Guesswork Cut By New Method.

This article focuses on a new prediction method devised by Columbus, Ohio-based Battelle Memorial Institute, to reduce the guesswork and increasing the certainty for designers of both structures and heavy equipment. The highly accurate method calculates for previously unaccounted-for low-frequency harmonic stress, such as earthquakes, ocean waves or a car passing over a bridge. Pingsha Dong, technical director for welded structures research at the Institute, found such stress primarily responsible for damage to welded joints. His method, dubbed Verity, easily integrates into computer-aided design programs. Verity now is used primarily in private industry. If included in building codes, it could predict the life expectancy of structures such as bridges with the highest order of accuracy.