=~::~I. 41 THIRD.

FDUIITM ClUAIITeRll'111

I A Bigger & Belter Hartford

Colisellm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 3
2 The Mllitiple Mi"or
Telescope. . . . . . . . . . . • • • . . .. 7
3 1978 Prize Bridges . ...•...... • 12

2
 -

MIIDERII
ClIlISTRUCnll1l
Published by
~mr:fl

•
American Institute
VOLUME XIX NUMBERS 3 & 41 THIRO & FOURTH aUARTER 1979
of Steel Construction VOLUME XX NUMBER 1 I FIRST aUARTER 1980
The Wrigley Building
400 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, illinoIS 60611 CONTENTS

A Bigger & Beller Hartford Coliseum 3

The Multiple Minor Telescope 7
O""'C~A'
New Bridge Enhances H,slonc Sile JI
Robert P. Stupp, Chairman 1978 Prize Bridges 12
William J. Tilley, Jr., First Vice Chairman 8th Edilion AISC Steel Construction Manual 16
Philip 0 Elbert, Second Vice Chairman
John H. Busch, Treasurer
Richard J. Altmann, President
8th EDITION, MANUAL OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION
William W. Lanigan,
Copies of Ihe 81h Edilion of Ihe AISC Manual of Steel Construction
Secretary & General Counsel
are expected to be available in June 1980.
William A. M"ek,
The new edition is being eXlellSively revised 10 keep pace with Ihe
Vice President, Engineering
many new developments in steel cOlJstruction since the 7th l::.i:Jition WaS
published in 1970.
An announcement of Ihe new 8th COil ion appears on Ihe outside back
cover of Ihis issue of Modem Steel Construction. •
We suggest you use the convenient clip coupon 10 order your Manu&&.
I!DITOAIAL STAP ...
now to assure early delivery when publication is completed.
Daniel Farb, Director of Publications
Dorothy M. Sondin, 32nd ANNUAL AISC NATIONAL ENGINEERING
Assistant Editor CONFERENCE
Leadmg aur/lOnries m the fields of sleel design, research , and conslruc-
lion will meet in Pil/Sburgh, Pa. al Ihe Willillm Penn HOlel on April 29 and
30, and May I, 10 exchange ideas and mformation. A Ilhough Ihe program
AaOIONAL apPlc • • will nOI be announced until a laler dale, we can assure you Ihal Ihe
engineer or archilecl who wishes 10 keep mformed about Ihe conlinuing
NORTHEASTERN REGION
developmenls in these fields will find Ihis conference a valuable, infonna-
New York, NY. (Headquarters)
Boston. Mau.,
live. QlJd stimulating experience.
Washington,O.C.
1980 PRIZE BRIDGE COMPETITION
NORTH CENTRAL REGION
Chicago. ,rlinols (Headquanersl Entries are inviled for AISC's 50th Priu Bridge Competition to select
Minneapolis, Mmn., Ihe mosl beautiful steel bridges openlXi 10 Iraffic during the calendar years
Pittsburgh, Pa 1978 and 1979. Entries must be postmarked prior 10 May 25, 1980. Selec-
tion of the winners will be made by a distinguished panel of professionals
SOUTHEASTERN REGION
who will judge Ihe entries on June 10. The members oflheJury of Awatds
Atlanta. Ga. (Headquarters)
Charlotte. N,C .•
will be announced al a laler dale. Further details of the competilion and
Tampa. Fla . entry forms can be obtained from the AISC, Awatds Commillee, 400
North Michigan Avenue, Chicago . IL 606/1
SOUTHWESTERN REGION
Houston. Tex (Headquarters)
OUR APOLOGIES
Oallas. Tex.,
St. Louis, Mo. On the back cover of Ihe lSI/2nd Q., 1979 issue, Ihe credils for Ihe Bell
WESTERN REGION To wer al Bryanl College. Smilhfield, R.I.• were inadvertenlly omille<i.
Los Angeles. Calif . (Headquarters) They are as follows : •
San FrancISco, Calif .• Architect · The Providence Partnership. Providence, R.I. I"

Seattle. Wash .• Structural Engineer: Robert C. Lawrence, Easl Providence. R.I.

Denver. Colo. General Contractor: E. Turgeon Construclion Co .. Inc., Cranslon, R.I.
Steel Fabricator: Providence Sleel, Inc .. Providence, R.I.
• A BIGGER Be BmER
HARTFORD COLISEUM
by A. G. Ericksen, Jeffrey W. Coleman. and Donald T. Eyberg, Jr.

• In the early morning hours of January tailor·made to the needs of the Hartford local tax dollars in the form of bond
18, 1978, the roof of the Hanford C'v'c community and Civic Center staff. issues have been required for the recon -
Center Coliseum collapsed . Only hours Alter qUickly selecting Lev Zethn struCtion and enlargement of the
before, 4,000 people had attended a bas· Associates, Buck and Buck, and Loomis coliseum.
ketball game in the coliseum. The col· and Loomis to investigate the collapse,
lapse left the general public in shock, the the Ci ty turned their attention to the Design Consideration s
then New England Whalers Hockey Team selection of an Architect and Construc- During the mltial deSign phase, Ellerbe
without a home, and the City of Hanford tion Manager for the reconstruction had five architects and eight engineers,
without Its main drawing card in a com- effort. On February 23, 1978, 36 days working shoulder to shoulder with three
plex consisting of a hotel . restaurants and alter the collapse, the City chose Ellerbe estimators and schedulers from the Fuller
a shopping center. Only hours alter the ASSOCiates, of Bloomington, Minnesota , Company, developing a deSign that would
collapse, City off icials declared that the as Architect and Engineers, and the fit the antiCipated budget and a scheduled
coliseum would be rebuilt " 8 lgger and George A. Fu ller Company, of New York comp letion date of late 1979 .
Better," This was to be the theme and City, as Construction Manager. The selec- Even disregarding the requirement for
driving force that would result 10 not just tions were made through a competitive increased seatmg capacity and increased
a new roof for an old coliseum, but an process. building size, the replacement of the coli ·
expanded and vastly improved facility On February 27 , 1978. Ellerbe Asso· seum roof posed some Interesting com-
ciates and the Fuller Company opened a plex ities. The anginal roof structure was
joint office in Hartford for the purpose of a space frame 12' deep and 360' long by
developing alternate redesigns and accom- 300' wide. It was supponed by four
A . G. "Bud" Ericksen is Director of Structural panying schedules and budgets for com- pylons measuring 7' x 7' at the top, and
Dept ., Elle rbe ASSOCiates. parison by the City . Concurrently with 8' x 8' at the base. The pylons are

•
Jeffrey W Coleman IS Design Structural Engi - th is effort, the City began soliciting socketed into the bedrock below. The
neer, Ellerbe Associates . and was Field reconstruction funds from federal and spacing of the pylons was 210' x 270',
Structural Engmeer on the Hartford Col -
seum reconstruction .
state agencies. as well as negotiati ng with leaving a 45' roof cantilever in two direc-
the coliseum's Insurance carrier, The tions at each pylon . It was decided from
Oonakj T Evberg. Jr. is Architect. Ellerbe
ASSOCiates, and was Project Manager on the Travelers Insurance Company. It IS IOter- the start that, in order to renew confi-
Hartford Coliseum reconstruction . esting to note that, to date. no direct dence In the structural integrity of the

3rd & 4th 0 1979/15t 0 1980 3

new colisuem, a conventional structural the collapse and well above original covered by one-way simple Pratt trusses
system should be incorporated into the design strength requirements. spanning from the two-way truss system •
reconstruction plan. Even with the reuse of the pylons outward to new perimeter columns. In
The reuse of the four original pylons apparent, the first choice for roof replace- this manner, the original seating extends
was a key issue in determining the new ment was a system of one-way trusses out into new column-free space on three
structural system. Therefore, the four spanning north·south. However, due to sides of the building.
main pylons underwent an extensive test- the length of span required, it was deter- The coliseum is bordered on two sides
ing program to determine damage, if any, mined that this system wasn't the most by the balance of the Civic Center com·
caused by the collapse, as well as to verify cost effective. After reviewing the many plex, consisting of retail shops, restau-
concrete strength and rebar size and loca- possibilities, Ellerbe's engineers and rants and, on the third floor level, offices
tion. This was accomplished through the designers decided on a rectangular two· of the Aetna Insurance Company. In
use of concrete core testing, Windsor way truss system, 210' x 270', with each order to expand the seating capacity from
probe tests and a visual inspection for of the four corners setting on one of the the original 10,500 fixed seats to the pro-
cracks. Reinforcing was mapped, using a original pylons. The perimeter areas, part posed 15,000 (final capacity 14,6001
magnetic reinforcing bar locator. The of which were originally covered by the seats, it was necessary to encroach on the
pylons were found to be undamaged by 45' space frame cantilever, are now Aetna Insurance Company space at the

@ 4

(ORIG.INI'>.L R OOF)
II
II
•
NORTH - SOUT\-\ 5EC.T\ON

s 4
•
'2.~O

P Y LOW E l\.TEW=<, ION

II
I I

II II
II ( N\:W
NORTH - 50UTI-\
ROOF)
5e:~ TlON "----I.
Comparison of original and new roof construction.

4 MODERN STEEL CONSTRUCTION

.,.,
'"

Reconstruction underway on the new Coliseum.

south border of the coliseum. An agree- dations and later spliced by welding. Structural System
ment was reached between the City of On the west and north sides of the The two -way truss system consists of
Hartford and Aetna officials whereby a coliseum, the seating was also extended five 270' Warren trusses spanning in the
50' x 108' strip of office space became out beyond the original building line, up east-west direction, and six 210' Pratt
part of the colisuem. The south seating the curb line and over the street. New trusses in the north·south direction . The
section extends past the original building support for these seating sections was system was completely constructed on
line into the new areas where it is sup- provided by concrete frames on caissons shoring towers and 100% bolted prior to
ported, along with the south roof area, by on the west elevation, and conventional release of the towers, ensuring the desired
columns that pass vertically nearly 100' foundations on the north elevation . On two-way action . The truss types (Warren
through retail shops, offices, and exhibit the north side, the lowest level of the e-w vs. Pratt N·S) were varied to provide
hall space to new foundations below. The coliseum was extended out to the new a more uniform two -way distribution of
placement of the columns was accom- column line, providing additional space forces, as well as to avoid a difficult detail
plished in a unique manner. First, enclo- for use by the owner, problem by having only two diagonals
sures were built at each level in the retail In addition to increasing the seating frame into each connection point. The
shop or offices. where a column was to capacity, the interior of the coliseum has five east·west trusses are 52'·6" apart, and
pass. The enclosures allowed much of the received a complete overhaul that the six north -south trusses are 54'-0"
work that followed to be accomplished includes the following : the addition of apart, forming 20 bays 52'·S" x 54'·0",

•
during normal working hours with no handrails.in the aisles. an increase in rest· Deep longspan bar joists are used to fill in
interruption in business routines. Next, room and concession facilities, the in - the bays, with joists spanning alternate
holes in the floor slabs were cut, creating a clusion of wheelchair ramps and increased directions in adjacent bays, again to
vertical "tunnel." Finally, the steel wheelchair seating, a new fire detection ensure true two -way distribution. Three -
column sections were lowered from the system, including smoke evacuation capa· in . steel decking spans between the steel
roof level to the newly constructed foun· bilities, and other major improvements. joists.

3"j & 4th a 1979/11t a 1980 5

 The two-way truss system is made up arrived at independently, with only the cedures. All forms of non-destructive test·
of 360 wide-flange sections varying from end results checked for comparison. In ing were employed at one time or another. •
W14x61 to W14x550. All members are addition, Burton & VanHouten checked including ultrasonic, magnetic particle,
oriented with their webs horizontal, all other new structural design work, In- X-ray, dye-penetrant, visual inspection of
allowing the flanges to be connected with cluding concrete frames and foundations. welds, and torque testing and installation
vertical gusset plates. Total weight of the inspection of high strength bolts. Non·
two·way system IS approximately 1,200 Inspection Destructive Test Engineering had a field
tons. All bolts used ,n the system are During construction, Minges Materials staff of five inspectors who worked daily
ASTM A490 ; all other bolts outside of Testing Laboratories. Inc. of Avon, with. the Ironworkers to identify and
the two·way system are ASTM A325. The Connecticut, handfed all phases of inspec- correct problem areas as they arose.
live load capacity exceeds the local build· tion with the exception of structural
ing code requirement of 30 Ibs/sq ft steel, which was subcontracted by Minges Completion
by 5 Ibs/sq ft. The roof will withstand to Non·Destructive Test Engineering Divi- On October 15, 1979, 21 months after
a total applied load of 5,660,000 Ibs. sion of Hartford Steam Boiler & Inspec- the collapse of the original coliseum roof,
Dimensions of the total roof, including tion Company, Essex. Connecticut. the new roof was swung free from its
perimeter areas, are 358' x 420'. Inspection was also a duty of the Con· shoring towers. The dead load truss de·
Construction of the roof and other struction Manager_ In addition, the con· flections, as verified by the engineers,
steel erection was performed by Karl struction was observed by members of indicated the roof to be performing as
Koch Erecting Company, Inc., of Carteret, the City's Department of Licensing and designed. The construction effort is now
New Jersey , the company that played a Inspection, as well as by two full-time directed toward completing the mechan·
maior oart in the construction of the structural engineers; one provided by ical, electrical and interior finishes, which
World Trade Center In New York City . Bunon & VanHouten and one prOVided couldn't be worked on until the building
For erection of the roof, they chose a by Ellerbe Associates. was weather·tight. The coliseum opening
Manifowac 4100 Tower crane with a 160' Structural steel inspection was per· is presently scheduled for January 17,
mast, 150' boom and anadditional 30' jib. formed both in the fabrication shop 1980; with a new roof and a vastly en-
The crane was assembled on the arena and in the field. These inspections larged and improved facility. the people
floor, since there was no entrance avail- went considerably beyond the normal of the City of Hartford are sure to enjoy

•
able for such a machine. The perimeter building construction inspection pro· their "Bigger and Better" Coliseum.
trusses of the two·way system were
erected first in conjunction with their
corresponding perimeter roof which· also
served as bracing for each truss. After
completion of the perimeter roofs, the
two-way system was erected leaving one
bay, 52'-6" x 210'·0", open to allow lower·
ing of the crane boom. This last bay was
erected by a smaller hydraulic crane.
Steel decking, roofing and metal wall
paneling followed closely behind each
phase of the steel erection.
Design of the two-way system was
accomplished through the use of two
computer programs, "Stress" and
"Strudle", as well as manual computa-
tions. Truss connections and details were
designed and detailed in a joint effort by
the engineers for Ellerbe and the de-
tailers in the fabrication office, which
allowed Koch to tailor-make the COnnec-
tions to meet the capabilities of their
fabrication shop, as well as speed up the
shop drawing review process.
The City of Hartford, in an effort to
verify and ensure the integrity of the
design, hired a local structural design firm
to perform an independent structural
analysis. This firm, Burton & VanHouten
Engineers, of West Hartford, Connecticut,
also used the Strudle program in the pro-
cess of their review. However, all loads
and other variable information were View o[ the Coliseum before reconstruction began.

6 MODERN STEEL CONSTRUCTION

,
tIl
In
n
~

• The Multiple Mirror

Telescope
by Joseph Anteb i and Rene W. Luft

Perched atop MI. Hopkins, the entire telescope complex rOtales on a flat hardened-steel track.

The Multiple Mirror Telescope on Mt. ited, the support structure must main· the starlight through the six telescopes.
Hopkins in Arizona, dedicated on May 9, tain the relative displacements of the The design reQuirement is to maintain the
1979, is the world's third largest optical optical elements within a few thou- images superimposed to within one arc
telescope, with an effective aperture of sandths of an inch . second ; the active optics can do this only

• 176 in. This telescope, which is of a The other major unconventional fea - if the uncorrected displacements of the
new and unconventional design, is a joint tures of the MMT are the use of an system are very small and if the structure
project of the Smithsonian Astrophysical altitude-over-azimuth mount instead of has no natural frequencies that will
Observatory and the University of Ari· the traditional equatorial mount, and a couple with those of the servo-system.
zona. It was built for under $8 million, rotating building to house the telescope; The optical elements are supported by
which is estimated to be one-third to one· the resulting facility is functional and the optical support structure (OSS),
half the cost of an equivalent facility of economical. which itself is supported by an altitude·
conventional design . Thus. if it is as suc- This paper is concerned with the struc· over-azimuth mount structure. The
cessful as initial experiments indicate, the tural aspects of the MMT. primarily the mount, somewhat as in a theodolite,
Multiple Mirror Telescope (MMT) may be optical support structure, the mount, and rotates about a vertical, or azimuth, axis
the first of a new generation of much the rotating building. and allows the ass to rotate in altitude
larger telescopes. about a horizontal axis.
To date all large telescopes utilize large General Configuration Optical telescopes have trad itionally
parabolic reflectors (Hprimary mirrors") The major optical components are six used equatorial mounts so that the tele-
to focus the light. The astronomer's need 72" diameter primary mirrors symme- scope could track a star smoothly with a
for ever more powerful optical telescopes trically arranged in a hexagonal pattern constant velocity drive about one axis. In
has until now been limited by the size of around a guide/alignment telescope. A contrast, an altitude-aver-azimuth, or alt-
the largest primary mirror that could be 10" diameter secondary mirror is located azimuth, mount is simpler to design and
fabricated and transported. The MMT cir· 14' in front of each primary mirror. The construct, because gravity forces do not
cumvents this limitation by combining at starlight from each of the six telescopes is vary with azimuth rotations; however, the
a common focus the images from six tele- reflected, by small flat mirrors mounted tracking of a star requires simultaneous
scopes of conventional optical layout, at the center of each primary, to a beam variable speed rotation about both axes.
mounted in parallel on a common sup- combiner and thence to a common focus This is now readily achievable by using
port. A servo-control system is used to on the central axis of the hexagon. computer controlled drives, which have
accurately superimpose the images; but, To maintain the telescopes aligned and been used successfully for radio tele·
since the range of the servo-system is lim- their images superimposed, each of the scopes and radar antennas.
10" diameter secondary mirrors can The decision to use an alt-azimuth
be tilted about two axes and translated configuration also affected the building

•
axially under servo-control. The detection cho ice. In a conventional observatory, the
system for the servo uses laser beams; telescope is at the top of the building,
Josepn Antebi and Rene W. luft are Principal
Ind Associate of Simpson Gumpertz & these start at the guide/ alignment tele- under a rotating dome, and the floor of
Heger Inc., Consulting Engineers. Cambridge scope, and fall onto detectors at the beam the telescope room must be kept clear so
Massacnul8ttl. combiner alter tracing paths parallel to as not to obstruct the telescope or its line

3rd & 4th a 1979/1" a 1980 7

of sight. At the MMT, the building
surrounds the telescope on three sides
and rotates with it, so that the rotating

•
building is considerably smaller than an
equivalent conventional building and
costs correspondingly less. An additional
benefit of this configuration is that labo-
ratories and the control and observing
rooms remain adjacent to the telescope as
it rotates.

The Opt ica l Support Structure

The ass approximates in outline a
20' cube whose function is to support
within it the optical elements.
The primary mirrors are of a new light-
weight honeycomb construction; each
mirror together with its housing weighs
about 4,000 Ibs. Solid mirrors would have
weighed considerably more, with a conse-
quent multiplying effect on the weight of
the entire telescope.
Conceptually, the OSS spans about 20'
between the mount arms and supports
a "useful" load-the optical elements-of
about 28,000 Ibs. The requirements on
natural frequency limit the maximum
allowable static deflection due to gravity
loads to about 0.02"; this is about
ten times the allowable relative disp lace· The MMT building is a 4-story steel braced frame structure.
ments between a primary mirror and a
corresponding secondary mirror. Two of
the design objectives, therefore, were to
develop a structure that would have the
required absolute stiffness and that would
permit a tight control of relative displace -
ments of the mirror support points.
primarily of mutually orthogonal inter-
secting plane trusses. In its final configu-
ration, the structure of the ass weighs
about 70,000 Ibs, or 2.5 times the weight
of the optical elements.
To control the relative displacements
the flanges does not enter into the load
path and the axial stiffness of the mem-
ber is unaffected by the joint.
Member eccentricities at the joints can
substantially reduce the effective stiffness
of the structure; however, analyses
•
of the optical elements, independent load showed that the reduction in stiffness can
Other major considerations in the des igns paths are provided for the gravity loads be neglected if the allowable eccentrici-
were: corresponding to the zenith - and horizon- ties due to fabrication tolerances are less
pointing orientations of the telescope. than l I S"; this was achieved using con-
• The large unobstructed apertures in The stiffnesses of these load paths were ventional fabrication techniques, with
front of the mirrors and through the adjusted during the design-analysis cycle good workmanship and tight quality
OSS to the combined focus. to minimize the relative displacements of control.
• The tight clearances within the ass the mirrors. In addition to the deviations from
and between it and the mount. Since axial load paths are provided nominal dimensions due to fabrication
throughout the structure, the effects of tolerances, the deflections may differ
• The need to minimize the thermal lag
bending stiffness are small and the uncer- from the values predicted in the analysis
of all structural members, to reduce
tainties concerning bending stiffness of due to variations in the member cross-
thermal distortions caused by tempera -
joints become negligib le. This is impor- sectional areas from their nominal values,
ture transients.
tant, since the structure must not only and due to approximations made in the
• The desire to use standard structural have small deflections, but the deflections analysis. To compensate for these effects,
shapes to reduce fabrication costs. {Tlust be repeatable and subject to accu- certain members with adjustable stiff·
rate prediction. nesses were incorporated into the design
For maximum stiffness-to -weight ratio Particular attention was taken in the so that the OSS can be "tuned" after
a space truss was selected . Steel and alu - design of joints to eliminate local flexibil- final assembly. The members with adjust-
minum were considered ; although they Itles. For example, a precompressed able stiffness have bolted-on cover plates
have the same stiffness-to·weight ratio, flange connection is used for tubular which can be changed for thicker or thin-

•
steel was selected because it provides members; in this design a direct tensionl ner plates. The stiffness can be adjusted
more stiffness per unit cost, and it has a compression path is provided through a in smaller increments by varying the
coefficient of thermal expansion about spacer which is compressed when the effective length of a cover plate; this is
one·half that of aluminum. bolts that connect the flanges are torqued. achieved by using predrilled bolt holes
The structure uses standard rolled Under a tensile load the precomp ression and varying the distance between t he end
structural steel members and consists in the spacer is reduced; the flexibility of of a cover plate and the first bolt.

8 MOOERN STEEL CONSTRUCTION

 Initial use of the telescope for astro-
nornical observations indicates that the

•
relative distortions of the ass
are well
within design specifications. Thus the
capability of tuning the structure,
although available. may never have to be
used.

The Mount
The mount (see schematic illustration)
has two vertical arms, at the top of which
are the altitude bearings which support
the optical support structure. The bases
of the vertical arms are connected by a
horizontal crossarm, which in turn is sup-
ported on a vertical cylinder . This cylin -
der rotates on an azimuth bearing
mounted on a short steel cylinder sup·
ported by a concrete pier built on bed
c"...-, rock. The mount IS a heavy, stiffened
steel box weldment weighing approxi·
mately 140 tons.
The unusual feature of the mount
c:_,.I ' ~.UI
; : : : " .. _1 design is the selection of a rolling-element
"'-.ue- L ....... c-cel...... mechanical bearing for the azimuth axis.
.. _ _ _ • Ste ..,.Nt Initially, it appeared that the required
low friction and smoothness could be
obtained only With a hydrostatic bearing;
Schemaric of Mlliriple Mirror Telescope and rota ring bllilding.
_
.... ... . H'
.
•
,,,,-
,-,

-
Schemaric of optical layour - (section is
throllgh tl<'O of six telescopes).

however, it was found that a ball thrust ·

bearing would meet the requirements If
particularly tight tolerances (3 x 10. 4 in.)
could be achieved on the waviness of
the raceway and the out-of-flatness of
the mounting surface. Although diffiCUlt,
this was successfully accomplished and
resulted in a major cost saving by elimi·
nating the need for a hydrostatic bearing.

The Build ing

The primary function of a telescope
building is to provide a protective en cia
sure which can be opened to expose the
telescope to the sky for astronomical
observations. The bUilding must with -
stand the high winds associated with a
Subassemblies of the Optical Support Structure (OSS). storm on a mountain top, and the tele·

3rd & 4th a 1979/ht a 1980 9

 scope must be usable on clear windy
nights. For the MMT, at 8500' eleva·
tion on Mt. Hopkins, the maximum

•
design wind for survival was set at 140
mph , and 45 mph was set as the maxi·
mum wind for operational conditions.
The loads associated with these winds,
together with the need to have a large
viewing aperture with a retractable cover,
imposed severe constraints on the design
of the build ing.
The selection of an alt-azimuth mount
for the MMT led to the novel concept of
using a rotating building. With such a
building, the telescope room need only be
large enough to allow the ass to rotate
in altitude , and provide a clearance fot
small relative motions in azimuth . The
width of the required viewing aperture
for the MMT is slightly wider than the
ass; the entire roof and the front wall of
the telescope room must be retractable to
allow viewing from zenith to horizon .
The space for laboratories, control
rooms, and other required functions of
the observatory is provided in two rect- The steel ass supports approximately 28,000 lbs.
angular blocks on either side of the
telescope room . Also available, as in a The building is a steel braced frame if convection currents of warm air pass
conventional observatory, is the space structure with concrete floors . The main across the mirror apertures; thus, the
below the telescope room. framing consists of the four exterior need to insulate the telescope room from
The building is essentially a compact walls, the roof, and the first floor, that is the adjacent heated spaces. Provisions
rectangular four-story structure, 64' x
44' in plan and 55' high . The viewing
aperture, which is in the longer side of
the building, is 30' wide and extends
from the second floor, up to the roof,
and across the roof to the ridge line, 8'
from the rear wall. Bi·parting shutters
the six faces of the rectangular block, all
acting together as interconnected plane
braced frames; because of the viewing
aperture, the braced frames of the roof
and the front wall are U-shaped . The tele-
scope floor at the second level provides
have also been made to cool the floor of
the telescope room by circulating a
refrigerant through pipes embedded in
the concrete slab. The purpose of cooling
the floor is to prevent the therma ls which
rise from a warm floor when the tele-
scope room is opened to cooler night air.
•
an interior diaphragm across the entire
cover the aperture ; they are supported at building ; above th is level the floors,
the second floor level and at the ridge line which extend around the three sides of
on rollers which allow the shutters to the telescope room, also act as dia -
move laterally. In the open position the phragms. The first floor framing includes
shutters do not extend past the outside four 48" deep girders forming a 40·ft Smit hsonian Ast rophysical Obse rvatory
edges of the building; such protrusions square at the corners of which are the Program Management for the Optical
would have caused additional wind loads. wheel assemblies on which the building is Support Structure, the Mount, and
The building, which we ights about 500 supported . The two girders which span the Building
tons, is supported on four wheels which across the width of the building lie in the
run on a 57' diameter flat hardened- planes of the side walls of the telescope Simpso n Gumpert z & Heger loc.
steel track; the wheels are at the corners room and provide support for these walls.
Cambridge, Mass.
of a 40' square. To roll without Slipping A feature of the telescope room floor
on the flat circular track, the 36" diam· Conceptual and Preliminary Design
is that it has openings for the two arms of
eter, 4" wide steel wheels, are conical. A of the Optical Support Structure;
the mount, and spans over the mount
proprietary self' aligning linkage adjusts Structural Design of the Building
crossarm to provide a floor which is inde-
the wheel position for track irregularities pendent of the telescope itself. Since a
to minimize the contact stresses at the Wall ace, Floyd , Ellenzwe ig, Moor. Inc.
floor depth of only 4" was available to
rail surface ; this allows the use of wheel span 13' over the crossarm, an ortho- Cambridge, Mass.
loads of the order of 170 tons, which tropic steel deck was designed . Architectural Design of the Building
correspond to the design condition for The building is well insulated; in
winds of 140 mph. Lateral loads are particular, the shutters and the walls of Western Development Laborato ries

•
carried by four horizontal wheels running the telescope room are insulated with Ford Aerospace Corp.
on a circular track on the interior wall of steel-skinned, foam core, sandwich panels. Palo Alto , Cal.
the circular foundation . Shear pins are A special consideration in the design Prime Contractors for the Optical
provided to stow the building and prevent of telescope buildings is their effect on Support Structure, The Mount, and
rotation under high winds. the seeing conditions. These are degraded the 8uilding

10 MODERN STEEL CONSTRUCTION

•
t BRG (EXP.)
3 SPAN CONTINUOUS

50 .0' 240 . 0 '

t BRG (FIXEO) t 8RG (EXP)

DESIGN FLOOD ELEV, 213.35 ,, ,

FINISH GRADE
APPROX ROCK LINE

COUNTERWEIGHT CgNSISTING NORMAL WATER ELEV. 180 APPROX EXIST: GROUND

OF CONCRETE, 6 .75 DEEP, AT NEAR FACE
PLACED 8ETWEEN ALL 4
STEEL GIRDERS. (TYP FOR
80TH END SPANS)
ELEVATION

• The new Lover's Leap Bridge that

spans the Housatonic River in New Mil-
ford. Connecticut, is not only surrounded
by great scenic beauty. but by a romantic
legend as well.
ture that would have the least visual im -
pact on the waterway and surrounding
area . Rock conditions in the riverbanks
made a clear main span of at least 240 ft
necessary. wh He the overall bridge length
protective oxide coating that changes,
after it has fully weathered. from a ru sty
brown to a rich brown tone . The weather -
ing material was a natural choice. since it
requ ires little maintenance and blends in
Completed in October, 1977 , the struc- was limited to 340 ft by the geometry so well with the natural , unpolIShed
ture was designed to replace an old but of approach ing roads. Spaced on 10-ft beauty of the new bridge site . (The new
picturesque iron truss bridge built In centers , four plate girders support the Lover's Leap Bridge won an Award of
1888. The old bridge, no longer safe for 37.8-ft-wide roadway . Span lengths are Merit in the American InSlitute of Steel
present day traffic, is located near a great 50, 240, and 50 It. Construction's 1978 Pri ze Br idge Compe-
gorge, the top of which is known as The unusually short end span s, 50 ft tition in th e medium span, high clearance
Lover's Leap. There , as legend has it. an each, were counterweighted with con - category. See p. 15.)
Indian Princess, Lillinanah, unable to crete to offset the uplift at the abutments The bridge's total cost was $672 ,000
marry her white lover. leaped to her and decrease positive moment at the cen - or approximately 554 per square ft of the
death . Later, her lover followed her in his ter of .he bridge. The span proportions structure .
own death plunge. The old bridge near with the counterweights allowed the use
the famous gorge is closed to vehicular of a shallow depth at the center of the
traffic, but is listed as a Connecticut his- main span, resulting in aesthetically pleas-
toric landmark , open to sightseers and ing lines. Owner:
history buHs alike. Each 340-ft-long continuous girder has Town of New Milford, Connecticut
In planning the new structure, several two field splices. After erection of the
alternatives were considered, including a 110-ft end sections , concrete counter- Design er:
simple span plate girder, a continuous weighting was poured, and finally, lilted C.D.O.T. Sndge Design Unit
plate girder, and a truss bridge. Structural, by cranes, the 120-ft center section of Wethersfield, Connecticut
economic, and aesthetic studies deter- each girder was swung into place and
mined that a welded, composite three- attached by bolted splices. Web depth for General Contracto r:

•
span continuous counterweighted plate the composite girders varies from 9 ft in The Brunalli Construction Co.
girder bridge offered the simplicity and the end spans to 5 ft at the center of the Southington, Connecticut
slenderness necessary, as well as a savings main span .
of about $40,000 over the other schemes. The girders were fabricated from Fabricator:
The rugged natural beauty of the ASTM A588 weathering steel. When left West End Iron Works, Inc.
Housatonic River Valley required a struc- unpai nted, weathering steel develops a Cambridge, Massachusetts

3.d & 4th a 1979/ 1.. 0 1980 It

1978
PRIZE
BRIDGES
•

PRIZE BRIDGE 197. - MEDIUM SPAN, LOW CLEARANCE

Wilder Gulch Bridge
Interstate 70, Summit County. Colorado
Designer : Meheen Corporation
Owner : Colorado Division of Highways
Arch itectural Consultants : Taliesin Associated Architects of
Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation;
Oliver and Hellgren
General Contractor: Colorado Constructors oiv., Green Construct ion Co,
Fabricator: Burkhardt Steel Company
Erector: Co lorado Constructors Oiv.. Green Construction Co,

-<:.
PRIZE BRIDGE 197. - LONG SPAN
Archie Steven at Bridge
State Route 49. Near Sonora. California
Dblgner/Owner : California Department of Transportation
General Contractor : Hensel Phelps Construction Company
Fabricator/ Erector: Kaiser Steel Corporation

'.
PRIZE BRIDGE 1978 -SHORT SPAN
Pine Road Bridge over Penny pack Creek
Phi ladelphia , Pennsylvania
Designer/ Owner : City of Philadelphia, Department of Streets
General Contractor: Tel-Stock. Inc.
Fabricator: Williamsport Fabricators, Inc.
Erector: Cornell & Company. Inc.

PRIZE BRIDGE 1978 - MEDIUM SPAN , HIGH C LEARAN C E

•
Polk Creek Bridges
Intersta te 70, Eagle County. Colorado
Designer/Owner : Co lorado Di ....ision of HiphwaV$
Architectural Consultants : Ta llesin ASSOC iated Architects o f
F rank Lloyd Wrigh t Foundation ;
Oliver and Hall gren
General Contractor : Cen t ric Corpo rat ion
Fabricator: The Mid west Stee l and Iron Works Co.
Erector: Cen tric Corporat io n

12 MODERN STEEL CONSTRUCT ION

'/1
n
J

•
PRIZE BRIDGE 1971 -G RAOE SEPARATION
Cold Springs Interchange Bridge
us 395, North of Reno. Nevada
Onlgner/Owner: Nevada State Highway Department
General Contr.ctor : Robert L. Helms Construction Company
Fabricator/Erector: Utah Pacific Steel Company PRIZE BRIDGE "71 -S PECIAL PURPOSE
Salina Street Bridges
Syracuse, New York
Designer: Schle icher-Soper ArchiteCts. AlA
Owner : City of Syracuse
Consultant : John p. Stopen, Structural Engineer
General Contrector: Northeast Construction Managers Corporation
Fabricator: Smith and Caffrey Steel Corp.
Erector: Onondaga Steel Erectors. Inc .

• PRIZE BRIDGE 1971 - ELEVATED HIGHWAYS OR VIADUCTS

Martin luther King, Jr. Memorial Bridge
Richmond , Virginia
Designer: Parsons. Brinckerhoff, Ouade & Douglas
Owner ; City of Richmond
G.neral Contractor: Central Contracting Company. Inc.
PRIZE BRIOGE "71 -

Nashville. Tennessee
RAILROAD
l & N Railroad Bridge over Briley Parkway
erector: Cornell and Co .. Inc. Designer: Clarke and Rapuano. Inc.
Owner: Tennessee Department of Transportation
General Contractor: Oman Construction Co.
Fabricator: American Bridge Olvision, United States Steel
Erector: Metler Crane and Erection Service

•
PRIZE BRIDGE 1.7. - MOVABLE SPAN
loomis Street Drawbridge PRIZE BRIDGE "71 - RECONSTRUCTED
Chicago,lIlmois Rapp's Bridge
Designer: Chicago Department of Public Works, East 1'Ikeiandlownship, Pennsylvania
Bureau of Engineering Deslgner/Owner: PennDOT
Owner: City of Chicago General Contractor : Bear Creek Construction Co.
General ContrKtor: JSaschen Contractors, Inc. Fabricator: Cumberland Bridge Company
Fabricator/Erector: American Bridge DIvision. United States Steel Erector: Bear Creek Construction Co.

3td & 4th a 1979/1$t a 1980 13

 1978 PRIZE
•
AWARD O F ME RIT 197' - LO N G S PAN
New River Gorge Bridge
Fayetleville, West Virginia
Designer: Michael Baker, Jr., Inc.
Owner: West Virginia Department of Hi9hways
General Contractor : American Bridge Division, United States Steel
Fabriu tor/ Erector : American Bridge Division, United States Steel

AWARD OF MERIT 1971- LONG SPAN

AWARD OF MERIT 1 971 -
Maury River Bridges
Lexington, Virginia
M EDIUM S PAN , HIGH C LEARAN CE

Designer: Knoerle , Bender, Stone and AsSOCiates, Inc .,

A Division of Environdyne Engineers
Owner: Virginia Department of Highways and Transportation
General Contracto r: Crowder Construction Company
Fabricator: Carolina Steel Corporation
Erecto r: Southern Contractors service, Incorporated
•
Francis Scott Key Bridge
Bal t imore, Maryland
Designers: Greiner Engineering Sciences, Inc.; November & Hurka;
Singstad Kehart; Baltimore Transportation Associates
Owner: Maryland Transportation Authority
Engln"ring Consult ant : Greiner Engin~ring Sciences, Inc.
General Contractor: Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel Company
Fabricator : Plttsburgh·Ces Moines Steel Company
Erector: John F. Beasley ConStruction Company

•
AWARD OF MERIT 197' - MEDIUM S PAN , HIGH C LEARANC E AWARD OF MERIT 197' - MEDIUM SPAN , LOW CL. EARAN CE
lover's leap Bridge Sitting Bull Bridge
New Milford, Connecticut Mandan, North Dakota
Onlgner: C.D.C .T. Bridge Design Unit Designer: North Dakota Stage Highway Department
Owner: Town of New Milford Owner : State of North Dakota
General Contractor : The BrunaJli Construction Co. General Contractor: James J. 19oe and Sons Construction Company
Fabricator: West End Iron Works, Inc. Fabticator : Egger Steel Company
Erector: The Brunalli Construction Co. Erector: James J . Igoe and Sons Construction Company

14 MOO~RN STEEL CONSTRUCTION

'8RIDGES
• (CONT'O)

AWARD OF' MERIT 117. - SPECIAL PURPOSE

Mine Falls Park Pedestrian Bridge
Nashua, New Hampshire
Deslgn.r: Smith & Hamilton, Inc.
Owner: Nashua Perk Recreation CommiSSion
Consultant: Andrews & Clark
G.ne~1 Contractor: Shoals Corporation
Fabricator: Bancroft & Martin, Inc.
Er.ctor: Shoals Corporation

AWARD OF MERIT U7. -SHORT SPAN

1·70 Bridge over Smith Gulch

•
Vail Pass, Colorado
oes.gner: Mehten Corporation
Own.,: Colorado Department of HlghwaVs
Architectur.1 ConsulUnt: Taliesin Associated Architects of the
Frank LIoVd Wright Foundation
Ganer,l Contr.ctor : Green Construction Company
F.bflt.8tor: Burkhardt Steel Company
erKtor: Green Conltruction Company

AWARD OF MERIT U7l -SPECIAL PURPOSE

Manumin Park Bridge
Fndley. Minnesoll
Designer; OeBourgh Manufacturing Company
Own.r: County Park Systems of Anoka, Minnesota
Consultant: Dunham Associates
Gen,r,1 Contractor: County Park Systems of Anoka, Minnesota
F"mator: OeBourgh Manufacturing Company
Erector: County Park Systems of Anok., Mtnnesot.

•
AWARD OLll' MERIT 117, - GRADE SEPARATION AWARD OF MERIT 1171 - RECONSTRUCTED
Airline Highway Interchange Bloomington Ferry Replacement Bridga
Baton Rouge, LOUiSiana CSAH 18 at the Hennepin County·Scott County line, Minnesota
o"lgnar : Modjeski and Masters Dlligner: Howard Needles Temmen & Bergendoff
Owner: lOuiSiana Department of Transportation & Development Owner: Hennepin County end Scott County
G.n .... 1 Contr.ctor : Boh Bros. Construction Co .• Inc. Gen.,.1 Contractor: Johnson Bros. Corporation
Fabrie.tor: MissiSSippi Valley Structural Steel Co. Fabricator: Saint Paul Structural StH' Co.
Er.etor : Sun Erection Co .• Inc. Erector; Johnson Bros. Corporation

3rt! & 41h a 1979/"1 a 1980 15

 AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION
BULK RATE
The Wrigley Building, 400 North Michigan Avenue
us POSTAGE
Chicago, I L 60611 P A 10
NEWYORK, NY
Address CorrectJon Requested

•
Perm,t No 6662

EIIII
8TH S;;;;;:::::-~C'II.I s•••...
'~~~ The 8th Edition will be •
IISC STEE completed In the Spring
1980 Advance orders
are now being accepted

COIISTRUCT and Will be shipped

according to the date
receIVed To Insure earty
Mill delivery, we suggest you
mail your order now l

• Completely revised and updated

• Based on the 1978 AISC Specification I enclose payment of S for COpIeS o f t he
8th EdItIon AISC M_nual of St . .1Conatructlon al $3600 each
• Includes new rolled shapes
/lAM( , ntU

• The indispensable design aid

COllll'AAY
for steel construction
AODRESS

.IIEI ••' f.1 EIILY IELlVEIY!

t ill SlATE

Please enclose remittance. No C.O.D. orders. In New York,

California, and Illinois add sates tax . Shipping charges prepaid
1- _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
on U.S. J
•