Civil Engineering (The Magazine of the American Society of Civil Engineers)
March 2008 Vol. 78, No. 3
Contents
Features
42 Reaching Out
By Michael Tavolaro, P. E., and Markus Schulte, P. E.
The new home of Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art, which resembles a large box stacked upon a smaller one, is framed by a hierarchy of trusses, including a series of cantilevered megatrusses. A performance theater is suspended from the westernmost megatruss by a series of stell tube hangers that also provide structural support for the theater’s glass facade.
52 Plankton Power
By Mark E. Capron, P. E., M. ASCE
As scientists continue to seek renewable energy sources, one environmental and sanitation engineer proposes a digester that uses bacteria to decompose organic material, primarily plankton, and produce biomethane. The use of algae also holds promise for reducing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.
58 Building a Better Bridge
By Dan Wills, P. E.
The 70-year-old Homestead Grays Bridge, near Pittsburgh—the first bridge in the world to use the Wichert truss—recently underwent a $35-million widening and rehabilitation that required unique design solutions as well as innovative construction techniques. Two lanes of vehicle traffic were maintained at all times throughout the renovation.
66 Returned to Service
By Peter W. Kotulak, P. E., A. M. ASCE, and John R. Headland, P. E., M. ASCE
In need of a suitable location for disposing of material dredged from Baltimore’s harbor, the State of Maryland recently revamped its 115 acre (46.5 ha) Cox Creek Dredged Material Containment Facility. Before the facility’s dikes could be enlarged and strengthened, however, careful analyses of the site’s geothchnical and coastal engineering aspects were required.
Departments
8 Letters
12 Polity Briefing
14 Civil Engineering News
Garage spans highway
Station beneath Grand Central
Big Dig consultants settle claims
In-service cables replaced
Longest pedestrain bridge
Sacramento Airport expands
News Briefs
38 Technology
40 History Lesson
43 Editor’s Note
72 Books
88 The Law
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