Structural 1 Exam
Structural 1 Exam
(OP)
I have not designed using any ASHTO spec. What do I need to know in reference to ASHTO for the SE 1? I seen a couple posts on this a while back but I don’t recall anything specific.
Thanks
Thanks






RE: Structural 1 Exam
RE: Structural 1 Exam
RE: Structural 1 Exam
where can I find these load tables, combos, etc. I didnt cover a lot of AASHTO spec in school and I dont have any idea what code I might need to purchase.
RE: Structural 1 Exam
RE: Structural 1 Exam
I have a 2002 AASHTO 17th ed I bought new for my exam, which I passed. If you dont know of anyone who can lend it to you and you need one, I'd be willing to get rid of it for 1/2 price I paid, so for $165+shipping.
FYI: They'll be using an updated version starting on the April2008 exam....in fact a lot of the codes in the exam will be updated then.
RE: Structural 1 Exam
RE: Structural 1 Exam
Enough of that. I took the AASHTO codes to the exam, but was only mildly successful in asnwering any of the bridge questions. There are enough other topics to sink your teeth into to pass the exam. Fortunately, I passed the first time, but I made a concerted effort to not spend a lot of time on bridge design.
Good luck with your exam.
woodengineer
RE: Structural 1 Exam
http://pci.org/publications/bridge/
RE: Structural 1 Exam
Of the 20% bridge, some questions will be AASHTO-specific, but some will be more generally applicable to any structure.
I took two tries because I tried to use my well-tabbed AASHTO manual to find simple answers. I had also had a bridge design course in grad school within three years of the test.
Skip the bridge and learn steel, concrete, wood, and masonry. Focus on how loads are applied and how they are distributed. Look over minimums, like reinforcing in concrete and masonry, limit states, anchors, and the other things you do everyday as a working structural.
Tab the crap out of your references well before the exam and USE the tabs in your daily work. The exam is not the time to figure out which info is in which tab.
Yes, you need to know what is between the tabs, but you need to be able to find information quickly.
Answer all of the questions, but don't waste time trying to find answers to things you do not know. I find it easy to go back and look over the questions which you skipped if you leave the answer blank - but be sure you skip the answer and do not get off one space (the right answer in the wrong spot is still wrong). IF you have time, go back and attempt the questions you skip, otherwise, at the 5 minute warning, simply go back and fill in answer "C" or "B" in all of the blanks.
And don't ever change an answer unless you have proved yourself wrong elsewhere in the exam. I always end up changing a right one for a wrong one if I make an unsubstantiated change.
Again, skip the AASHTO-specific bridge questions.
I'd probably not even take the book if I had it to do over (which I don't). SE II, anyone?
RE: Structural 1 Exam
RE: Structural 1 Exam
RE: Structural 1 Exam
The advantage with SE 2 is that you pick EITHER buildings or bridges, and that's ALL you work on for the whole test. So, if you don't know AASHTO, it doesn't really matter for the SE 2 exam.
The disadvantage with SE 2 is that you have to show ALL your work, and their is no multiple-choice answer to pick from or work your answer towards. You just have to work out the problem as best you can, and try to show enough work to prove your point.
I passed SE 1 (first time), and right away took SE 2 and also passed it on the first time. In retrospect, I sort of thought SE 1 was harder, because it had more breadth to it, but I think I also got lucky with SE 2's questions.
Thad
RE: Structural 1 Exam
RE: Structural 1 Exam
Hg
Eng-Tips policies: FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies