David J. Transue, P.E.

Mr. Transue specializes in structural and nonstructural condition and failure assessments of buildings, non-destructive evaluation and imaging, masonry and concrete material analysis, and the restoration, repair and retrofit of structures. Mr. Transue has investigated a variety of structure types, including low and mid-rise residential and commercial buildings, industrial, educational, and government facilities, bridges, retaining walls and sound walls, and monuments. Mr. Transue has experience in historic preservation, including testing and analysis of mortar, brick, and stone, investigation of moisture control issues such as efflorescence and rising damp, and specification of repairs such as grout injection, remedial façade anchoring, and compatible repointing. He has evaluated and helped restore several structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Mr. Transue has investigated building envelope performance problems and failures that involved adhered veneer and stucco systems, masonry veneers, exterior insulation finish systems (EIFS), pre-cast concrete panels, and steep and low-sloped roof systems. He has investigated poorly performing foundations and slabs-on-grade related to swelling soils and material deterioration.

Mr. Transue is experienced with in-situ structural testing and imaging, including sonic and ultrasonic testing, tomographic imaging using sonic and ultrasonic waves, imaging with surface-penetrating radar, infrared thermography, in-place masonry shear testing, and in-place compression testing using flatjacks. He also has performed field water testing of window and wall systems.

Mr. Transue has performed fundamental research regarding ultrasonic imaging of concrete, development of an in-situ mortar hardness test, and material analysis.

Prior to joining Exponent, Mr. Transue worked as a research assistant, a consulting engineer, and owned and operated a construction company.

Grimm CT, Transue DJ. Chapter 13. Masonry. In: Forensic Structural Engineering Handbook, Second Edition. McGraw-Hill, New York, 2010.

Transue DJ. Masonry material evaluation. Proceedings, ASCE Structures Congress 2006: Structural Engineering and Public Safety, American Society of Civil Engineers, Reston VA, 2006.

Rens KL, Nogueira C, Transue D. Bridge management and nondestructive evaluation. The Denver Management System, Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, ASCE 2005; 19(1).

Transue DJ. Chapter 18. Masonry. In: Structural Condition Assessment. SEI/ASCE, Ratay RT (ed),Structural Engineering Institute, American Society of Civil Engineers, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2005.

Rens KL, Nogueira CL, Transue DJ. Bridge evaluation using nondestructive evaluation. The Denver Management System, Forensic Engineering - Proceedings, 3rd Congress, San Diego, CA, October 2003.

Transue DJ. Conducting in-place shear tests. In: Masonry Construction, Hanley-Wood, Addison, IL, Vol. 16, No. 7, September, 2003.

Rens KL, Transue DJ. Tomographic imaging of cracked pier cap of Evans over Santa Fe Bridge. Concrete Repair Bulletin. International Concrete Repair Institute, Des Plaines, IL, Vol. 15, No. 4, July/August 2002.

Rens KL, Transue DJ, Schuller MP. Acoustic tomographic imaging of concrete infrastructure. Journal of Infrastructure Systems, American Society of Civil Engineers 2000 Mar; 6(1):15-23.

Transue DJ. Tech Notes: Using ethyl silicate consolidants on bricks. Colorado Preservationist, Colorado Preservation 2000; 14(1).

Transue DJ. Sounding for grout and steel in masonry walls. TMS Responds, The Masonry Society 2000; 1(2).

Transue DJ, Schuller MP, Rens KL. Use of the pendulum hammer hardness test for mortar evaluation. Proceedings, 8th North American Masonry Conference, The Masonry Society, Austin, TX, June 6-9, 1999.

Transue DJ. Nondestructive method for hardness evaluation of mortars. M.S. Thesis, University of Colorado at Denver, 1999.

Rens KL, Transue DJ. Recent trends in nondestructive inspections in state highway agencies. Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, Technical Note, American Society of Civil Engineers, 1998; 12(2).

Transue DJ, Rens KL, Schuller MP. A study of the practicality of acoustic tomographic imaging for the NDE of concrete structures. Infrastructure Condition Assessment: Art, Science, and Practice, Mitsuru Saito (ed), American Society of Civil Engineers, NY, 1997.

Presentations

Transue DJ. Forensic engineering: Masonry Troubles. Seminar at Rocky Mountain Masonry Institute, Denver CO, October 6, 2010.

Transue DJ. Investigative tools and methods: Infrared thermography for building evaluation. Teaching Seminar for Colorado Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education Program, Denver CO, September 17, 2010.

Transue DJ. Masonry materials, water, and preservation. Seminar at Rocky Mountain Masonry Institute, Denver, CO, September, 2008.

Transue DJ (session organizer and presenter). Setting Colorado in stone. Saving Places Conference, Colorado Preservation Inc., Denver CO, February 7, 2008.

Transue DJ. Professional practice in structural condition assessment: Masonry Material evaluation. Presentation of Paper at the Structures Congress, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), St. Louis, MO, May 2006.

Transue DJ. Masonry connections. Seminar at Rocky Mountain Masonry Institute, Denver CO, April 2004.

Transue DJ. Bracing masonry walls. Class for Masonry Apprenticeship Program at Construction Industry Training Council, March 2004.

Transue DJ. Bradford-Perley House: Engineering analysis of stone masonry. Saving Places Conference, Colorado Preservation Inc., Denver, CO, February 2004.

Transue DJ. Foundations and frames. Saving Places Conference, Colorado Preservation Inc., Denver, CO, February 2003.

Transue DJ. Lectures on masonry design. Gave two lectures as part of Masonry Design class, University of Colorado at Boulder, Civil Engineering Department, Fall 2003.

Transue DJ. Professional Advisor for Year-Long Senior Design Project, Subject: Bradford-Perley House ruins stabilization project funded by the Colorado State Historical Fund, Colorado School of Mines, 2002–2003.

Transue DJ. Laboratory program for Colonial Williamsburg Smokehouse grout injection project. Poster, Architectural Preservation Section of American Institute for Conservation (AIC) Conference, Miami, FL, May 2002. As part of a panel of project participants, described test program and answered questions concerning laboratory work on the Colonial Williamsburg Smokehouse (Presentation by Tom Taylor, Director of Architectural Conservation at Colonial Williamsburg).

Transue DJ. Making the Grade: Masonry, Colorado Preservation Inc. Saving Places Conference, Colorado Preservation Inc., Denver CO, February 2001.

Transue DJ. Use of the pendulum hammer hardness test for mortar evaluation. Paper Presentation, 8th North American Masonry Conference, The Masonry Society, Austin, TX, June 6–9, 1999.

Transue DJ. Use of the pendulum hammer hardness test for mortar evaluation. Presented results of NCPTT Research Project on mortar hardness testing at Learning from Landmarks Conference, Association for Preservation Technology, Williamsburg, VA, 1998.

Transue DJ. A study of the practicality of acoustic tomographic imaging for the NDE of concrete structures. Paper presented at Infrastructure Condition Assessment, Art Science and Practice, by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), August 25–27, 1997.

Transue DJ. Various Lectures. While a graduate student, gave several lectures on Mechanics of Materials and Structural Analysis for Dr. Kevin Rens at the University of Colorado at Denver, 1996–1998.

Reports

Transue DJ (with the Rocky Mountain Masonry Institute, the University of Colorado at Denver, and Atkinson-Noland & Associates). Nondestructive method for hardness evaluation of mortars. Project report for the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, National Park Service, Grant Agreement No. MT-2210-7-NC-013, Natchitoches, LA, 1998.

Rens KL, Transue DJ. Cement manufacturing project: Improving plant output by mitigating static electricity. Report for the Portland Cement Association, Account 353-6614, September, 1998.

Transue DJ. Examination of ultrasonic signal attenuation as an indicator of compressive strength. Graduate Research Opportunity Project, the University of Colorado at Denver, June 1998.

• Project Engineer, Transue Engineering Associates LLC, 2005–2010
• President, Preservation Technology LLC, 2000–2010
• Project Engineer, Western Engineering & Research Corporation, 2008–2010
• Project Engineer, Atkinson-Noland & Associates

• The American Society of Civil Engineers—ASCE
• The American Society for Testing and Materials—ASTM
• The Masonry Society—TMS
• The Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute—PCI
• The Firestop Contractors International Association—FCIA