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Home Capabilities Materials & Durability
Innovative materials, imaginative methods, lower costs. Engineers aspire to create transportation infrastructure that lasts 100 years or more. Meeting and exceeding the 100-year life span is one of CAIT's primary pursuits.
Community Approach to Resiliency Planning
This is a two-day training on the community approach to resiliency planning. It defines what planning for resiliency means to a community's ability to survive disaster, recover and thrive in the future.
THMPER featured in Civil Engineering magazine
The February 2018 issue of CE magazine featured THMPER—a portable, rapid testing device for bridge load-bearing capacity. THMPER is a breakthrough because it does this critical task faster, cheaper, and with less traffic disruption than other current methods.
Building connections that last
FHWA is promoting ultra-high performance concrete to improve the strength, simplicity, and durability of prefabricated bridge element connections. This innovation builds on field experience of dozens of states in the U.S. since 2009.
Building the right roads for the right loads
David Orr from the Cornell University Local Roads Program is working on a tool to help towns with low-volume rural/local roads plan and build them in keeping with the traffic loads they carry.
CAIT Awarded $3.5 million from USDOT UTC program
Rutgers' CAIT was awarded a $3.5 million grant from USDOT's Research and Innovative Technology Administration under the University Transportation Center (UTC) program. This is the third time CAIT has successfully competed to retain its UTC status.
CAIT pavement crew wants agencies to join the RAAT-Pack
Modern asphalt pavement performance testing has evolved quickly. The physical testing procedures are relatively simple, but analyzing the collected data is complex and intensive. If you're an asphalt technician or engineer, that's where RAAT-Pack has your back.
CAIT chosen to lead USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center
The Region 2 UTC consortium is focusing on developing practical tools and methods to improve infrastructure health, durability, and resilience. Partners are: Atlantic Cape Community College, Columbia, Cornell, NJIT, Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, Princeton, Rowan, SUNY–Farmingdale, and University at Buffalo.
CAIT Update Enews, August 2019
News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation. Includes stories on recent events, research, and faculty accomplishments and activities.
CAIT Update, December 2019
News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT.
CAIT Update Enews, July 2019
CAIT Update Enews, May 2019
News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation. Includes stories on recent conferences, research, and faculty accomplishments and activities.
CAIT Update, November 2019
CAIT Update, October 2019
CAIT Update, September 2019
News from the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center led by Rutgers CAIT
Celebrating Sweet 16 research
CAIT has a reputation for high-value research. One Rutgers-NJDOT Research Bureau study was selected in the AASHTO high-value research Sweet 16 competition. It identified a protocol to evaluate corrosion-inhibiting efficacy and durability of overcoatings for steel surfaces.
Every Day Counts round five initiatives announced
FHWA acting administrator Brandye Hendrickson has announced the fifth round of the agency's Every Day Counts (EDC) program, 10 selected proven, yet underutilized innovations to enhance safety, reduce congestion, shorten project timelines, and improve sustainability.
FHWA Executive Director Receives Prestigious Rutgers Medal of Excellence Award
Thomas D. Everett was honored for his service and received the prestigious Rutgers Engineering Society Distinguished Engineer Award earlier this month at The 2019 Medal of Excellence Awards Dinner. He stopped by CAIT for a tour of The BEAST and other facilities too.
Free webinar: OSHA standards for protecting workers against silica dust
OSHA Education Centers in Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas, are jointly hosting a free WebEx presentation on silica hazards from March 5 to 9, 2018. This is open to anyone in the country. It focuses on best prevention practices and silica standards compliance for construction and industry.
Generating power every time you hit the road
Rutgers researchers detail a potential system that can turn roads and bridges into sustainable "power plants" by harvesting the kinetic energy of vehicles using piezoelectric materials in pavement.
Collaborative UTC Project Addresses Fires In Tunnels
The project is related to a recent presentation at the 2019 Graduate Seminar Series hosted by Rutgers Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, where Mr. Joseph Englot, National Director of Infrastructure Security at HNTB, discussed alternative fuel vehicles, fire events, and more.
Long-runnning asphalt pavement conference still drawing crowds
At 62 years and counting, the region's longest-running asphalt pavement conference was attended by nearly 320 pros from research, transportation agencies, and private industry.
Online tool with truly comprehensive data on 600,000-plus U.S. bridges
Bridge owners faced with difficult choices every day rely on multiple resources help them make maintenance and rehabilitation decisions. There are many databases out there, but no single source for comprehensive bridge performance data. Until now.
Pick The Right Rapid-Repair Materials With This New Guideline
The short-term goal of this research is to develop a guideline that agencies can implement into their own decision-making processes when evaluating rapid-repair materials. Down the road, researchers hope to develop new methods of testing rapid-repair materials and freeze-thaw cycles so that it becomes standardized.
Notable news: Region 2 UTC activities
The USDOT Region 2 UTC Consortium spreads knowledge through published works, conference presentations, and other opportunities. Here are some examples of the recent activities and accomplishments of our researchers.
Notable News: Faculty Accomplishments and Activities, November 2019
As the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center, part of CAIT's mission is to share the innovative tools, technologies, and processes that its researchers develop with the right stakeholders so that they can be implemented and solve the most pressing challenges today's transportation network and industry faces.
Notable News: Faculty Accomplishments and Activities, October 2019
This October, CAIT has been in the news for various research and projects, has seen faculty members honored for their excellence in education and research, and has hosted a number of classes and site visits.
Notable News: Faculty Accomplishments and Activities, Summer 2019
From analyzing research gaps in applying autonomous and connected vehicles to discussing scenarios for railway tunnel fires, Region 2 UTC partners had an eventful summer. Below are some highlights from our researchers to you, and upcoming events to look out for.
Pavement preservation: When, where, and how?
Applying a pavement preservation treatment at the right time, on the right project, with quality materials and construction is a critical investment strategy for optimizing infrastructure performance.
Porous Parking Lots Help Relieve Flooding and Enhance Ecosystem in Linden NJ
By using Stormwater Green Infrastructure such as rain gardens and more recently porous parking lots, a CAIT-affiliated researcher is leading the way in building and implementing these environmentally-friendly measures to help control flooding events for at-risk neighborhoods.
Recycled Asphalt Pavement Use in Pavement Preservation Surface Treatments
Interested in using recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) in your pavement preservation surface treatments? Then register for this online webinar today!
Researchers and customers come together at Region 2 UTC partner meeting
As the Region 2 UTC lead institution, Rutgers CAIT gathered its consortium partners and high-level industry leaders to discuss the next round of UTC projects, clients' priorities, and collaboration. Discussions focused on finding real-world implementable solutions for pressing transportation issues in the region.
Robots could be infrastructure managers' best friend
Robots are emerging in multiple roles for infrastructure construction, condition monitoring, and maintenance. From rigid machines to flexible soft 'bots—whether they fly, climb, crawl, or swim—these tools have rapidly expanding capabilities, applications, and utility in the field.
Rolling out pavement technologies
FHWA has been rolling out pavement technologies for construction and maintenance of roadway surfaces that can potentially save money, increase safety, and improve performance. The agency also is facilitating their use across the country.
RU railroad expert Xiang Liu's study chosen for special issue of TRB journal
A study on managing risk associated with broken rails by Dr. Xiang Liu was chosen for a special issue of Transportation Research Record that collects papers from 2016–2017 that were most frequently cited and mentioned in journal articles, federal reports, and policy publications.
Seasoned pavement pros spread asphalt know-how
CAIT has a robust pavement operation that boasts long-standing AASHTO accreditation. It's also committed to spreading the word—and skills—on pavement management, customized condition modeling, budget planning, and finding the right materials for every application.
UTC Partners Investigate Damage To Infrastructure After Hurricane Maria
Hurricane Maria left devastating effects on Puerto Rico when the storm struck in 2017, with NOAA's Office for Coastal Management totaling the damage at $90 billion. Now, research from the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico is examining ways to make pedestrian and traffic infrastructure more resilient in the area.
Sustainable infrastructure expert named top educator by ASCE
Civil engineering associate professor Dr. Hao Wang was named 2019 Educator of the Year by the ASCE New Jersey Section. He was selected for his research promoting sustainable transportation infrastructure and for his dedication to engineering education.
UTC Students and Researchers Collaborate on Projects in The BEAST
The BEAST at Rutgers CAIT is more than just an innovative facility that can estimate the lifespan of bridge systems. It also serves as an opportunity for students to receive experiential learning through the number of research projects that piggyback on the ongoing and future accelerated testing efforts within the lab.
TRB Guide: See Presentations, Posters, and More from Rutgers CAIT Researchers at TRB
The 99th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board will feature transportation professionals from around the world for a week of presentations, posters, meetings, awards, networking, and more. Use this schedule to find out when and where researchers from Rutgers CAIT will be discussing their own work.
Ultra-laser imaging for pavement surface analysis
FHWA's Safety Design Team recently completed safety analysis research on pavement using state-of-the-art 3D ultra-laser imaging data collection that incorporates higher data resolution and an integrated data platform.
USDOT invites Rutgers Ph.D. to "pipe up" for STEM
PHMSA invited Rutgers grad student Milad Salemi to present his research at a workshop to encourage high school students to pursue STEM fields and to expose them to transportation careers. The event was part of the USDOT 50th Anniversary celebration.
New USDOT Strategic Plan Released
NJDOT has released its strategic plan, establishing its organizational objectives for 2018–2022. It reflects the Secretary's priorities for achieving the agency's mission through four strategic goals; Safety, Infrastructure, Innovation, and Accountability.
Design of a novel recycled concrete aggregates (RCA)
The primary goal of this proposal is to validate and improve a novel RAC design methodology through both experimental and computational methods.
Autonomous/robotic systems for infrastructure maintenance and repair
Looking beyond their ability to detect problems, this project investigates emerging robotic technologies' ability to actually perform infrastructure maintenance and repair tasks.
Investigating advanced materials to help bridges withstand earthquakes
A project studying combined effects of corrosion and earthquakes on existing bridges, and the efficacy of repairs using cementitious composites to reduce vulnerability of bridges to these hazards.
Sustainability and Resiliency of Concrete Rapid Repairs Utilizing Advanced Cementitious Materials: Freeze/Thaw Loads
Rapid-repair cements are important to extending the life of infrastructure. Damage occurs to concrete systems because of poor construction quality, accidents, severe environmental conditions, and general wear and tear. Using rapid-repair materials allows agencies to repair the infrastructure without causing un…
Pavement Design for Local Roads and Streets
The primary goal of this proposal is to develop a simple to use tool that would allow local agencies to develop a mechanistic-empirical design for lower volume (<1,000 vpd) highways. The primary focus would be on pavement overlays and rehabilitation. The current tools available use older empirical-only meth…
Evaluation of Overlay Tester Test Procedure to Identify Fatigue-Cracking Prone Asphalt Mixtures
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the Overlay Tester using field cores from a recently completed FHWA accelerated loading facility (ALF) fatigue cracking study. The study comprised of 10 different lanes, each produced to the same target volumetrics, but with varied recycled asphalt contents, base asphal…
Improving Transportation Infrastructure Resilience against Hurricanes, Other Natural Disasters, and Weathering: Part III
The primary goal of this project is to analyze motor vehicle bridges that were damaged or collapsed during Hurricane Maria. The specific objectives of the project are:
develop an inventory of bridges that experienced damages or collapsed
determine the causes of failu…
Improving Transportation Infrastructure Resilience against Hurricanes, Other Natural Disasters, and Weathering: Part II – Analysis of Pedestrian Bridge Failures Due to Hurricane Maria
The primary goal of this proposal is to analyze pedestrian bridges that were damaged or collapsed during Hurricane Maria. The specific objectives of the project are:
Develop an inventory of pedestrian bridges that were damaged or collapsed due to the hurricane and document the type of failures exp…
Laboratory Performance Evaluation of Pavement Preservation Alternatives
The overall goal of this study is to determine the most optimal time to apply pavement preservation treatments. Researchers will conduct full-scale accelerated pavement testing and performance evaluation. They also will examine different pavement alternatives, conducting comprehensive performance evaluations i…
Heavy Vehicle Load Simulator for Bridge Deck Testing Application: Volume II
Given the importance of overcoming the challenges associated with aging and deteriorating bridges, and the need for a full-scale proving ground for evaluation of new and advanced materials and devices, CAIT has procured full-scale load testing equipment. The Heavy Vehicle Load Simulator for Bridge Deck Testing…
Heavy Vehicle Load Simulator for Bridge Deck Testing Application: Volume I
The Use of Porous Concrete for Sidewalks
Pervious concrete has been increasing in popularity as a potential solution to reduce the amount of impermeable surface area associated with sidewalks, reduce puddling, and potentially slow storm water surface high-flow rates. As important as these benefits are to surface runoff mitigation, there are concerns with the ab…
Validation and Refinement of a Novel Deicing System for Stay Cables
The goal of this research project is to validate and provide a basis to improve and refine a novel de-icing system for stay-cables. This autonomous de-icing system shows significant potential to cost-effectively remove ice build-up without damaging the protective system of the underlying stay-cable. However, currently th…
Beneficial reuse of contaminated dredge materials
The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the long-term performance of projects in which stabilized dredged materials have been used to augment and/or replace borrowed materials – "beneficial-use applications". The study focuses on the performance of a limited number of signature projects in NJ,…
Fire in the hole: Quantifying effects of tunnel fires
Tunnel fires can cause loss of life, property, and mobility. Evaluating effects of extreme heat, one must consider intensity and duration, structural response, and changes to the surrounding soil. Rather than focusing on safety and evacuation, this project seeks to quantify fire damage and assess risk to tunnels.
Self-cleaning and Depolluting Geopolymer Coatings for Graffiti Prevention and Removal (Demonstration Project)
The primary focus of this report is to demonstrate the suitability of an inorganic polymer composite coating for transportation-related structures. This report presents the results of three field applications and evaluation of graffiti resistance including removal techniques, self-cleaning, and depollution properties.
NYSDOT Waterproof HMA Mix Verification
The New York State DOT is currently using Waterproofing Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) to overlay their concrete bridge deck systems.
Advanced Ground Penetrating Radar Data Collection and Imaging of Bridge Decks Using 3-D Radar
The main objective of the conducted research was to evaluate 3D-Radar GPR in bridge deck condition assessment and imaging, with an emphasis on detection and characterization of corrosion induced bridge deck delamination. A broader objective of the study was to provide data for comparative evaluation of the performance of…
Developing Work for NJDOT in the Area of Concrete Pavements and Transportation Structures
The objectives of this project were: To analyze scope of work currently performed by the NJDOT Bureau of Materials, To understand, based on facts available, current mission of the Bureau of Materials, To develop in collaboration with CAIT a vision proposal for future work with NJDOT, encompassing experience of both...
Forensic Testing of Stone Matrix Asphalt Rubber Material
The project will encompass forensic testing on extracted cores of the stone matrix asphalt rubber (SMAR) material placed on I-295. Cores were provided to the Rutgers Asphalt/Pavement Laboratory (RAPL) at CAIT via Advanced Infrastructure and Design (AID).
Performance testing on cores will determine the following vo…
Fiber Optic Relative Humidity Sensor
The objective for this study was to investigate and to perform a detailed survey of available sensors for quantification of relative humidity. The importance of relative humidity measurements becomes apparent in geotechnical applications, including in hydrogeologic characterization of contaminated sites, and creation of …
Laboratory Evaluation of Vestoplast Modified Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA)
The scope of the work encompassed evaluating the affect of Vestoplast on the performance of hot mix asphalt. The Vestoplast was added to a PANYNJ FAA #3 asphalt mixture with a PG64-22 asphalt binder. Two baseline mixes were also evaluated for comparisons; 1) FAA #3 with a PG64-22 and 2) FAA #3 with a PG76-22. The FAA #3 …
Pavement Evaluation Project: Tire/Pavement Interface Noise Results on Massachusetts Pavements Using On-Board Sound Intensity
The main focus of the All States Massachusetts study will be to look at the noise levels that result from the different materials All States has designed and produced over the last ten years. Initially, the goal is to simply quantify the noise properties of the pavements in Massachusetts. Then a secondary goal after find…
Laboratory Evaluation of Foamed Warm Mix Asphalt
Many of New Jersey's asphalt suppliers have elected to invest in Warm Mixed Asphalt systems that utilize water to foam the asphalt. Foaming the asphalt binder reduces the viscosity of the asphalt binder by…
Geopolymer Column Wrapping
This report deals with the use of an inorganic-polymer coating for the protection and strengthening of transportation infrastructures. The constituents of the coating include nanosilicates and other nano-size …
Laboratory Evaluation of Honeywell Polymer vs SBS Polymer Modified Asphalt Mixtures
The scope of the study is to evaluate the laboratory performance of two asphalt mixtures; one modified with SBS polymer and the second modified with a polymer from Honeywell. Both asphalt binder and mixture properties are proposed to be evaluated in the study. Laboratory asphalt mixture tests are proposed to evaluate the…
Evaluation of Corrosion Inhibitors
Corrosion of reinforcement is a global problem that has been studied extensively. The use of good quality concrete and corrosion inhibitors seems to be an economical, effective, and logical solution, especially for new structures. A number of laboratory studies are available on the performance of various corrosion inhibi…
Functional Geopolymer Composites for Structural Ceramic Applications
Composite materials are widely used in all types industries. The requirements depend on the type of application. Ceramic composites are popular in applications where materials are expected to encounter high temperatures; such as engine components, exhaust systems and fire barriers. The low density as compared to metals m…
Bond Performance of 1.125-inch-diameter Prestressing Strands
The public desires less disruption to highway services in addition to cheaper and more aesthetically pleasing structures. To meet these needs, engineers are continuously pushing the limits of current designs. One way to decrease the costs of an expensive structure is to limit the number of supports, provide longer span l…
COLLABORATIVE PROPOSAL:The Connection between State of Good Repair and Resilience: Measures for Pavements and Bridges
Resilience: "The ability to prepare and plan for, absorb, recover from, and more successfully adapt to adverse events" Disaster Resilience: A National Imperative
While there are many definitions of resilience and almost as many measures of resilience, operationalizing the concept to be useful in decision makin…
Reducing Stormwater Runoff Volumes with Biochar Addition to Highway Soils
Through funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), we recently constructed and instrumented a section of highway roadway soils at the intersection of state route 896 and Bethel Church Road in Summit Bridge, DE. One stretch of roadway soils was amended with biochar, while an adjacent control section wa…
Sustainable Geotextiles for Transportation Applications from Recycled Textiles
The goal of this research is to develop useful geotextiles from a sustainable, cheap input source — waste stream apparel and textiles. The anticipated outcomes of this research are identification of transit applications for geotextiles that have lower installation and removal costs and hence reduced life cycle cost…
Experimental Evaluation of the Engineering Behavior of Soil-Biochar Mixture as a Roadway Construction Material
Reports indicate that humanity discharges 43 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide annually. This discharge is 25% greater than just a decade ago (Lehmann & Joseph 2015). Studies indicate that converting forestry and agricultural waste into biochar could remove 4 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide each year (Lehmann & Joseph 20…
Evaluating corrosivity of geomaterials in MSE walls: determination of resistivity from pore water chemistry
We propose that the electrical resistance of a geomaterial-water-air mixture can be modeled fundamentally as parallel electrical resistances of the geomaterial, pore-water, and air-voids. We will develop a f…
New Methodology for Evaluating Incompatibility of Concrete Mixes in Laboratory: A Feasibility Study
The current specifications encourage the use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and as much as possible recycled materials in portland cement concrete. The use of SCMs, especially along with low water-to-cementitious material ratio, low total cementitious material content and cements with a low C3A content an…
Investigating the effects of corrosion protection coatings on the ductility of welded wire reinforcement
This study demonstrated that epoxy coated and galvanized WWR affects mechanical properties along with the known enhanced corrosion resistance.
Tensile tests were performed on a total of 108 wire samples and 18 hot rolled reinforcement samples. These samples consisted of black (non-coated), epoxy coated, and galvan…
Evaluating Electrical Resistivity as a Performance based Test for Utah Bridge Deck Concrete
Concrete surface resistivity (AASHTO Spec) and bulk resistivity, are easy to implement, non-destructive tests which can identify several important parameters, including concrete permeability and can potentia…
Improving the Durability of the Inverted T-Beam Bridge System
Develop Design Tables and New Shapes for Span Lengths from 20 to 60 ft.
The current Inverted-T shape works for span lengths around 45 ft, but changes in the cross-sectional geometry are needed to allow …
Long-Term Monitoring of a Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil Integrated Bridge System (GRS-IBS)
The geosynthetic reinforced soil integrated bridge system (GRS-IBS) is an innovative alternative to conventional bridge technology that utilizes closely spaced layers of geosynthetic reinforcement and compacted granular fill material to provide direct bearing support for structural bridge members. Using this technology, …
Carbon Fiber Shear Reinforcement for Prestressed Bridge Girders
This research will determine the relative merits and design philosophy of several carbon fiber shear reinforcement schemes for pretensioned, prestressed concrete girders. The primary use of carbon fiber shear reinforcement would be in bridge girders prestressed with carbon fiber prestressing strands. This is done to prov…
A Study on 3D Printing and its Effects on the Future of Transportation
This study is an initial forecast into the potential impact that 3D printing will have, and as such, it will mainly consist of an extensive literature review and business survey.
The literature review will examine:
1) Variety of the applications of 3D printing that currently are underway, and
2) The …
Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting in Airport Pavement
Harvesting energy from pavements by piezoelectricity is a new research field with opportunities and challenges. Although the harvested energy could be at small-scale, it can be used for a wide range of applications in transportation system such as lighting, snow melting, and traffic signal control in addition to direct e…
Development of Concrete Mix Proportions for Minimizing/Eliminating Shrinkage Cracks in Slabs and High Performance Grouts
The primary objectives are two develop two formulations, one suitable for casting slabs with least amount of creep and shrinkage and eliminate cracking due to restrained time-dependent strains and the second for specialized uses in grouting and gluing for pre-cast construction. The first part of the research will utilize…
Development of Protocols and Instrumentation Plan for Accelerated Structural Testing Facility
CAIT anticipates completion of an innovative, full scale load testing laboratory for evaluation of new and advanced materials and devices. This instrument will allow, for the first time, the scientific study of deterioration processes on full-scale bridges. While the merits of the equipment are well documented, until rec…
Load Testing and Analysis of a 48-Year Old Out-of-Service Double Tee Girder Bridge
A 48 year old prestressed double tee girder bridge located on Icy Springs road in Coalville, Utah, was tested for live load. The test measured strains, deflections and rotations. The instruments used for measuring the respective measurements were strain gages, deflectometers ("twangers") and…
Biochar as a Rechargeable Geobattery to Promote Nitrogen Removal in Stormwater from Roadways
The goal of this proposed research is to test the hypothesis that biochar is a rechargeable "geo-battery" that can promote microbial nitrate removal from stormwater. This hypothesis is based on our recent laboratory and field results, as outlined below.
In a recently completed CAIT-fund…
Impact of Gradation and Moisture Content on Stiffness Parameters of Base Materials
The main goal of this study is to evaluate the behavior of the base materials with different gradations (percentages of fines) and moisture contents for the construction of pavements. In order to understand the effects of variation of gradation on the performance of the pavement systems, and hence, to achieve the main go…
Rutgers/NJDOT Pavement Resource Program: NJDOT Statewide GPR Project Network, GPR Data Collection and Analysis Update of HPMA GPR Database
Center for Advanced Transportation Infrastructure (CAIT) of Rutgers University is mandated to conduct ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys to update NJDOT's pavement management system with GPR-measured pavement layer thicknesses.
Based on the review of the GPR data currently in the pavement management system, …
Circular Elastometric Bearings
Reinforced and unreinforced elastometric bearing pads have been used for bridges in NJ for about five years. The shape of these bearings is square or rectangular and their orientation is generally in the direction of thermal movements. Although the direction of thermal movement for straight bridges can be reasonably pred…
Long-term Evaluation of Prestress Losses in Concrete Bridges Using Long-gauge Fiber Optic Sensors
One of the most important aspects of a prestressed concrete structure is the distribution of the prestressing force along the structure, both at transfer and in the long term. Time-dependent prestress losses a…
Evaluation of Repair Techniques for Impact-Damaged Prestressed Beams
Collisions between over height vehicles and bridges occur about 1,000 times per year in the United States. Collision damage to bridges can range from minor to catastrophic, potentially requiring repair or replacement of a bridge beam. For prestressed concrete beams, the traditional repair methods are strand splices and F…
Page last updated on March 14, 2019


Earliest date coded WG wheel?
Discussion in 'Chassis restoration' started by buick64203, Sep 9, 2018.
I know the transition from the 15x7 7.0 to the WG stamped wheels was around mid to late February. But does anyone know an exact date of when the change happened?
I wouldn't be surprised - In fact based on what you posted, it seems inevitable. I find all this trivia, switchover dates, etc. interesting - SO many early/mid-year changes on '70's. There is/was an NOS early 80 psi oil pressure sender on eBay. I have Wayne Roberts on 2 cars (both coincidentally Stage 1 4-sp's) invoiced on the same day (1/4/70 IIRC) which I assume indicates built the same day. Both very original cars & both had clear overflow and plastic radiator tops, but one had flat lenses so I assume that was the switchover day, at least @ Flint, but I also wouldn't discount that if a bin of convex lens clusters was found that a later car wouldn't have them or even that some car slipped out with a mix of lenses. Just like we know there 3/4-sp. cars that didn't come with black shift balls (prob. not Flint cars). We mostly see the anomalies on GSs, but can you imagine how many Skylarks had mistakes/oddities?
I checked the rest of the rims from My stage one The car was invoiced 3/19/70. I have three 2/5/70 7.0 wheels , one 1/27/70 7.0 , one 2/20/70 WG wheel. I checked one wheel off this late March built GS 455 it was a 3/14/70 WG wheel.


Or would you recommend another light stand for Redhead?
If you have used Redheads before, please reply. Thank you for your advice!
First, screw on top does not matter, if you are mounting lights. Plus you can always get cheap converter otherwise.
Second, you need to clearly tell how you want to use this stands. It is very common error to provide multiple links of that you consider an option. Better tell us that you want to do using lights and how.
If you ask me, I prefer two stands.
Long, air cushioned, with good tube diameters and wide legs spread.
Medium, designed to be extra portable (they must be light and very short packed).
And, almost forgot. Never very buy cheap crap. generally, stands are like tripods. Good ones will serve you very long.
@Vitaliy_Kiselev thanks for the response. For now I don't need to add a C-stand or anything complex and heavy/disbalancing like that - maybe just a small flag arm. Since I'll use the Redhead as a bounce light, all I need is a light stand to hold a Redhead (2kg) securely without easily falling down (withought someone accidentally knocking the redhead off the stand). Adding a couple of sandbags should secure the stand. But the knob is still a concern to me - will the Redhead be completely secured to both kinds of these knobs???
Also, if you think that these are "cheap crap", which alternative one would you buy for a Redhead?
If you won't be frequently moving and don't need light, then get something like 3m air cushioned stand. Just get best you can get. Something with biggest legs and tubes used (cheaper stuff like to use small diameter tubes, same as in tripods).
Not sure what shipping for you would be on these, but just ordered these and received them today: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AMOTAY/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00 Plan to use them with 312 LED lights that I just got. The stands are probably over kill for these lights, though can probably handle some of the 500+ LED lights just fine.
They are not air cushioned (which are ideal as Vitaliy noted) though they do have springs for each section so if they do drop too fast when you are adjusting them, it won't hurt your equipment. They are not too heavy and if you compress the springs when dropping them down and locking the clamps you can shorten them by about 8 inches for storage if needed.
Used some basic Lowel lights and stands for years, which were considered decent, though thinking back, they seem less stable than these, though probably could take a bit more of a beating.
@sam_rides_a_mtb, How have these light stands worked for you? Was thinking about buying them.
I would prbably shy away from anything that claims "photo stand". Strobes weigh practically nothing, so your stands will not be very hearty. I concur with Vitaliy, don't skimp. Always get a little more "beef" than you think you may need. Nothing can ruin a shoot more than a stand falling over or crumpling onto someone. I use Avenger or Matthews, usually.
The 806 is a 12ft stand. It's probably the smallest/cheapest one I would buy simply because the cheaper/smaller ones are considerably more unsteady with any weight on top of them. This one has a pretty big spread of the legs and the center tubes are much thicker so they don't sway as much.
As others have said, name brand stands are much higher quality, but you could buy a cheap stand that is much bigger than you need for a lot cheaper and still gain the stability you want.
It is some rebranded chinese stand. Check maximum tube diameter and get air cushined stand with best locks and biggest tube diameter. Weifeng makes good stands, in US ebay they cost not much, do not know about UK.
Recently purchased a C Stand from Aliexpress, compares well against Matthews Studios C Stands.
C-stands and light stands are different. A C-stand without the gobo arm can work as a lighting stand in a pinch, but it has some drawbacks like not going down very far or being quite as stable.
Pro lighting stands are great, really stable with heavier lights and last forever. That's why rental houses use them. When I'm renting gear for bigger shoots, I use pro stands. But for little shoots, I've used air cushioned photo stands for quite a while. My personal lights are a lot lighter than pro lights and I don't use them every day. The cheap stands do not last forever and break down after a few years of not-too-heavy use. But for most people with today's lighter pro-sumer lights, they're a good deal.
I have about eight C-stands in my personal kit because they are irreplaceable. So useful on set and there's no suitable stand-in for a real C-stand. As you start using modifiers on lights to get a more refined look, you just can't get by without proper C-stands. Same with setting up a video village or unusual but necessary grip situation. A few short stands (Gary Colemans) or rocky mountain leg stands come in really useful.
Other highly under-rated bits of gear: sandbags, apple boxes, milk crates, directors chairs.


text:
Las Brisas, Baja California, Mexico
November 22, 2022 UTC
29.2 km from Las Brisas (18.2 miles)
Calipatria, California, United States
11.2 km from Calipatria (6.2 miles)
Lone Pine, California, United States
19.2 km from Lone Pine (11.2 miles)
Searles Valley, California, United States
16.2 km from Searles Valley (10.2 miles)
Ejido Doctor Alberto Oviedo Mota (El Indiviso), Baja California, Mexico
Epicenter at 31.689, -114.54
56.2 km from Ejido Doctor Alberto Oviedo Mota (El Indiviso) (34.2 miles)
Gulf Of California
Inyokern, California, United States
29.2 km from Inyokern (18.2 miles)
14.2 km from Searles Valley (8.2 miles)
Borrego Springs, California, United States
20.2 km from Borrego Springs (12.2 miles)
Brea, California, United States
2.2 km from Brea (1.2 miles)
Brawley, California, United States
August 26, 2012 UTC
5.2 km from Brawley (3.2 miles)
Seeley, California, United States
23.2 km from Seeley (14.2 miles)
May 08, 2010 UTC
Ejido Saltillo, Baja California, Mexico
December 30, 2009 UTC
4.2 km from Ejido Saltillo (2.2 miles)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Dr Velibor Marjanovic (Senior Vice President Corporate Development and Economics at KfW) explains in an interview the purpose of a promotional bank in general and the impacts of KfW on the economy in particular.
Mr Marjanovic, from time to time there is debate in the media as to whether a promotional bank such as KfW still makes sense in Germany. What do we need promotional banks for anyway?
A promotional bank such as KfW is ultimately a policy instrument of the federal government, specifically for economic, development and climate policy. Promotional banks are useful wherever market weaknesses occur that can be mitigated effectively and efficiently with the specific instruments of a promotional bank. Depending on what is needed, KfW offers low-interest loans, guarantees, equity investments or grants.
Alternatively, a government can also use laws (dictates and prohibitions) or fiscal-policy instruments to control and improve suboptimal market results. But both interfere directly with market activity. Promotional banks, on the other hand, use incentives for behavioural changes without disrupting the market and are therefore often the more effective and more flexible instrument. Just recently, many countries have founded promotional banks of their own, such as the British Business Bank or the Portuguese Instituição Financeira de Desenvolvimento. The benefit of promotional banks is widely recognised internationally.
Unfortunately, that is not so. The free interplay of market forces is less than optimal on a much broader scale. Business founders, for example, above all innovative start-ups, still face great challenges financing their projects, for example because they have no collateral. Small and medium-sized enterprises are generally at a structural disadvantage compared with large corporations because they can hardly access capital markets. Market weaknesses today are also clearly visible in the financing of national and international environmental and climate action projects, or in development finance, where they are particularly significant. So market weaknesses exist in many sectors.
Doesn't KfW compete with commercial banks?
KfW and the commercial banks are partners, not competitors. Our business is based on the fundamental principle of subsidiarity. That means KfW focuses on addressing market weaknesses without disrupting or crowding out private-sector enterprises.
With very few exceptions such as municipal finance, KfW does not interact with the customer directly but supports banks – with favourable funding and by assuming risks – in offering finance that would otherwise be unavailable, or at least not at economically desirable terms. It operates in line with what is referred to as the on-lending principle. In other words, KfW's loans supplement banks' lending offers and make projects possible that in some cases would not have materialised at all without it. More energy-efficient houses are being built in Germany because KfW is supporting these projects on behalf of the federal government, for example with repayment bonuses.
What sets KfW's loans apart from others?
KfW's promotion is geared to sustainability. What this means is that we apply the highest ecological, social and corporate governance standards – and thereby generate impetus on the market. Sustainable finance is becoming increasingly important overall. For example, KfW has committed EUR 250 billion in the area of environmental protection and climate action all over the world in the last ten years – a noteworthy result.
What do you say to allegations that KfW is too big?
Measured by its total assets, KfW is indeed large compared with Germany's commercial banks. It ranks third after Deutsche Bank and DZ Bank. Comparing the total assets of commercial and promotional banks, however, is the wrong yardstick.
First, KfW is not a commercial bank but an institution that offers promotional measures, especially financing, on a mandate from the state. Moreover, Germany's banking market is one of the world's most competitive. We have some 1,900 commercial banks here. These are comparatively small, so that KfW naturally appears big. For example, the five largest commercial banks in Germany together have a market share of just 33 per cent. In the Netherlands, however, that share is 82 per cent.
How, then, can you measure its size?
Instead of comparing KfW with commercial banks, it is more meaningful, for example, to look at promotional banks' total assets in relation to their respective economy, that is, to gross national product. On that basis KfW is within a normal range in international terms. In 2016 that ratio was around 16 per cent for KfW, while in Italy or South Korea it was about 25 per cent.
So larger economies are allowed to have larger promotional banks?
They should have larger promotional banks. Otherwise they cannot generate an economically relevant impact. Measured as a proportion of the German banking market's total financing volume, KfW's financing volume, incidentally, is currently around six per cent. From a regulatory point of view, it's not the size of a promotional bank that matters. What is crucial is that promotional banks operate on a subsidiary basis.
What will KfW's growth look like in the future?
Growth is not one of KfW's goals. Internationally, other promotional banks are growing much more strongly, for example in Italy, France or South Korea, and the EIB Group is also growing at a faster pace. KfW's growth is very selective and restricted to areas of its policy mandate. For example, development finance is being expanded – as a contribution to addressing the causes of poverty and displacement and to achieving international climate targets. The venture capital finance segment will grow as well. The remaining areas of KfW's business develop in accordance with the growth of the economy, where we focus on promotional areas of high political priority. These include environmental protection and climate action, infrastructure, education, innovation and digitalisation.
Law Concerning KfW and KfW By-Laws.
KfW has many tasks. As a promotional bank, KfW Group supports change and encourages forward-looking ideas – in Germany, Europe and throughout the world.
KfW is cooperating with many national promotional banks and institutions in the EU.


Made in 1919, "The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari" was literally years ahead of its time and remains a triumphant accomplishment in the genre of German Expressionism. Remembered mainly for its stunning sets, which featured crooked buildings and twisted landscapes, "Cabinet" also boasts one of the first attempts at a twist ending, something quite new and shocking for its time.
Told mainly from the point of view of Francis, a young man who lives in the small village of Holstenwall, Germany, "Cabinet" tells the tale of murder and madness which seems to accompany the arrival of a carnival. Francis and his best friend Alan go to the carnival and are presented with the sideshow attraction Cesare the Somnambulist, a gaunt and hideous young man who spends his life sleeping in a coffin-like cabinet and seems able to predict the future when awake. Cesare (played by a young Conrad Veidt, who later went on to play the evil Nazi general in Casablanca) informs Alan that he will soon die, and indeed, Alan is found murdered the next morning. Suspicion turns to the eerie somnambulist and his strange keeper, a man called Caligari. As Francis desperately tries to solve the mystery and find his friends killer, it seems that the beautiful young Jane, beloved by both Alan and Francis, has been targeted as the next victim.
Subtle and ingenious, we see the world the way an insane person might see it; warped and confused, a nightmarish terrain where nothing makes sense and balance is not to be found.
The impact of this film is still being felt and seen today, and for good reason. It is a shocking, disturbing masterpiece. I cannot recommend it highly enough.


Done in a very lightweight cotton jersey, this little summer dress has a V-neckline with a button detail and an easy fit. The silhouette is a refined bubble, with a somewhat closer fit through the bust that then flares easily through the hips. The hemline is trimmed with a woven cotton, adding structure to the shape.


text:
Leavenworth County v. Chicago, R. I. & P. Railway Company
Leavenworth County v. Chicago, R. I. & P. Railway Company by Samuel Blatchford
806080Leavenworth County v. Chicago, R. I. & P. Railway Company — SyllabusSamuel Blatchford
D. K. Tenney, S. S. Gregory, and J. M. Flower, for appellant.
Thos. F. Withrow and M. A. LOW, for appellees.
BLATCHFORD, J.
The bill in this case was filed in the circuit court of the United States for the western district of Missouri, on the 25th of September, 1882, by the board of county commissioners of the county of Leaven worth, a municipal corporation of the state of Kansas, on behalf of itself and of all other stockholders of the Chicago & Southwestern Railway Company, chartered in Missouri, against the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Company, an Illinois corporation; the Chicago & Southwestern Railway Company in Iowa; the Chicago & Southwestern Railway Company, (consolidated;) the Iowa Southern & Missouri Northern Railroad Company,-the last-named three companies being Iowa corporations; the Chicago & South western Railway Company, a Missouri corporation; David Dows and Frederick S. Winston, citizens of New Youk; and Calvin F. Burnes, a citizen of Missouri. The plaintiff sues as the owner of $300,000 out of $3,000,000 of the capital stock of the Platte City & Fort Des Moines Railroad Company, a Missouri corporation, which stock it originally subscribed for and paid for at par. The circuit court, held by Mr. Justice MILLER, on a final hearing on pleadings and proofs, dismissed the bill, (25 Fed. Rep. 219,) and the plaintiff has appealed.
The following are the material facts of the case, in the view we take of it, substantially as they are set forth in the opinion of Mr. Justice MILLER, delivered in the circuit court:
Retrieved from "https://en.wikisource.org/w/index.php?title=Leavenworth_County_v._Chicago,_R._I._%26_P._Railway_Company&oldid=2971962"


text:
Front Page Header
Homecoming game: football and royalty
Homecoming queen senior Kendall Walsh is crowned during halftime. "Being queen is almost like an honor," Walsh said. "I made a lot of friends and I've had to be way more outgoing than I normally feel comfortable doing. It was probably the best moment in my life."
Melanie Schepmans
Deltona – The Varsity football team played against Lyman High School's Greyhounds for the annual homecoming game on September 27th on the Pine Ridge field.
Both teams tied 0-0, ending the first quarter.
Greyhounds scored the first touchdown of the game with a kick, making the score 0-7, with 9:42 left in the second quarter.
Greyhounds ran another touchdown but with a flag on the play, the touchdown still counted. The score became 0-14 with 4:51 left in the first half.
University scored their first touchdown bringing the score to 6-14.
"I felt like [after the first touchdown] we were starting to get something going, and we were just hoping we could keep it going" corner back Cole Leisure said.
Lyman scored another touchdown making the score 6-28 Greyhound lead.
Greyhounds scored again ending the third quarter 6-42.
A strong kick landed University another touchdown moving the score to 13-42 with 4:49 left in the game.
Lyman won the game with a final score of 13-42.
Melanie Schepmans, Author


This is a non-commercial attempt from http://www.sanctuaryasia.com/ to highlight the fact that world leaders, irresponsible corporates and mindless 'consumers' are combining to destroy life on earth. It is dedicated to all who died fighting for the planet and those whose lives are on the line today. The cut was put together by Vivek Chauhan, a young film maker, together with naturalists working with the Sanctuary Asia network (http://www.sanctuaryasia.com/).


WPT File Extension – What is .WPT file and How to open it?
Having trouble opening .wpt extension? Don't panic! This page explains what wpt files are as well as suggests programs you may use to open wpt files. You can download these programs through this page.
What is a WPT file?
Wpt file extension has WordPerfect Template file type, developed by Corel, which is associated with the "text files" category.
Associated with WordPerfect, the template file contains a pre-formatted document, which allows creating WordPerfect (.WPD) documents.
How to open WPT file?
Double click the wpt file to open it. The file will open automatically if file associations have been correctly installed and there is a proper program on your computer; if not, file associations may be corrupted and your OS either cannot find the proper program, or you might not have one for opening the file. First, we recommend downloading our utility to fix file association errors; then, you can download any program for opening the .wpt extension from the ones suggested below. If you are certain there is nothing wrong with the file associations, you may proceed to method 2 right away; besides, if you can't make up your mind when choosing the right program, use Universal File Viewer from the last method.
The given list provides programs which may be used for opening or converting the wpt file. Choose the proper program for your OS, and click it to start the download or proceed to the developer's website.
In addition to the list of programs above, we recommend using Universal File Viewer. This tool can open over 250 file extensions and, most likely, it will be able to open the wpt file as well. Download Universal File Viewer for your OS.
There are 3 other file types using the WPT file extension!


Facebook has released a new version of their Android app, and according to Facebook the new Facebook Android app is designed to be faster, features a newly designed user interface and more.
Facebook for Android now makes it easier to share photos from you Android device, the messaging part of the app has also been updated and you latest message notifications now appear at the top of your smartphones display.
You can find out more details about the changes to the Facebook for Android app over at the Facebook Blog.


Promote your specials for dads special day with the Fathers Day Special flyer from MustHaveMenus. This attention-grabbing design features an image of a father and daughter sharing pizza. The rustic wood panel background gives the design a distinct old-school dad feel, and plenty of room to add in your specials. Post details, change colors, add photos, and much more. Then order your prints and post the flyers where your customers can see them.


The Group's strategy will reflect in a three-tiered organisation structure to meet our ambitions.
The "Union of cooperatives", encompassing the Group's long-standing businesses and the allocated resources. Acting as the Group's parent company, it manages the interests of members and sets out strategic directions. Governance is exclusively by representatives of member cooperatives.
The main holding company, "InVivo Group", responsible for corporate and brand functions and forming the dividing line between activities inherent to the Union of cooperatives and economic activities.
Business-line subsidiaries/holding companies, bringing together all the Group's economic activities corresponding to the laws of the markets in which they are based. Each business-line subsidiary/holding company establishes and rolls out its own strategy in respect of Group strategy.
InVivo policy directions are established by a board of directors. Day-to-day business management is ensured by an executive committee, flanked by operational and functional departments.
The board is made up of 29 cooperative-mandated representatives.
Five monitoring committees have been created: AgroSciences, Seeds, Nutrition France, Retail and Wine. Between two and four directors sit on each of these. They review the key points of the activity concerned, its economic and financial performance, areas requiring further investigation.
The management team consists of an executive commitee (Comex) and a management commitee.
The Executive Committee establishes and implements the Group's strategy. It tracks the performances and results of the different business units and leads strategic projects.
The management commitee coordinates the management of activities, tools and employees.
Philippe Mangin, chairman of InVivo (left) et Jérôme Calleau, deputy chairman of InVivo (right).
The board of directors represents all of the member cooperatives and determines the Group's policy directions. The board ensures compliance with the Group's policy directions. Made up of nine members and one qualified person, the board prepares the materials presented at the board of directors meeting.
201 cooperatives meet at an annual general assembly to elect the members of the board of directors.


You are invited to join Victoria in magical Santa Fe, New Mexico—the heart of the mystical Southwest—for a deeply transformational journey of intense inner work and profound openings into new vistas of expanded awareness.
During this powerful virtual retreat, we celebrated the close of 2017 – a year that has brought us intense energetic upgrades, an unprecedented level of transformation, and challenges that pushed us further than we had imagined possible. And joyfully welcomed 2018, which promises to be equally as intense, challenging and rich with as yet undreamt of transformational possibilities.
Truly this magnificent experience of planetary ascension is what we are all here for. And those of us gathered felt that dedicating this New Year's weekend as a time to retreat, reflect and rejoice in a field of co-created Oneness was the best way to celebrate this grace. Even if you couldn't make it live, you can participate in the power and presence with this audio series.
For a detailed description, please see our Brochure here.


text:
Alfredo Remo Lazzeretti (7 de octubre de 1962, Mar del Plata) Contador Público (2003, UNMDP) Especialista en Administración Financiera Gubernamental, docente y dirigente político. Dese 2017 es Rector de la Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata.  Desde 2015 es Profesor Adjunto en las asignaturas  Organización y Administración Financiera del Estado y Economía Social y Solidaria para el Desarrollo Regional en la Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Sociales de la UNMdP

Reseña biográfica
Entre los años 1991 y 2003, cumplió funciones de Secretario Internacional de la Juventud del Partido Socialista Popular. Vicepresidente de la Unión Internacional de Juventudes Socialistas – IUSY. Secretario General de la Unión Internacional de Juventudes Socialistas – IUSY. Jefe de asesores del Diputado Nacional PSP Rubén Guistiniani. Director de la Escuela de Formación Política del PSP y luego en el PS. Director de Relaciones Institucionales – Cámara de Diputados Prov. Buenos Aires. Secretario Ejecutivo de la Federación Argentina de Municipios. Secretario general del PSP – PS en la ciudad de Mar del Plata, Fue Diputado Provincial (Buenos Aires, Argentina) por el Partido Socialista (PS) en el Frente Amplio Progresista (FAP) entre 2011 y 2015

En el ámbito universitario, entre los años 1984 y 1988, ocupó los cargos de Presidente de Centro de Estudiantes, Consejero Académico y Consejero Superior en la Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Sociales en la Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Secretario General de la Federación Universitaria Marplatense e integrante de la Mesa Directiva de la Federación Universitaria Argentina. Entre los años 2004 y 2006 cumplió funciones como Subsecretario de Administración Financiera de la Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Entre 2008 y 2015 se desempeñó cono Ayudante de primera en la asignatura Organización y Administración Pública (FCEyS, UNMdP)

Políticos
Diputados
Marplatenses
Rectores

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
The Sea Wings Legacy
Edward D. Chang
Defense, Military, and Foreign Policy Writer
Between the end of the Cold War and 9/11, U.S. naval aviation transformed itself
Over a decade before he made his own documentary, Francesco "Paco" Chierici appeared in one.
Lt. Francesco "Paco" Chierici, USN, as seen in Sea Wings: Defender of the Fleet. Credit: Screencap from Sea Wings: Defender of the Fleet, Discovery Communications, 1995
In 1995, the Discovery Channel produced an 11-episode spin-off of its long-running, hugely popular military aviation documentary series Wings. The spin-off, titled Sea Wings, focused specifically on naval aviation, including both aircraft carrier-borne and land-based platforms. "Paco" Chierici, retired United States Naval Aviator and creator and producer of the critically-acclaimed Speed & AngelsThe height of an aircraft in thousands of feet. from 2008, was, in '95, a Grumman F-14A Tomcat pilot and appeared in the episode about the legendary fighter/interceptor, titled Defender of the Fleet.
Paco's unit, Fighter SquadronAn aviation organization composed of aircrew, support personnel, aircraft, and equipment. 213 (VF-213) "Black Lions," was assigned to Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11) and embarked aboard the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). Though the Tomcat was well into its third decade of service by then and VF-213 had been flying F-14s since the late-1970s, "Abe" was only commissioned five years prior, with just two deployments under its belt. Likewise, Paco had been flying operationally for little over five years, starting his career in a Grumman A-6E Intruder squadron in 1991 post-Desert Storm before transitioning to Tomcats as the former progressively retired.
Title sequence from Sea Wings documentary series. Credit: Screencap from Sea Wings: Defender of the Fleet, Discovery Communications, 1995
Documentaries like Sea Wings are certainly dated but remain highly valuable as time capsules that provide a "snapshot" of U.S. naval aviation in the 1990s. Less than a decade had passed since the fall of the Berlin WallA formation of four aircraft abeam each other in a relatively-straight line, albeit possibly at different altitudes. and the Soviet Union had ceased to exist less than four years prior. Naval aviation, as it stood in 1995, was an institution built around the mission of confronting the Soviet threat and that threat was now gone.
"It was at the nadir during a low point in global threat and a gap between some aircraft that were being retired or canceled and the future aircraft coming online," as described by Chierici. Furthermore, smaller wars like Desert Storm had exposed both the strengths and limitations of naval aviation and the '90s were a time of re-focus and re-organization as the military as a whole figured out how best to tackle missions of the present and the future.
The most noticeable change was the number of carrier battle groups. When the Soviet Union collapsed, the U.S. Navy possessed 15 carriers across four separate classes. Four years later, the Navy had retired four carriers and gained one, resulting in a fleet of 12. Considering nuclear refueling, overhauls, and repairs, the number of active, available-for-tasking carrier strike groups—as they are now called, was less than that. More cuts were on the horizon and, while new carriers were eventually built, the Navy struggled to maintain a 12-carrier fleet and, from 2013 – 2017, operated 10.
The next major change was in air wing composition and size. In Defender of the Fleet, Paco and VF-213 constitute the lone pure fighter squadron of CVW-11, following decades in which air wings carried two. Some air wings were still assigned two fighter squadrons during this time; another Discovery Channel documentary released in 1995, the highly acclaimed Carrier: Fortress at Sea, featured USS Carl Vinson, which was assigned two F-14D "Super" Tomcat squadrons. But this had become an exception by this point and would become increasingly so going forward.
Grumman F-14A Tomcat Lion 106 (BuNo 161297) at the Naval Air Station Miramar flight line. Though this photograph was taken in May 1993, the markings and tail insignia are identical to what VF-213 adorned in 1995 as well. Credit: Doug Siegfried
By 1996, air wings averaged 75 total aircraft, according to retired Navy Captain and defense analyst Jerry Hendrix. Air wings with one F-14 squadron were assigned 14, although they sometimes carried fewer. Paco recalls deploying with 11 in '95.
Overall, the '90s were a time of shrinking defense budgets and military downsizing. But, contrary to conventional wisdom, the "peace dividend" did not have the detrimental impact on capability and readiness as some pundits have claimed over the years.
"Paradoxically, as the fleet of aircraft shrinks, parts and maintainers become more readily available," Paco explained. "My last cruise in the Tomcat in '95? I didn't miss a single sortie in six months. Our jets were all up and ready to rock."
The changes in air wing composition were not only the result of fiscal decisions, they were also the result of changes in focus. While the aircraft carrier had proved an effective instrument of power projection, experience in the '80s and then Desert Storm in '91 showed it was time to evolve. After the war, MIT professor Barry Posen summarized the Navy's mission as the service envisioned it as a byproduct of the Cold War:
Their idea is that they steam around in the open oceans and attack naval targets ashore, such as ports and naval airfields, that they fight other people's navies at sea and defend their carriers and amphibious forces from assault.
With the Soviet air and naval threat having receded, naval aviation shifted its focus towards precision attack on targets further inland. The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet was arguably the centerpiece of this shift; having initially entered service in the '80s as a replacement for the LTV A-7E Corsair II in the "light attack" role. In the '90s the Hornet truly emerged as an authentic "strike" fighter capable of precision attack. It was also during the mid- '90s that ground-attack capabilities were adapted to the F-14.
Patch commemorating the final deployment of Grumman A-6E Intruder squadron VA-95 "Green Lizards" prior to disestablishment on October 31, 1995. Credit: www.seaforces.org
Another reminder the '90s were a transitional period was the enduring presence of the A-6. Operationally introduced in 1963, the Intruder was on its way out. '95 was the last time an A-6 would fly aboard Abe and be assigned to CVW-11 and the platform would officially retire two years later, bringing the era of "medium attack" to a close. The Intruder probably exited at the top of its game, however.
Having received its final upgrade under the Systems/Weapons Improvement Program (SWIP), the last Intruders standing exceeded their reputation as mere "bomb trucks;" they could employ a dizzying array of precision-guided weaponry, including AGM-65 Maverick The AGM-65 Maverick is an air-to-ground missile (AGM) designed for close air support. It is the most widely produced precision-guided missile in the Western world, and is effective against a wide range of tactical targets, including armor, air defenses, ships, ground transportation and fuel storage facilities. and AGM-84E SLAM land-attack missiles, AGM-88 HARMs for air defense suppression, and laser-guided bombs. While the priceless KA-6D Tanker variant had been retired the year before, A-6Es could still perform as mid-air refuelers using buddy stores, another reminder of the platform's versatility.
Still, it might have been as good a time as any for the A-6 to go. "Adapting F-14s to the air-to-ground role and the advent of GPS-guided weaponry rendered the Intruder obsolete," said . "The Intruder was a relic that performed past her prime due to the community's creativity and professionalism. You don't need a plane that carries 30 500-pound bombs anymore." Apart from the tanker role, the F-14 would ultimately fill the A-6's shoes admirably, in some cases exceeding them.
Other platforms, such as the Sikorsky SH-3H Sea King helicopter, ended operational service with the Navy in the mid-'90s, replaced by the Sikorsky SH-60F/HH-60G Seahawks in the anti-submarine warfare (ASWAnti-submarine Warfare. The process of detecting, tracking, and in some cases–destroying, enemy submarines.), search-and-rescue, and utility roles. The Lockheed S-3 Viking had been upgraded to the advanced 'B' variant by this point, though its ASW mission faded in the late-'90s and serve almost exclusively as a maritime surveillance aircraft and tanker until its retirement in 2009.
Naval aviation underwent changes on land as well. In 1995, the Navy Fighter Weapons School, better-known as TOPGUNaka Navy Fighter Weapons School. A US Navy institution that develops and provides graduate-level strike-fighter tactics., was still located at iconic Naval Air Station Miramar in San Diego. A year later, however, as part of post-Cold War base realignment and closure programs, NAS Miramar was transferred to the Marine Corps and TOPGUN moved to NAS Fallon, Nevada, where Naval Strike Warfare Center (STRIKE "U") had been located for over ten years. TOPGUN, along with STRIKE "U" and other schools, were consolidated under a single umbrella organization known as the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, now known as Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center.
The decision to hand Miramar to the Marines had other repercussions. All F-14 squadrons, for example, regardless of whether they were assigned to an East Coast or West Coast air wing, were consolidated at NAS Oceana, Virginia. Of course, the F-14 was set to be retired in the mid-2000s and their units transitioned into F/A-18E/F Super Hornet squadrons, so the decision made organizational sense.
Institutional changes were abound in the '90s. The combat exclusion policy for female servicemembers had been lifted in 1993, opening the door for women to serve as combat aviators. Abe saw a number of women flying off her flight deck, including Carey Lohrenz of VF-213. Brenda Scheufele flew F/A-18C Hornets for Strike Fighter Squadron 94 (VFA-94) "Mighty Shrikes" and was featured in the Sea Wings episode The Killer Bee.
Transitional periods were nothing new for the Navy, of course. The service underwent a particularly notable one in the 1970s following the Vietnam War. It is arguably undergoing another one now as the U.S. attempts to leave behind smaller, more limited wars in theaters like Afghanistan and Iraq and re-orient itself towards what it sees as burgeoning "great power" conflict with China and Russia.
But as the saying goes, "it's not about the destination, it is about the journey." The mission of naval aviation is an ongoing one, validated not necessarily by what the communities and services anticipate, but by their ability to adapt to new missions and realities that deliver unexpected challenges.
"Because of the history and ethos of the seafaring community, creativity and freethinking are baked into the DNA of the U.S. Navy," said Paco. "The flexibility of the organization and the delegation of decision making to the lowest level of pilots is unparalleled in the military."
Indeed, when it came time for the next big war, naval aviation was ready. As Vice Admiral Timothy J. Keating assessed the summer prior to 9/11, "A carrier air wing can strike five times as many aimpoints each day as its predecessors could in Operation Desert Storm." Which was to say, the 21st century carrier air wing, even with its reduced complement and the retirement of platforms like the A-6, was still able to hit more targets than a larger-sized Cold War-era air wing.
A decade of hard work had produced an even more formidable force. For the men and women who took part in the transition, it was also a great time. Just ask Paco, who has since added novelist to his list of accomplishments by authoring Lions of the Sky, about his appearance in Sea Wings!
"I don't remember the details, except that it was great, and a lot of fun!"
Edward Chang is a defense, military, and foreign policy writer. His writing has most prominently appeared in The American Conservative, The Aviation Geek Club, The Federalist, The National Interest, and Spectator USA. Follow him on Twitter at @Edward_Chang_8.
To Push or Not To Push…
The Upside of Callsigns


We have some young people starting with us after Easter and the will be working on SLES15.. Gnome is the display manager and for us old people it's not our DM of choice, but I need the help to find a good "script" for Gnome that we can use with the new people. It needs to be able to write the terminal output to a file in /tmp/logs with a file name that has the "hostname" - Date - time and what ever you think is helpful. We need to be able to guide and help the good people and also pass results back to the Universality in Darmstadt. From my look around the web there are quite a few, but I was thinking on this forum I'm sure there is the best of the best.


The Razer Man O War 7.1 headset does what all good gaming headsets should, provides great quality audio and not crush your neck with weight. With all round quality and excellent Razer adaptability, the set has found its place as a regular for me. Despite a couple of minor downsides, there's not much to criticize here at all, and that's just fine by us.
Razer's ManO'War is a compelling package as it has both excellent hardware and software, and is pretty comfortable too thanks to its thick, plush earpieces, though I wish the pad on the top was softer. On the audio front it delivers thundering bass, clean mids and highs, and its retractable mic is about as good as it gets too. Overall the only real major knock against it is its all-plastic construction, which certainly makes it light but at this price I'd like it to feel more solid and durable. It's also a shame that unlike some of its competitors it can't be used with an Xbox or phone/tablet.
Being designed alongside the critically acclaimed Razer Man O' War Wireless headset, its wired counterpart was always going to be good. Sure it isn't perfect and lacks some of the features you may expect from a flagship peripheral such as RGB lighting but it looks the part, has great audio presence, amazing virtual 7.1 surround sound and is probably one of the most comfortable headsets you'll ever adorn on your head.
If we had to choose one headset to be stranded on a desert island with, the ManO'War would be on the short list and a serious contender for best all around headset of the year (reasonably priced ones).
I absolutely love the Man O' War 7.1. I don't need wireless connectivity or RGB lighting, I just need a headset that has decent sound quality and is comfy to wear, and the 7.1 nails it in both of those aspects. There's a few confusing absences from the original, and it's definitely only for people with big heads, but this is easily the best gaming headset I've ever used.
The Razer Man O'War 7.1 offers up some of the best sound quality that you'll find a gaming headset. As long as you aren't planning to do any serious recording, streaming, or broadcasting with the mic, you'll love this headset.
For sheer convenience – and for players who use PC for most of their gaming with more casual time spent with the console, the Razer ManO'War 7.1 could be an ideal choice. But if you're a console gamer, don't pick up the ManO'War expecting flawless surround sound. You'll be disappointed.
The included USB converter is supposed to be a low latency 7.1 audio processor but it doesn't save calibration on-board, requiring Razer Synapse to be installed and running in the background eating system resources which is counter intuitive to latency. If you have to use software and want the surround sound experience, Razer's free to download Surround Sound software suite probably works with your current onboard audio device and regular headphones for a negligible increase in latency over Synapse.