Modern Steel Construction June 2013 : Page 6

editor’s note Editorial Offices 1 E. Wacker Dr., Suite 700 Chicago, IL 60601 312.670.2400 tel 312.896.9022 fax Editorial Contacts AT MY 10-YEAR-OLD SON’S HOCKEY GAME LAST WEEK, I HAD WHAT ONE OF MY GOOD FRIENDS DESCRIBES AS A “KODAK MOMENT. ” It was toward the end of the game. The Answered” reminded us all that in 2010 center was driving the puck forward with (for the first time) AISC 360-10 pre-Jason on his right wing when suddenly, one scribed minimum levels of non-destruc-of the opposing players slid right in front of tive testing of welds. And who decides Jason. I tensed for the pile up—but he simply how much? The engineer—with sug-leaped over the prone player without miss-gestions offered by Chapter N. ➤ Yet another staff member appreci-ing a step. After I picked my jaw up off the ated the preview of the upcom-ground, all I could think was, “Where did he ing revisions to CASE 962D: A learn that?” Guideline Addressing Coordination Each year after NASCC: The Steel and Completeness of Structural Conference, I like to ask AISC staff what Construction Documents . This they learned at the conference. While not important publication offers advice as dramatic as a leap over a recumbent on one of the most contentious opponent, it still offers fascinating insight design and construction issues and into what’s new in steel design and con-is a must-have reference for every struction. Here’s a sampling of “What I engineer, fabricator and contractor. Learned at the Steel Conference”: ➤ Several AISC engineers were excited ➤ Some of our staff were surprised to by the new Girder Slab design guide learn about the many value-added ( www.girder-slab.com ) as well as services provided by service centers. It’s not unusual for them to cut to the announcement of an additional length, finish edges and occasionally specification for hollow structural sec-even put in some bolt holes. tions (A1085). Both announcements My favorite response came from one of share a common theme: Making steel design easier for structural engineers. our newest non-technical staff members: In the case of Girder Slab, they’ve “Seeing the exhibit hall and speaking to introduced a new calculator tool to the exhibitors, students, attendees and simplify member selection. For HSS, award winners made the steel industry the new material offers tighter toler-tangible to me, since I was able to step ances so engineers no longer need to out from behind my computer and witness reduce the nominal wall thickness by it in person. I’m really happy I was able to 0.93 for both member selection and attend my first Steel Conference.” Of course the heart of the conference connection design. (Find out more in is the more than 100 technical sessions. this month’s News section.) ➤ One of our engineers cited the inter-Because of the value AISC places on dissem-esting research being undertaken at inating information, we’ve made almost all the University of Washington and the of the sessions available for viewing online. University of Illinois to test a gusset Simply visit www.aisc.org/2013nascconline plate and beam web bolted to the for a look at these fabulous sessions. column flange for seismic applications. And I hope to see you at next year’s The potential benefit is the option to Steel Conference, scheduled for March mix bolted edges and welded edges 26–29 in Toronto, Canada. in gussets in seismic construction. ➤ Sometimes sessions reinforce items staff is working on. Duane Miller in his session on “Welding Questions SCOTT MELNICK 6 MODERN STEEL CONSTRUCTION JUNE 2013 EDITOR & PUBLISHER Scott L. Melnick 312.670.8314 melnick@modernsteel.com SENIOR EDITOR Geoff Weisenberger 312.670.8316 weisenberger@modernsteel.com ASSISTANT EDITOR Tasha Weiss 312.670.5439 weiss@modernsteel.com DIRECTOR OF PUBLISHING Areti Carter 312.670.5427 areti@modernsteel.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kristin Egan 312.670.8313 egan@modernsteel.com AISC Officers CHAIRMAN William B. Bourne, III VICE CHAIRMAN Jeffrey E. Dave, P.E. SECRETARY & GENERAL COUNSEL David B. Ratterman PRESIDENT Roger E. Ferch, P.E. VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Charles J. Carter, S.E., P.E., Ph.D. VICE PRESIDENT Jacques Cattan VICE PRESIDENT John P. Cross, P.E. VICE PRESIDENT Scott L. Melnick Advertising Contact Account Manager Louis Gurthet 231.228.2274 tel 231.228.7759 fax gurthet@modernsteel.com For advertising information, con-tact Louis Gurthet or visit www.modernsteel.com Address Changes and Subscription Concerns 312.670.5444 tel 312.893.2253 fax admin@modernsteel.com Reprints Betsy White The Reprint Outsource, Inc. 717.394.7350 bwhite@reprintoutsource.com EDITOR

editor’s note

Scott Melnick

AT MY 10-YEAR-OLD SON’S HOCKEY GAME LAST WEEK, I HAD WHAT ONE OF MY GOOD FRIENDS DESCRIBES AS A “KODAK MOMENT.” It was toward the end of the game. The center was driving the puck forward with Jason on his right wing when suddenly, one of the opposing players slid right in front of Jason. I tensed for the pile up—but he simply leaped over the prone player without missing a step. After I picked my jaw up off the ground, all I could think was, “Where did he learn that?” Each year after NASCC: The Steel Conference, I like to ask AISC staff what they learned at the conference. While not as dramatic as a leap over a recumbent opponent, it still offers fascinating insight into what’s new in steel design and construction. Here’s a sampling of “What I Learned at the Steel Conference”: • Several AISC engineers were excited by the new Girder Slab design guide (www.girder-slab.com) as well as the announcement of an additional specification for hollow structural sections (A1085). Both announcements share a common theme: Making steel design easier for structural engineers. In the case of Girder Slab, they’ve introduced a new calculator tool to simplify member selection. For HSS, the new material offers tighter tolerances so engineers no longer need to reduce the nominal wall thickness by 0.93 for both member selection and connection design. (Find out more in this month’s News section.) • One of our engineers cited the interesting research being undertaken at the University of Washington and the University of Illinois to test a gusset plate and beam web bolted to the column flange for seismic applications. The potential benefit is the option to mix bolted edges and welded edges in gussets in seismic construction. • Sometimes sessions reinforce items staff is working on. Duane Miller in his session on “Welding Questions Answered” reminded us all that in 2010 (for the first time) AISC 360-10 prescribed minimum levels of non-destructive testing of welds. And who decides how much? The engineer—with suggestions offered by Chapter N. • Yet another staff member appreciated the preview of the upcoming revisions to CASE 962D: A Guideline Addressing Coordination and Completeness of Structural Construction Documents. This important publication offers advice on one of the most contentious design and construction issues and is a must-have reference for every engineer, fabricator and contractor. • Some of our staff were surprised to learn about the many value-added services provided by service centers. It’s not unusual for them to cut to length, finish edges and occasionally even put in some bolt holes. My favorite response came from one of our newest non-technical staff members: “Seeing the exhibit hall and speaking to the exhibitors, students, attendees and award winners made the steel industry tangible to me, since I was able to step out from behind my computer and witness it in person. I’m really happy I was able to attend my first Steel Conference.” Of course the heart of the conference is the more than 100 technical sessions. Because of the value AISC places on disseminating information, we’ve made almost all of the sessions available for viewing online. Simply visit www.aisc.org/2013nascconline for a look at these fabulous sessions. And I hope to see you at next year’s Steel Conference, scheduled for March 26–29 in Toronto, Canada.

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