Advice for a Young Structural Engineer
Advice for a Young Structural Engineer
(OP)
I am a structural engineer early in my career and recently made a switch from building design to bridge design. I am finding it difficult adjusting to the new culture of bridge design and I am looking for some advice. With a few projects under my belt at my new company, I am finding the trend is to obtain an example set of plans, reports and/or calculations from the client and copy the format, details, materials or design approach. While I was on the building side, we never copied example plans or calculations.
Has anyone else found this to be typical of the bridge design sector or may this just be the culture of the company? Any input is appreciated. Thank you in advance.
Has anyone else found this to be typical of the bridge design sector or may this just be the culture of the company? Any input is appreciated. Thank you in advance.





RE: Advice for a Young Structural Engineer
There are innovative bridge firms out there. Schlaich Bergermann do nice work from time to time in this area, but its usually in pedestrian footbridges. HNTB have a small division within a division which do good work. Departments of Transportation are tough clients.
Notwithstanding the above, I still love bridges. If I could choose I would only do architectural footbridges, but they are inherently cool.
RE: Advice for a Young Structural Engineer
I don't mean to sound derogatory to the bridge guys. With few exceptions, I have found my bridge friends to be probably the smarter, better engineers in strictly the technical sense between the two groups. But even they will agree to the sometimes prescriptive nature of their work.
PE, SE
Eastern United States
"If a builder builds a house for someone, and does not construct it properly, and the house which he built falls in and kills its owner, then that builder shall be put to death!"
~Code of Hammurabi
RE: Advice for a Young Structural Engineer
RE: Advice for a Young Structural Engineer
RE: Advice for a Young Structural Engineer
RE: Advice for a Young Structural Engineer
Based on what you all have shared, my past building experience could have been worse and my current bridge experience could be better.
Thanks again for all of your input. At least now I know I'm no crazy and this is just the way it is.
RE: Advice for a Young Structural Engineer
PE, SE
Eastern United States
"If a builder builds a house for someone, and does not construct it properly, and the house which he built falls in and kills its owner, then that builder shall be put to death!"
~Code of Hammurabi
RE: Advice for a Young Structural Engineer
Bridges can and should be cool. You are given design time resources that a buildings guy would kill for. Make something of it!