Solution

National Guard Armory Buildings

MA

Service: Structural Investigation, Structural Rehabilitation
Market: Government
Keywords: Cracking, Failure Investigation, Heavy Timber, Snow and Ice, Wood

Client

Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management & Maintenance

Completion

2012
National Guard Armory Buildings
National Guard Armory Buildings
National Guard Armory Buildings

During February 2011, heavy snowfall with a sustained period of below-freezing temperatures resulted in significant snow accumulation in the northeast United States. SGH investigated reported fractures in glue-laminated (glulam) timber roof beams at three different armory buildings that occurred within hours. After overseeing emergency shoring of the fractured beams, SGH designed permanent repairs to restore the strength of the damaged beams.

 

Scope | Solutions

 

SGH determined the long-span, curved, glulam beams failed in radial tension under snow loads and needed to be shored immediately. We assisted contractors in developing an emergency shoring plan.

 

As the engineer of record, SGH designed and oversaw repairs to several beams. Highlights of our work include the following:

  • Developed a repair program to maintain overhead clearance in the buildings and allow them to remain occupied

  • Designed a repair sequence, including jacking and shoring the beams at mid-span to alleviate dead load stresses, clamping the fractured beam sections together using steel saddle assemblies, and installing large-diameter, full-thread lag screws from above to restore the fractured sections

  • Coordinated repairs operations with occupants present during construction

  • Provided construction administration services, including reviewing contractor submittals, observing construction progress, and reviewing contractor applications for payment

Project Contact(s)

Gregg Cohen

Greggrey Cohen

Jeff Langlois

Jeffrey Langlois