Interview Questions 6

[AUCE98]

What are some your favorite interview questions to gauge competency of a structural engineer ?

My favorite is to ask someone to explain the generation of seismic forces in layman's terms.

 

[ztengguy]

from wikigoogle

Reasons for the shape include:

A round manhole cover cannot fall through its circular opening, whereas a square manhole cover may fall in if it were inserted diagonally in the hole. The existence of a "lip" holding up the lid means that the underlying hole is smaller than the cover, so that other shapes might suffice. (A Reuleaux triangle or other curve of constant width would also serve this purpose, but round covers are much easier to manufacture.)
Round tubes are the strongest and most material-efficient shape against the compression of the earth around them, and so it is natural that the cover of a round tube assume a circular shape.
A round manhole cover has a smaller surface than a square one, thus less material is needed to cast the manhole cover, meaning lower cost.
The bearing surfaces of manhole frames and covers are machined to assure flatness and prevent them from becoming dislodged by traffic. Round castings are much easier to machine using a lathe.
Circular covers do not need to be rotated to align with the manhole.
A round manhole cover can be more easily moved by being rolled.
A round manhole cover can be easily locked in place with a quarter turn (as is done in countries like France). They are then hard to open without a special tool. Also then they do not have to be made so heavy, because traffic passing over them cannot lift them up by suction.

 

[Archie264]

Like I said, I don't think I would have done so well on some of these interviews...

 

[jike]

The questions that I would ask would be dependent upon the position that we were hiring for.

For example, if we were hiring a new intern or an experienced project engineer the questions would be completely different. I generally wanted to make sure they had a PRACTICAL outlook so I would always ask to see drawings or sketches that they did or had someone draw. These sketches would be with the materials that we would typically design with. I might even give them a problem to solve and have them sketch the solution.

I would also test their overall knowledge/ability on codes, calculation procedures, detailing, estimating, construction administration, problem resolution, client relations, etc.

I interviewed potential candidates for about 27 years.......

I am now happily retired......

 

[BUGGAR]

I guess I would ask, "Are you fixated on manhole covers like other engineers are?"

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

Whatever anyone does can we all agree that the questions that go like; "what would you say your biggest strength/weakness is?", are complete crap?

Maine EIT, Civil/Structural.

 

[JStephen]

Blind flanges and flanged manway covers are usually round also, although there's zero concern about them falling through the hole. Perhaps the better question is to ask, why wouldn't they be round?

 

[EngineeringEric]

BUGGAR,
I think an important one is also "What calculator do you use and why?"

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

Or LRFD vs ASD.

Maine EIT, Civil/Structural.

 

[theonlynamenottaken]

I always ask fresh grads, EIT's and pretty green PE's this:

If you end up on the phone with a client that was frantically trying to reach the PE in responsible charge for a project, but couldn't reach him/her, and then asks you, "Can I use grade 75 stirrups instead of grade 60 in concrete beam X?" or "Can I use 1" thick plate instead of a 1/2" thick plate for the baseplate of this cantilever pole?" what would you tell that client???

The impetuous ones will quickly answer, "I would say yes because what they want to use is stronger." The ones that know their limits would say, "I'm sorry but I just can't answer that without the Principal's input". The clever ones will know that higher grade reinforcement could lead to wider crack widths (and therefore loss of aggregate interlock) and longer development lengths, and that a thicker baseplate could change the fail-safety (governing failure mode) of the overall structure from ductile to brittle.

The only purely correct answer is that you don't make official judgments without the involvement of the PE in responsible charge... I'm leery to hire on the ones that "say yes because it is stronger".

 

[CELinOttawa]

LRFD versus ASD only applies in the US. Basically anywhere else in the modern world both have been all but abandoned outside of timber and geotech. LSD is my friend. *evil smile*

 

[SectionIX]

I would ask if they know the unladen air speed of a swallow. If their response is "African or European?", I would place them on the fast track to employment.

 

[CELinOttawa]

If interviews were always about Monty Python knowledge I would be an unbelievably overpaid CEO. Ideally that ability, coupled with a little engineering know-how, and my 42fu will mean I have enough money to retire comfortably in the real world....

 

[SectionIX]

To be sure. Well done on the 42 reference.

 

[EngInternational]

2) Has anybody seen the "Project Serene" report outlining the technical issues with the Citicorp building? I couldn't find it with google, only references to it in various articles.

Very strange...I too was looking for this just the other day. If anyone knows where a copy can be found, please let us know.

 

[rb1957]

i'm shocked by the number of uni. graduates who are looking for a structural analysis job and yet they can't solve a simply supported beam ... "derive the moment diagram for a SS beam with a point load"

Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati