Condition assessments after a fire often involve determining the load capacity of the remaining structural elements.  Are you familiar with the equations used to determine the effective depth of char and the remaining cross-sectional dimensions as prescribed in the NDS for mass timber structural elements?

In the July 2025 SEU session, Erica Fischer, PhD, PE, from Oregon State University presented Hot Topic: The Fire Performance of Mass Timber.  Erica reviewed the current code and standard guidance for the fire protection design for mass timber, and noted current research on mass timber and fire to enable performance-based design.  She also summarized some challenges with mass timber and fire.

Erica walked through the following example to determine the depth of char and the effective depth of char for a glulam beam exposed to fire.  

To hear Erica explain this procedure, watch this short video:

As Erica explained, it is necessary to use the effective depth of char to account for the zero stiffness layer beneath the char.  This effective char depth should be used to calculate section properties on reduced cross-sectional dimensions for structural calculations.  These equations for the char depth and effective char depths for sawn lumber and mass timber, as well as CLT can be found in the National Design Specification (NDS) in Chapter 16.  While both char depth equations are non-linear and proportional to the nominal char rate, CLT also includes factors to account for the lamination thickness, the number of laminations charred, and the time for the char front to reach the glulam interface, as shown below.

This specific equation used for CLT char depths accounts for known gaps in the layers of laminations which accelerates the char rate and gives additional pathways for the fire to propagate.  Engineers should be aware of the difference when using CLT members to account for this acceleration in the char rate, to ensure accurate remaining section properties can be established.

Emily Guglielmo, PE, SE, Martin/Martin

In March 2025, Emily Guglielmo, PE, SE, from Martin/Martin, presented Refining Wind Load Approaches for
Non-building Structures. She nominated SEAOC SE Pathways Program (SE Pathways Intro – Structural Engineers Association of California) for the SEU Speaker Inspires donation of the month.

SEAOC’s SE Pathways to the Profession initiative aims to address the disparity of engagement and lack of diversity within the California structural engineering profession. SE Pathways to the Profession brings together students and early career professionals and engages them in dialog about engagement, retention and equity in the structural engineering profession.

Thank you, Emily, for helping structural engineers with your SE University session, and for your designation of SEAOC SE Pathways Program 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.

Matthew Rechtien, PE, Esq., Walter P. Moore

In February 2025, SEU welcomed Matthew Rechtien, PE, Esq., from Walter P. Moore, to present Mum’s the Word – 2025 Engineering Ethics Update: Engineers’ Duty of Confidentiality.  In prior years, Matt has designated Friends of Perryville Battlefield (https://www.friendsofperryville.org) for our SEU Speaker Inspires donation for the month and he has chosen to do the same in 2025.

Matt shared, “On October 8, 1862, nearly 8,000 Americans fell in the drought-parched Chaplin Hills of Kentucky during the Battle of Perryville. Perryville played a pivotal role in our nation’s most impactful event. Although the clash is oft-forgotten, those Americans should be remembered and that sacred ground, one of the most pristine civil war battlefields remaining, should be protected. The Friends of Perryville Battlefield is committed to both missions, which I am humbled to advance.”

Thank you, Matt, for helping structural engineers with your SEU session, and for your designation of Friends of Perryville Battlefield as our SEU Speaker Inspires Organization of the Month!

SEU 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 SEU to make a donation to help improve our world.

Buckling-Restrained Braces are becoming more widely incorporated into seismic designs worldwide.  As their use increases, design engineers should be aware of ways to improve the communication and implementation of BRBs into their projects, as well as the code provisions and requirements for the use of BRBs.

In the June 2025 SEU session, Ben Sitler, PE, Dr.Eng., from Buro Happold, presented Seismic Design with BRBs – Pushing to the Limit.  Ben noted recent changes to the BRB design and testing provisions of AISC 341-16 and 341-22.  Ben explained how BRBs respond in extreme design cases and how to ensure good performance in long and jumbo BRBs, and he reviewed the fundamental behavior of BRBs.

Ben showed how higher-mode buckling and frictional behavior impacts the compressive strains in long BRBs, and how higher strength steel grades may be a valid and even desirable option for large capacity BRBs.  He discussed the need for the design engineer to provide stability bracing for BRBs in the scope of their design.  While the BRB supplier will perform the necessary stability analysis and physical testing as required on a project-specific basis, the design engineer should communicate with the supplier to discuss what connections or bracing may be required to ensure the BRB is torsionally restrained in both directions.  To hear Ben discuss some tips for design engineers providing stability bracing, watch this short video from his presentation:

As Ben discussed, engineers should provide torsional braces and connections on beams framing into BRB connections.  Closed beam sections may also be required where diaphragms are absent.  Maintaining global stability is essential when using BRBs and the design engineer plays a crucial role in ensuring the framing provided can resist these out of plane forces.  Ben also noted that AISC 360 Appendix 6 does provide some guidance on bracing stiffness and strength provisions, however, these were not specifically developed for BRBs and are typically intended for lateral-torsional buckling calculations.  While the torsional forces from BRBs are not usually large, they are still present and need adjacent framing to provide resistance.

Brad Davis, PhD, SE, PE, Davis Structural Engineering

In November 2024, SEU welcomed Brad Davis, PhD, SE, PE, from Davis Structural Engineering, to present Vibration Analysis of Steel Joist / Concrete Floors.  Previously in 2020, Brad designated Doctors without Borders (https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/) for our SEU Speaker Inspires donation for the month, and he has chosen to do the same in 2024.

Doctors without Borders, or Medicins Sans Frontieres, provides medical humanitarian aid where the needs are greatest, and often go to places where other organizations can’t or won’t operate. Historically, they have not run medical projects in the US, however in March 2020, MSF launched temporary operations in the United States in response to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.  In key sites around the country, MSF is working with local authorities and partner organizations that serve vulnerable communities with limited access to health care, such as migrants, homeless people, and other marginalized or neglected groups

Thank you, Brad, for helping structural engineers with your SEU session, and for your designation of Doctors without Borders 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.

Andrea Shear, PE, Murray Engineering

Matthew Fadden, PhD, PE, WJE

In October 2024, SEU welcomed Matthew Fadden, PhD, PE, from WJE, and Andrea Shear, PE, from Murray Engineering, to present Identifying, Evaluating, and Correcting Punching Shear Deficiencies in Flat Plate Construction.  Matt and Andrea have designated the Dick Woods Student Impact Fund (Dick Woods Student Impact Fund – 338683 – Michigan Giving) for our SEU Speaker Inspires donation for the month.

The Dick Woods Scholarship Fund exists to honor of Professor Woods (1935-2021) and his willingness to help CEE students in need. The fund supports students with a demonstrated financial need.

Thank you, Matt and Andrea, for helping structural engineers with your SEU session, and for your designation of the Dick Woods Student Impact Fund at the University of Michigan as our SEU Speaker Inspires Organization of the Month!

SEU 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 SEU to make a donation to help improve our world.

Temporary structures can be an enigma for structural engineers.  ASCE 7 does not directly address temporary structures, so engineers are left to their own judgment to determine the appropriate wind load provisions to use.  

In the March 2025 SEU session, Emily Guglielmo, PE, SE, from Martin/Martin, presented Refining Wind Load Approaches for Non-building Structures.  Emily reviewed the applicability of ASCE 7 wind load provisions for rooftop equipment, screenwalls, PV panels, signs and canopies, and other non-building structures.  She also addressed ways to approach wind loads on structures not explicitly addressed in ASCE 7 such as trellises, tall parapets, and balcony rails.  Emily presented rational analysis strategies to address gaps in code provisions for non-building structures and industry best practices.

Emily noted that, in the past, there was no nationally recognized standard that addresses wind load provisions for temporary structures.  More recently, a proposal was initiated through IBC to use ASCE 37 Design Loads on Structures during Construction which includes minimum design loads on buildings and other structures during construction.  ASCE 37 does allow for a reduction in wind loads.  However, this was strongly discouraged by SEI within the committee meeting for two reasons.  First, there is an implied risk while on a construction site which does not exist in public venues which are typically housed in temporary structures such as tents with platforms and bleachers.  Second, these temporary structures typically travel and are used countless times over the span of many years.  This extended life of the structure, although only used in short, temporary circumstances, increases the chance of high speed wind loads on the structure.  Thus, SEI put together a group of experts who studied and issued guidelines which are now included in the body of IBC 2024 and will be included in a future Chapter 35 of ASCE 7-28.  Check out these new guidelines in IBC 2024 until they become part of ASCE 7 the next time you have a temporary structure to design.

Engineers may often be confronted with competing duties of confidentiality, especially between clients or other engineering professionals.  How can you establish which confidentiality rules apply and when they take precedence over other ethics rules?  To whom does the engineer owe confidentiality?

In the February 2025 SEU session, Matthew Rechtien, PE, Esq., from Walter P Moore, presented Mum’s the Word: 2025 Engineering Ethics Update: Engineers’ Duty of Confidentiality.  Matt explained the origins of, and policies behind, engineers’ duty of confidentiality.  He described common applicable confidentiality rules and their common features and he demonstrated how to apply such confidentiality rules.

Matt noted that engineers may be subject to multiple jurisdictions in regard to ethics rules, such as state board rules as well as professional member organizations.  These rules may differ, thus, engineers should educate themselves on their individual responsibilities in regard to their duty of confidentiality to their clients and the public.

To hear Matt’s thought process, as he walks through a possible example of an engineer facing a confidentiality quandary, click on the video below:

Matt’s algorithm of questions can be especially useful when faced with competing rules or tension between competing loyalties.  Click on the slide below to print your own copy to use when comparing the various confidentiality rules which may apply to your unique situation or state.  Click on these links to access NSPE’s Code of Ethics, which addresses confidentiality in Section III.4, and Section 4e in ASCE’s Code of Ethics.  State laws will vary on this issue, so engineers should take care to spot potential conflicts to avoid disclosing or unethically using confidential information. 

Engineers are not often exclusively responsible for locating wall openings on their masonry design projects. However, they are responsible for advising the owner on ways to minimize labor and material costs on the job. There are many strategies which can reduce unnecessary costs in masonry construction, but are you aware of a simple change which can result in massive savings on masonry construction projects?

In the September 2024 SEU session, Scott Walkowicz, PE, from Walkowicz Consulting Engineers, presented Masonry Design and Detailing: Using Your Owner’s Money Wisely.  Scott discussed the structural performance benefits and building improvements achieved through the use of masonry, as both a structure and an outer envelope.  He identified ways to reduce cost and minimize material waste in masonry design and detailing.  He also examined masonry details to create functional, durable, and constructable masonry assemblies.

A huge cost savings on masonry jobs can be eliminating the need for saw cutting blocks to accommodate off-modular spacing or openings.  Scott mentioned that up to 1-3% of the masonry package can be spent on the labor costs associated with saw cutting blocks.  A best practice to minimize these additional costs is for engineers and architects to specify openings and spacing of openings to align with modular blocks.  As shown in the slide below, a significant number of blocks would require saw cutting when openings are located offset from the modular spacing.  

A better layout is shown below, which locates the opening both horizontally and vertically to avoid off-module saw cuts.  On a standard job site, masonry suppliers include a certain number of half-blocks, which eliminates the need for saw cutting when everything aligns with standard unit sizing.

Engineers can also advocate to architects to consider this issue early in the design process.  Reducing saw cuts on the jobsite will always result in a lower cost for the owner, so consideration should be given to maintaining proper modular spacing for openings.

Scott Walkowicz, PE Walkowicz Consulting Engineers

In September 2024, Scott Walkowicz, PE, from Walkowicz Consulting Engineers, presented Masonry Design and Detailing: Using Your Owner’s Money Wisely. Scott nominated the The Masonry Society (TMS) (Clayford T. Grimm, P.E. Student Scholarship – The Masonry Society) for the SEU Speaker Inspires donation of the month.

Scott shared, “I chose The Masonry Society (TMS) because of the great work that is done by TMS and its members. I obtained my first degree, a BS in Architecture, and I then wanted to learn how to ‘engineer’ masonry. I attended Clemson University and was able to receive not only a BS in Civil Engineering, but also an MS in Civil Engineering with an emphasis on masonry and interaction with one of TMS’s Honorary Members. The Master’s level coursework and the project that I worked on were extremely valuable to me and my career. I’m very happy to help other engineering students who are seeking Master level degrees and doing research that will benefit both them and the masonry industry.”

Thank you, Scott, for helping structural engineers with your SE University session, and for your designation of the The Masonry Society (TMS) 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.