Steel Castings for Enhanced Performance and Economy in Steel Bridges

Presented by Carlos de Oliveira, MASc., P.Eng., President & CEO, Cast Connex Corporation

This presentation will provide an introduction to casting manufacturing and its application in structural engineering and steel construction and will explain how cast steel nodes can be used to improve the overall structural efficiency and performance of bridge structures.  Specific attention will be given to how the use of cast steel nodes can reduce overall tonnage, reduce deflections and improve the predictability of the structure’s natural frequency, and improve coating system performance and longevity of bridge structures. The presentation will include several examples of highway, rail, and pedestrian bridges incorporating cast steel nodes from around the world and in the United States.

About the authors’….

Carlos de Oliveira is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Cast Connex Corporation. He received a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Waterloo, a Master of Applied Science from the University of Toronto, and he is a licensed Professional Engineer in several jurisdictions.  Carlos is a co-founder of Cast Connex and is a foremost expert in the design and use of steel castings in building and bridge construction.  Carlos, Cast Connex, and many projects on which they have collaborated have been recognized with various industry awards and accolades from organizations including the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), the National Steel Bridge Alliance (NSBA), the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies (ACEC), and CIDECT.

Jennifer is Vice President of CAST CONNEX. A licensed structural engineer with over 14 years of experience in design of structures and construction, she received her Bachelors in Civil Engineering with a Minor in Architecture from Carnegie Mellon University and her Masters in Mechanics, Materials and Structures from Princeton University where she focused her studies on aesthetics, efficiency, and economy of structures.
Jennifer has worked as a structural engineering consultant based in New York City, Africa, and Southeast Asia; she was Teaching Fellow in Mechanics, Materials and Sciences at Princeton University and Adjunct Professor of Architecture at The Cooper Union. In 2020 she was appointed to Princeton University’s CEE Advisory Council, the ASCE SEI Aesthetics Committee, and as Chair of the newly formed AASTHO/NSBA TG-17: Castings in Bridges.