INNOVATION July-August 2012

Roundhouse Turntable Plaza Crane and Canopy Structure The Roundhouse Crane is a large architectural feature located in downtown Vancouver. It is a movable structure that supports a fabric canopy. The crane has two basic modes of operation. In the first mode, a fabric canopy is stretched over the crane structure to create a large covered area that provides a covered outdoor space for special events. In the second mode, the crane can be positioned into various configurations as an architectural feature.

The crane structure consists of complex steel weldments connected together by pin joints. The structural elements are positioned by six hydraulic cylinders, and the entire crane structure rotates on a large slewing ring. Dynamic Structures provided the turnkey services including engineering, fabrication, mechanical assembly, site assembly and commissioning of the crane structure and mechanisms. Engineer, Fabricator, and Erector: Dynamic Structure. General Contractor: Smith Bros and Wilson. Architect: Nick Milkovich Architecture. Owner: Vancouver Parks Board.

Weir-Jones Engineering was retained to design and install structural integrity monitoring systems on sections of pipelines south of Fort McMurray, Alberta. The pipelines cross the unstable South slope of the Clearwater River in unconsolidated quaternary sediments. Due to the ongoing slope creep, ground movements cause soil fraction on the pipelines which induces strains and must be monitored continuously. To monitor the structural integrity of these sections, Weir-Jones installed fiber optic strain gauges and temperature sensors which were remotely interrogated using autonomous fiber optic data acquisition units. This remote system is managed fromWeir-Jones’ headquarters in Vancouver where the data is analyzed and provided to the owners for integrity I-15 COREDesign-Build Project The $1.725 billion I-15 Corridor Expansion (CORE) project is the largest highway project in Utah history. It encompasses 24 miles of I-15 from Lehi to Spanish Fork, Utah. Provo River Constructors, a design-build joint venture, was selected to design and construct the project, which includes reconstructing and widening 24 miles of highway, replacing 63 aging bridges, rebuilding or improving 10 freeway interchanges, installing 40-year concrete pavement and constructing 1.2 million ft 2 of mechanically stabilized earth walls. Project engineers used innovative accelerated bridge construction techniques, such as building precast bridge deck panels and using self-propelled modular transporters to move four bridges into place. The aggressive design and construction schedule of 35 months will make I-15 CORE the fastest billion-dollar public highway project in US history. Owner: Utah Department of Transportation. Contractor: Provo River Constructors. Geotechnical Designer: Kleinfelder (James M Schmidt PEng).

Pipeline Structural IntegrityMonitoring

monitoring records via a secure webpage. Professionals involved: Dr Iain Weir-Jones PEng, Colin Cindrich EIT.

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