Studying for SE II exam

[EIT12]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am trying to decide if it's necessary to purchase the
AISC Seismic Design Manual or NOT. It is quite expensive and I am not working at the moment. Does anyone know
if I will absolutely need it for the STRUCTURAL II exam?
I have all the other reference books, I just don't have this one. I'm hoping I can do without it, that the AISC 13th Edition Manual is sufficient to solve the Steel problem.

Thanks for your help in advance.

 

[Qshake]

You might be able to do without. The seismic building portion of the SE II exam for me involved a masonry building.



Regards,
Qshake

Eng-Tips Forums:Real Solutions for Real Problems Really Quick.

 

[JAE]

You can download the seismic specification free from AISC.

 

[EIT12]

Thank you Qshake, masonry building would be my preference.

Thank you JAE. You just saved me a boat load of money. It looks like I will be busy this week.

 

[ToadJones]

is the spec for the SDM AISC 341-05?

 

[SlideRuleEra]

fsaz - Be sure to consider that the content of the exam has changed over time. Currently:
"Two of the four problems in buildings will have seismic content."
and
"Two of the four problems in bridges will have seismic content."

You can download the two page outline of the exam's content (which includes the quotes given above) directly from NCEES:

http://www.ncees.org/Exams/PE_exam.php

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

http://www.VacuumTubeEra.net

 

[ARLORD]

I did not really need it, but the examples helped me during the exam.

 

[ARLORD]

See the following link for more feedback on the exam:

http://www.engineerboards.com

 

[EIT12]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I am hoping the free downloads at AISC is sufficient to handle the seismic steel
design. I've looked at the AISC Seismic Design Manual again and it does include the ANSI/SISC 341-05 and the ANSI/AISC 358-05 (What is this?). Like ARLORD said, it also has
examples that are helpful.

Am I taking a gamble here by not purchasing the book? Money is kind of tight right now.

I do not have much experience designing steel structures in high seismic regions.

 

[AlienMonkey]

Depending what state you are taking it in, you may not be allowed to bring in looseleaf. The only bounded material allowed in IL is the AASHTO book.

The AISC Seismic Manual has a lot of valuable examples in it, not just related to seismic design.

Chances are you will see all building materials on the SEII exam.

 

[EIT12]

Thank you AlienMonkey for your reply. I am in AZ, we are allowed to bring looseleaf here. I may get the book eventually, I hope I can pass without it in April.


Too bad for me that I live in a state where passing SE I is not enough to be a PE, I must suffer through the SE II. All of you living in States where the licensing is not discipline specific, consider yourself lucky. I know all this suffering will be worth it when I pass and can finally put this nightmare exam to rest.

 

[ash060]

fsaz

you could also download FEMA 451 for free from there website. It has a lot of seismic design examples. Chapters 5 is the steel section. It has examples for different types of LFRS.

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/earthquake/professionals.shtm

 

[vandede427]

you won't need it

 

[HgTX]

Tangent: what do the states who "don't allow looseleaf" do about manuals that are only published in looseleaf form?

Eng-Tips policies: faq731-376

 

[B16A2]

They make you put looseleaf in a three ring binder. Idea is you dont have a flurry of loose papers flying around your area.

 

[HgTX]

3-ring binder, a.k.a. "looseleaf binder"? Then there should be no problem with the home-printed PDF of the AISC manual either. It's not just AASHTO--last I looked the MUTCD was "looseleaf" as well.

Illinois say: "Ring binders, spiral binders, plastic snap binders, brads, and screw posts are acceptable fasteners."

Hg

Eng-Tips policies: faq731-376

 

[BRGENG]

What is your risk factor? You can save the cost of the book and pass the exam and be ahead or fail, buy the book and pay for the exam again.

Really, if you are taking the SEII, and want to be a licensed SE you should already have this book on your shelf.