Discovery hinders Indianapolis transit center construction

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Work has halted on part of a new downtown Indianapolis transit center after workers discovered an old building foundation several feet below ground. IndyGo spokesman Bryan Luellen says the foundation might date as far back as the late 1800s. He says workers also found objects including pieces of glass, flatware and chunks of vases that were left behind when the building was demolished. Construction has stopped on the part of the site where the foundation lies. Luellen tells The Indianapolis Star (http://indy.st/1cDdYSP ) that the transportation agency has hired architects to determine whether the foundation is historically important. The $20 million transit center could still open partially finished and on time later this year.

Nondestructive Testing Structural Engineering

Nondestructive testing or Non-destructive testing (NDT) is a wide group of analysis techniques used in science and industry to evaluate the properties of a material, component or system without causing damage.[1] The terms Nondestructive examination (NDE), Nondestructive inspection (NDI), and Nondestructive evaluation (NDE) are also commonly used to describe this technology.[2] Because NDT does not permanently alter the article being inspected, it is a highly valuable technique that can save both money and time in product evaluation, troubleshooting, and research. Common NDT methods include ultrasonic, magnetic-particle, liquid penetrant, radiographic, remote visual inspection (RVI), eddy-current testing,[1] and low coherence interferometry.[3][4] NDT is commonly used in forensic engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, systems engineering, aeronautical engineering, medicine, and art.[1] Contents 1 Methods 2 Applications 2.1 Weld verification 2.2 Structural mechanics 2.3 Radiography in medicine 3 Notable events in early industrial NDT 4 Methods and techniques 5 Personnel training, qualification and certification 5.1 Definitions 5.2 Training 5.3 Certification schemes 5.4 Levels of certification 6 Terminology 7 Reliability and statistics 8 See also 9 References 9.1 Bibliography

Hoosier Environmental Indiana

Air Pollution (External Link) Amtrak Service Asbestos and Mesothelioma (External Link) Bats Biofuels (NRDC Report) Biomass (Union of Concerned Source: Index of Issues | Hoosier Environmental Council Index of Issues Air Pollution (External Link) Amtrak Service Asbestos and Mesothelioma (External Link) Bats Biofuels (NRDC Report) Biomass (Union of Concerned Scientists Report) Blue-Green Algae CAFOs (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) CFOs (Confined Feeding Operations) Setbacks of CFO & CAFO Children’s Health (External Link) Clean Energy Clean Power Plan Clean Water Climate Change Climate Change Skeptics (External Link) Coal Coal Ash Coal-Fired Power Plants (Union of Concerned Scientists Report) Combined Heat and Power Environmental Justice Factory Farms Farmer’s Markets (External Link) Forest Protection Green Communities High Speed Passenger Rail Impaired Waters Lake County Mercury (External Link) Mounds Greenway Net Metering Nuclear Power (External Link) Oil Open Spaces Outdoor Wood Boilers (OWBs) Pathogens in Manure Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge Plastic Consumption (External Link) Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Public Transportation Renewable Energy SMSS (Satellite Manure Storage Structures) Solar (External Link) Sustainable Agriculture Watershed Restoration Well Testing Wildlife Refuges Wind Energy

Pence signs bill repealing Indiana construction wage law

A Republican-backed measure that will repeal Indiana's law setting wages for state and local government construction projects has been approved by Gov. Mike Pence. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Pence signs repeal of IN construction wage law A Republican-backed measure that will repeal Indiana's law setting wages for state and local government construction projects has been approved by Gov. Mike Pence. Pence signed the legislation Wednesday and says it will allow the free market to determine pay scales rather than government boards. Supporters estimate the change will reduce project costs by as much as 20 percent by allowing more contractors to pay wages below union scale. Opponents dispute such savings will occur and say it will open the door for low-paying, out-of-state contractors. The measure sparked controversy during this year's legislative session, including a rally that brought thousands of contractors and union members to the Statehouse lawn in April. The repeal takes effect in July.

Sinkhole increases to 40 feet in Tennessee

Construction crews were trying to fill a massive sinkhole that began at 3 feet by 5 feet at Austin Peay State University’s Governors Stadium in Tennessee. Construction crews were trying to fill a massive sinkhole that began at 3 feet by 5 feet at Austin Peay State University’s Governors Stadium in Tennessee. The hole was first discovered near the football field’s end zone, where it meets the track, during a renovation project to replace the main stadium building about a month ago. The workers have since had to dig a larger hole, about 40 feet deep and 40 feet wide, to find stable bedrock. “We’re not going to skip any steps,” Mike Jenkins, the superintendent for Nashville-based Bell & Associates Construction,

By |May 2nd, 2015|Sinkholes, Geotechnical Tennessee|Comments Off on Sinkhole increases to 40 feet in Tennessee

MSE walls going up for landmark Ohio highway project

Geogrids cited for roads, bridges to improve safety and reduce road congestion. Tensar International announced in an April 16 press release that construction has commenced on one of the largest highway projects in Ohio—including $3 million to construct MSE (mechanically stabilized earth) retaining walls. When complete, 30 precast panel retaining walls will be built, totaling more than 200,000 square feet, “making it one of the largest projects in Tensar’s uniaxial geogrid product line history,” the release stated. The full scope of the Ohio highway project is to construct 22 new bridges, improve safety, reduce road congestion, and connect neighborhoods in Columbus, Ohio. A new travel lane will also be added on Interstate 670 to help reduce weaving across traffic lanes to exits. (Interstate 670 runs through downtown Columbus, connecting I-70 west of downtown with I-270 and U.S. 62 near the eastern suburb of Gahanna.) The release noted that the first phase of the Columbus Crossroads project is slated for completion in 2014. Kokosing Construction is the contractor for the project.

Major Slope Failure at Yeager Airport in West Virginia

 Thursday, March 12, 2015 TOM HINDMAN/DAILY MAIL The ground continues to slip away under the runway overrun area — known formally as the Engineered Material Arresting System, or EMAS area. The landslide currently affects only the back portion of the EMAS area. Airport officials say the damage currently is not enough to interfere with flights.

Ohio highway closed when enormous rock falls on it

A major route along the Ohio side of the Ohio River was closed Friday after a house-sized boulder fell on the westbound lanes. IRONTON, Ohio —A major route along the Ohio side of the Ohio River was closed Friday after a house-sized boulder fell on the westbound lanes. The rockslide happened at about 3 a.m. on U.S. 52 just across the river from Ashland, Ky., allowing crews to detour Ohio traffic through Kentucky. WSAZ-TV reported that a pickup ran into the rock shortly after it fell, but the driver was not injured. Crews estimate it will take two days to remove the boulder and other debris.

New FHWA Soil Nail Manual Addresses LRFD, Hollow Bars

Since March of 2003, the FHWA’s Geotechnical Engineering Circular Number 7 (GEC No. 7) has been the standard reference document for design and construction of soil nail retaining walls in roadway applications, and really in all applications. The FHWA has released an updated version of this manual as of February of 2015.  This new version is still called GEC No. 7, but now titled “Soil Nail Walls Reference Manual.”  You can download the document from the FHWA’s Geotechnical Engineering website. I am still in the process of working through the manual, but one of the major changes is the addition of the implementation of the Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) platform. This will have an implication on all future soil nail walls for roadway projects. The manual also appears to have removed example problems solved using SNAILZ software (by CalTrans) in favor of the FHWA’s own Soil Nail Analysis Program (SNAP) 2 software. I guess we’re going to have to get familiar with that software as well.  I’m strongly considering looking into SNAIL Plus by DeepExcav, a commercial product.  I’ve seen demos before, and have been very impressed. Finally, I was very curious to see what they would say about hollow bar soil nails.  They review some of the work done in the last 5 years or so done by the FHWA and ADSC.  If I understood correctly, it appears that they are saying that because of the uncertainties regarding damage to corrosion protection during installation, they are still not recommending hollow bar nails for roadway applications, except if the ground conditions are non-aggressive and if you use sacrificial steel.  I suppose that at least opens the door to this technology for collapsing ground situations. Written by Randy

Indiana Department of Environmental Management IDEM

The States' View of the Air 2015 The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has released The States’ View of the Air (2015) report. This report highlights the air quality in counties and cities in the United States. Like a report card, IDEM has graded areas on the state of their air quality under the federal standards for ozone and fine particles. States' View of the AirIndiana Ground Water Monitoring Network Survey IDEM is looking for private residential well owners in all 92 counties in Indiana to take part in the statewide Ground Water Monitoring Network. Eligible residential wells will be tested free of charge, and copies of analytical results will be provided at the end of the study. Information about participating, including eligibility requirements, is available on the IDEM Statewide Ground Water Monitoring Network Survey page. Ground Water Monitoring Network Survey State of Indiana Ground Water Monitoring Network Application Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units. The State of Indiana via the undersigned agencies appreciates the opportunity to comment on the proposed rule entitled “Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units” (EGUs) (June 18, 2014, 79 Fed. Reg. 34830). Indiana urges U.S. EPA to withdraw the proposed rule for multiple reasons.While Indiana urges U.S. EPA to withdraw the proposed rule for multiple reasons as set forth below, the State of Indiana respectfully requests that U.S. EPA take into consideration the technical corrections and comments outlined in the attachments to this letter if it proceeds in finalizing the rule. These comments are the result of a thoughtful, collaborative process between multiple Indiana state agencies with expertise in environmental, utility and natural resource issues. Letter to U.S. EPA [PDF] Attachment A: Technical Comments [PDF] Attachments B, C, and D [PDF]Indiana 2015 [...]

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