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• Aviation Security: Posting Notices at Domestic Airports

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  This report from the General Accounting Office's (GAO) Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division, addresses the following specific questions: (1) What are the bases for security assessments at foreign and domestic airports, and how do they differ? (2) What are the views and opinions of the aviation community-that is, of industry, government, and consumer groups-on a policy that would require FAA to post public notices in domestic airports about the security risks at other domestic airports? Representatives of government, the aviation industry, and consumer groups surveyed unanimously opposed the establishment of a policy to post notices in domestic airports about security risks at other domestic airports. They frequently cited concerns about providing a blueprint for terrorists and being unable to measure and compare differences in the security risks at airports that varied in their threat and vulnerability situations.

  United States. General Accounting Office

  1997-03-25
• Redefining the Role of the National Guard Divisions in the Strategy of Engagement and Enlargement

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  "The Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) is the latest in a series of initiatives designed to capture a post-Cold War 'peace dividend' through restructuring and downsizing U.S. military forces. Among the major issues to be resolved is the future role for the National Guard divisions in the force structure mix. This paper applies two conceptual models, one for force structure assessment and another for total mission capabilities, to examine the appropriate role for the National Guard divisions. The thesis developed in the paper is that the eight National Guard divisions are essential to the U.S. military strategy but must be restructured to maximize their utility within the total force."

  Army War College (U.S.)

  Wilson, George W.

  1997-03-25
• Terrorist Use of Weapons of Mass Destruction Within the United States: Asymmetric Warfare Paradigm in the 21st Century

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  The use of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) by terrorists within the United States presents a clear and present danger to national security. In virtually every region of the world, nation states are arming themselves with WMD. Coupled to the rising spread of WMD is the growing list of nations sponsoring worldwide terrorism. The proliferating nature of this combined threat of WMD and terrorism is changing the paradigm of asymmetrical warfare as we approach the new millennium. Reviewing the U.S. Government responses to terrorism and WMD reveals a fragmented framework that addresses these threats separately, without one federal agency in the lead. The world witnessed this new paradigm of asymmetrical attack when the Japanese religious cult, Aum Shinrikyo or Supreme Truth, attacked the Tokyo subway system using the chemical nerve agent Sarin on 20 March 1995. The Department of Defense should take action and assign this critical mission to a Joint WMD response force to support the federal, state and local crisis response framework.

  Army War College (U.S.)

  Brown, Michael T.

  1997-03-24
• Pueblo Community Csepp Exercise 1997 (Pueblo CSEPP EX 97)

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  "The Pueblo CSEPP EX-97 [Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program Exercise-97] was conducted on 5 February 1997 to demonstrate the emergency response capabilities of the Pueblo CSEPP Community as specified in the extent of play agreements and to resolve open findings identified during past exercises."

  Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program

  1997-03-22
• Computer Viruses: Testing Will Never Be the Same

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  "Virus prompts partial EPA shutdown was the headline in the November 11, 1996 edition of Federal Computer Week. The article below the headline described the infection of over 600 workstations with a resultant loss of information and a significant denial-of-service as personnel stopped all productive work to deal with the infection. For almost a decade similar headlines have appeared throughout the Federal Government and in particular Department of Defense activities. Computer viruses in the development and test arena continue to destroy test data, to delay the completion of work, and to divert personnel resources away from mission-essential tasks. Ironically software tools to address the viral phenomenon are almost as old as viruses themselves. Yet individual agencies either refuse to utilize such tools, or make questionable decisions in the selection of antiviral software. For those who wish to make an informed decision, it seems reasonable to ask what criteria may be important in acquiring and in using these tools."

  United States. Army Test and Evaluation Command

  1997-03-20
• Israel Security In The 21st Century: Risks and Opportunities

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  From the thesis abstract: "Unlike the United States which publicizes its national security strategy and national military strategy in official public documents, Israel, does not produce such documents for the general public. This may appear paradoxical in that the State of Israel, from its very inception, has invested enormous energy in its security. Nevertheless, Israel has no detailed security doctrine approved and updated by the Cabinet, the Knesset (Israel's parliament) or the General Staff. The lack of an official, published, security doctrine does not imply that Israel lacks a coherent political and military strategy based on doctrine-like concepts. Israel's political and military successes are proof to the contrary. Our purpose, then, is to identify a number of the critical Security Principles that have shaped Israeli strategy. This will provide us the foundation for our main discussion which is the risks and challenges to Israeli security in the 21st century and possible responses to those challenges."

  Army War College (U.S.)

  Eisenkot, Gadi

  1997-03-20
• Building Performance Assessment: Hurricane Fran in North Carolina - Observations, Recommendations and Technical Guidance

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  "This report presents FEMA's [Federal Emergency Management Agency's] Building Performance Assessment Team's (BPAT's) observations on the success and failure of buildings in North Carolina to withstand the wind and flood forces generated by Hurricane Fran. The BPAT gives recommendations on improving building performance with the goal of reducing damage caused by future hurricanes."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency. Mitigation Directorate

  1997-03-19
• Enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization: Creating a 'Wider, Deeper River'

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  From the thesis abstract: "The security landscape in Europe is under transition. The fall of the Berlin Wall and the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact created opportunities for former Communist countries to develop democratic forms of government and market-based economies. These newly independent countries in Central and Eastern Europe are embracing pro-Western political, economic, and military orientations. However, threats exist in the form of neo-nationalism and expansionist forces that could derail the reform movement. The US must lead the effort to establish a security architecture in Europe that facilitates the political and economic reforms, and that can respond to present and future threats. In this way the US protects its vital national interest in Europe, which in its simplest form is stability throughout the continent so that no single entity threatens a country's sovereign right to develop a democratic government and open-market economy. The cornerstone to the new security architecture is NATO enlargement. The inclusion of new members into NATO as they meet specific prerequisites, which is somewhat expensive, along with the expansion of other Western institutions provides the stability needed for political, economic, and military reform. In addition, gradual, cautious, and transparent enlargement minimizes Russian concerns regarding the eastward movement of NATO."

  Army War College (U.S.)

  Crawford, Robert W.

  1997-03-18
• Islamic Fundamentalism: What the Strategic Leader Needs to Know

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  "This paper provides an overview for strategic leaders concerning the religion of Islam, fundamentalism, and varying views of this religion. The importance of understanding this religion for strategic leaders is clear: it is the essence of the very lives of one-fifth of the world's population and is a predominant influence in many world areas that involve the strategic interests of the United States. The purpose of this paper is to provide answers to the following five questions which should interest strategic leaders: (1) What is the history of Islam? (2) What are the beliefs of Islam and Islamic fundamentalism? (3) What is the reason for the staggering growth of Islamic fundamentalism? (4) Is Islam or Islamic fundamentalism a threat to world order? (5) Does the United States promote democracy when dealing with Islam? Finally, this paper presents conclusions and recommendations concerning U.S. policy and perceptions regarding Islam and Islamic fundamentalism."

  Army War College (U.S.). Strategic Studies Institute

  Terrill, Ray J.

  1997-03-16
• Global Command and Control System (GCCS) Functional Requirements Evaluation Procedures

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  "This manual describes the process for submitting joint functional requirements for the Global Command and Control System (GCCS). If approved, new joint requirements become GCCS applications. It also defines responsibilities and describes specific coordination procedures to take a requirement through the validation, assessment, and approval process."

  United States. Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

  1997-03-15
• Mexico's Anti-Drug Efforts: Effects of Past U.S. Pressures and Sanctions [March 13, 1997]

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  "This report provides an analysis of past U.S. pressures and sanctions on Mexico related to drug trafficking and the effect that this action had on Mexico's cooperation in counter-narcotics efforts. After examining the interplay of U.S. congressional action and Mexico's narcotics control efforts from roughly 1975 to 1994, the report concludes that the effects are mixed and not entirely clear. When conditions were imposed in the mid- 1980s, the late 1980s, and the early 1990s, Mexico reduced anti-drug cooperation. At other times, Mexico appeared to be more cooperative as drug certification decisions were approaching."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Storrs, K. Larry (Keith Larry), 1937-

  1997-03-13
• Afghanistan and Sectarian Violence Contribute to a Souring of Pakistan's Relations with Iran, March 13, 1997

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  "Discussing the detrimental impact of Pakistan's support for the Taliban movement in Afghanistan on Pakistan's relationship with Iran, American officials conclude 'the best policy for the U.S. is to steer clear of direct involvement in the disputes between the two countries [Pakistan and Iran], and to continue to work for peace in Afghanistan.' Providing a history of strained relations between the nations over Afghanistan, the document comments that 'Pakistan has consistently denied that it is the Taliban's godfather, although GOP [Government of Pakistan] officials in private sometimes acknowledge that they have close links and are providing them with foodstuffs and fuel.'"

  United States. Department of State

  1997-03-13
• Executive Order 13039: Exclusion of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group From the Federal Labor-Management Relations Program

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  Executive Order 13039 states that the Naval Special Warfare Development Group has as a primary function in intelligence, counter-intelligence, investigative, or national security work, and that the provisions of Chapter 71 of title 5 of the United States Code cannot be applied to this organization in a manner consistent with national security requirements and considerations.

  United States. Office of the Federal Register

  Clinton, Bill, 1946-

  1997-03-11
• Chemical Weapons and Materiel: Key Factors Affecting Disposal Costs and Schedule: Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Military Procurement, Committee on National Security, and House of Representatives

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  GAO transcribes a statement by Henry L. Hinton, Jr., Assistant Comptroller General in the National Security and International Affairs Division. Hinton testifies on his division's work concerning the DoD's management of the various programs that facilitate the destruction of U.S. chemical munitions stockpiles, and the future disposal of non-stockpile chemical warfare materiel.

  United States. General Accounting Office

  1997-03-11
• Gangs and Extremist Groups - A Handbook for Commanders, Parents, and Teachers

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  "The intent of this handbook is to educate concerned commanders, parents, and school teachers on typical gang characteristics and the warning signs indicating a soldier, family member, or student is drifting into gang-like activity. We hope you, the reader, can apply the information in this handbook to help civilian and military professionals discourage the formation of gangs or gang-like groups and deter gang-related incidents through-out USAREUR."

  United States. Department of the Army

  1997-03-10
• Preemptive Effect of the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act: Memorandum for James S. Gilliland, General Counsel, Department of Agriculture [March 10, 1997]

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  "The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act ('Act') preempts state 'good samaritan' statutes that provide less protection than the Act from civil and criminal liability arising from food donated in good faith for distribution to the needy. You have requested our views on the question whether the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act (the 'Act'), Pub. L. No. 104-210, 110 Stat. 3011 (1996), preempts state statutes that provide less protection from civil and criminal liability arising from food donated in good faith for distribution to the needy. We believe that Congress intended to establish a minimum level of immunity for those engaged in food donation and distribution. Accordingly, we believe that Congress intended to preempt state 'good samaritan' statutes that provide less liability protection than the Act."

  United States. Department of Justice. Office of Legal Counsel

  1997-03-10
• Official Informal for SA Assistant Secretary Robin Raphel and SA/PAB, March 10, 1997

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  "Updating Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Robin Raphel on the situation in Afghanistan, the Embassy advises that fighting is more than likely to continue as Iran and Russia continue to supply Ahmed Shah Massoud in the north, while Pakistan appears to be reviewing its Afghan policy, but important agencies, such as ISID [Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate], still appear committed to and even supportive of a Taliban victory. The Taliban continue to protect Osama bin Laden, although 'some high-level Taliban say they would send him to Saudi Arabia if it would accept him.' Furthermore, the Taliban 'appear to have worked out some sort of deal - perhaps brokered by the ISID - that allows Harakat-ul-Ansar, the Kashmiri militant group, to use camps in Khost, and they have not followed through on a promise to allow a U.S. team to visit these camps.'"

  United States. Department of State

  1997-03-10
• National Missile Defense and the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty

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  The Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM), signed by the United States and the Soviet Union in 1972, has for 24 years served as a pillar for nuclear deterrence. Under this treaty both Cold War powers agreed to leave their population centers vulnerable to strategic nuclear missile strike by limiting the number of anti-ballistic missile sites. In the Post Cold War, the United States is clearly the only remaining superpower, however, Russia continues to posses its nuclear arsenals. Under the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) 1 and 2, the United States and Russia have agreed to reduce their ballistic missile arsenals and no longer target the other's homeland. Although START will reduce the largest nuclear arsenals existing in the world today, the perception of a ballistic missile strike against the United States' homeland by a rogue state has intensified debate over employing National Missile Defenses which are not ABM Treaty compliant. The ABM Treaty prohibits multiple National Missile Defense sites. This study will address the ABM Treaty and National Missile Defense issues by analyzing the emerging missile threat along with other pertinent arms control issues; the conclusion being that by year 2010 the United States will no longer adhere to the ABM Treaty.

  Army War College (U.S.)

  Bruce, Elton C.

  1997-03-07
• DOT's Budget: Safety, Management, and Other Issues Facing the Department in Fiscal Year 1998 and Beyond

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  When we testified before you last year, we pointed out that the Department of Transportation (DOT) faced tremendous challenges in ensuring the safe and efficient movement of people and goods and a cost-effective investment in the nation's transportation infrastructure, including its highways and transit systems, airports, airways, ports, and waterways. If anything, the obstacles to meeting the challenges have increased primarily because efforts to improve the safety and security of our aviation system will stretch limited resources even further. At the same time, the demand for scarce federal funds for other transportation programs and the continuing pressures to reduce the federal budget have not abated. The $38 billion proposed in DOT's fiscal year 1998 budget represents about a 1-percent reduction from this year's enacted appropriation. Funding constraints intensify the need for the Department to improve its management and oversight processes to ensure that the American people are getting the most out of their transportation investment dollars. My testimony today, based on our recently completed and ongoing work, will discuss the major safety and security, management, and other issues facing the Department.

  United States. General Accounting Office

  1997-03-06
• Aviation Safety and Security: Challenges to Implementing the Recommendations of the White House Commission on Aviation Safety and Security, Statement by Gerald L. Dillingham, Associate Director,Transportation Issues, Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division, Testimony before the Subcommittee on Aviation, Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, U.S. Senate

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  In 1996, 380 people died in accidents involving large U.S. airlines--the largest number in 11 years. The crashes of TWA Flight 800 off Long Island and Valujet Flight 592 in the Florida everglades accounted for most of these deaths. Although the nation's air transportation system remains the safest in the world and the Federal Aviation Administration is a model for other countries, these tragic events underscore the need to continuously increase the existing margin of safety. The recently released report of the White House Commission on Aviation Safety and Security made 57 recommendations concerning safety, security, air traffic control, and disaster response. The GAO testified that these recommendations are good start toward ensuring greater safety and security for passengers, restructuring the relationships between government and private industry, and maintaining America's global leadership in aviation. However, key questions remain about how and when the recommendations will be implemented, how much they will cost, and who will pay the cost. This testimony focuses on the challenges to converting the Commission's recommendations from concepts to realities.

  United States. General Accounting Office

  1997-03-05
• Regional Specialization. The Middle Americas: Mexico, Panama, Central America and the Caribbean Basin

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  "Historically the United States (US) paid attention to the neighborhood to its south only in a crisis or when convenient. Generally viewed as lagging in efforts to develop stable governments and self-sustaining economies, Mexico, Central America to include Panama and the Caribbean, henceforth Middle America, have in the last decade made progress in diversifying and opening up their economies to global competition while instituting democratic reforms This progress has come at a price. Rapidly expanding urban populations foster socio-economic problems of violent crime, drug abuse, pollution, sources of emigration, subversion, terrorism, the potential for insurgency and coup de etats. Economic under-development widens the gap between the rich and the poor exacerbating illegal emigration to the US. Large migrations from Haiti and Cuba have been especially problematic The US policy into the 21st Century should nurture regional stability and sustain economic growth Stability and higher standards of having are pursued as a prophalaxis against uncontrolled migration and as a solution for securing viable trading partners and security allies."

  National War College (U.S.)

  Owen, Mark H.; Inman, Kenneth A.

  1997-03-03
• Report of the Commission on Protecting and Reducing Government Secrecy

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  The Federal Government has a clear responsibility to protect its own information infrastructure. Less clear is what the Government should be doing to protect the overall National Information Infrastructure. The transmittal of both classified and unclassified Government information depends upon the privately-created NII lines of communication, but the Government has no claim or right to control the private, commercial, and proprietary information moving across the same systems. In the event of an attack on the NII resulting in significant damage to the security of the nation as a whole, to selected elements of the population, or to critical infrastructures, policies and procedures that are well-founded and well-tested must be in place.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  1997-03-03
• Revocation of Citizenship: Memorandum Opinion for the General Counsel, Immigration and Naturalization Service [March 3, 1997]

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  "The Immigration and Naturalization Service [INS] has authority to institute either administrative or judicial proceedings to denaturalize citizens whose criminal convictions disqualified them from citizenship as a matter of law. Whether the proceedings are administrative or judicial, the INS must establish the allegations in its complaint by clear, unequivocal, and convincing evidence. The INS has no authority to seek denaturalization if the INS examiner had discretion to find that an applicant was of good moral character, and in fact did exercise that discretion so as to find that the applicant was of good moral character, unless the INS establishes in its complaint by clear, unequivocal, and convincing evidence either that the applicant gave false testimony with the intention of obtaining an immigration benefit or that the examiner's decision resulted from the applicant's willful misrepresentation or concealment of a material fact. The INS may seek denaturalization if the applicant made a false oral statement under oath (regardless of whether the testimony is material) with the subjective intent of obtaining immigration benefits. Alternatively, the INS may seek denaturalization if the applicant procured naturalization by concealment or willful misrepresentation of a material fact. In either case, the INS must prove its complaint by clear, unequivocal, and convincing evidence."

  United States. Department of Justice. Office of Legal Counsel

  1997-03-03
• Information Warfare - Who Is Responsible?: Coordinating the Protection of Our National Information Infrastructure

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  "The government of the United States relies on the Information Superhighway, officially known as the National Information Infrastructure (NII), to pass critical information. Banking, transportation, communication, medicine, electrical power, and manufacturing are also dependent upon the NII to pass the information required for them to operate. The U.S. Military depends on the NII for the movement of personnel and equipment, voice and data communications and research and development. The nation's power is provided through the national power grid which is connected to the NII. The NII is vulnerable to intrusion, disruption and exploitation by hackers, hostile entities, or anyone with a modest amount of automation equipment. Leadership at the national level is required to coordinate government and private sector actions to ensure the security and reliability of the NII."

  Army War College (U.S.)

  Thompson, Michael

  1997-03-03
• Future Roles of Air and Space Power in Combatting Terrorism

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  Terrorism poses a growing threat to the United States, its interests, and its allies. The political, economic, and informational instruments of power play primary roles in addressing and eliminating the root causes behind terrorism attacks, but the military instrument will prevent some attacks and retaliate for others. Air and space power is one of the primary components of the military instrument in the battle against terrorism. This paper begins with an overview of US national and Department of Defense counterterrorist (CT) policies, performs a systems model analysis of a terrorist organization to better understand targeting of the same, reviews current air and space power CT capabilities, and concludes with recommendations for future ones. Air and space power contributes to current CT capabilities by providing global mobility for special operations forces, air superiority to protect those forces, and precision strike capability to target terrorist infrastructures. It also provides intelligence critical to deterring, preempting, and answering terrorist attacks, and provides psychological operations support to help erode terrorist will and popular support. Although there is no "silver bullet" to use against terrorists, future improvements in air and space power will enhance CT capability effectiveness and provide expanded options. This paper's research consisted of review of primary and secondary sources and interviews with terrorism and targeting experts.

  Air University (U.S.). Air Command and Staff College

  McAlpine, Mark S.

  1997-03
• Report on Allied Contribution to the Common Defense: A Report to the United States Congress by the Secretary of Defense (1997)

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  The March 1997 Report on Allied Contribution to the Common Defense presents the Department of Defense assessment of the relative contributions toward common defense and mutual security made by the NATO nations, key U.S. allies in the Pacific such as Japan and the Republic of Korea, and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Under legislative provisions dating to the Defense Authorization Act of 1981 (P.L. 96-342, Section 1006), the Department of Defense is required to compare the defense burdens borne by the United States and our allies, explain disparities, and describe efforts to eliminate such disparities. The Defense Authorization Act of 1997 (P.L. 104-201, Section 1084) updates the earlier reporting requirement by recognizing that there are multiple and diverse ways in which allies may share the responsibility for mutual security objectives. The report contains three chapters that include the U.S. responsibility sharing policy, key allies (NATO, Pacific, and GCC), and an assessment of country contributions (i.e. the defense spending as a percent of GDP, multinational military activities, cost sharing, and foreign assistance) by each country. The NATO countries listed include Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The pacific allies include Japan and the Republic of Korea, and the Gulf Cooperation Council that includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the U.A.E.

  United States. Department of Defense

  1997-03-01
• Apalachee Bay Region Hurricane Evacuation Study Technical Data Report For Gulf, Franklin, Wakulla and Jefferson Counties, Florida

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  "The purpose of this Hurricane Evacuation Study is to provide emergency management officials with realistic data by quantifying the major factors involved in hurricane evacuation decision-making. The technical data presented in this report is not intended to replace any detailed operations plans developed by any of the counties within the study area. Rather, this data is provided as a framework of information that each county can use to update and revise their hurricane evacuation plans and operational procedures to improve their response to future hurricane threats. […] Government officials and citizens alike must understand that the Apalachee Bay Region will be struck by a catastrophic hurricane some time in the future and that preparedness is of utmost importance. Obtaining information critical to good hurricane evacuation planning requires comprehensive and specialized analyses. The fiscal and staffing limitations of state and local emergency management agencies usually preclude the development of this data. In order to provide the needed technical information, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have joined the Florida State Emergency Management Office and local emergency management agencies in conducting the Apalachee Bay Region Hurricane Evacuation Study."

  United States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States. Army. Corps of Engineers

  1997-03
• The Juvenile Drug Court Movement

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  "Many nonviolent, substance-abusing adult and juvenile offenders repeatedly cycle through the judicial system because of a lack of intervention measures that would provide the sanctions and services necessary to change their deviant behavior. To address this problem, some communities have established adult and juvenile drug courts. Beginning as a grassroots initiative, drug courts have spread across the Nation. Currently more than 244 drug court programs are under way or are being planned, with 25 dedicated to juveniles. Local teams of judges, prosecutors, attorneys, treatment providers, law enforcement officials, and others are using the coercive power of the court to force abstinence and alter behavior with a combination of intensive judicial supervision, escalating sanctions, mandatory drug testing, treatment, and strong aftercare programs."

  United States. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

  Roberts, Marilyn; Brophy, Jennifer; Cooper, Caroline S.

  1997-03
• Comprehensive Response to America's Youth Gang Problem

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  "The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's (OJJDP's) National Youth Gang Center recently completed the first nationwide survey of youth gang problems. In the 1995 survey, 2,007 law enforcement agencies reported gang activity in their jurisdictions, a total of 23,388 gangs, and 664,906 gang members. Forty-nine percent of these agencies described their gang activity as 'getting worse.' Gang activity has extended beyond the inner cities into smaller communities and suburbs. Today's gangs are best characterized by their diversity in ethnic composition, geographical location, organization, and the nature and extent of members' involvement in delinquent or criminal activities."

  United States. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

  Burch, James H.; Chemers, Betty M.

  1997-03
• Background Reports: Metallurgy, Fracture Mechanics, Welding, Moment Connections and Frame Systems Behavior

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  "In response to structural concerns raised in the aftermath of the Northridge Earthquake of 1994, FEMA entered into a cooperative agreement with the SAC Joint Venture to perform a problem-focused study of the seismic performance of welded steel moment connections and to develop interim recommendations for professional practice. The design of moment frames for seismic loading relies upon the steel beams to form plastic hinges which dissipates the earthquake energy. The ductility and strength of the steel beam and the connection of the beam to the column govern the ability of the framing system to absorb the earthquake's energy. This report discusses the roll of the steel making practice upon the ductility and strength of the beam and the changes that are occurring in the production of hot rolled steel sections."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  1997-03