Prefabricated prefinished volumetric construction (PPVC), sometimes referred to simply as modular construction, is a process whereby buildings are planned and designed to allow for discretization and standardization of 3D volumetric structural units that allow for efficient off-site manufacture and rapid on-site assembly. By Tom Greenough and Matthew Smith   Introduction The fabrication and manufacture process results [...]

The fourth and fifth modules in CISC's Design Modules lineup have been published and are now available. Design Module 4, "Straight Steel Girder Bridges", illustrates the design of composite, continuous multi-span steel bridges following a straight roadway alignment. This module includes detailed calculations of a 3-span plate girder bridge (see Figure 1) and a 2-span box [...]

For hollow structural section (HSS) connections, welds can be designed either to achieve the capacity of the connected branch member wall or to be “fit for purpose” (i.e. to resist the forces present in the branch member). The latter approach typically results in smaller, more economical welds, but it requires the use of weld effective properties. [...]

By Charles Albert, P.Eng., Manager of Technical Publications and Services CISC provides this column as part of its commitment to the education of those interested in the use of steel in construction. Neither CISC nor the author assumes responsibility for errors or oversights resulting from the use of the information contained herein. Suggested solutions may not [...]