Textbook suggestion request
Textbook suggestion request
(OP)
I have a PhD in physics and would like to learn more about civil and structural engineering with an eye to building a house. Can you give me any suggestion on good textbooks I could read?
In particular, I'm interested in fire and earthquake resistant building, such as concrete rebar or wood frame+ stucco construction.
thanks
In particular, I'm interested in fire and earthquake resistant building, such as concrete rebar or wood frame+ stucco construction.
thanks






RE: Textbook suggestion request
For actual house design, you'll be way ahead just to hire somebody that does that routinely.
RE: Textbook suggestion request
Dik
RE: Textbook suggestion request
RE: Textbook suggestion request
RE: Textbook suggestion request
RE: Textbook suggestion request
This is an update to the First Edition: "Residential Structural Design Guide - 2000 Edition"
www.SlideRuleEra.net
www.VacuumTubeEra.net
RE: Textbook suggestion request
Much like a tradesman, there will be a price to do the work. If you want to help, the price goes up.
RE: Textbook suggestion request
Dik
RE: Textbook suggestion request
You can also get a lot of the wood design codes for free as a view-only PDF: http://www.awc.org/codes-standards/publications/nd...
And, of course, most building codes are available for public viewing (either online or at your local town office).
Professional Engineer (ME, NH, MA) Structural Engineer (IL)
American Concrete Industries
https://www.facebook.com/AmericanConcrete/
RE: Textbook suggestion request
There used to be a set of books by Harry Parker, pub’d. by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. with titles like “Simplified Design of Reinforced Concrete,” “Simplified Design of Structural Steel,” “Simplified Design of Structural Timber,” “Simplified Engineering for Architects and Builders,” and some others. We used these back in the early 60's for some basic engineering courses for Architecture students and I have seen some later eds. than what we used. I don’t know if, or when they may have quit publishing these, but they gave a good basic explanation of the various subjects. Today the bldg. codes and stds. have gotten so complicated that they are more difficult to follow and understand than the fundamentals of the particular bldg. material and its basic design and bldg. process.
RE: Textbook suggestion request
It can be overwhelming to try and learn the all the nitty gritty details on every aspect of construction. At some point in time, you have to trust that the contractors and trades know what they are doing.
I would focus on learning about the major items (foundation design & main structural elements such as beams). Then do your best to hire quality contractors for the rest.
Here is a handy little document that I just found this weekend on load paths and how they move through a structure.
Link
http://www.beamchek.com/AcrobatFiles/IntroLoadPath...
RE: Textbook suggestion request
I don't plan to pester the engineer, by the way, I really want to learn myself, so that I don't need to pester the engineer. I even considered going back to college, but degrees in USA are quite expensive. so I plan to keep reading textbooks.