Recent content by anominal

I've run across two different methods for designing tension reinforcement in the heel of a reinforced concrete cantilever retaining wall. The methods produce dissimilar designs. Each method considers the heel as a cantilever, with a fixed base at the rear face of the stem. The big difference...

I'm designing a partial through girder bridge that carries four tracks. The interior through girders share the live load from two tracks. AREMA's limiting live load deflection criteria is L/640. It says to compute the deflection using live loading plus impact. Does anyone have an opinion...

bridgebuster: I think you're right about the Peck Bridge. This is the Bridgeport Viaduct, which leads up to the Peck.

Qshake: you nailed it by describing the limitations of using a line girder assumption. This slab is being analyzed in 1' longitudinal strips. The lateral live load distribution is another simplifying assumption that clouds the water. In accordance with AREMA, the lateral live load...

The topic structure is a RR bridge that has been in service for 100+ years. The bridge is best described as a continuous ballasted concrete deck slab (please see attached). Until recently the controlling normal rating for the bridge had been acceptable to the owner. In 2010 a new firm...

Here's a quick one. I've "designed" temporary bridge abutments (abutments) for a temporary bridge (bridge) - please see attached. The abutment is made of concrete deadmen and timber crane mats. The bridge will be in service for eight months max, starting this October. It services less than...

BA - we aren't allowed to use weepholes. I hear what you're saying, but our site specific constraints are insurmountable: we're working with a railroad. I think three feet either side will be a good way to do it, thanks everyone.

Thanks JAE. Why would you choose to distribute the additional lateral earth pressure over three feet? Does it just seem right?

We've designed a conventional cast-in-place cantilever retaining wall, and we need to "notch" our heel to accommodate precast drainage basins. (See attached) I'm befuddled with how to analyze the wall and calculate a maximum toe pressure.

You'll never forget how long that took... +1 field experience nugget

Hi husky; I spent a year doing inspection (CEI). I wanted to be there for two, but there was an open door to our design office that was threatening to close. The communication skills you can glean from small-talking with blue collar can make you dangerous in a design office... A better sense...

All: Thank you for your input. I had my yearly appraisal last Friday and the conversation was good. I avoided using the words "pigeon hole" and instead expressed my desire to have more "meat and potatoes" engineering. My boss liked the phrase. He admitted to me that the type of work I had...

Sorry Tick, I interpreted that as being an insinuation that I was just mindlessly going about my work without attempting to take anything from it. I do try to engage my betters and learn from example. New guy on the scene asking questions can elicit various responses; some people react better...

Continue as I am?

I'm learning industry from it, but how many of these skills will be transferable? Whether or not it is engineering experience is debatable, and it may not help abit when sitting for my P.E. This isn't me turning my nose up at grunt work, it's looking out for my best interests. If I'm being...