Musée de la Romanité in Nîmes

 Franco-Brazilian architect Elizabeth de Portzamparc has won a competition to design a museum of Roman history in Nîmes with this building dressed in a pleated glass toga.

 

The museum will be situated on the edge of the French city’s ancient Roman wall, opposite the famous Roman arenas and amphitheatre.

 It will comprise a square volume with a glass mosaic facade that appears to fall in horizontal pleats.

The geometry and lightness of the glass building have been designed to contrast with the rounded stone of the amphitheatre across the square.

The project specifications include the display of the museum’s collection, the landscaping of an archaeological garden and a feasibility study of a congress centre and hotel.

An interior street positioned between the entrance hall and the cafe will lead visitors through to the archaeological garden and will remain accessible even when the museum is closed.

 In the middle of the passage a 17-metre-high atrium will provide an introduction to the collection, which numbers over 25,000 items including mosaics from archaeological digs still unseen by the public.

  The archaeological garden has been designed by landscaper Régis Guignard from Méristème, with plants corresponding to the pre-Roman, Roman and post-Roman periods to match the museum’s themes.

From the main hall, visitors will climb a winding staircase, arriving on the rooftop terrace with views over the garden and the arenas.

Construction is planned to begin in autumn 2013 and the museum is set to open in early 2017.

Strata Blobitecture Tower in Abu Dhabi

the strata tower, a forty-story, luxury residential building is now under construction in abu dhabi and scheduled for completion in 2011. At a height of 160 meters, the strata Tower will be the tallest building in the al dana precinct, the centerpiece of aldar properties pjsc’s prestigious al raha beach development recently unveiled at mipm in cannes, france. the strata Tower is designed to be a powerful landmark on the al dana precinct’s skyline, signifying the future of Abu Dhabi as a vital city in the uae rising alongside dubai.

Absolute Towers in Mississauga, Canada

The four regional winners include the Absolute Towers in Mississauga, Canada (Americas - pictured here); 1 Bligh Street, Sydney (Asia and Australia); Palazzo Lombardia, Milan (Europe); and Doha Tower in Doha, Qatar (Middle East and Africa). Additionally, Al Bahar Towers in Abu Dhabi won the CTBUH’s first Innovation Award for the project’s computer sun-screen.

Peace Bridge in Calgary, Canada

The city of calgary in canada has welcomed its newest addition spanning the bow river, the 'peace bridge' by valencian

architect and engineer santiago calatrava. the single span helical footbridge gently arcs across the water, sheltering users

with a glass roof alng its 126 meter length. adjacent to the prince's island park in the downtown district, the structure will provide 

pedestrians and cyclists with connecting routes between the urban center and memorial drive. pathways defined with curbs 

separate modes of movement, allowing bicycles to maneuver safely withing a central bike lane and foot traffic travels along 

the elevated sidewalks placed on either side.

The rounded cross section of the cover and platform is generated mathematically with two clearly defined tangential radii to

create an internal and experiential space. formed by the criss-crossing of the steel exterior leaves openings which have been

selectively screened with a fritted glazed panel to protect form rain and snow. pigmented a vibrant red, the framework generates 

a landmark presence for the area, accenting the trees and grass-covered landscape, especially during autumnal foliage. linear lighting

is integrated into the structure and handrail, producing a downward way-finding illumination. its delicate presence is reflected 

within the water below.

'peace bridge' by santiago calatrava, calgary, canada 

 calgarians using their bridge for the first time

 separated pedestrian and bicycle paths

aerial rendered view

 side view of the bridge with the downtown beyond

 accented by the autumnal foliage

bridge deck

bridge deck at night

illuminated at night

Strange Architecture: Bridge Design in the Netherlands

The Dutch have a tendency to do things differently. Take their levees, which are giant storm-surge barriers specially made with synthetic textiles to keep the earth from eroding. Their bike paths are placed on equal footing as automotive roads. And their town planning, which merges private and public life by combining terraced houses with amenities like shops and sports facilities, is a far cry from the way American suburbs are planned. 

Then there are Netherlands' bridges. Because of prevalent rivers throughout the country and boat traffic as high as the volume of vehicles on the road, a bridge in the Netherlands needs to be able to quickly raise and lower over relatively small waterways. Your average hinged drawbridge would be too big for most Dutch waterways, and a long, steep bridge would eat up precious resources. Dutch architects answer this conundrum with the tail bridge. A tail bridge can quickly and efficiently be raised and lowered from one pylon (instead of hinges). This quickly allows water traffic to pass while only briefly stalling road traffic. 

The Slauerhoffbrug is one tail bridge that stands out, even in the bridge-happy Netherlands. The bridge, located in Leeuwarden, was designed by Van Driel Mechatronica to be a fully automatic bridge with an ability to sense and adapt to its surroundings. While this technology is not for just any bridge—more traffic requires a more intelligent controller—the bridge is sensibly high-tech for its area, says Bart Ney, a Public Information Officer for the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, which is scheduled to be completed in 2013. "The Slauerhoffbrug is immediately both iconic and utilitarian and allows optimum flow of maritime and automobile traffic," he says. 

The Slauerhoffbrug crosses over the Harlinger Vaart River. "A movable bridge was necessary because a new beltway crossed this canal," van Driel says. Constructed in 2000 from iron and steel, the bridge is raised and lowered 10 times a day by two hydraulic cylinders located in a single pylon next to the bridge. The lift bearing, complete with asphalt and road markings, seamlessly disappears into the road when lowered. The base model of the bridge is a limited turntable bascule bridge, in which the rising section is counterbalanced by a weight, like the Pegasusbrug near Ouistreham in France. Such bridges were built all over the world in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, van Driel says. 

These original tail bridges were composed around the idea of having a fixed center point with rolling units on either side. Van Driel Mechatronica BV created the William Pont Bridge in Zaanstad using more simple measures. Pylons under the center point replaced the left and right rolling elements of the bridge. This small bridge could rest on only one pylon, which is advantageous because it consumes less materials and energy. The Leeuwarden Town Council decided to base the Slauerhoffbrug off these principles. 

The Slauerhoffbrug is built in an L-shape, bending the bearing bars that lead to the deck, with the foundation built beside the bridge. The principal beams and cross girders are absent. This allows a low construction height that increases the lifting height. And in true Dutch fashion, this tail bridge isn't just an engineering feat, but a work of art. It is painted in yellow and blue, representative of Leewaurden's flag and seal. The asymmetrical shape can be seen for miles when the deck is completely raised and locked upright in midair. 


The Slauerhoffbrug, located in Leeuwarden, was designed by Van Driel Mechatronica to be a fully automatic bridge with an ability to sense and adapt to its surroundings. 


The Slauerhoffbrug fits conspicuously into the roadway. 


The Slauerhoffbrug stands tall. 

 


The Pegasusbrug near Ouistreham in France, which was a stepping stone for tail bridges, is a limited turntable bascule bridge 


Ter Aar is home to the first tailbridge in the Neatherlands, the Vijfgatenbrug.

Read more: Strange Architecture: Bridge Design in the Netherlands - Popular Mechanics 

Bridge In Norway Through Clouds..

Awesome Engineering

Circular curves in Engineering Survey

In the geometric design of motorways, railways, pipelines, etc., the design and setting out of curves is an important aspect of the engineer’s work. The initial design is usually based on a series of straight sections whose positions are defined largely by the topography of the area. The intersections of pairs of straights are then connected by horizontal curves.
In the vertical design, intersecting gradients are connected by curves in the vertical plane.
Circular curves are used to join intersecting straight lines (or tangents). Circular curves are assumed to be concave. Horizontal circular curves are used to transition the change in alignment at angle points in the tangent (straight) portions of alignments. An angle point is called a point of intersection or PI station; and, the change in alignment is defined by a deflection angle, Δ.
Types of Circular Curves are:

1. Simple Curve
2. Compound Curves
3. Broken Back Curves
4. Reverse Curves

A. Radius of a circular curve

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The Radius is the distance from the center of the curve to any point on the circular curve.

B. Direction of a circular curve

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The Direction of a Circular Curve is defined as the direction the curve tends, as stationing along the curve increases. Can be expressed as: Left, Right, North, East, South, West, free text

C. Central angle of a circular curve

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The Central Angle of a Circular Curve is the angle at the center of radius of a circular arc included between the radii, passing through the beginning and ending of the arc.

D. Long Chord Length

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The Long Chord Length is the straight line distance connecting the beginning of the curve and the end of the curve.

E. Degree of Curvature

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The Degree of Curve is defined as the angle subtended by an arc whose length is 100 ft. A Radian is the angle subtended by an arc whose length equals the length of the Radius, or
57° 17’ 44.8” , or 57.295779513°.

i. Curvature can be expressed in two ways, By:

1. Stating the length of the chord of the curve
2. Stating the radius of curvature

F. Laying out Circular Curves

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1. Select tangents, and general curves making sure you meet minimum radius criteria
   
2. Select specific curve radii/spiral and calculate important points (see lab) using formula or table (those needed for design, plans, and lab requirements)
   
3. Station alignment (as curves are encountered)
   
4. Determine super and runoff for curves and put in table (see next lecture for def.)
   
5. Add information to plans
   

G. Sight Distance of a circular curve

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Sight line is a chord of the circular curve. Sight Distance is curve length measured along centerline of inside lane. Sight distance can be the controlling aspect of horizontal curve design where obstructions are present near the inside of the curve. To determine the actual sight distance that you have provided, you need to consider that the driver can only see the portion of the roadway ahead that is not hidden by the obstruction. In addition, at the instant the driver is in a position to see a hazard in the roadway ahead, there should be a length of roadway between the vehicle and the hazard that is greater than or equal to the stopping sight distance
Curves should be designed with their radius greater than R_min. If R_min cannot provided enough lateral clearance to an obstruction.

Beam Design Problems in Steel Structures [pdf/ppt]

Homepage :

http://www.ziddu.com/download/19634888/beam-design-problems-in-steel-structures.pdf.html

China Puts up a 30-Floor Building in 15 Days

Released by Broad Group is this video showcasing the fast turn-around time for putting together a 30-floor high rise building after factory-fabricating all the building modules in advance.

Broad Group, a private Chinese enterprise, consists of 4 distinctive companies each specializing in construction, air conditioning, air quality control and energy utilization. The Jack Welch' type CEO plus his wholly-owned subsidiary factories can turn out the pre-fabricated modules in a highly-efficient manner.

They're having several high-rise projects in the pipeline. Among one of the huge projects is a 200-floor skyscraper. FOUR months is all they need to assemble a 200-floor building claimed by Zhang Yue, the art teacher turned founder, chairman and CEO of Broad Group.

A Day in the Life - Civil Engineer

A typical day in the life of a Civil Engineer.

CAUSES OF FAILURE OF FOUNDATIONS IN BUILDINGS

Causes of Foundation Failure in Buildings

Foundation failure can be attributed to several things. Most commonly foundation failure is caused by the movement of expansive and highly plastic soils beneath different sections of the foundation footings. This movement can be in the form of shrinkage, which causes settlement, or expansion, which causes heave. When dry conditions prevail, soils consistently lose moisture and shrink. When moisture levels are high, soils swell. Regardless of the nature of the movement, it will most likely manifest itself in the form of visible cracks in the foundation walls, exterior brick walls, or interior Sheetrock or plaster walls. Officially, any structure movement is known as differential settlement. 

foundation-failure-causes

In addition to expansive soils, subsurface peat, which has a low bearing capacity and deteriorates over time, can also cause differential settlement. Other soil types such as sand and silt also have lower than required bearing capacities.

Poor drainage from yard run-off and gutter downspouts discharging at the base of the foundation are among other causes. Excess moisture around the foundation can cause the soils to become over-saturated and lose “bearing pressure,” or the strength to support weight. When this happens, structures “settle” or sink into the ground.

If soil and water control problems weren’t bad enough, there is also the issue of transpiration. Transpiration is a fancy word for the process of trees and large plantings absorbing the water from the soils beneath and around your home. During an active season, roots extending beneath and around the footings of the house can remove moisture from the soil, causing it to become desiccated. Again, where expansive soils exist this removal of moisture will cause soil shrinkage and settlement. 

Plumbing leaks are another major contributor to foundation settlement. Inundating the foundation with water from your home’s pipes will cause foundation failure, as would poor drainage on the outside.

Poor construction sometimes causes settlement in homes, but only rarely.

World’s Highest Railway Bridge To be Built In India

With aspiration of becoming a global superpower, India’s construction industry is now thinking beyond the box. Mumbai Worli Sea Link as one of the biggest achievements has boosted the construction industry and now they are building world’s highest railway bridge over Chenab in Reasi in Jammu between two villages Bakkal and Kauri.

The 1.3 km, 359 meters from the river bed is nick named as Sky Bridge and is part of the 73 km Katra-Dharam section of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link USBRL project.

Some facts about this Bridge
1) It will be 19 m higher than the currently tallest rail bridge i.e the bridge on France’s Tarn River (340m)
2) It will be 35 m taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
3) It will be six times the height of the Panvalnadi bridge in Maharashtra which is considered asthe tallest so rail bridge in India so far

Bridge Design
The design of this bridge is divided as
1) A 467 meter steel arch in the centre
2) A 185-meter approach deck from the Bakkal end
3) A 650-meter approach deck from the Kauri end.

24.5Km – The world’s longest road tunnel in Norway

A marvelous civil engineering project depicting the world’s largest road tunnel

Facts About Construction In India

# Sardar Sarovar Dam being executed by the group is the third largest in the world for volume of chilled concrete to be placed -nearly 7 million cum.

# Indira Sagar a 1000 MW Power house is the second largest surface power house in the country.

# Nathpa Jhakri a 1500 MW Power House is the largest underground power house in India.

# Tehri Dam is the third tallest rockfill dam in the world, and the largest in Asia invloving placement of over 25 million cum of all types of fill material.

# Baglihar Hydroelectric project involved construction of 30km of project road along with three bridges.

# Brahmaputra Guide Bund completed in a record time of 7 months.

# Baspa-II and Chamera-II projects involved continuous concrete shuttering for tunnel lining which is used for the first time in the country.

# Teesta V project has been provided with Jet Grouting curtain is being provided below the coffer dams for the first time in India.
# Alimineti Madhva Reddy Irrigation project is the longest underground face to face tunnel in the world.

The Incredible Magdeburg Water Bridge in Germany

(Have you ever seen a river over a river? )

The Incredible Magdeburg Water Bridge in Germany

The Magdeburg Water Bridge is a navigable aqueduct in Germany that connects the Elbe-Havel Canal to the Mittelland Canal, and allows ships to cross over the Elbe River. At 918 meters, it is the longest navigable aqueduct in the world.

The Incredible Magdeburg Water Bridge in Germany 2

The Elbe-Havel and Mittelland canals had previously met near Magdeburg but on opposite sides of the Elbe. Ships moving between the two had to make a 12-kilometer detour, descending from the Mittelland Canal through the Rothensee boat lift into the Elbe, then sailing downstream on the river, before entering the Elbe-Havel Canal through Niegripp lock. Low water levels in the Elbe often prevented fully laden canal barges from making this crossing, requiring time-consuming off-loading of cargo

The Incredible Magdeburg Water Bridge in Germany 3

Construction of the water link was started as early as in the 1930s but due to the World War 2 and subsequent division of Germany the work remained suspended till 1997. The aqueduct was finally completed and opened to the public in 2003.

The Incredible Magdeburg Water Bridge in Germany 4

Even after you see it, it is still hard to believe! Water Bridge in Germany. What a feat! Six years, 500 million Euros, 918 meters long . . . now this is engineering! This is a channel-bridge over the River Elbe and joins the former East and West Germany , As part of the unification project. It is located in the city of Magdeburg , near Berlin . The photo was taken on the day of inauguration . . .

The Incredible Magdeburg Water Bridge in Germany 5

Construction of the water link was started as early as in the 1930s but due to the World War 2 and subsequent division of Germany the work remained suspended till 1997. The aqueduct was finally completed and opened to the public in 2003.

The Incredible Magdeburg Water Bridge in Germany 6

Question: Did that bridge have to be designed to withstand the additional weight of ship and barge traffic, Or just the weight of the water?

Answer:It only needs to be designed to withstand the weight of the water!

Why? A ship always displaces an amount of water that weighs the same as the ship, regardless of how heavily a ship may be loaded.

The Vision for Civil Engineering in 2025

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) organized a gathering of thought leaders from diverse backgrounds and countries—civil engineers, engineers from other disciplines, architects, educators, and other leaders—to ask: What will the civil engineering world be like in 2025? What aspirational role will civil engineers play in that radically transformed world?

The answer professes a new role for the civil engineers of tomorrow, reflecting a new level of leadership and professionalism. Civil engineers would be entrusted by society to achieve a sustainable world and raise the global quality of life. To earn that confidence, civil engineers, as a body of professionals, would exhibit a mastery in five key areas:

• Planners, designers, constructors, and operators
• Stewards of the environment
• Innovators and integrators of technology
• Managers of risk
• Leaders in public policy

As the civil engineering profession moves towards the goals of Vision 2025, the make-up of the engineering team may change as well. The professional engineer of the future will be the clear leader of projects, integrate technology and resources, and spearhead the interface with the owner and the public—but there may be fewer professional engineers on individual project teams. With the ever increasing sophistication of engineering software, many of the routine engineering tasks in future projects will not require a professional engineer. That work can be performed well and economically by unlicensed individuals under the responsible charge of new engineer leaders—a strategic allocation of engineering graduates, degreed technologists, and technicians.