A 10-story mass timber, "rocking-wall" frame proved resilient against seismic movement in a unique, life-size shake table experiment at the University of California at San Diego. Tested at magnitudes of 6.7 and 7.7, the structure was left without damage in each case, said Shiling Pei, principal investigator for the National Science Foundation's Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure TallWood project.
Wanna see?: Here’s a minute’s birdseye view. (Fourth listed video). Compare the building’s movements with that of traffic in the background. Small swaying begins 3 seconds in, but really gets moving 4 seconds later. There are a ton of videos documenting this, but here are my favorites:
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Temporary shoring towers with hydraulic lifting capacity were part of a novel salvage operation to save a 3,050-ton Swedish bridge that collapsed in 2020 during installation. Lifting experts Mammoet split the bridge into three sections, separated damaged from undamaged parts, and removed them from supporting piers so repairs could be done on land.
A $19 billion redevelopment promises to transform New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport to accommodate a projected 75 million passengers in 2030, compared with 55 million in 2022. Four major terminal projects are included to provide a more unified layout, better gate capacity and increased security, as well as lounge and retail facilities.
Officials are monitoring the Arkabutla Dam in Tennessee amid fears of a dam failure that could cause flash flooding. The US Army Corps of Engineers is lowering water levels to lessen the danger and begin emergency repairs.
Noted entrepreneur and philanthropist Bill Gates told ABC News interviewer Rebecca Jarvis that he is confident his TerraPower nuclear reactor project in Kemmerer, Wyo., is on track to be ready in 2030. Gates says nuclear is a practical choice for clean power: "It's not weather dependent, you can build a plant, but the amount of energy coming out of a very small plant is gigantic."
Four crosslinked polyethylene pressure tube fitting systems and quality control requirements are detailed in an updated standard for the design and installation of PEX tubing meant to deliver portable water. The new American Water Works Association standard C904-22 also includes a reorganization and rewording of content to improve clarity.
A 16-story office building at 555 Greenwich in New York City saves 80% of typical energy costs with heat pumps and water-filled pipes that move heat wherever it's needed and even to a separate building nearby. The building draws on a Scandinavian geothermal design, tapping into steady underground temperatures with posts that penetrate 120 feet beneath the surface.
Paved Paradise author Henry Grabar chronicles the development of parking lots in the US and their effects on affordable housing, walkable neighborhoods and other parts of urban life. "We build more three-car garages in this country than we build one-bedroom apartments," Grabar says.
Communities across Michigan can get help learning about and applying for federal infrastructure funding by acccessing the state's new online tools that together serve as a "one-stop shop" -- the Community Navigator and the Infrastructure Investment Tracker. The sites offer information on funding opportunities and how communities can seek state support and collaboration.
Many years into the internet age, spotty coverage remains a problem, and some advocates say a public option for service is the answer. The internet should be treated "like a public utility -- then everyone is getting proper access to it and hopefully improving service," says Tim Dempsey, a member of the ArlFiber Collective, a volunteer group in Arlington, Va.
Proposed legislation in California looks to preserve its treasured but endangered Joshua trees with restrictions on how they can be removed to make way for development. The proposal, formulated in part by renewable-energy companies, could benefit several solar power projects that are currently underway.
The UK government, along with Arup, Tarmac and BAM, tested a portland limestone ternary mix and an alkali-activated cementitious material on various sections of a flood defense structure in northeast England. The team said the mixes successfully lowered the carbon emissions of the structures without sacrificing strength or resilience.
SmartTake: According to Tarmac, the alkali-activated cementitious material tested contains more than 95% ground granulated blast-furnace slag as the cementitious component. That's an interesting development, considering the most widely used GGBS proportion is 50%, and 80 to 95% GGBS is ideal for "very low" early-strength gain. Evan
Arizona State University's Hall of Fame and Academy of Distinguished Alumni of the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment have honored seven engineers and builders for their skills and community contributions. Joe Kullman offers thumbnail sketches of each honoree.
In the quickservice restaurant industry, Wendy's is known as the 'Queen of QSR.' But as Wendy's continues to serve up tasty burgers and yummy Frostys, the company is also working to be the Queen of ESG. In this podcast, Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer Liliana Esposito outlines the details of 'Good Done Right,' which is the name Wendy's has given to its ESG strategy. Esposito discusses numerous sustainability efforts Wendy's has embraced, including more sustainable packaging, responsible food sourcing and a next-gen design for its new locations.
SmartTake:Consider Wendy's community solar project with Duke Energy. Also on this edition, we talked about whales as carbon offsets, a "plastic" made of seaweed, needless cardboard packaging and the growth of sustainable fashion. Very little concrete or buildings this episode, but still good food for thought.
