About the author  ⁄ Giuliana A. Zelada P.E.

Giuliana Zelada-Tumialan, P.E., is Senior Project Manager at Simpson, Gumpertz & Heger, Inc. (atgazelada@sgh.com).

Repair, Defer or Do Nothing

Structure Movement Monitoring for Efficient Planning and Decision Making

Symptoms of building movement can develop obviously and suddenly, or more subtly over years or decades. Common symptoms include cracks in walls or floors, racked windows and door frames, and sloping or uneven floors. While each of these symptoms causes concern, not all are equal. Some symptoms could be a sign of structural deterioration in need of immediate repair. In contrast, other symptoms may be a remnant of previous movement that occurred years ago and has since stabilized. In between, a range of conditions exist. Given the range of potential repair actions and related costs, it is essential to identify the cause and an appropriate scope of repair.

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Dec, 2021 By , and In Structural Monitoring Comments 0

Untreated Submerged Timber Pile Foundations: Part 2 – Estimating Remaining Service Life

As discussed previously in Untreated Submerged Timber Pile Foundations – Part 1 (STRUCTURE® magazine, December 2013), deterioration of pile tops exposed above groundwater levels is a well-known problem. It is less known that submerged portions of timber piles can also deteriorate with time, albeit at a slower rate, due to bacterial attack. This may become critical when considering underpinning methods aimed at extending service life of structures supported on timber piles. …
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Jan, 2014 By , , and In Articles, Structural Forensics Comments 0

Untreated Submerged Timber Pile Foundations: Part 1: Understanding Biodegradation and Compressive Strength

The use of untreated timber piles as foundation support in Europe and the U.S became more wide-spread at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century, when industrialization led to the rapid expansion of urban areas. Their use was common in regions with natural soft soils, or where urban-fill was used for land development, such as in the northeastern U.S. Thousands of historic structures across Europe and the U.S. currently remain supported on untreated timber piles; their continued use and maintenance costs highly depend on the condition of the piles after tens or hundreds of years of in-ground service. …
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Dec, 2013 By , , and In Articles, Structural Forensics Comments 0
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