Airplane Gimbal
Challenge: Our client requested that we analyze a mechanical gimbal to support an A320 Airbus for use in a production. The gimbal frame was 36' long x 18' wide x 6' deep and supported a 200k plane. The gimbal was designed to pitch and roll up to 12 degrees about its...
Existing Theater Grid Load Rating
Challenge: The client wanted to determine allowable lineset and grid loads for an existing theater gridiron built in 1931. Dozens of existing lineset loads had to be accounted for in the analysis. The age of the structure required that the analysis consider the lower...
Large Tech Fair Engineer of Record
Challenge: Hopper Engineering Associates was tasked with being the Engineer of Record for a large yearly tech fair occurring at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, CA. The project included reviewing 8 large tents, 9 geodesic dome enclosures, 6 steel shade...
Rotatable Aluminum Frame Structure for Concert
Challenge: Hopper Engineering Associates was requested to analyze five identical hanging 10 feet by 10 feet structural frames made out of aluminum. One side is equipped with a display screen while the other has a cantilevered platform for the performer to stand on....
Performance in Toronto – CV Tower Stage Set Piece
Challenge: Our client built a 52-foot high x 44 ft diameter stage set-piece, which resembles the center portion of the CN tower in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, for a live show in that city. The set-piece also serves as a stage deck platform for performers to stand on...
Car Crash Stunt
Challenge: Hopper Engineering was asked to perform a structural analysis and risk assessment of a car crash stunt for a film production company. The stunt involved reversing a car at speed into a concrete support column in a 4-story parking garage. The production...
C-130 Paratroop Door Structural Evaluation for Firefighting Equipment Loads
Challenge: Demonstrate the structural adequacy of the C-130 aircraft paratroop door when used for firefighting missions. The outlet nozzle of the foam spray system passes through the door, causing drag force loading in combination with internal pressure and inertial...
Concrete Fragility for Aircraft Impact
Challenge: A reinforced concrete structure required evaluation for the effects of an aircraft impact. The large expected deformations and highly non-linear behavior of concrete necessitated the development of a detailed finite element model of the structure in which...
Bullet and Blast Resistant Enclosure (BBRE) Support Structure
Challenge: A BBRE booth which is 10' x 12' x 10' tall is to be installed 12 feet above ground level for observation purposes. The structure will be subject to a high blast load of 25 psi incident pressure. Resolution: In order to reduce the load effects on the support...
Motorized LAPD Target Lift System
Challenge: To verify the structural adequacy of a motorized aluminum target lift system to support its self-weight, dynamic, and seismic loads. Special attention was required to account for the dynamic vertical movement of the motorized portion of the target lift...