>>> ENGINEERING IN ACTION <<< Expansion Joint Failure in Pavement Due to Use of Rebar in Lieu of Smooth Bar Dowels Picture above are of an expansion joint in concrete pavement in which deformed bar reinforcement (rebar) was used in lieu of smooth bar dowels to cross over the joint. As the temperature goes from cold to hot, the concrete pavement will increase in volume and will subsequently decrease in volume when transitioning from hot to cold. Smooth bar dowels are important at expansion joints so that this volume change (which primarily will occur along the longitudinal ..read more

Should structural engineers specify slump in the construction documents?….No, slump should be specified by the contractor and concrete producer. Reasoning below: 1. Slump is not a good indicator of the quality of hardened concrete. This has always been true (as indicated in ASTM C143 – care should be taken in correlating slump results under field conditions to strength), but is even more true today with the widespread use of water reducing admixtures. 2. The National Concrete Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NCRMCA) recommends against it – “The engineer should avoid specifying a slump r ..read more

Problem: Steel bar joists have a 6-9 month lead time for delivery and this restaurant can’t wait that long to open. Solution: JaCody Construction, LP, ExoTech Construction, LLC and DUDLEY team to custom design, fabricate and erect the steel bar joists in less than 3 months ..read more

2021 has been an incredible year at DUDLEY! As we move into 2022, we are reflecting on the past 12 months with our team and celebrating all we’ve accomplished. Hiring: We’ve added (or transitioned from our internship program) SEVEN new full-time engineers! Patti, our staff accountant, and Craig Miller, our Chief Financial Officer, also joined the team. Accomplishments: We exceeded the lofty goals that we set for ourselves at the end of 2020. We launched the Austin office with the transplant of Saroj Shrestha, PE and continued to build a client base in that region. We re-branded the firm to DU ..read more

Proud of the construction industry especially the crews on the new Academy in Mesquite, Texas which are proceeding with pouring tilt-up panels this week amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. As engineers who directly support construction, we are still operating as a skeleton crew at the office practicing proper social distancing practices with many others working remotely ..read more

When searching for candidates to joint our firm we look for self-motivated, passionate, disciplined, smart and compassionate individuals who want to help make our firm one of the greatest in the world at what we do. After we successfully land one of the talented individuals we foster a culture that helps them succeed in their career. Two of the books that we start with as part of our mentorship program are Good to Great and the Ideal Team Player. Both of these books speak to both personal and firm attributes and attitudes that will lead to great results ..read more

Looking forward to the ground breaking of this beautiful new Edward Jones office building in #Brenham Texas designed by architect PlanNorth Architectural Co., Katie Burch and Mandi Perez.  ..read more

Mat foundation on wood piles pour in New Orleans, Louisiana to support a 3-story self-storage facility.  Piles (deep foundations) are required in lieu of a traditional grade supported mat foundation due to the comprehensibility of the native soils that would lead to excessive settlement. Wood piles are the deep foundation of choice in the New Orleans area for low to mid-rise structures due to the low oxygen content in the soil which can preserve the wood piles for 100+ years.  For more information, reach out to our mat foundation and wood pile expert Bryan Tyson, PE at btys ..read more

Dudley Dunham provided structural engineering design for the Emergency Services Facility in Montgomery County. The facility includes a unique fire training facility that will assist in training our first responders so that they can better serve our community ..read more

Sway restaurant in Bee Caves (near Austin), Texas. Dudley Dunham Engineering provided structural design for this beautiful restaurant which provides modern Thia cuisine in a great environment.  The structural system was comprised of cold-formed steel framing for the walls, roof and lateral system, with structural steel to form the composite beam system for the 2nd floor. Photo During Construction ..read more