They are so insistent. A year ago I made an account just to see what the lead fee was and I was called 6 times by 6 different sales reps over a week. Each time I said I just wanted to know the fee and please don't call again. It finally stopped I think after I spoke to every sales rep at the...
Thanks @jerseyshore those are great tips for getting new clients.
At my old job my boss would pay for leads from a website (cant remember which one it was) when we were slower, with mixed results. Interestingly, it was also his policy for clients to pay up-front for site visits by credit card...
Reading these replies, especially from SE2607, makes me want to go back to the small residential projects so bad.
There's plenty of headaches in dealing with one-off clients and homeowners, but every day is exciting, different, and gives me the opportunity to put my best foot forward in many...
Perhaps this isn't super helpful, but I'm not sure where to direct you other than refer to someone else's plans. Podium/pedestal buildings with upper wood or CFSF walls tend to have lots of shear wall schedules and notes. I've done framing inspections for a bunch of them, so I had some...
Seems reasonable. Personally, I've never seen shear studs used as you show them, but of course that doesn't mean it isn't done, or it wouldn't work. I imagine it'd be quite difficult to install and inspect. I'd potentially look at post-installing anchors to the side of the CMU course, fastened...
FE Analysis & Design:
RAM Elements (I see I'm the only one here--my firm's choice. I preferred RISA 3D at my old job to be honest)
Enercalc SEL
Steel Connection Design:
RAM Connection
Manual Calculations:
Hand-written calculations (Samsung S9 Tablet Notes)
Excel spreadsheets
Anchors...
For sure--lesson learned. At the time it seemed to work VERY well for developing raw speed (the name of the game). I still knew where to find things and didn't suffer hugely during the exam, but it was quite a shock to find out I wouldn't have the option of using page numbers AT ALL in their...
I passed the CBT PE Civil: Structural this year and the thing that bothered me the most was that, during studying and blasting practice problems, I thought I was clever by focusing on memorizing page numbers in the reference material, since I found just knowing and entering frequently used page...
Wow thanks for posting that. Illinois board going in guns blazing. Good on them. Anyone here disagree with their assertions?
My favorite line:
The conclusion is damning and that last sentence is epic... subtle jab at the cost of the exam?
Oh--my apologies. Not my intent at all.
There was a thread identical to this a year ago and I hugely enjoyed the discussion and learned a lot myself. I didn't realize it might be inappropriate. I think you're right though that this may not be the right forum and I'll report it to be removed.
As we approach 2025, I am hugely curious to see how your structurally-inclined (or otherwise, feel free to join in) engineering firms have changed in the last year. Also looking to hear your stories about your journey in the profession, your thoughts, advice, and any significant moves in your...
Personally, I don't think I would be worrying much about the lateral capacity if it's a low-seismic region AND you've established the building is providing at least SOME nominal lateral bracing.
For the foundation, if you don't have ANY drawings, then I'd most-likely be looking to verify the...
I understand your frustration. It's not pleasant, but that's what engineers cost. You could talk to a contractor and they may do a repair estimate for free based on what they believe the best solution may be, but if you want an engineer's official assessment for the record, you have to pay for...
Typically, I show the column profile in plan and add a callout for "XXX COLUMN UP TO ROOF (or whatever)". If it's nearby columns going down I'll call those out as "XXX COLUMN DN". If I think it's still confusing or want to detail a specific connection from column to beam, I'll draw a...
I agree it's a bit insane and unrealistic. I don't want to share details about where the rumor came from, but they are credible and I don't know why they'd make up something like that, considering their role with respect to NCEES and the exams. Hopefully they are wrong or over-simplifying what...
I heard a rumor that NCEES intends to remove structural as a discipline for the regular PE exam such that the SE exam will be the only exam that is structural-specific. Money grab or trying to tighten up the industry?
It may not be true and I can think of basic reasons why it sounds good on...
