Member $1565 / Non-Member $1845
Purpose and Background
The practice of structural engineering is both an art and a science. While structural engineers are in a general agreement about the fundamental principles behind the science, they occasionally disagree about the implementation of those principles - the art. Even the knowledgeable professionals might engage in constructive debates about dealing with certain design challenges. At the same time, it might take many years, or even decades, for the young design engineers to master the fine points of the profession.
The purpose of this seminar is thus two-fold: 1) to allow the experienced practitioners to compare notes about their design practices and 2) to provide a crash course for the young engineers in the fine points of the design, allowing them to shorten the learning curve and gain professional maturity faster.
The seminar covers a multitude of practical issues that tend to invite controversy and misunderstanding in the design community. The focus is on structural design of buildings, but the discussion would be useful to the engineers involved with other types of structures as well. The list of topics has been developed by the instructor based on his four decades of experience; it covers most major structural systems - and adds some unexpected issues. As the attendees will discover, many of these topics are debated in the engineering magazines and web sites. The instructor will share his preferred solutions to the dilemmas, or a range of practical solutions, if appropriate.
The discussion is illustrated by many practical examples and situations. The attendees are encouraged to participate and ask questions throughout the presentation, as well as to offer alternative design solutions for the topics being discussed.
Seminar Benefits
- Find out whether it is always appropriate to use the latest editions of specialized engineering codes and standards
- Explore the details for load transfer between the webs and the flanges of sloped roof diaphragms
- Discuss which deflection criteria should be used in the residential and nonresidential wood-framed buildings
- Avoid common problems in specifying masonry veneer
- Find out if the masonry joint reinforcement may be safely omitted
- Know when lateral bracing for cold-formed C- and Z-sections is needed
- Learn under which standard anchor bolts should be designed (the answer might surprise you)
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course the participants will be able to discuss and apply practical solutions to many design topics that invite controversy and misunderstanding in the design community. The instruction will utilize a combination of lecture, class discussion, answering the participants’ questions, and refreshing the discussion through a short post-seminar exam.
Assessment of Learning Outcomes
Class participation, class discussion of case studies, post-course test.
Who Should Attend?
Structural and civil engineers interested in learning about practical solutions to the design topics that invite debate within the engineering community.
Seminar Outline
TIME: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
DAY 1
- Introduction: the purpose of the seminar
- General design issues
- Should the latest editions of building codes and specialized standards be used?
- Should the (slightly) deficient construction be accepted?
- How to verify the results of computer analysis
- Designing for serviceability
- What spacing of building expansion joints should be used?
- Construction tolerances
- Steel structures
- How to determine the most economical framing layout
- Should column eccentricities in the corner columns be considered?
- When should camber be used?
- When should bolts be pretensioned?
- Simplified methods or designing for torsion
- Areas of misunderstanding in the design of open-web steel joists
- Lintels for large masonry openings: design for torsion or not?
- Web-to-flange load path in sloped diaphragms
- Contentious issues in the design of steel stairs and rails
- Metal building systems
- What makes specifying them challenging
- Lateral bracing for cold-formed C- and Z-sections
- Specifying lateral drift criteria
- Specifying horizontal deflection limits
- Wood structures
- Which deflection criteria to use for floor beams and joists?
- Should the tops of columns supporting wood beams be braced?
- Avoiding problems in designing cathedral ceilings
- Design of sloped roofs with complex configurations
- Contentious details at sloped roof diaphragms
- Lateral bracing for lightweight wood trusses
- Pitfalls in working with today’s pressure-treated lumber
- Minimizing the effects of wood shrinkage
- How to specify nails (yes, nails!)
DAY 2
- Concrete structures
- Design column footings for uplift?
- Shallow foundations for rigid-frame buildings
- Design of elevated concrete slabs for concentrated loads
- When are slabs on grade considered structural elements? What’s the difference?
- Design of slabs on grade for concentrated loads
- The pros and cons of using vapor retarders
- Anchor bolts
- Under which standard are they designed? (You might be surprised to learn.)
- A missing piece in today’s anchor bolt design procedures
- Which types of anchor bolts should not be used when net tension exists?
- Masonry structures
- Coordination with architects and MEP consultants
- Use two layers of vertical reinforcement?
- Masonry shear walls: the most economical vertical element of LFRS?
- Is joint reinforcement needed?
- Avoiding problems in specifying brick veneer
- Miscellaneous topics
- Supports for rooftop mechanical equipment in proprietary structures
- Some practical details for supporting suspended loads
- Some issues in the design of roof structures
- Conclusion, final Q&A, post-course quiz
Hotel Information
Discounted hotel rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis. See discount deadline and rates for each hotel below.
Hyatt Place Boston Braintree
50 Forbes Rd
Braintree, MA 02184-2602
(781)848-0600