SEAOSC NEWSletter
September/October 1996
New Methodology in Structural Design Seminar Sept. 21
SEAOSC will host an all-day seminar on “New Methodology in Structural Design” from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept.
21 at the L.A. County Public Works building, 900 S. Fremont Ave., Alhambra. Preregistered cost for members is $95.
Registration deadline is Sept. 13. Call the SEAOSC office, 310-908-6131, for copy of flyer
President’s Message
I am pleased to be your President for this year. This month also begins a new year for your Board and Committees. There are
many issues facing the Association now and over the next several years. This year I hope that we will be positioned to
respond, with the other associations of SEAOC, to the changing building code structure in the United States.
There may be a number of changes on the way our committee structure operates and the Association’s influence on the
seismic provisions in building codes. I assume most of you are aware of the new International Building Code to be jointly
published by the three model code groups. The seismic provisions in this new code will be different than those in the current
UBC. They will be somewhat different that those proposed for the 1997 UBC. Statewide we are carefully watching the
developing code structure and will report to you, the membership, on the upcoming changes in the code structure and content
as they evolve.
This year the Board will work hard to regenerate activities in several of the committees that have been inactive. Of particular
interest is the Younger Member Committee. The Board will work to encourage a more active role by younger members in this
committee, at meetings and in the Associations committee structure. More information on this will be shared in coming months.
One last item this month is a reminder about the planned seminars and professional development workshops. Interest and
attendance has been high. Watch for announcements in the newsletter. Remember the SEAOC Annual Convention next
month.
Mel Green
Advertisements
Position Wanted
California- licensed structural engineer would like to establish a structural consulting branch office in Orange County for any
engineering company interested. 602-614-1456.
Help Wanted
San Diego firm seeks engineer with two to ten years of experience. Effective communication with clients and writing skills
required. Experience in wood frame construction a must. Excellent benefits and working environment. Send resume in
confidence to Josephson-Werdowatz & Associates, 6370 Lusk Blvd., Ste. F200, San Diego, CA 92121.
Civil/structural engineers with California license wanted in San Jose for seismic retrofitting projects. QuakeSAFE has
immediate openings with high growth potential. Contact Dennis Ratcliffe at QuakeSAFE, 190 Park Center Plaza, Ste. 223,
San Jose, CA 95113. Phone: 408-494-0944. Fax: 408-293-3341. Email: ratcliffed@aol.com.
A/E firm seeks senior S.E. with experience in design of steel, concrete, wood and masonry structures. Successful applicant will
be responsible for technical leadership and administration of the structural department. Only candidates with California S.E.
need apply. Submit resume to Human Resources, Leo A. Daly Co., 911 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 2200, Los Angeles, CA
90017-3451; or Fax: 213-629-0070.
Structural engineer with five-10 years experience to assume key role in design management/growth sought. California
C.E./S.E., strong engineering background, mature leadership skills. Great working environment. Send resume in confidence to
George Sultanyan, GNR Engineering, Inc., 990 Highland Dr., Ste. 206, Solana Beach, CA 92075; Fax: 619-794-9615.
Hart Consultant Group, a structural engineering firm, has a position available. Must have Ph.D. in civil engineering with
emphasis in structural dynamics/earthquake engineering with experience in computer programs (SAP90, ETABS, DRAIN,
equivalent) for linear/nonlinear analysis. Preference given to applicants with C.E. license and two years experience in concrete
and steel design/analysis. EOE. Resume, salary history to: HCG, 2425 Olympic Blvd., #670E, Santa Monica, CA 90404;
Fax: 310-998-9254, attention: Rami Elhassan, Ph.D., S.E.
Borm Associates, Inc., seeks engineers with a solid two-five years experience in the design of Type V buildings. Excellent
working environment and benefit programs. Resume only. Personnel Dept., 19100 Von Karman Ave., #220, Irvine, CA
92715.
Spieler, a Santa Barbara S.E. firm, seeks licensed California S.E. to be given responsible engineering charge on multiple steel,
concrete, timber and masonry projects. Excellent team coordination and communication skills essential and past hands-on
construction experience beneficial. Benefits. Resume and salary requirements to 629 State St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Degenkolb Engineers seeks structural design engineers with at least two-four years experience in structural/seismic analysis
and building design and C.E. license. Must have excellent verbal/writing skills and interest in working in technically challenging
environment. Send resume with references and introduction letter to 12100 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 1070, Los Angeles, CA
90025.
The City of Burbank Community Development Department, Building Division, invites persons with engineering and project
management backgrounds to apply for a currently vacant building inspector position. Includes excellent management
association benefits. Applications will be accepted Aug. 19 through Sept. 13 by the City Personnel Division. Call
818-228-5021 for further requirements.
The Most Up-to-Date Structural Engineering Review Manual is Now Available!
Complete problem statements and solution for the last six years (1990-1995) of the California S.E. exam except the bridge
problems) are presented. All solutions have been revised to reflect the 1994 UBC provisions. This includes not ony extensive
reformatting of the code sections, but also substantial changes to the code requirements. Among the new items are: The new
wood design provisions incorporating the 1991 NDS, new concrete shear wall and boundary element requirements and steel
moment frame connection design per recommended guidelines in the FEMA-267. Applicable code sections and page numbers
are referenced at each significant step of the calculations. Edited by Ben Yousefi, S.E. and Mehrdad Maher, S.E. this
700-page manual is a must have for every practicing structural engineer and especially those preparing for the S.E. exam. To
order call BYA Publications, Inc. at 800-566-2906. Cost is $175 plus tax, shipping and handling.
Position available as chief academic and administrative officer of the College comprised of Architecture, Architectural
Engineering, City and Regional Planning, Construction Management, and Landscape Architecture departments. Requires
terminal degree in one or more of the five disciplines; license or certification in appropriate professional field. Position open
until filled; submit applications by 9/15/96 for full consideration; preferred starting date 1/97. Contact Office of Faculty Affairs
(Recruitment Code 6M079), Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407; (805 756-2844; Fax: 805-756-5185. AA/EEO
Name tags Available
In response to numerous requests for name tags at SEAOSC dinner meetings, new name tags and the old holders (badges)
will be made available to members but only at the next three dinner meetings. Members are encouraged to pick up their name
tag and a SEAOSC badge at the Sept. 4 or 5 or Nov. 6 dinner meetings. It will then be the member’s responsibility to retain
their name tag and badge and bring it to future meetings.
Doc Nghiem Welcomed To SEAOSC Board
Doc Nghiem was elected recently as a SEAOSC Board Director for 1996-98. However, Doc’s name was inadvertently
omitted from the list that appeared in the July/August newsletter. The error is regretted and the Board welcomes Doc aboard.
Walter Dickey Honored by Notre Dame
Walter L. Dickey, Life Member SE, was honored to deliver the keynote speech at Notre Dame University for the annual
convention of the International Society for Masonry Construction, “The Masonry Society.”
Also, he received an honorary award for outstanding service, e.g., working to translate the SEAOC way of doing masonry for
the international participants. Simultaneously, he has written a paper for the International Conference of Building Officials in the
current issue of “Building Standards” magazine on a new evaluation service approved 5050 for fire rating of brick veneer,
which has just obtained. This makes possible use of brick veneer for permanent, dependable, durable one- and two-hour fire
ratings in lieu of dependence on wall board or undependable sprinklers. The brick protection is permanent and does not
require replacement after fire exposure.
Donations Help Balance SEAOSC Budget
SEAOSC gratefully acknowledges the following companies and individuals for recent generous contributions to SEAOSC.
Silver
John Coil
Morris Goldsmith
E. Brad Graves
Donald Kay
Robert Kazanjy
Meyer/Sumnicht
Amer Soudani
Bronze
Raymond Bentson
Walter Brugger
Jeff Coronado
LeRoy Crandall
Ehlen & Spiess
Jose Gonzalez-Posada
John Hosseinian
Patrick Lama
Robert Loeffler
Antonio Luisoni
Warren Minner
Tarek Moktar
Virgil Morton
Paul Mouton
David Narver, Jr.
John H. Nosse
Hrand Safarian
Ben Schmid
ICBO Suspends Code Development of the Uniform Code
The Board of Directors of the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) voted June 8 to suspend the code
development process with respect to the Uniform Building Code™ , Uniform Mechanical Code™ and related Uniform
Codes, following completion of the 1996 code development cycle. This is another step toward the creation of a unified model
code system.
The 1996 code development cycle will conclude with the code sessions at the ICBO Annual Education and Code
Development Conference Sept. 8-13 in St. Paul, Minn. The code changes resulting from this conference will be incorporated
into the 1997 editions of the remaining ICBO codes.
The suspension of the code development process will allow ICBO, Building Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA) and
the Southern Building Code Congress International (SBCCI) to draft the proposed International Building Code ™. The
suspension of the process indicates ICBO’s commitment to the International Codes and the ICC process, ICBO officials said.
For more information, contact ICBO at 310-699-0541.
EERI Offers 1997 Professional Fellowship
The Earthquake Engineering Institute (EERI) with FEMA is offering its 1997 Professional Fellowship to provide an
opportunity for a practicing professional to gain greater skills and broader expertise in earthquake hazards reduction. It is not
intended to fund work towards a degree but to bring together an experienced practitioner with research professionals.
The fellowship provides a stipend of $30,000 beginning in January 1997 to cover tuition, fees, relocation and living expenses
for six months. Deadline for application is Sept. 6.
Applicants must provide a detailed work plan for a research project that would be carried out in the six-month period. The
Fellow will produce a written report upon completion. All applications must be accompanied by a resume and letter of
nomination from the faculty host(s) at the cooperating education institution(s). Applicants must hold U.S. citizenship or
permanent resident status.
Candidates may obtain an application form from EERI at 510-451-0905; Fax: 510-451-5411; Email: eeri@eeri.org.
NCSEA To Hold Annual Conference
The National Council of Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA) will hold its Annual Conference in Hawaii Sept. 28-30 at
the Outrigger Prince Kuhio Hotel in Honolulu.
Topics include continuing education, International Building Code by John Traw of ICBO, the new Structural Engineers
Institute , special construction inspections, Massachusetts modifications to BOCA ‘96 inspections, financing NCSEA, and
wind engineering. Committee meetings and presentations will also take place.
NCSEA is comprised of member organizations representing structural engineers within a state or group of states. It was
formed to “constantly improve the level of standard of practice of the structural engineering profession throughout the United
States, and to provide an identifiable resource for those needing communication with the profession.
For further information or a conference registration form, call the NCSEA office at 312-372-8035.
Letters to the Editor
To Whom It May Concern:
The (Ad Hoc Committee on Testing Standards for Structural Systems and Components) notes that two papers related to
testing of wood components and systems were included in the 1995 SEAOC Conference proceedings that were not
presented or discussed during the technical sessions at the conference. I refer to “Laboratory Testing of As-Built Timber
Diaphragm to Shear Wall Connections” and “Laboratory Testing to Investigate Pneumatically Driven Box Nails for the Edge
Nail of 3/8” Thick Plywood Shear Walls.” The papers include reference to the Ad Hoc Committee for Testing Standards for
Structural Systems and Components.
Since we had no input with respect to the work reported and are not aware of any peer review of the testing, analysis, or
interpretation of the test data reported in the papers, the Ad Hoc Committee on Testing Standards for Structural Systems and
Components takes no position with respect to the reported testing or the conclusions reported in the papers.
Signed on behalf of the Ad Hoc Committee on Testing Standards for Structural Systems and Components.
Graeme Dick, S.E.
Chairman
Dear Mr. Ranous,
I was a consulting structural engineer in LA from 1952 till 1978, when I retired. Since then I lived at Clear Lake, which is
about 150 miles north of San Francisco. I have been a Life Member of SEAOSC since 1978.
Due to the distance, I have not been able to attend any meetings, but I do read your bulletins and newsletters, etc. The recent
meeting regarding “Passive Energy Dissipation Systems” on July 19 caught my eye. If it speaks of fluid viscous dampers, I will
be thrilled.
The “Proceedings, 1995 Convention” deals with fluid viscous dampers (VDs) on page 401, written by H. Kit Miyamoto and
Roger Scholl. I noticed with interest that the earliest reference goes back to only 1992. That indicates to me that the actual use
of VDs in buildings, new or old, must be a new development. The idea, though is not new.
As a matter of history, it might be of interest to you and others that I got the general idea about 30 years ago. The enclosed
two pages of “An Idea for Damping of Building Structures Subject to Dynamic Loading” show the general concept.
I tried to get other engineers involved in the project, but they saw no future in it. Without further research I finally went through
the patent process, which was difficult and lengthy. Enclosed is a copy of the patent, date Dec. 31, 1968. Although the
language is that of patent lawyers and patent officers, it is clear that the concept and applications are the same today as
anticipated then.
When the patent ran out after 17 years, I did not renew it.
When the story of VDs in buildings is written, maybe the above will warrant a footnote!
Sincerely yours,
Bernhard Cardan
New Members
Richard P. Dang, Associate, ASL Consulting Engineers, One Jenner St., Ste. 200, Irvine, CA 92718; 714-727-7099.
Robert J. Fecarotta, Member, EQE International, 18101 Von Karman, Ste. 400, Irvine, CA 92715; 714-833-3303.
Lionel J. Garcia, Associate, Breiholz Qazi Engineering, 1852 Lomita Blvd., Lomita, CA 90717; 310-530-3050.
Vicki L. Gray, Member, VLG Engineering. 10 Hughes St., Ste. A202, Irvine, CA 92718; 714-455-1818.
Thomas C. Griffis, Member, Holben, Martin & White, 2950 N. Country Club, Tucson, AZ 85716; 520-327-9490.
Hassan Hadidi, Member, EQE International, 18101 Von Karman Ave., Ste. 400, Irvine, CA 92715; 714-833-3303.
Michael R. Haslett, Industry Member, Morley Construction, 2901 28th St., Ste. 100, Santa Monica, CA 90405;
310-399-1600.
Won H. Hyun, Associate, Hillman, Biddison and Loevenguth, 1800 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 300, Los Angeles, CA 90057;
213-413-5313.
Ahmad Kamrany, Associate, Robert Bein, William Frost & Associates, 14725 Alton Pkwy., Irvine, CA 92619;
714-855-3639.
John Y. Labib, Student, Nabih Youssef & Associates, 800 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 510, Los Angeles, CA 90017;
213-362-0707.
David A. Lee, Associate, Basic Analysis, 2118 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 604, Santa Monica, CA 90403; 310-396-5459.
Douglas J. Marsh, Member, ASL Consulting Engineers, One Jenner St., Ste. 200, Irvine, CA 92718; 714-727-7099.
Leland Nakaoka, Member, Robert Englekirk Inc., 2116 Arlington Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90818; 213-733-6673.
Danny Ozair, Associate, KPFF Consulting Engineers, 2401 Colorado Ave., Ste. 315, Santa Monica, CA 90404;
310-828-1536.
Sharon Robertson, Associate, Pugh & Scarpa, 2525 Michigan Ave., Ste. F-1, Santa Monica, CA 90404; 310-828-0226.
Wing Kam Suen, Associate, Seizmic Engineering, 161 Atlantic Ave., Pomona, CA 91768; 909-869-0989.
Nyima W. Tsundu, Associate, #101-4362 Maywood St., Burnaby, B.C., V5H-2K1, Canada; 604-257-2342.
D. Anton Walden, Affiliate, Project Resources Inc., 3760 Convoy St., Ste. 230, San Diego, CA 92111; 619-505-1000.
Yunxia (Lisa) Wang, Student, University of California, Irvine, Civil Engineering Dept., U. of Calif., Irvine, CA 92717;
714-856-1082.
Dan R. Werdowatz, Member SE, Josephson-Werdowatz & Associates Inc., 6370 Lusk Blvd., Ste. F200, San Diego, CA
92121; 619-558-2181.
Sept. 4 & 5 Dinner meetings
Speaker: Dirk Bondy
Subject: New Simplified Method for Calculating Inelastic Moment Demands
Program: General overview of using a practical simplified elastic displacement analysis to approximate the actual inelastic
moment demands on both concrete and steel seismic frame columns two stories and taller.
Time: Social hour: 5:30 p.m.; Dinner: 6:30 p.m.; Program: 8 p.m.
Locations: Sept. 4: Luminarias Restaurant, 3500 Ramona Blvd., Monterey Park; Sept. 5: Costa Mesa Country Club, 1701
Golf Course Dr., Costa Mesa.
Menu: Sept. 4: Mozzarella chicken with mushrooms. Sept. 5: Buffet.
Cost: $22
No dinner meeting in October because of the SEAOC Convention in Hawaii.
Calendars:
September: 4-- Noon: Committee Chair Lunch
5:30 p.m. Dinner Meeting
5 -- 5:30 p.m. Dinner Meeting
Deadline for Online Fall Issue
6 -- Notes deadline for 9/21 seminar
10 -- 1 p.m. Light Frame Subcommittee of Existing Bldgs. Committee
13 -- Deadline for seminar pre-registration
25 -- 3 p.m. Computer class
30 -- ATC pre-convention seminar
October: 1 -- SEAOC Convention in Hawaii
2 -- SEAOC Board Meeting
5 -- No L.A. Dinner Meeting
11 -- 4 p.m. Existing Bldgs. Meeting
12 -- SEAOSD seminar on New Methodology
30 -- 3 p.m. Computer class
Deadline for December SEAOSC newsletter
Notes deadline for Non-Ductile Concrete seminar
Interested in serving on a SEAOSC committee? All members and interested parties are invited to join a committee. Printed
below is a list of committee chairs and phone numbers. Simply contact the chair for information on current projects and
meeting information.
Committee Chair Phone
Building Code Jack Brucke 213-897-3995
Business Forum Trailer Martin 213-483-6490
Computer Applications Shafat Qazi 310-530-3050
Disaster Emergency Services Sandy Pringle 800-598-1970
Education Abe Hamad 310-924-3825
Employment Don Gilbert 310-908-6131
Existing Buildings Richard Hess 310-799-9787
Inspection Practice Sandy Pringle 800-598-1970
Younger Member Russell Tanouye 213-733-6673
Legislative Manny Morden 213-484-8950
Membership Diana Nishi 213-733-6673
Professional Practice Gordon Kelsen 818-707-2266
Office Practice Minoru Ikeda 213-413-5313
Program Michael Cochran 310-207-6638
Ian Robertson 714-833-3303
Research Nezih Gunal 310-597-0330
Seminar Melvyn Green 310-792-9252
Seismic Advisory Robert White 818954-9100
Seismology Saif Hussain 818-704-5059
Speakers Bureau James Day 714-975-2451
Audit Don Kay 213-256-2101
Testing Procedures Graeme Dick 714-979-7155
Vision 2000 James Hill 310-426-4447