Engineers often refer to project experience in terms of the size, type or cost. What is more challenging is recalling the numerous experiences that encompass civil/structural engineering on a day-to-day basis. The more rewarding projects typically are not the big buildings or large sites, but the unique problems solved with hand calculations by a well-seasoned engineer. These experiences cannot be taught in school. Educated owners and contractors rely on and appreciate the practical nature of the hands-on engineer. In nearly 30 years as a structural engineer, Ronald Rideout, PE found the greatest reward in assignments where he helped the owner and/or contractor at key times during the construction of the project.
Below are some of those projects in which Rideout was involved over the past 2 ½ years:
- Gantry crane railing load evaluations. Replacement of existing gantry with Owner wanting to purchase the largest possible. Analysis was performed using Risa 3D. Variables such as wheel number and spacing were used to arrive at a recommended crane to purchase.
- Jib cranes. Have designed several foundations for jib cranes that required unique footing geometry around existing utilities.
- Jib cranes in existing buildings. Potential to resume project. Support needed for a jib crane from the sides of the existing building columns. Completed a preliminary building model; in-field measurements needed to finish the design. Structural analysis of gravity and lateral load to today’s code loads and reinforcements requirements also needed.
- Pellet boiler design. Worked closely with town library to determine heating and cooling loads, identify thermal deficiencies, review utility information and generate an energy model. Sized heating and cooling systems. Conducted life cycle cost analysis on various repairs and replacements. Specified wood pellet boiler system. Completed the draft version of an energy model, complete with automation and a dashboard of real-time data that can be used to guide decisions on fuel consumption
- Facilities management in progress. Started work in developing facilities management tools to assist building owners in maintenance operations by using Revit. Completed initial research on the use of sensors and controls. Research on the use of PLCs to allow facilities to automate heating and cooling systems performance is ongoing
- Above-ground fuel storage tank. Created plans and details. Checked NFPA codes, IBC, and life safety design. Completed field measurements. Obtained Fire Marshal approval and building permit.
- Belt conveyor structural rebuild as part of a multi-million-dollar project. Assisted in retrofitting a used 200-ft conveyor requested by Owner. Incorporated two bent supports as part of the design. Provided a walkway on one side.
- Numerous equipment support structures and foundations
- Steam piping support for low pressure steam lines and condensate lines
- Bar joist, beam and column reinforcing design and detailing
- Ash storage building expansion with construction detailing to account for plant operations and scheduled shut down
- Sluice gate capacity finite element analysis
- Various bridge structure ratings
- Bridge abutment widening
- Alaskan Slab-monolithic foundation design for pre-engineered metal buildings
- Silo opening reinforcement. Determined the necessary framing to resist hoop stress forces on the side a concrete silo. Created framing details and post tensioning ratcheting device.
- Industrial storage shelf load rating. Established a set of hand calculations to be used as a go by to help client provide their own rating program for their industrial sites. Planned to provide oversight that would allow them to do most of the calculations and drawings in house. Planned to stamp drawings after approving their calculations.
- Foundation support for 200,000-pound tissue pulper
- Lime lagoon structure assessment, analysis and letter to DEP
- Parking lot expansion and athletic field reconstruction. Designed drainage by and hand and with HydroCAD. Utilized AutoCAD 2D for site plans. Obtained site development and wetlands permits.
- Anchor bolt and pier repair work orders. Corrected the faulty installation of anchor bolts as requested by client. Used a repair procedure to direct the contractor sequentially through the process of relieving the applied load, making required anchorage modifications and recasting new concrete.
- Opal High School Renovation. Auditorium conversion to a 400-seat theater. Design build. Applied and awarded grant funding. Completed plans, details, specifications and estimates. Coordinated Seating purchase.
- Glulam reinforcement/repair design and restoration. Worked closely with the contractor to provide intricate repair details including the specifying glue, fasteners, steel plates and structural members as part of a one-year roof replacement project.