Looking at possibly adding cold formed steel design to our list of services...
While very familiar with coming up with a design fee for conventionally framed building / engineer of record projects, am debating what the best way is to estimate hours of design that may go into a proposal to do...
Was recently engaged to come investigate a lower level deck that had partially collapsed. The shear attachment at the ledger sheared off with two individuals standing near the patio door. The ledger was attached with concrete nails at several feet OC.
Thankfully the collapse was limited in...
Does project experience follow the company or the individual who performed the work? This is in the context of listing project experience for marketing purposes.
For instance, take this scenario. As part of company A, an employee carves a niche out as a historic renovation expert and gets...
The last post (as of this date) in this thread, http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=366529, makes the joke that new engineers are a liability for the first two years and should actually be paying the organization for putting up with them. While obviously an exaggeration, sadly my own...
Working on a lifting attachment for a client who is lifting large steel assemblies.
The base plate of the attachment will need to be welded on to an assembly, used to lift the assembly, and then cut off for reuse on subsequent assemblies.
The client has asked "if we torch cut off the base...
I'm in need of a high strength structural I-Shape. Are there any stock shapes out there being produced above A592 Gr 50? Maybe something in the range of 100 ksi yield?
If not, I'll be forced to build a plate girder out of 100 ksi plate but for the client's needs/timetable, finding a stock...
It seems like the new trend for architects is to "bid" consulting services when putting together their teams; meaning they ask us to submit estimated fees for a particular project and then select the low bidder from several consultants. I think this is HIGHLY dangerous for us as a profession to...
A contractor we work with, and up to this point have had a pretty good relationship with, has started making a habit of having an engineer employed by one of their subcontractor's review our design (we are the EOR). Sometimes it's a "if you constructed it this way we could save $". Other times...
Recently saw a picture taken inside of a parking garage in Germany that had what appeared to be a composite floor deck that had the shape of a precast double-T in section. Picture a standard metal deck spanning between the ribs of a double-T. And these ribs then span from girder to girder as...
What is the obligation to perform structural inspection and/or observations?
The area we work in does not make use of special inspections on most jobs (in their infinite wisdom, the politicians placed all responsibility for administering the building code with the Fire Marshall who neither...
I put both elements of this question in the title hoping to get feedback from those that might have familiarity with either topic.
A subcontractor on a project is proposing the use of gravel foundations for a 4 story wood framed building we are doing. These gravel foundations are intended to...
Early in my career I was taught to review the concrete mix submittal for general items such as placement method, water left out of mix for addition at site, compressive strength, etc. Now I find myself wondering how much more I should maybe be looking at these and making judgments on admixtures...
I am working on a side project designing circular piers for minor structures...cabins, storage sheds, etc. The owners are most likely do-it-yourselfers or small time contractors who may not be familiar with procurring steel reinforcement from a fabricator.
The piers may extend 2-3 feet out of...
Had an interesting discussion this morning about the use of BIM files by contractors in preparing shop drawings, quantity estimates or connection design. We have noticed several contractors requesting the file on recent projects and it's become obvious to us that it is in the best interest of...
I am having some trouble coming up with a way to analyze a built up steel box.
The box is 5'-0"x5'-0" x 2'-0" tall. It is comprised of 3/8" thick plate with 1/2" thick floor plate and has 1/2" angles at each corner.
My objective is to determine how many of these boxes can be stacked on top of...
I'm putting together some lifting plans for a client for a few steel assemblies we have designed for them.
What elements make up a good lifting plan? So far I have:
location of pick points
weight of assemblies
weight of rigging
allowable angle range for slings
spreader beam and lifting lug...
I am analyzing an existing assembly. The situation is that I have two plates butting each other above the top flange of a beam with a complete joint penetration groove weld specified to splice the two plates together (9/32" gap between them).
My question, does the groove weld effectively bond...
I am in a project that requires the installation of new frames to support a piece of industrial equipment with a 3 day MAX turnaround. This includes demolition of the existing frames and installation of new frames with footings!
I am curious if anyone has experience/knowledge (not always the...
