What do you use as your default design strength for masonry? Have you checked with local suppliers to see what is commonly available? Masonry strengths can vary widely, but new findings show the design strengths may be higher than what engineers typically assume. In the April 2019 SE University session, Cathleen Jacinto presented Lintels for Masonry Walls. Cathleen reviewed the…read more →
Have you struggled to find a good reference for the design of built-up members in cold-formed steel? The code tends to address some assemblies used in a few applications, but often leaves the engineer to determine how design equations may need to be modified for dissimilar shapes or configurations. In the May 2019 SE University session, Roger LaBoube, PhD, PE,…read more →
Have you encountered a design where you just can’t seem to make a stud pack work sensibly without using an over the top amount of studs or having to increase the thickness? When is it appropriate to stick with a cold-formed stud pack, and when should you consider using another option such as an HSS section? In the May 2019…read more →
In April 2019, SE University welcomed Cathleen Jacinto, PE, SE, from FORSE Consulting to present Lintels for Masonry Walls. Cathleen designated the Children’s Hospital of Orange County (https://www.choc.org/) for the SEU Speaker Inspires donation of the month. Cathleen shared that she chose this organization because: “Children’s Hospital of Orange County is an amazing organization that has changed the lives of…read more →
Masonry lintels have been used throughout history and have withstood the test of time in many instances. Why is the masonry lintel such an efficient design compared to other available materials? You might think higher strength values can be achieved using other materials, however, masonry lintels built integral with the wall can produce robust and efficient designs in most cases….read more →
In May 2019, SE University welcomed Roger LaBoube, PhD, PE, from Missouri University of Science and Technology, to present Built-Up Member Design (Cold-Formed Steel). Roger designated the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (https://www.lls.org/) for the SEU Speaker Inspires donation of the month. Roger shared: “On June 7, 2003, our daughter Jennifer married Russ. The wedding was a wonderful family event and…read more →
Have you been involved in the remediation of a building experiencing vibration issues? Do you consider vibrations during your structural analysis to ensure the building occupants will feel comfortable in the structure? ASCE 7 explicitly states that “Structural systems, and members thereof, shall be designed to have adequate stiffness to limit deflections, lateral drift, vibration, or any other deformations that…read more →
In March 2019, SE University welcomed Geoff Blumber and Ravi Ozarker, PE, P.Eng., from Hexagon PPM, to present Avoiding Vibration Issues in Your Structure. Geoff designated the James Mirabal, P.E. Endowed Scholarship in Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin (https://endowments.giving.utexas.edu/james-mirabal-p-e-endowed-scholarship-in-civil-architectural-and-environmental-engineering/) for the SEU Speaker Inspires donation of the month. Geoff shared: “During my time at…read more →
In February 2019, SE University welcomed back Matthew Rechtien, PE, Esq., Senior Assistant City Attorney with the City of Ann Arbor, to present Engineering Ethics Update and Miscellany. In 2017 and 2018, he designated the David and Maxine Fowler Endowed Excellence Fund at the University of Texas at Austin (http://www.caee.utexas.edu/alumni/gift/opportunites) for the SEU Speaker Inspires donation of the month, and he has chosen to…read more →
When designing trusses, do you often include joint connections in the main design, or is it more an afterthought once the main structural members are selected based on strength? Often times, engineers will focus on minimizing the weight of the truss members, without regard to the joint design details, and this can prove to be a costly error. In the…read more →
