How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
(OP)
My current situation is that I have just been working in the civil industry for a year and a half. I have been trying to get into the structural engineering industry but do to the current condition of the economy no one is hiring right now plus everyone did most of their recruiting at the beginning of the year. I am 100% committed to get into the structural industry but it seems that probably won't be happening until early next year so I have about half a year to improve myself. I am enrolled in a graduate structural engineering program and I have even re-read all of my undergrad design textbooks just to refresh my memory and go over material which was not covered in school. I have also started familiarizing myself with programs like SAP2000 & EnerCalc using their trial versions.
Is there anything else I should be doing to prepare myself? Are there any other books that are a must have for Structural EIT, other than the design textbooks for concrete, masonry, steel, and timber? Are there any areas which you know most EIT usually need to work on? I would really like to hear from both EIT and more experienced engineers. I'm sure I didn't ask everything I should, so please feel free to comment. Thank you to all who reply.
Is there anything else I should be doing to prepare myself? Are there any other books that are a must have for Structural EIT, other than the design textbooks for concrete, masonry, steel, and timber? Are there any areas which you know most EIT usually need to work on? I would really like to hear from both EIT and more experienced engineers. I'm sure I didn't ask everything I should, so please feel free to comment. Thank you to all who reply.





RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
I have my EIT and I have been working in the structural field for almost 3 years.
My advice would be to familiarize yourself with the current building code, 2007 IBC or CBC if you are in California. Next think about what kind of structural eng you would like to do. Many of the large or even mid sized companies work with mostly commercial, multi story and maybe high end custom homes. Although I have never worked for a big company, from what I have heard your experience comes at a very slow pace compared to smaller companies, but the pay & bennies are a lot better.
I have always worked at small struct eng companies with < 10 employees. we mostly do residential and a lot of remodels in Southern Calif right on the coast, but it may be different in your area.
Like I said before learn the code, IBC, ACI 318 for concrete, and also learn about load path. Learn to determine gravity loads and the basics of tributary areas that effect the vertical system. Good examples can be found in and structural engineering wood book. I can't remember the books name, but it is the one currently being used most schools.
Hope this helps
RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
I think the book you are referring to is, "Design of Wood Structures ASD/LRFD" by Breyer. I am already familiar with load paths, gravity loads, tributary areas and their effects on the vertical system. The professor I took for Timber was really great and taught us all that stuff and more. I can see why you would say loads paths. I guess one of the things that worries me is the design of an entire structure. In school we are taught how to design the components(beams, columns etc..) but it's a different things to tie several classes together to design an entire structure. Also, the only class I took which covered seismic design was Timber so that kinda worries me a bit.
RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
Funny thing, I am actually starting to think that I would like to transfer over into water resources or wastewater. It kind of bumms me out sometimes when we get big 15,000 sf custom homes that are being built along the coast in new development. Kind of like I am adding to the problem of overdevelopment. I guess I got into a field that is based on development, but it would be nice to engineer something other then rich peoples homes.
RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
I would highly recommend reading through posts on this board. I have done tons of reading trying to learn more on my own after school, but this board has been absolutely invaluable by allowing me to converse with and learn from such a large number of competent, experienced structural engineers (I'm referencing the structural engineering other topics forum - among others). You will be exposed to so many problems and solutions here that would take years and years to experience in a design office alone. If you take the time to try to solve the problems as opposed to just reading the responses it will accelerate your learning process exponentially.
I would steer clear of enercalc. We have it in our office, but it's on its way out. It is unreliable, and sometimes gives bad results.
RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
Reading structural engineering magazines may also help
http://structuremag.org/
http://www.gostructural.com/
You can get the second one for free.
RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
Also if I were you I'd take almost any job in the building industry I could that would start me off in the right direction. There are some retail designers that are almost always hiring. You really have to look at yourself as a new grad and approach things like that. If I were interviewing you that is probably what I would see you as. You may have a bit more maturity than a new grad - so sell yourself that way - but as far as experience goes you are at zero.
Good luck.
RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
Was the book that you are talking about published in 1966? That didn't seem right so I wanna make sure I'm looking at the right one. Thanks.
RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
If you consider moving, keep licensing requirements in mind. What I remember from several years ago was that WA, CA, and maybe NV all had reciprocal structural licensing, but then if you were licensed as a SE outside of those states, you'd have to take additional tests and/or have additional experience to get licensed in CA.
If you just want some interesting engineering reading, find "History of Strength of Materials" by Timoshenko. It won't necessarily make you a better engineer, but gives you some background on how some of this stuff came about. Dover did have it as a fairly cheap paperback.
RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
Search AISC's website for stuff that interests you. And again, the structural engineering other topics forum on this site is invaluable. If you read through the poists and make an honest attempt to understand and don't just blindly read , you will gain a TON of technical competence over your peers.
I have a lot of books on my shelf. I have all my books from class and I bought a lot more after I started working. I have 2 concrete texts, 3 steel texts, 2 foundation texts, 2 structural analysis books, 2 mechanics of materials boks, a wood book, the NDS, ACI 318, ACI 530, PCA Notes on ACI 318, Blodgett, Structural Stability of steel. I also have several old textbooks. I actualy bought old concrete texts to teach myself masonry design. Since masonry is typically designed using ASD, I picked up some old concrete texts (since the old method was ASD and the behavior is similar) just to get my feet wet with it because I couldn't find a good masonry text. I have all of the AISC design guides downloaded. I also have a ton of technical papers. Anytime you come across something interesting with respect to structural behavior print it or save it.
RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
The Bluebook is a bit dated but the commentaries provide background information not explicitly stated in the code and difficult to find elsewhere.
RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
A good text for CMU design is "Reinforced Masonry Engineering Handbook" by James E. Amrhein, I hear there is an update coming out for it.
RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
Yes, unfortunately our office just recently purchased this capricious monster. I think I have had a problem with EVERY module I have used.
StructuralEIT, can you recommend a replacement program??
RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
What I've actually done (and have gotten used to) is make my own design spreadsheets for some materials (concrete beams, masonry) and use RAM Advanse as an analysis tool, then just pull the design loads out of Advanse and design by hand (for wood), use Advanse's steel check (for steel), or use one of my spreadsheets (for wood or masonry).
I really feel like taking the time to write out spreadsheets gives a more in depth understanding of the specs. I've also designed a spreadsheet to design wind moment connections (we do a lot of buildings with that for the lateral system), and I am in the process of writing one for Appendix D of ACI (talk about a bear - there are so many logic statements it's kind of crazy). I'm done with the tension and about half-way done with the shear.
When I write spreadsheets I try to make them truly as simple as possible. For example, in the ACI App. D spreadsheet, I have all anchor sizes from 1/4" up to 2" listed in a drop down box. I also have square, heavy square, hex, heavy hex, and other in a drop down list for the type of bolt to use. Then in the space for Abrg and Ase, those values come up automatically (based on anchor size and nut type) so that you don't need to continually look at a table. I also have a blank space in there in case you are using a welded headed stud that doesn't conform to the anchor rod specs.
RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
We have been using the Simpson Anchor Designer for Addendix D of ACI. It is free and here is the link.
http://
I have verified its results once, which by no means completely checks it, but is a good start. Perhaps, when you are done with your sheet, you can compare the results.
RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
I suppose I'll check out the Simpson program for myself.
RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
I input an axial load of 11k and a moment of 1.83k-ft (an e of 2") and it gave me a total anchor load (on all 4 anchors) of somewhere around 14.2k. How does that happen? If I take the moment away, then it's ok. It's not distributing the forces properly to the anchors. And I've only looked at it for 15 min. I would definitely double check this program by hand or with another program and then check both by hand.
RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
Blodgett's Design of Welded Structures is a really great book. After going through it I understand why this is definitely must for any ones structural library.
For those of you who don't have the book, you really need to get it. Lincoln Electric has it for a better price than anyone else.
https://s
RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
2006 IBC Structural Seismic Design Manual Volumes 1-3
RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
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RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
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RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
My sheet has all of the steel, and nut properties embedded. Simply pick an anchor size, nut type (square, heavy square, hex, heavy hex, nelson, or other) and it automatically inputs the Ase and Abrg. It does an elastic bolt group analysis to accurately capture the effects of eccentricity in all relevant failure modes. You can select whether the anchors are welded to the plate. It automatically calcs ca,min and max. It calcs both breakout modes and reports the controlling case. You can select if the shear force is parallel or perpendicular to the edge. I could go on, but I don't have all day, so I'll end with my sheet calcs everything...... all you do is input the geometry and the relevant things like supplemental reinf., ductile steel, f'c, etc. It even automatically determines if you have 3 or more sides affected by edge distances. You even have to input Avc for that sheet from that website.
RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
You can do tapered beams in Advanse. The flange width and thickness have to be constant, but you can taper the depth.
Additionally, Advanse has some modules that mimic Enercalc (beams, RC columns, retaining walls, masonry walls, etc), though they're not quite as comprehensive.
Have you checked the website for RAM Advanse? I think you can get a trial copy.
RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry
RE: How to improve myself for the structural engineering industry