. Because compliance with this Specification is required by the International Building Code (IBC), changes to the Specification directly affect most building applications of aluminum in the United States. Furthermore, the Specification’s provisions are used by other code organizations, such as the American Welding Society (AWS) and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in their standards for aluminum structures. This article reviews the significant changes to the Specification as compared to the 2015 edition. …
Inefficiencies exist in the design-bid-build delivery of typical commercial construction projects. There is a solution that requires little additional effort by the design team. The object is to provide bids that are more accurate, create less haggling over change orders, generate a better relationship between the contractor and the design team, and ultimately lead to a less costly project. …
