Magazine Title: - Modern Steel Construction                                                      

Issue: September2011

 

This article is a review of the Modern Steel Construction’s (MSC) September 2011 issues;  an official publication of the American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc. (AISC).Kindly note that the magazine is available online for free at http://www.modernsteel.com.

 

The September 2011 issue has article “Science on display”, which isa case study of steel framing facility combining historical style with contemporary functionality for New Peter Irving Wold Science and Engineering Center in Union college located in Schenectady, N.Y., United States founded in 1795. The building framing was analyzed and designed using the program ETABS. The Wold Center’s office wing is nearly one-quarter of a circle in plan, with an outer radius of approximately 90 ft and an inner radius of 60 ft, complimenting a curved colonnade in front of the building that was part of the original 1812 master plan. Only a few edge beams were horizontally curved, but connecting the rectangular laboratory wing with the curved office wing created some framing challenges, most notably five beams framing into a single column (see Figure 1). Pipe columns in lieu of traditional wide-flange shapes greatly simplified the connections, allowing the use of standard single-plate shear tab connections. It has many challenges, including difficult site constraints and connecting two architecturally different buildings while respecting a historic, 200-years old master plan, all within a modest budget.

 

In September issue article “Connecting the campus with steel” covers the use of conventional materials in unconventional ways and creates an ideal place for students of Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., to display their models, plans, and projects at Milstein hall by the vision of the architect. Visitors to Milstein Hall will be struck by the beautiful combination of steel, glass, concrete and stone, which creates building’s strength, stability and prominence. Also massive steel trusses, painted white, work to actually give the building light, floating feeling as it cantilevers over university Avenue. The massive steel trusses were shop fabricated into 17 truss sections, each weighing between 23 tons and 65 tons. A 600-tons hydraulic crane, the largest in the state were brought in from nearby Syracuse to lift and hold the pieces as crews set them in place. Spicing of the 17 truss sections together on site required 165 full and partial joint penetration welds (see Figure 2). Safety management played an important role in this project; the Milstein Hall project recorded no lost-time injuries at any point during construction

 

 

Also the article “A Roof That’s ready for Takeoff” provide very interesting information about erecting and launching five huge truss structures one after the other enabled the use of a single set of formwork. We also find the features of Modern Steel Construction (MSC) like steel quiz, steel interchange and News and events are very interesting, interactive and informative.