So the common theme in today's construction/engineering industry is for the contractor to tell the owner or architect that the structural engineer has over designed the building and is just being conservative. This happens a lot whether you are designing it per code or adding in some...
It is getting close to the SE3 exam date and I would love to have one piece of additional study material... practice tests.
I have practice tests for the new 16 hour NCEES exams, but I am looking for practice tests for the WA SE3 exam (or the CA SE3 since it is very similar). Does anyone have...
Does anyone have any design guides or literature on vibrations of a composite joist system (on bearing walls)?
All of my vibration literature covers composite beams and non-composite beams/joists, but nothing seems to cover this type of system.
I have a situation in which I have a suspended slab (24" deep) for an aquarium. In general, I have a 3/4" aggregate for the 5ksi mix design. However, due to some heavy rebar congestion, the contractor would like to use a self-consolidating mix design in a small portion of the slab (only where...
I am currently designing a deck for a residence (helping out a landscape architect) and he wants all of the connections hidden. This ultimately means I will need to utilize blind bolts (because he does not want field welds). I have very little experience with them as I typically use thru...
Coming from out of state (Kansas) to take the SE III in Washington in October...
Is there one location that is easier to get in and out of than the other?
I am leaning toward taking the SE3 in October (obviously passed the SE1 and SE2) in Washington for the last time that they offer it. I have never taken this test before so I was looking for any study guides, practice test, advice, etc that any of you have (preferably ones that have taken and...
Has anyone ever worked with Ipe Hardwood and have design values for the lumber?
They are not in the AWC NDS, but I found some values in the Dept of Agriculture website, but these values need to be decreased and I am looking for an idea of by how much.
First of all, this is meant to be more of an informative topic and discussion. It is not meant to be offensive to anyone as this is obviously a very emotional time in Japan.
For the past few days, I have heard and read that everyone is lucky that Japan has such high building and engineering...
I am designing two parking garages side by side, but they are seperated by two "ramps" (each two lanes) that are about 400' long.
The garages are being designed for the loads specified in IBC (40psf), but my thought is that the ramps will need to be designed by AASHTO. Is that a typical...
As a spawn of the "What we don't know about what we think we know" thread, I wanted to bring up a discussion that has concerned myself a little as well.
Since I have heard of the new adoption of the 16 hour examination, one thought that has always crept into my mind is that they are now going...
I am currently working on an industrial project in which there are vats of diluted sulfuric acid (such as for a galvanizing plant). In general, none of this acid will ever reach that slab-on-grade, but there will be instances in which I am sure it will spill occasionally. Also, the vapors...
I am currently a licensed PE and SE, however, I am wanting to be licensed in Illinois as well. Does anyone know the limitations in Illinois between being a PE and SE (i.e. do I need to be both or can I just be a SE)?
I am curious as to how other engineers judge the effective length of a hot rolled wide flanged compression member that is used as a beam and a axial member.
Personally, I will not call a beam braced in the Lbyy unless it is braced by another beam that is at least half the depth or braced by a...
