Structuresblog

Via ASCE

Dear ASCE Member,

Today, the American Society of Civil Engineers issued its latest Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, the fourth since 1998. Never has the need for infrastructure investment received such national attention as it is now in the context of stimulating our economy. Recognizing the importance of informing and contributing to this discussion in a timely manner, we made the decision to release the key components of our 2009 Report Card two months ahead of schedule. Today ASCE released website the grades for 15 categories of infrastructure, solutions for improvement, and a five year investment need figure.

The overall grade for the nation’s infrastructure is again a D and the cost to bring it up to good condition has risen to $2.2 trillion. In more than a decade, the United States has made no measurable progress in improving either the condition or performance of our roads, bridges, water systems or other vital infrastructure when viewed in aggregate.

Category	Grade
Aviation	D
Bridges	C
Dams	D
Drinking Water	D-
Energy (Electric Power Grid)	D+
Hazardous Waste	D
Inland Waterways	D-
Levees	D-
Public Parks and Recreation	C-
Rail	C-
Roads	D-
Schools	D
Solid Waste	C+
Transit	D
Wastewater	D-

Read more…

via AIA-NY Chapter

Today’s engineers are working across disciplines and driving innovation. MAKE IT WORK. Engineering Possibilities looks at how engineers are envisioning and realizing the future of our built environment by transforming structures, improving environments, enhancing materials, re-inventing building technologies, and advancing forms. This exhibition highlights how inventive strategies for building are born from multidisciplinary research and integrated practice. Small engineering firms, large engineering firms, engineering schools, university labs, materials labs, artists, inventors, and architects are all part of the exchange of ideas – plotting trajectories of innovation. Read more…

This was sent to ASCE members this morning:

Dear ASCE Member,

Infrastructure is receiving unprecedented attention from President-elect Obama, the U.S. Congress, and the media. ASCE finds itself at a crucial moment to spread our message and participate in the dialog regarding infrastructure improvements.

Yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee released a summary of the House Democratic Leadership’s proposed economic stimulus package, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Included in the infrastructure and science portions are many of ASCE’s priority issues. For details on the package, visit ASCE’s Government Relations blog.

On January 28, 2009, ASCE will issue important components of our 2009 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, including letter grades with short conditions summaries for each of 15 categories, solutions for infrastructure improvement, and an overall cost to improve the nation’s infrastructure. The nation’s leaders rely on ASCE to provide expert advice on the condition of the nation’s infrastructure. Early release of the 2009 Report Card is essential to fulfilling that role. Read more…

From UC Berkeley’s Earthquake Engineering Resource Center:

The Structural Engineering Slide Library was collected over the period 1950 through 1980. It was developed as a visual resource for illustrating structural systems in undergraduate courses in structural analysis and design. Each structure is identified, and a brief description is given.

When I was a TA for a freshmen introduction to structural engineering course, these slides were helpful in providing “real world” illustration of some of the idealized conditions that we were studying.

For example, when explaining about pin and roller supports, it’s helpful to show what a pin (left), and a roller (right) really look like. Read more…