Many engineers, professional societies, industry associations, and governmental agencies helped the author find and assemble the thousands of formulas presented in this book. Hence, the author wishes to acknowledge this help and assistance.

The author s principal helper, advisor, and contributor was the late Frederick S. Merritt, P.E., Consulting Engineer. For many years Fred and the author were editors on companion magazines at The McGraw-Hill Companies. Fred was an editor on Engineering-News Record, whereas the author was an editor on Power magazine. Both lived on Long Island and traveled on the same railroad to and from New York City, spending many hours together discussing engineering, publishing, and book authorship.

When the author was approached by the publisher to prepare this book, he turned to Fred Merritt for advice and help. Fred delivered, preparing many of the formulas in this book and giving the author access to many more in Fred s extensive files and published materials. The author is most grateful to Fred for his extensive help, advice, and guidance.

Further, the author thanks the many engineering societies, industry associations, and governmental agencies whose work is referred to in this publication. These organizations provide the framework for safe design of numerous structures of many different types.

The author also thanks Larry Hager, Senior Editor, Professional Group, The McGraw-Hill Companies, for his excellent guidance and patience during the long preparation of the manuscript for this book. Finally, the author thanks his wife, Mary Shanley Hicks, a publishing professional, who always most...