Solving Structural Engineering Challenges
Engineering is about managing risk. Sure we have codes to design with, but do you know that codes provide minimum requirements? I believe that’s why most of our brick houses crack – “they’re within code” – but are we happy with the outcome that minimum requirements provide? There are instances…
So you’ve run a finite element analysis (an FEA) of a mild steel “thing” and have a lovely looking stress plot, but wait! Some stresses are 800 MPa and glowing red! What should you do? It’s extremely disappointing to know that some engineers – so-called experts in their field –…
Should you be concerned when you see a crack in a concrete wall or slab? Well, that depends. There are two classifications of cracks in concrete – structural, and non-structural. You should be immediately concerned about a structural crack. And you should be concerned about durability with a non-structural crack….
We often use retaining walls in places where extra support is needed to hold back a sloping patch of soil. The most basic function of a retaining wall is to battle gravity and the lateral force of the slope must be offset in the retaining wall’s design. The most common…
Look at the image. Not a cursory glance, actually look at it. Doesn’t it look like the long chains are in compression? Clearly they’re not, and magic is unlikely the reason it’s structurally stable. I’m fascinated by structures (not surprising since I’ve been a practising structural engineer for over 30…
Three months ago, I hired a new full-time engineer. Right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Well I thought it was the middle! Victorians, you wish! Why wait until now to tell you all? He was on probation of course. He may have been terrible, and I’d have just…
“Why would we need an independent design review when we have a competent design team?” It’s a reasonable question, and asked so often. Perhaps it hasn’t been answered well enough. A third-party review costs money. It adds to the cost of the project, which may have been over-blown already. But…
My previous blog on welds got some interest as well as some queries, so today I’m following up on the issue of fillet weld size, leg length, and measurement. My source is an article published in the Oct 2017 issue of the Canadian Welding Association Welding Journal. I apologise in…
I read recently that rework is currently eroding contractor profit margins by up to 30% and increasing the likelihood of injury by 70%. A separate study suggested 12% of all Australian construction work is rework. Is it because we love building things that we want to do it twice? Or…
A recent question landed in my inbox from a regular client. Kyle wondered if we take much notice of weld sizes, or leave it to the fabricator, since in our markups we don’t often mention weld details. Quick answer – we leave nothing to chance! We use standards to minimise…