Shear Lug – Purpose, Types, Design Considerations, & Calculations
A shear lug refers to a steel embedment, which forms part of an anchorage that transfers lateral loads to a concrete foundation. Typically, a welder attaches it to the base…
Fabrication & Quality
David Etukudo Fill Material
Fill material is an earth-based material used to fill in a hole or depression created during site development. In addition to filling, the material can expand and create an artificial…
Sarah DeGuzman Structurally Sound: Definition, Use in Buildings and Bridges
Definition Structurally sound means free from defects, flaws decay, and deterioration to the extent that structures or buildings accomplish their design. In terms of public infrastructures, structurally sound buildings lack…
Michael Satti Sand Jack – Working Principles, Design, and Applications
A sand jack is a sand-filled container used as part of a cast-in-place bridge falsework. A sand-filled cavity aids in the removal of the falsework by allowing a slow and…
CRES Material – Properties, Applications, & Alternatives
The designation CRES stands for Corrosion Resistant (Stainless) Steel. This steel does not stain, corrode, or rust as easily as ordinary steel. However, it is not completely stain-proof. Also, it…
Flash Chamber
A flash chamber is a device that separates liquid and vapor refrigerant. It fits into the line after the expansion chamber, sending only liquid refrigerant to the evaporator and vapor…
Trap Guard – Benefit, Alternatives, and Evaluation
The trap guard provides a novel, trapless way of sealing sewer gas from returning through a drain. It competes as an alternative or potential supplement to p-traps. In this article,…
Diana Fletcher Stamped Drawings – Purpose, Process, and Alternatives
To obtain appropriate permitting and meet required specifications, many construction projects require stamped drawings. Stamped drawings bear the seal of a Professional Engineer. They may take the form of a…
Cheapest Metals – From Least to Most Expensive + Indices
Often classic material characteristics such ductility, hardness, fatigue strength, and yield strength aren’t the primary driver of material selection. Sometimes, an engineer or designer simply wants the cheapest metal available….
Is Inconel Magnetic? No! But It Does Have Magnetic Properties
Is Inconel magnetic? No. It is nonmagnetic. But many Inconel alloys possess magnetic qualities despite not being naturally magnetic. This has to do with its alloying elements and behavior during…