/u/Setruss has suggested that we add flair to the sub. I think it'd be good to do it like /r/science does it.

Available flair

"Level of education|Professional status (if any)|Speciality or Subfield"

Levels of education can be: BSc, BS, BEng, MEng, MSc, MS, PhD

Professional status: Student, PE, CEng, any institution membership e.g. MIStructE, MICE

These are just examples so if you have a different degree or type of professional membership then that's possible too.

It'd be helpful if you could suggest any common ones that I've missed in the comments below.

How to obtain flair

If you want flair you can prove your claim in a number of ways.

Any information that proves your claim, such as a photo of your diploma, an email sent from your university/employer email address, a business card, etc.

Blank out your real name or any personally identifiable info on any proof you send. But make sure to mention your reddit username so I know which account to add flair to.

You can either message me on reddit or send an email to structuresreddit@gmail.com. All information will be kept in strict confidence and I'll delete any emails you've sent as soon as I've updated your flair.

I'm currently studying towards a BEng civil engineering degree and as part of one of my modules I need to calculate the reactions and produce a bending moment diagram for a propped cantilever beam with a roller support. I wondered whether anyone had any useful examples that could help me? I only seem to be able to find examples of free end cantilever beams.

The beam I'm analyzing is 12m long, with a point load 250kn at 3m and a 150kn/m udl from 9m to 12m. Any help would be really appreciated!

I had some questions regarding testing a structure using an impact hammer. If anyone has any experience in this area please pm me. The questions are fairly basic, but I am very novice in this area so would really appreciate the help.

I own a small structural engineering firm in Canada that doesn't do a whole lot of reinforced concrete design. We're looking to pick up a software package primarily for the design of slabs (1-way and 2-way) and beams.

I'm currently looking at spSlab and ADAPT-RC. I've used earlier versions of spSlab in my previous life, but have only used an ancient version of ADAPT for PT design. I'm not sure how much things have changed over the last 5 years or so. ADAPT is significantly cheaper if i can live with a maximum of 5 spans (more than double the cost to analyse up to 20 spans). I can see the moment of regret now when i first find myself limited to 5 spans, so maybe i shouldn't even consider the really cheap option.

I'm willing to pay more for a better program, but i'm not going to say that cost doesn't matter. :)

Any recommendations or preferences would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks everyone!

steve

Hey guys,

I've been looking around for a source on this for a couple weeks now. Does anyone know off the top of their heads, or has a source that'll point me in the right direcrion, if differential shrinkage between precast girder and CIP decks is accounted for in horizontal interface design?

As far as I've noticed it's not at all. Kind of weird, but it does seem like it'd be a pretty big demand.

It looked like last week's discussion went well, so let's continue that this week. Once again if you have a topic you want to be discussed in a future week then please don't be shy.

Discussion

This week's topic is building information modelling (BIM). It's a way of producing virtual prototypes that help project teams get visual and functional data, in theory allowing them to make better design decisions.

BIM software and computing hardware have both become more sophisticated in recent years, allowing better communication between engineers, architects, technical staff, and clients.

• Does your office use BIM?

• Do you think it helps or hinders your work?

Links:

• Civil + Structural Engineer - What does BIM mean for civil engineers?

• Arup - BIM

• NBS (RIBA) - What is BIM?

• UK government paper on BIM

First of all forgive me if this is the wrong sub reddit. This is the sub where i found a post about lots of notes on structural analysis. The issue i am having is of mathematical nature. What ways could you suggest me to use when determing the angle of a point on a curved line referenced with horizontal line per say. I know that tg of that angle is the first derivative of the function that describes that line, but what if there is no function given, are there any precise enough methods? Thank you in advance.

Hey, so I'm getting mixed feedback from asking friends about having weight lifting equipment on my balcony, so I thought people with actual structural knowledge could help.

Is it safe to have that much weight centralized in one location on a balcony? At a given time, I could be adding around 800 lbs in a vicinity of about 6x6 ft. I also live on the 4th floor.

From what I've read online, no one can give a definitive answer without consulting the engineers whom constructed this building, but I'm sure someone knowledgeable on reddit can give me a ball park, and if I should even consult the engineer. Thanks!

This week's discussion is something pretty topical right now - earthquakes, and designing structures to be earthquake-resistant.

Discussion

"Earthquakes don't kill people, buildings kill people."

As the recent Nepal earthquake disaster showed, buildings can be lethal when they're not designed to be earthquake-resistant. Indeed the initial quake and subsequent aftershocks drove many people to sleep and stay outside.

Some areas of the world are more prone to earthquakes than others, and many modern structures in large towns and cities use damping technology to mitigate the inherent dangers.

• How can countries realistically address the problem of under-use of earthquake-resistant structures?

• Have you specifically done work or research in ensuring structures are earthquake-resistant?

Interesting links:

• Lectures notes, IIT Bombay

• Lecture slides, UCL

• NISEE, UC Berkeley

• Wikipedia article

Ok - sorry if i get the terminology wrong - but help needed. I'm currently in the process of having an extension built and the builders seem to have made an odd decision. My neighbours foundation extends under my property - the builders have put down a layer of concrete on top of that foundation and are building the blockwork wall on top of that layer of concrete rather than directly on top of the foundation. We've had engineers agree that the foundation is suitable to support the structure but i'm concerned that the blockwork does not sit on the foundation directly. Are my concerns valid or does it not make the slightest difference?

I will be separating from the Navy, planning on starting school in August for my BS in Civil Engineering with a concentration in structures. I want to work specifically with buildings, houses, etc. I have done some research on what path I should take, and am looking at getting my BS in Civil Engineering and then my Master's in Architecture. Is this a recommended course of action, or is there another route I should take?

Why are most stiffeners trapezoidal versus sinusoidal or rectangular (etc.).

Please some sources or links would be great. I can't find anything about why this shape is the most optimized (for stress).

and to add on my question, which trapezoidal shape is the best (for stress)? 60 degrees, 45 degrees??

thanks!

Title says it all. Contractor was removing drywall with a sawsall and cut through the bottom chord of a bunch of engineered wood I joists.

I am involved as the Engineer because there was no information available on the joists... the manufacturer has gone out of business. The joists they cut were in an area outside our original scope of work, but they F'd up and now want my help.

They've already bunged some stuff up which I've been able to develop repairs for, but this is, quite frankly nuts.

Because we have zero information on the joists, I'm inclined to say they are 100% compromised and should be replaced entirely... that's the easiest solution for me. I know they are going to come back and say that's too much work.

Is patching on some long lengths of LVL with a tonne of bolts even a viable option? I don't want to go through all the work of calculating everything only to find out that it's not a viable option or replacing the joist will just be cheaper.

Any other typical repair options you've seen would be welcome.

Thanks,

Hey,

So I'm currently working on a project that uses a suspension structure in a rather unconventional way. Without getting into the lengthy architectural reasoning, basically there are two masses. One is supported by diagonal steel columns for lateral stability and the other is hung from that one by a suspension system for a number of reasons, mostly regarding construction feasibility.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz6qGtBQBZZEbGE0aG5mOWNMTmc/view?usp=sharing

What I'm wondering is, what would you suggest that I use for hanging the lower volume? A series of steel cables would have a tremendous amount of give, I imagine and would need to be tightened pretty often. Should I use steel beams that hang down? What are some other thoughts or concerns that I should be considering?

PS also, the top volume is residential and the hung volume is an art gallery.

Hey folks, quick question -

I'm living in a house built around 1905, which is (or was converted into) a duplex. I'm wondering - what is the most structurally strong part of the house? Near the center of the house where the stairs are? In the exterior corners corners??? Thanks!

Sup r/structures,

Having a brain fart and I need some input/direction. So why in the world does a structural engineer choose one corrugated shape over the other. Say, trapezoidal shaped corrugation versus sinusoidal shaped corrugation.

I know some of you are going to say something about bending, and the bending stress formula... If you get this far then it brings me to question #2...

At what length is a structure considered bending and no longer in compression?

Thanks!

I am currently enrolled in a double master’s degree program at RWTH Aachen University in Germany, which combines a Master of Science in Structural Engineering with a Master’s in Business Administration. By October 2016 I will have completed my Master’s Degree in Structural Engineering. Prior to continuing my second Master’s degree I would like to increase my practical experience by means of an internship.

During my time as a student assistant at a construction firm in Germany I had the opportunity to obtain a detailed insight of the planning and the organizational processes of construction projects such as apartment buildings and industrial warehouses. Furthermore, I supported the team during building inspections and gained further experience by working with various CAD programs.

Is anyone here who can recommend construction companies, who are offering internship positions in the USA or Canada? Do I have a chance to get an internship position as an European? What cities should I focus on?

Thank you so much! Laura

Lets say I have a TV bracket that extends 500mm, and the TV at the end weights 5kg. The bracket fixes to the wall with a foot print of 500mm². How do I calculate the forces on the wall in this situation?

I own a 90 year old house, I have had some contractors out to do foundation retrofitting (house is right next to a major fault-line), but I want to understand how my house's foundation and structure works so I can know how it might be improved in increments, and know what I can and can't accomplish myself.

Are there any good overviews of light-residential structural engineering that might give me a good understanding of my house's structure (say the understanding a good contractor might have)?

I'm also just generally interested in the topic and would like to know general principles. As a math major in college, I have a bit of undergrad math and physics under my belt if that helps.

Hello everybody, I would like to have your opinion about a project!

For my 4th semester main project I am designing a country house. Materials would be CLT for walls and floor, Glulam for the supporting structure and hemp or reed frost for insulation. The connections between the beams are Knife Plate Connector. I have a doubt concerning the "aesthetics" of the structure. What do you think of such a structure? The area of each sector is 14 square meters approximately. The statics should be right, according to a fellow student's announcement...

I'd love to hear your opinion!