This is also in the appendix.
 

Arguing with an engineer is like wrestling with a pig in mud. After a while you realize that they like it

• http://files.engineering.com/getfile.aspx?folder=5f0980ab-27e0-4903-9662-fe

RE...nice job!  This has to be helpful to new grads/incoming engineers.  If you did a little organization and filling, this would make a nice book...consider it.

Yes, it can use a little cleanup, but damn...it's good to get those boneheads going on something!!

My respect for seeing the need and filling it!  That's what engineering is about. Go Brother.

 

RE

Nice manual, I will print it out Monday and go through it. I'll let you know if I see anything that can be included.

I have also been putting together a manual which has included the finer points of structural engineering that isn't commonly found in textbooks or codified to Australian Standards.   

Most of what I have written is based on posts that I have started on been involved with here on www.eng-tips.com.

I haven't written on composite sandwich panels that I have been doing recently because I have been flat out with work.

Keep your writings going, there would be a really good market out there if you can write a grad manual that is easy to read and combines all disciplines of structural engineering from technical theory, construction practice and architectural requirements. I love reading material that is written by design engineers for design engineers.

Best of luck.

• http://files.engineering.com/getfile.aspx?folder=7c5052a1-e4a6-4f62-a8de-1b

A table of contents would be helpful....and maybe an index at the end.

 

I haven't had time to go through these yet, but rowingengineer and asixth, I must say I am impressed with your dedication to the profession.  Keep up the good work.

BA

Very nice references from both.  One day I feel we'll be reading a textbook from one or both of you!

Keep it up.

 

Regards,
Qshake

Eng-Tips Forums:Real Solutions for Real Problems Really Quick.
 

I think this is great. I wish I saw this 25 years earlier!
A much needed reference, and it should be highly appreciated by not only those starting out, but all ages and levels.

thanks for this pdf...i kinda like fionna comb

Poems are made by fools like me, but only God can make a tree. engineers creates wonderful buildings, but only God can creates wonderful minds

Regarding the grad manual, very nice.  It's a lot for a new engineer to take in.   I agree with the others.  Organize, add chapters, and/or tabs.  The new engineer won't use this effectively if he has to search through 50 pages to find that one article that he knows is in there.

However, if we tell these youngsters everything, they won't need us.  Don't we have enough problems with young grads feeling like they know it all?  With this, now they really will!!!  What's in it for us?

Well, I downloaded me a copy before you remove it and I have to plunk down $150 for the book.  Really nice!

juniors still prone to make mistakes and that is why a more experienced ones are needed.  

Poems are made by fools like me, but only God can make a tree. engineers creates wonderful buildings, but only God can creates wonderful minds

jenof
I don't think that anyone suggested that a graduate engineer plus a good manual is able to eliminate an experienced engineer.

For those lamenting the lack of index, I find the Adobe pdf word search invaluable even to the extent of preferring pdf versions over hard-copies for some documents.

apsix

is adobe pdf word search available in adobe reader?

Cause Ive been looking for it for a while and could never find it.

Also I agree it is a great manual!  Wish I had mine that I lent out and never got back.

civeng80
I think the word search is available only with Abode Acrobat Standard, not with the free reader.

RE - Very nice!  With your permission, I'll be happy to post it on the "Contributions By Others" page of my website:
http://www.slideruleera.net/contributions.html

www.SlideRuleEra.net
www.VacuumTubeEra.net

Thanks for the kind words everyone, I will add a contents page. Index page is not as likely, I don't really have the time.

Asixth,
Nice beginnings of a manual, if you don't mind I will use a few of your topics down the track. Feel free to take any of mine.

Sliderule,
By all means put it up on your website, however if you wait a few days (most probably weeks) I will post a copy with a bit more info and a contents page.

Ron,
The book idea is interesting; I am currently trying to get an FEA discussion paper published by the concrete institute of Aus, but haven't heard back from them, and to think I am offering to give them it for free?

PDF-Xchange is a good viewer for PDF's has a search engine and all.
 

Arguing with an engineer is like wrestling with a pig in mud. After a while you realize that they like it

RE

On page 26 of your grad manual, item 2 regarding placement of concrete, you write "Never allow the concrete to fall more than 1 to 1.5m meters". Is this referenced in any legislative document. On-site recently we had guys who wanted to pour directly from the truck into a bored pier. Like yourself, our site engineer never allowed concrete to fall more than 1.5 meters because of segregation and likewise the code only says that concrete should be placed in such a manner to avoid segregation. Is this 1.5 meters in writing anywhere that you know of.

I have read that dropping concrete over considerable heights does not have any ill-effects. There was a paper "free-fall of concrete" in the Concrete International Magazine where they had conducted experiments on dropping concrete into caissons etc.

However, I think it is recommended to use tremies to place concrete rather than let it free-fall.

When I started back in the fifties, my boss told me to make sure the contractor always used "elephant trunks" when filling drilled caissons.  It was specified in our documents, so I tried to enforce it, but it was contrary to local practice and piling contractors did not want to do it.  

I was not convinced that the use of elephant trunks was particularly helpful, so in later years abandoned the idea altogether.  

I may spend eternity in engineer's hell for having such a cavalier attitude.
 

BA

See ACI's position on the matter
http://www.concrete.org/FAQ/afmviewfaq.asp?faqid=29

And the link to the free-fall article I mentioned before
http://www.buildblock.com/pdfFiles/Concrete%20Free%20Fall%20article%20%283%29.pdf

Good references, slickdeals.  This is very useful to know.

BA

slickdeals,
Good references however I will point out that these fall heights have been developed from testing without large amounts of reinforcing present, such that should only be applicable to massive structures or drilled caissons.

Asixth,
The limit is something I have picked up along the way, I will try and find a reference however.

Arguing with an engineer is like wrestling with a pig in mud. After a while you realize that they like it

Bored piers are not highly stressed, so some loss of strength is generally acceptable.  As long as the concrete is consolidated, I don't worry about a bit of segregation.

Hokie,
I agree and I shall make the note in the manual clearer.

Asixth,
This is the best I could do, sorry. Page 22
http://www.concrete.net.au/publications/pdf/concretebasics.pdf

Arguing with an engineer is like wrestling with a pig in mud. After a while you realize that they like it

Be careful how you word it in your manual, you don't want your graduates to think it's acceptable to pour concrete from 1.5 meters into a pier because a loss of strength from segregation will not be critical to the design. The quality of construction practices are on the slide backwards as it is, we should be trying to do everything we can to ensure best practice is taken. Bad construction practices shouldn't be engineered for because it is an "easy" way to do it on site.

The 5'/1.5 M free-fall limitation is common in many DOT specs for walls, footings, and slabs.  

Pls include the procedures with an example in modeling, analize and design of concrete building using software like ETABS,SAP,Staad.Pro etc.
 
Thanks,
Chaz  

rowingengineer  &  asixth:

Very nice work.  A real addition to the knowledge base on this forum.  That's a ton of knowledge and experience in mighty fine packages.  It should be required reading by all structural engineers  practicing today.  And, rather than commenting on your publishing or indexing prowess, we should be grateful for the free gifts; and willing to add to them, if you two will be so kind as to continue your compilations.
 

Asixth,
how does this sound?

2.If placing concrete directly from a truck or concrete pump, place concrete vertically into the face of concrete
already in place. Never allow the concrete to fall more than 1 to 1.5 meters, unless you are dealing with massive concrete structures or drilled caissons/pier. For these situations best to talk with the senior structural engineer.

Chaz,
Sorry going to have to say no to this one, for two reasons, 1. I don't use ETABS,SAP,Staad.Pro etc, I use RAPT (on big projects combined with Strand 7 or R/C building), which uses the strip theory, nicely covered by a few books. 2. I don't let my grads near Finite element program until they know the basic's, They are only allowed to use RAPT for checking for the first 6-12 months. I am however writing an FEA paper.

Arguing with an engineer is like wrestling with a pig in mud. After a while you realize that they like it

Here is Mark 2, I have added a contents page and page numbers. To make it easy for people to FIND & REFERENCE the mistakes or omissions.

Arguing with an engineer is like wrestling with a pig in mud. After a while you realize that they like it

• http://files.engineering.com/getfile.aspx?folder=cff7cf89-b1ac-4837-8f23-53

Volume = L x B x thickness
27 cu. ft = 1 cu. yd

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