012925 CSCE Dinner Meeting at the University of Hartford

Wednesday, January 29, 2025 - 05:30 PM

012925 DM presentation photo

Please join CSCE on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, for its monthly dinner meeting at the University of Hartford to hear David Jacobs, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASCE, give a presentation on Live Load Impact on Railroad Bridges. This meeting is co-sponsored by the CT Chapter of the ASCE Structural Engineering Institute and the ASCE Student Chapter at the University of Hartford and attendees can earn 1 NYS PDH at this event.

The rating section of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association’s (AREMA) Manual for Railway Engineering (MRE) gives a formula for a curvilinear reduction in the design impact factor based on train speeds below 60 mph (96.6 km/h). A novel study to measure the actual change in dynamic impact force produced by modern passenger equipment as a function of train speed was conducted by measuring the deflections, strains and accelerations of several truss and floor system members from live loads. The test structure was a 120-year-old open deck through truss bridge. Data were recorded from two different types of electric passenger trains with speeds ranging from approximately 5 to 40 mph (8.1 to 64.4 km/h).

Test results indicate that the impact reduction relationship relative to speed for the types of vehicles used in the study is significantly different from that called for in the MRE’s reduction formula. This result, and reasons for it, which will be discussed, could have significant ramifications for extending the service life of existing, very old railroad bridges, where the predominant live load is passenger equipment, such as on Amtrak’s Northeast Rail Corridor between Washington, D.C. and Boston, MA.

Speaker(s)

dave jacobs photo

David Jacobs is a veteran, an engineer and an adjunct faculty member in civil engineering at the University of Hartford. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1968-1971, in the Navy Reserve from 1971-1993, and retired as a Captain. He studied Civil (Structural) Engineering at the University of Rhode Island, where he earned a B.S., before getting a Masters in Industrial Management & Engineering from Columbia University, a Masters in Transportation Planning & Engineering from the Polytechnic Institute of New York and a Ph.D. in Civil (Structural) Engineering from the University of Connecticut. From 1967-2008, he worked for the New York Central, Penn Central, Conrail and Metro-North Railroads on projects involving bridges, tunnels, interlockings, catenary, signals and communications.

Important Times

5:30-6:30 p.m. Registration and Social Hour followed by a Plated Dinner and Presentation

Location

1877 Club, Gray Conference Center, University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, CT

Driving Directions:

From I-91 South: From I-91 South, turn right at end of ramp; from I-91 North, turn left. Travel Route 218 West for 4 miles to junction with Rte. 189. Left onto Rte. 189. Campus is two miles on left.

From I-84 West, Exit 48: Right onto Asylum Ave. Travel 1.5 miles to Scarborough (on right) followed by left onto Rte. 44. Bear right onto Rte. 189. Campus is 1/2-mile on the right.

From I-84 East, Exit 41: Left onto S. Main becoming N. Main to the junction of Rte. 44. Turn right onto rte. 44 to junction with Rte. 189. Sharp left onto Rte. 189. Campus is 1/2-mile on the right.

From I-291, Exit 1: From I-291, turn left. Travel Route 218 West for 4 miles to junction with Rte. 189. Left onto Rte. 189. Campus is two miles on left.

From Farmington Valley: Route 44 East past Bishop's Corner to junction with Rte. 189. Sharp left onto Rte. 189. Campus is 1/2-mile on right - or - Rte. 185 to junction with Rte. 189. Bear right onto Rte. 189. Campus is just ahead on the left. 

Parking: 

To park at the University of Hartford, you need to park in an assigned lot and place a parking permit from the Department of Public Safety on your dashboard.

Please print out this PARKING PERMIT and put it on your dashboard.

Menu

Plated meal featuring main meal choices of Braised Beef Shortribs, Pan Seared Salmon or Vegetarian Gnocchi

Registration

CSCE Members - No NYS PDH: $55.00

CSCE Members who want to earn 1 NYS PDH: $65.00

Non CSCE Members - No NYS PDH: $65.00

Non CSCE Members who want to earn 1 NYS PDH: $75.00

Full Time Students - No NYS PDH: $30.00

Unemployed CSCE Members: No Charge

Only attending the presentation - No meal: No Charge

Reservations received and accepted after January 22nd, may incur a $10 additional fee. 

Payment is required with registration unless other arrangements are made. CSCE cannot give refunds after the final dinner order has been placed.

Please register to attend this dinner meeting by clicking on the following link: 

register now

Sponsorships

Table Top Sponsor - $100 - Table signs with your company logo on each dinner table

Flyer Sponsor - $250 - Your company logo on event promotional emails and upcoming events flyer distributed at dinner meeting

Promotional Item Sponsor - $500 - This sponsorship offers your company logo on a promotional item that will be distributed at the dinner meeting. The item can either be provided by the sponsoring company or CSCE can order an item that is purchased by the company.

Social Hour Sponsor - $1,000 - Your company logo will be included on meeting promotional material and signage recognizing your sponsorship will be displayed at the social hour.

To sponsor this dinner meeting, please click on the following link:

BECOME A SPONSOR

Donation Opportunities

Please consider a donation to the CSCE scholarship fund to help civil engineering students from Connecticut. All donations will help students in need. To make a donation to CSCE, please click on the following link:

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