Design Tools for Residential Structural Engineers
Design Tools for Residential Structural Engineers
(OP)
What are the most valuable tools and resources for residential structural engineering? My list is below:
People:
Mentors
Eng-Tips Forum
Client Feedback
Bldg. Dept. Feedback
Software:
AutoCAD
MS Excel
Perl
Woodworks Shearwall
Forte (for TJI joists and rafters)
Adobe Acrobat
Books:
NDS 2012
ASCE 7-10
Design of Wood Structures, Breyer
The Analysis of Irregular Shaped Structures, Malone
IBC 2012
WFCM 2012
Other:
HP48G
People:
Mentors
Eng-Tips Forum
Client Feedback
Bldg. Dept. Feedback
Software:
AutoCAD
MS Excel
Perl
Woodworks Shearwall
Forte (for TJI joists and rafters)
Adobe Acrobat
Books:
NDS 2012
ASCE 7-10
Design of Wood Structures, Breyer
The Analysis of Irregular Shaped Structures, Malone
IBC 2012
WFCM 2012
Other:
HP48G
A confused student is a good student.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, PE
www.medeek.com






RE: Design Tools for Residential Structural Engineers
http://www.awc.org/calculators/index.php
RE: Design Tools for Residential Structural Engineers
The books are spot on for wood design. Those, in my opinion, are the best references to have. There's some nice changes coming to the new NDS SDPWS for rigid diaphragm cases for shear walls at corridors only (cantilever diaphragm with no exterior shear walls).
I've actually had good experiences speaking with anyone at Woodworks (the Wood Product Council). They are really knowledgeable and can find you an answer if they don't know it themselves. Bruce Lindsey is in charge for my region and his help has been really valuable on some complicated wood projects I've had recently. I've had good success talking to Terry Malone about topics found in his book, also. His experience as a designer and plan checker is invaluable.
RE: Design Tools for Residential Structural Engineers
Experience, having done any given problem a number of times; intuition gained from having seen something similar before; efforts to decomplexify things as much as possible. Obviously, there are times when it is tough to avoid the added complexity, and the codes, and Arch’s. & Builders aren’t making this easier either, all in an effort to sell sex appeal. Nonetheless, anything you can do to simplify the job leads to more likelihood that it might be built right. Standardization, as you are trying to do with some of your spreadsheets, etc.
RE: Design Tools for Residential Structural Engineers
RE: Design Tools for Residential Structural Engineers
The only thing it is missing is double shear for Nails. I was working on a plywood gusset truss a couple months back that had clinched nails in double shear.
A confused student is a good student.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, PE
www.medeek.com
RE: Design Tools for Residential Structural Engineers
Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)
RE: Design Tools for Residential Structural Engineers
A confused student is a good student.
Nathaniel P. Wilkerson, PE
www.medeek.com