Kyle C. Kopper, P.E., Chief Structure Design Engineer, a long-time subscriber to the Iron & Steel Preservation Chronicle, invited me to present to personnel from the Bureau of Bridges and Structures at MDOT’s Horatio S. Earle Learning Center in Dimondale, Michigan. Due to MDOT’s funding priorities related to rehabilitating existing highway infrastructure, Kopper believed increased knowledge of available rehabilitation and preservation techniques would benefit MDOT personnel. At the end of the presentation a drawing was conducted for a nineteenth century wrought iron rivet, etched and polished to show the long strands of siliceous slag and iron.
A week before this presentation, Kopper and several MDOT Bridge Unit crew participated in a hands-on rivet demonstration using a Boyer pneumatic field rivet hammer at Lansing Community College’s West Campus. Scott Poe (Lead Welding Instructor) led the MDOT participants in driving rivets. Jeff Haynes (Welding Instructor) was the rivet heater, with Kevin Schraft (Professional Support, Welding Technology) and Jeff Seelye (Welding Instructor) operating the pneumatic holder-on.
