Wind-borne debris is without a doubt a very serious design consideration when approaching a storm shelter or safe room design. In every tornado or serious wind event, there are devastating images of the effects from upturned trees, 2x4s, cars, and even large fuel tanks. Designing for such impacts can be daunting, and present day engineering theory may not be sufficient to effectively codify such impact forces. So what is a structural engineer to do when faced with protecting the public from these life-threatening debris impacts?

In December 2017, Jason Pirtle, PE from Jason Pirtle Structural Engineers, Inc., gave a presentation on Tornado Shelter Design. Jason reviewed the requirements laid out in the 2015 IBC, discussing which occupancies are required to have storm shelters designed in accordance with ICC 500. Jason covered the various structural design considerations which need to be considered including the effect of wind-borne debris.

Storm shelters are required to be designed to withstand wind-borne debris due to the abundant missile supply available during a storm event. Jason referenced Table 305.1.1 in ICC 500, as shown in the slide below, which designates the missile speed of a 15 lb 2×4 board for various design wind speeds that shelters need to accommodate. The Code designates required missile impact testing for assemblies to be used in storm shelters as laid out in Sections 305, 306, and 804 of ICC 2015. These testing requirements all but eliminate design calculations for debris impact, however close inspection during construction should be followed to ensure the as-built shelters is in accordance with the specified tested assembly.

Since the Code requires that constructed materials be tested before use, Jason suggested both the National Wind Institute at Texas Tech University as well as FEMA P361 as good resources for finding tested wall and roof assemblies. The National Wind Institute offers this valuable listing of tested assemblies that have a ‘PASS’ rating for the requirements of ICC 500 for various wind speeds and missiles. Additional information about missile testing can be found at the Debris Impact Facility at Texas Tech University. Jason also mentioned checking with window and door manufacturers to verify tested building components’ compliance.

Additionally, Jason reviewed how site specific debris hazard must also be considered in any shelter or safe room. It is important to note that these site specific hazards may require additional testing beyond the code required minimum tests for your project. However, the resources included here offer a good starting point for specifying appropriately tested materials for use in your next storm shelter project, and remember, the entire shelter, including openings, must be constructed with tested components capable of resisting the missile impact!

Robert Kuserk, PE, APA – The Engineered Wood Association

In May 2018, SE University welcomed Robert Kuserk, PE, with APA – The Engineered Wood Association, to present Frame for Success – Best Practices for Wood Buildings. He has chosen the Wildlands Conservancy (http://www.wildlandspa.org/) for the SEU Speaker Inspires donation of the month.

Robert shared that he “chose this organization in association with Teacher Appreciation Week this week to remember my brother, Dr. Frank Kuserk, who passed away last fall. Frank was a professor of Environmental Science at Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA and was very active in this organization. This organization’s mission is to protect and restore critical natural areas and waterways in the Lehigh Valley, and educate the community to create a legacy of a healthy, sustainable environment for future generations. This organization also aligns with my interest in the Scouting programs in that it helps to create and preserve lands connecting to nature that the scouts can use, and supports sustainability which is also a hallmark of the wood industry.”

Thank you, Robert, for helping structural engineers with your SE University session, and for your designation of the Wildlands Conservancy as our SEU Speaker Inspires Organization of the Month!

SE University began the SEU Speaker Inspires program in 2015 as a way to “pay it forward”, enabling our speakers to designate a charity/organization of their choice for SE University to make a donation to help improve our world.

SE Solutions was excited to assist AISC organize the Student Event (SCIS) at the Steel Conference for the 8th year in a row. (see www.aisc.org/scis for further details)  This year’s conference was in Baltimore, Maryland and 200 students attended the event.  SCIS aims to give students the opportunity to hear career insights from distinguished design professionals, connect and interact with leading industry experts, and mingle with other like-minded students.

This year’s event included presentations by Jim Malley from Degenkolb Engineers and Kim Olson from FORSE Consulting.  Jim and Kim were able to provide insight to new engineers on the best strategies to be successful in their new careers, how to learn quickly on-the-job, and different aspects of the business side of structural engineering.  

In the afternoon, students were able to attend “Direct Connect” which allows students to interact with industry experts from design and construction companies in a relaxed setting, while making personal contacts within major firms throughout North America.  This networking event was a great opportunity to meet with up to 50 firms, all under one roof, and gain further advice and strategies from other successful structural engineers. If your company would be interested in participating in Direct Connect in the future, please e-mail Brian Quinn at [email protected]. (There is no cost for companies to participate)  Next year’s conference will be in St. Louis.

AISC puts on this event to help students gain a wide variety of knowledge that will help them as they embark on their careers in structural engineering.  

In addition, AISC now offers an opportunity for member companies to post internships for students at no cost on a dedicated webpage .  Click here to visit AISC’s internship webpage to view available openings or post your company’s internships.

Membership in a professional organization is a common way to stay engaged in your profession, and structural engineering groups offer many benefits to membership.  However, it can also be worth your time to invest in organizations that may not be solely focused on your particular discipline. Unless you have been personally invited by a colleague or friend, you might not even be aware of the local groups that meet in your area.  There are so many organizations, both national and local, that can offer new experiences for you and even make a difference in the lives of others. Click on the links below to explore a few possible organizations that may have chapters near you.

Toastmasters is another great national organization that aims to provide a supportive environment to learn better public speaking skills and improve leadership qualities.  These groups meet at various business offices throughout the country, and they encourage participants to grow at their own pace to meet their specific goals by providing helpful feedback and a specially designed program to enhance their skills.  

Rotary International exists to bring neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers together to take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.  The extensive work of Rotarians around the globe is too vast to even cover sufficiently, but ranges from providing clean water and solar lights, to improving literacy, to providing seminars for tomorrow’s leaders. Being an active member of Rotary International may can make a huge impact in your life and the world around us.

Habitat for Humanity is a great national organization that is a natural fit for many structural engineers.  Aside from the typical construction help, Habitat also recruits volunteers to assist in many of their offices and thrift stores, and help organize special events and fundraising efforts.  Bringing affordable housing to your locale is a fantastic way to improve your community and meet new people along the way.

The options are endless, but it just takes a little time to inquire and find the right fit for your season in life.  Joining a new organization, whether it be professional, charitable, or political in nature, can be a first step to finding where you can contribute and grow personally.  Challenge yourself to try something new, and you never know where this opportunity could lead!

Matthew Rechtien, PE, Esq., Senior Assistant City Attorney, City of Ann Arbor

In April 2018, SE University welcomed back Matthew Rechtien, PE, Esq., Senior Assistant City Attorney with the City of Ann Arbor, to present Engineering Law and Ethics Case Studies. In 2017, he designated the David and Maxine Fowler Endowed Excellence Fund at the University of Texas at Austin(http://endowments.giving.utexas.edu/page/fowler-david-maxine-exc-fnd-caee/4886/) for the SEU Speaker Inspires donation of the month, and he has chosen to do the same in 2018.

Matthew previously shared why he chose the David and Maxine Fowler Endowed Excellence Fund: “Dr. Fowler, with the support of his wife, Maxine, has been a mentor, advocate, and friend for twenty years. As a professor at the University of Texas for half a century, he has touched the lives of literally hundreds of other engineering students, engineers and others in a similar way. Dr. Fowler is a gentleman and scholar in every sense of those words. I am humbled to be able to contribute, in any way (but especially by, as he did, teaching my fellow engineers), to his legacy, including the David and Maxine Fowler Endowed Excellence Fund.”

Thank you, Matthew, for helping structural engineers with your SE University session, and for your designation of the David and Maxine Fowler Endowed Excellence Fund as our SEU Speaker Inspires Organization of the Month!

SE University began the SEU Speaker Inspires program in 2015 as a way to “pay it forward”, enabling our speakers to designate a charity/organization of their choice for SE University to make a donation to help improve our world.

Is your company looking to hire student interns?  Connect with thousands of engineering students from the nation’s top engineering universities through AISC’s Student Internships webpage at www.aisc.org/internships.  Through this webpage, students can review available internships and link to appropriate company sites or contacts. AISC provides this as a free service to AISC members as well as the students searching for internships.

Internships are a great way to invest in your company’s future by attracting young, talented student engineers who may return as employees upon graduation.  Offering internships can help foster connections with local universities and help your company invest in the next generation of engineers.  If you would like to advertise your company’s student internship, visit www.aisc.org/internships and complete the form “Post an Internship Opportunity” or contact AISC’s University Programs team at [email protected] should you have any additional questions.

David Odeh, SE, PE, SECB, F.SEI, F.ASCE, Odeh Engineers, Inc.

In March of 2018, SE University welcomed David Odeh, SE, PE, SECB, F.SEI, F.ASCE, to present Classical Design Methods . David nominated SEI Futures Fund (http://www.asce.org/structural-engineering/sei-futures-fund/) for the SEU Speaker Inspires donation for this month.

David shared about his involvement in SEI Futures Fund: “A few years ago, a group of leaders from SEI got together and created something we called the SEI Vision for the Future of Structural Engineering (https://www.asce.org/uploadedFiles/visionforthefuture.pdf), which is a strategy to promote leadership and innovation in our profession to make sure that in the future we are the creative leaders that are coming up with the solutions to the great problems that society faces like Urbanization, Climate Change, and Public Health.

The SEI Futures Fund invests in new initiatives that are beyond the scope of the SEI budget, and it does things like fund young engineers and professionals to come to Structures Congress, participate in SEI Standards committees, and learn the leadership skills that will be needed to make sure our profession thrives in the future.”

Thank you, David, for helping structural engineers with your SE University session, and for your designation of SEI Futures Fund as our SEU Speaker Inspires Organization of the Month!

SE University began the SEU Speaker Inspires program in 2015 as a way to “pay it forward”, enabling our speakers to designate a charity/organization of their choice for SE University to make a donation to help improve our world.

SE University / SE Solutions is pleased to be a sponsor for Down Syndrome Indiana (DSI), Day of Giving on March 21, 2018 during the 1:00 – 2:00 pm EDT segment.  Kelley, the cousin of SE Solutions founder, Brian Quinn, will be interviewed during this hour.  “Down Syndrome Indiana is doing great work and we are pleased to be a part of their Day of Giving” says Brian Quinn.

DSI offers programs intended to promote the inclusion of individuals with Down syndrome in their greater community.  In addition, they offer support and information to families, caregivers, educators, employers and the professionals who serve individuals with Down syndrome.

On March 21st, for 24 hours, DSI’s Day of Giving will be devoted to engaging the local business community with families and individuals with Down Syndrome, and those who live and work alongside them – physicians, researchers, advocates, caregivers, sponsors, board of directors, and community base, all working toward one common goal: sharing with the world the incredible stories of individuals with Down Syndrome, and the advancements made in the research field and community. DSI is incredibly excited to be the first to host an event of this magnitude.

This online telethon event is anchored by a unique DSI Day of Giving website (DSIDayofGiving.org) and strong social media presence (#DSIDayofGiving). DSI and its sponsors will create an online experience with a reach that extends well beyond a typical event. Facebook Live interviews will kick off each hour, beginning at 7 a.m. on March 21st, featuring the sponsors, staff, medical personnel, and families. Social media posts and challenges will begin at 4 a.m. and will span until 4 a.m the following day.

Learn more about Down Syndrome Indiana at www.dsindiana.org or follow their Facebook page to watch the videos at the top of the hour on March 21st:

https://www.facebook.com/DownSyndromeIndiana/

Do you often have days where your feel like you’ve been busy all day, but haven’t gotten much done?  Perhaps it is because you are focusing on the little things rather than the big things.  Adopting a policy of always doing the big things first can help shift your focus to what is most important and will be most productive.  After all, to make big things happen, you have to tackle big issues first.  Craig Jarrow shares more about the importance of prioritizing our daily tasks in this article from Time Management Ninja.

But what about the little tasks, you might ask?  Isn’t it just as important to complete these as well?  Craig Jarrow offers insight and tips to make sure the little things don’t slip through the cracks in another helpful article from Time Management Ninja.

Let’s be honest, we can all stand to implement some new strategies to help increase our efficiency.  Changing our approach to tackling a long “To Do” list, might be the answer you need to making sure each day is filled with the big things, and not just the little things!

When designing bracing connections, have you been using a weld ductility factor on welds subjected to shear and transverse loads to allow for adequate redistribution of stresses?  Although there have been multiple tests and papers showing the importance of this factor, some engineers are still unaware of its necessity which can result in underperforming bracing connections.

In the February 2018 SEU presentation Introduction to the Design and Cost of Steel Seismic  Connections – Braced Frames, Patrick Fortney, PhD, PE, SE, P.Eng., from the University of Cincinnati reviewed using the uniform force method in braced frame connections and covered the various strength and detailing requirements for braced frames and the associated costs.  In his presentation, Pat walked through the design of seismic steel connections, which also included many important thoughts on braced connection design, in general.

Pat specifically highlighted the importance of using a weld ductility factor of 1.25 to increase the load for which welds in all bracing connections subjected to shear and transverse loading.  This weld ductility factor accounts for issues with proximity and distortion within the braced frame connection and is necessary to allow adequate force redistribution within the weld..  Pat referenced the 2004 paper by Hewitt and Thornton, Rationale Behind and Proper Application Of the Ductility Factor for Bracing Connections Subjected to Shear and Transverse Loading, as a good resource to further understand the need for this ductility factor.  Although the Code does not specifically require this weld ductility factor, Part 13 of the AISC Steel Manual does recommend using it.

It is important to note that welds that are designed to develop the strength of the gusset plate need not be increased by the weld ductility factor, since the ductility of the plate allows the redistribution of load.  Also, the weld ductility factor does not apply to welds in shear only.  It is the combination of shear and tension on the weld that triggers the need for force redistribution within the bracing connection but only if proximity issues or distortion issues are present.

Many times these bracing connections may be delegated the steel fabricator, however, it is still important for EORs to be aware of the necessity of the weld ductility factor and its relevance in connection design.  Although not specific to seismic systems, Pat’s explanation of the weld ductility factor and its relevance is a welcomed reminder to engineers that may not be familiar with its use, or don’t typically design their own steel connections.