Journal of Technical Topics in Civil Engineering

Seismically induced fluid forces on elevated liquid storage tanks and their supporting systems are evaluated. X-braced as well as pedestal towers are analyzed. The interaction between liquid sloshing modes, tank rotation, tank translation and tank wall flexibility is taken into consideration to assess the relative importance of such effects on the overall earthquake response of elevated tanks. Ideal liquids and elastic towers are assumed throughout the first phase of the study. A comparison between the calculated forces and those provided by applicable codes is made.

What is the state of microcomputers in civil engineering education? Which microcomputers are being used? Are program developers willing to exchange programs? The survey conducted by the Civil Engineering Division of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) attempts to answer these questions and determine the next step to take in encouraging the development of usage by faculty and students. The respondents to the survey indicated a desire to participate in a software exchange. Many institutions have software they are prepared to make available. There are many problems of compatibility and transportability of programs. A summary of the most popular micros at the department, college, and university levels is provided. The C.E. division has established a committee to carry forward this effort. A special software demonstration and exchange was conducted at the 1984 ASEE national convention.

Heavy oil mining is a promising technology that may increase ultimate oil recovery from existing reservoirs from 35–40% to 90% of the original oil in place. If successful, mining for heavy oil could effectively double or even triple the quantity of oil recovered from the known resources in the United States and throughout the world. Current estimates of these known world resources are several thousand billion barrels. Three mining methods appear to offer technical feasibility for heavy oil recovery: surface extractive mining, underground extractive mining and underground mining for access. These three methods have been attempted in several projects worldwide during the past century, and have demonstrated the technical feasibility of each method. Each project has failed economically in the past due to competition from oil produced from traditional surface wells. Successful implementation of the theories behind heavy oil production using mining techniques will require the cooperation of several diverse disciplines including petroleum geology, petroleum engineering, mining engineering, civil engineering and environmental sciences.

The dynamic response of moored semi-submersibles to forces imposed on them by ice floes and bergy-bit/growler impacts is studied. Ice forces on the vertical columns of the semi-submersibles are determined using a strain rate, temperature, and ice-thickness-to-column-diameter ratio dependent force formulation. Three different analytical approaches are suggested for the solution of semi-submersible bergy-bit impact problems, and numerical results are obtained using the initial velocity approach. The semi-submersible chosen for numerical example is similar to the SEDCO 700 Series. The global and local structural responses are obtained for forces imposed on it by ice floes and bergy bits.