Ideas for a Dissertation
Ideas for a Dissertation
(OP)
The recent thread on 1-1/4" guardrail posts started me thinking. It would be nice if a PhD student would write a dissertation on all of those structural engineering situations we face which are difficult to prove by the numbers.
I can think of two right away:
The aforementioned guardrail. Build a guardrail and test it. We would probably be surprised at how much force it could take.
A wood gable roof, with wood roof trusses, with no blocking between the truss heels. Test the diaphragm strength. I wonder if some other part of the roof would fail before the trusses roll over.
I can think of two right away:
The aforementioned guardrail. Build a guardrail and test it. We would probably be surprised at how much force it could take.
A wood gable roof, with wood roof trusses, with no blocking between the truss heels. Test the diaphragm strength. I wonder if some other part of the roof would fail before the trusses roll over.
DaveAtkins






RE: Ideas for a Dissertation
RE: Ideas for a Dissertation
Good thread. How about testing steel lintels in a CMU wall with headed studs on top and an open bottom bond beam. See if the studs/wall brace the beam and any composite action.
RE: Ideas for a Dissertation
RE: Ideas for a Dissertation
Concentrated eccentric gravity loads on thin-shells of revolution.
RE: Ideas for a Dissertation
RE: Ideas for a Dissertation
rotational stiffness of elastomeric bearing pads
RE: Ideas for a Dissertation
RE: Ideas for a Dissertation
In fact it would be interesting to see a study of problems caused by complex codes that are misunderstood or ignored and result in issues.
RE: Ideas for a Dissertation
RE: Ideas for a Dissertation
"How about a comparison of the efficiency and performance of structures over time in parallel with the increasing complexity of codes - i.e. who is this benefiting. For example until '08 NYC design wind loads were 20psf < 100ft, 25psf < 200ft. etc. and I know of no issues related to this.
In fact it would be interesting to see a study of problems caused by complex codes that are misunderstood or ignored and result in issues."
I participated in a study regarding the complexity of the code and whether or not engineers were understanding all of the requirements. I did a simple seismic analysis and designed steel moment frame connections, drag struts and some foundations for their example project. Not a complete building design - just a simple two story building and then just the design of those few elements. I did this for the 2000 or 2003 IBC - I think it was about that time frame.
I was hoping to hear the results - I'm wondering if 90% of engineers got it right or only 30% of engineers got it right. But alas I never heard back. It would be something I would participate in again - not months worth of work mind you but I would donate 80 hours of my time. But, I would insist on hearing what the results of the study were.
RE: Ideas for a Dissertation
RE: Ideas for a Dissertation
Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)
RE: Ideas for a Dissertation
RE: Ideas for a Dissertation