I have a project where I need to design a steel sheet pile seawall/retaining wall. This is a commercial project, but is within the jurisdiction of USACE, so they will be approving permit. Is there any uniform guidance or design requirements for the design of these types of wall systems...
Ron247 - I am the only employee and intend to keep it that way for the first couple of years. The hope is to add a draftsman after billable hours pick up more than 20-30 hrs/week for myself and maybe an EIT down the road (5 year plan).
Business Owner | Senior Structural Engineer
Licensed PE/SE
I have recently launched a structural engineering design and consulting business that is marketed to architects, contractors and developers/owners. I offer standard full-service structural engineering design and documentation services for vertical structures and consulting engineering for...
The 2nd picture is definitely helpful. You can see the grain deformation in the 2nd.
Are moisture and temperature something to consider in the NDS load factors? It is a crawl space, so moisture is probably higher (probably not temperature, most likely cooler).
It's probably best to just...
If the glue loses capacity then you'd most likely see a direct reduction in compression perp. to grain.
A picture taken from slightly above the plate looking at the LVL would help determine that the plate isn't spreading/crushing at the end as well.
Any thoughts on redistribution of floor...
To add to the partnership idea with the guy who is retiring soon; he doesn't market his business or skills very well. He doesn't have a website, he doesn't network with professionals, he mainly relies on a steady stream of work that just keeps coming in. It keeps him busy, but without additional...
I would see it as a true partnership for about 5 years and then another 5 years of transitional period to retirement. By the first 5 years I would hope that I would have developed a good relationship with the key clients so as to continue those relationships into the future.
As far as picking...
If it doesn't need to be shored then it is "means and methods".
If I designed the wall to be shored prior to cutting the new opening and installing the new lintel, then of course I would call them out on it. It not only deviates from the contract documents but also may be causing other...
If you meet the parameters for arching action to occur over a CMU opening (adequate CMU height above opening, CMU wall length beyond jamb, etc...) then technically the floor/roof load will flow around the opening to the jambs. The only thing you would need to support/shore up is the CMU...
Thanks, SteelPE. My main competitor is another consultant who's been around since the mid 90's. I've considered partnering with him as he is nearing retirement age. The goal would be to buy out the business within the next 5-10 years. My main concern with that is how do I approach him without...
JedClampett--- I think all of the questions you pose are great and they are one's that I've asked myself earlier on in my thought process. The questions that I'm really posing are in my initial thread; what started your firm off, type of work and cash flow issues that arose from your choices.
I...
SteelPE - Thanks for the info. That helps.
When you first started up, did you have any clients in hand/immediate work or did it take you a while to generate work/sales? I think from previous posts you mentioned it took you 6 months to start generating cash flow.
For my own startup, I have...
Ensure that ambulance loading is not necessary. After designing a parking garage in Fairfax, VA for a health center, I found that the County/AHJ required us to use the worst case ambulance weight which was 25,000 lbs, since you can never guarantee what vehicle they have available during an...
SteelPE-- about the steel fabricator work, which I guess would classify as "construction services". Did you have previous connection design experience, as far as designing connections as a consulting engineer?
Do you mind explaining what you mean by "tail policy"?
Thanks for the feedback!
Folks--
I work for a medium sized A&E (big A, little E) and find it to provide a pretty good range of design challenges and building types. However, I like to be involved in marketing, sales, and other types of structural engineering, not just pure design but analysis, report writing, small...
To all those who have started their own structural (or other discipline for that matter) firms, at what point did you decide you were ready to transition to starting your own firm?
What aspects of design and consulting did you pursue? General consulting? Design only? Construction services? ...
If it's a commercial building then you should probably go with 2x6. Just about anywhere in the country you'll need 2x6 walls to meet energy code these days. If 2x4 walls are allowable and you are having trouble with 4" CMU, I'd do an 8" thick turn-down slab edge on top of the 8" CMU. You'll need...
I am wondering what you all typically charge for structural engineering design fee's for general building design and construction (primarily east coast, mid-Atlantic region)?
When quoting a project for a client do you typically use a percentage of the construction cost for the structural...
STLstruc-- I am planning on taking my first course through MS&T's MSCE program this fall. Any word of advice on the program or classes in general? How many hours a week would you say you put towards study? I'm married, 1 child (15 months) and work 40-55 or 60 hours a week and am planning 1 class...
