Drawing Details for Structure Work 2

[Gupta65]

Hi All,

I'm a newbie with Structural Work and looking to gather details on what kind of drawing are being required or used in detailing structures. I need information about the details shown in Structural Work drawings.

Any ready references, pictures, drawings or link will be helpful.

TIA

Deepak Gupta
SW 2010 SP4.0 & 2011 SP3.0
Boxer's SolidWorks™ Blog

 

[msquared48]

Pretty wide topic here. Can you be a little more specific?

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask

 

[ishvaaag]

For construction drawings, broadly said, the details need to be accurate to the intent and complete, i.e., the structure may be built solely in what in the drawings. The set must be also as concise as feasible, since this will enhance the overall understandability of the intent, simplify the fabrication, installation and construction, and facilitate maintenance.

 

[Gupta65]

Thank you for the inputs. Currently I'm on the exploring side on what else is required in the drawings and some example will be of great help.

Deepak Gupta
SW 2010 SP4.0 & 2011 SP3.0
Boxer's SolidWorks™ Blog

 

[TLHS]

It can depend on your role in a project and what standard practice is in your area. It's really not helpful to ask in the general sense.

For example, in most of Canada if you're doing steel work as the primary design engineer you'll likely show the major members, maybe some conceptual connections and the connection loads. Beyond that you'll show details of non-standard areas if you think they're necessary and things like base plates and the like.

Once you've done that the fabricator will come up with fabrication level drawings that include connections and full detailing of the individual members. The fabricator or contractor would prepare erection drawings at this stage as well.

In other parts of the world, though, the primary design engineers would be responsible for the connection details, or even all the way down to full on fabrication details.

Requirements for detailing will also vary depending on the type of work, materials being used, the difficulty of the work (if it's heavily non-standard you have to detail more). With some types of construction you can refer primarily to standard details or notes, other types you'll need to work out individual solutions to problems. It can also depend on the contractors, level of supervision and all sorts of other things.

Basically you detail to the minimum level that will clearly communicate your design work to whoever does the work. You don't do any more than that because (a) you don't want to confuse people (b)you don't want to waste hours on work you don't need to do (c) you don't want to accidentally take responsibility you don't have to by detailing connections or other things that someone else should be responsible.

On the subject of (c), you have to be careful. On steel drawings I've seen several people put too many details on their drawings and end up with trouble. Basically, a draftsman draws up the drawings and includes a preliminary detail of a connection. Then the engineer looks at it, sees that the concept is fine and tells himself that the fabricator will be responsible for that design and doesn't check it. However, because the draftsman included dimensions there are enough details given that the fabricator can build exactly to the drawings. If there is a stamped drawing with connections fully detailed and no other explanation, you've taken responsibility for them. So if you work in an area where it's standard for the fabricator to design connections, be careful what information you provide. I won't put any dimensions or thicknesses on a conceptual connection detail unless I have a gap between members that I need, or if I am including a maximum or minimum value for some dimension. Personally, I also have a standard note I put on my drawings saying that any connection details shown are conceptual in nature and the fabricator is fully responsible for all connection design. It makes things easier if there are ever arguments.

 

[csd72]

I agree, it is generally country specific depending on the local practices.

 

[zstructural]

Even when doing work in the same geographic location, I've found that there are very few "typical" details. I have some typicals, but I almost always tweak them for each job.

 

[Gupta65]

I need all the information related to my work. I'm trying to find out what are the different ways/requirements of drawings/detailing in structural engineering as I'm planning to make some best practice methods for the same.

So if you can share some details (like pictures, drawings, pdf, etc.), it'll really helpful.

TIA.

Deepak Gupta
SW 2010 SP4.0 & 2011 SP3.0
Boxer's SolidWorks™ Blog

 

[HeavyCivil]

I think you've gotten about as good an answer as you're going to get given how broad your question is.

It sounds like you need to get a copy of some building plans and look at them. Since it sounds like you're very unfamiliar with vertical buildings and structural drawings, maybe you should not attempt to make your own... or maybe I'm misunderstanding your goal here.

 

[larsacious]

It is unlikely that you will find and engineer who willing to share typical/standard details with you (for free). Designing, drafting, and updating of these details is an investment of both time and money and can also be proprietary in nature.

 

[Gupta65]

VTEIT, you're correct to certain degree. I'm looking for structural stuff used for equipments, plants (like cement plants, conveyors, etc.)

Sorry if I was unclear earlier.

Thanks for all the response so far.

Deepak Gupta
SW 2010 SP4.0 & 2011 SP3.0
Boxer's SolidWorks™ Blog

 

[BAretired]

For a building, you will need:

1. Foundation Plan and Details
2. Framing Plan for every level, including roof.
3. Full or partial elevations showing wind bracing.
4. Cross sections showing how parts are related.
5. Connection details...usually job specific.
6. General Notes

For more information, see this link:

http://www.google.ca/search?hl=&q=s...404CA404&ie=UTF-8&aq=0&oq=structural+drawings

BA

 

[ash060]

If you are looking for equipment drawings for concrete and cement plants, you could always call the supplier they may have some drawings laying around.

Also, as far as details you can go the building department and ask for drawings, it is public record. I knew a guy that would go to building departments and "snatch" details that way. He would request drawings of a recently built structure that was similar to his own and use details similar to what the other engineer had.

I don't think it is ethical, but it is not illegal.

 

[RacingAZ]

You have to learn to crawl before you can walk, especially for someone practicing in another discipline. If it's that easy, we'd all be out of a job.

Assembling a decent set of structural drawings would come as you gain experience, doing it a number of times. What you need is an experienced mentor who can show you the way. Also as suggested by others, look at some building plans to give you an idea of the basic presentation and structure of the plans. You wouldn't know if it's a bad or a good set of drawings though, without someone guiding you.

This will be your 1st time doing structural work and you said you're already planning to make some best practice methods. How do you intend to do that? It's like putting the horse before the cart. To be good at it, you'll need to gain experience, seeing projects go thru from design to actual construction.

 

[retiring]

I am at the point of retiring from my career in structural engineering. Having come fairly lately into the "Autocad" generation, I wondered why I seem to be always "reinventing the wheel". Why not a web site with a wide array of "standard" details that could be accessed for a reasonable fee that would save a lot of time and frustration.

 

[spats]

retiring,

Bad idea! one size fits all details is just asking for problems. It's bad enough when we borrow our own details from other jobs, and forget to engineer the specifics.

 

[hokie66]

I agree with spats. Nothing wrong with having some standard details, but every detail, every note, and every specification clause must be carefully tailored to each job.

 

[a2mfk]

Gupta - Judging from your questions and because it says "mechanical" after your name, if you are a newbie to structural work, then you need to be trained to be a structural engineer. If you have a mentor, they will help you assemble a set of drawings amongst other things, like doing calcs...

This was the biggest part of my learning curve out of college at my first job, and it never loses its complexity or its challenge, and is different for every project. Give yourself 3-4 years under a good structural PE before you try and tackle this stuff on your own. And you should be able to pass the NCEES Struct 1 exam or similar at a minimum.

Not trying to be harsh, and maybe I misunderstood where you are coming from, but this profession is not something to pick up on the fly no matter your other engineering experience and education. Train under a PE!