ARTICLES - Page 3 of 6 - Sheer Force Engineering

FOOTING DESIGN IN RAM CONCEPT

RAM Concept by Bentley is a popular modelling software for the design of suspended concrete slabs. It has both post-tension and conventionally reinforced design capability. However a lesser used function in RAM Concept is the ability to design mat foundations. This feature can also be used to design strip footings and isolated footings (or pads). For structures which are sensitive to settlements, RAM Concept is an efficient design tool to check your bearing pressure and structural design of your footing. So lets take a look at footing design in RAM Concept…

HOW TO SET UP GRIDS IN ETABS

Grid lines (reference grids or simply grids) are the glue that ties all of the engineering and architectural drawings together. They provide reference points which helps the reader identify the same locations on each disciplines drawing set. They are equally important for your analysis model to assist in providing snapping points. It also assists in coordinating your analysis model with the design drawings. So lets take a look at how to set up grids in ETABS…

WHAT DOES A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER DO DAY TO DAY

The recent changes to work habits due to lockdowns from COVID-19 has caused me to think about how the day to day life of a Structural Engineer has evolved over the last couple of years. Its also caused me to ponder how my 9am to 5pm routine and what I do day to day has evolved since being a graduate Structural Engineer compared to now being a Technical Director managing a team. So what exactly does a Structural Engineer do day to day?

WHAT IS A FLY BRACE AND WHAT DOES A FLY BRACE DO

In steel construction of sheds and warehouse buildings, there is a small element which has a huge impact on the overall performance of the building and its members. The aptly named fly brace can drastically improve a beam or columns performance due to its restraining characteristics. So what is a fly brace and what does a fly brace do? This article answers both…

LATERAL TORSIONAL BUCKLING AND ITS CAUSES

Lateral torsional buckling (LTB) in beams is a phenomenon that all Structural Engineers should understand. From what it is, what causes it and how to prevent it (for a list of other things Structural Engineers should know take a look at the article at THIS link). If you are a Structural Engineer and don’t know what lateral torsional buckling is (shame on you!) fear not this article covers everything you need to know in relation to lateral torsional buckling, so lets dive head first…

TYPES OF PILE TESTING AND WHY THEY ARE NEEDED

The foundations of a building are arguably the most important part of the design. After all, they support all the structural elements which are built above them. It is important to ensure that the constructed foundations are free from defects and able to support the design loading. This article will dive into the types of pile testing and why they are needed on building projects.

CONSTRUCTION JOINT IN SLABS

Due to the nature of concrete construction and how its formed on-site. Concrete buildings need to to be constructed in portions and stitched together. The result is much like a patchwork quilt of smaller components coming together to form one larger entity greater than the sum of its parts. What allows this segmented construction to occur are construction joints. This article takes a look at the construction joint in slabs in particular…

PILE FOUNDATION TYPES AND THEIR BENEFITS

Foundations can come in all different shapes, sizes and construction materials. A very diverse foundation system is the pile foundation. Pile foundations are used throughout the globe to support structures of all different scales. This article will take a deep dive down the rabbit hole and explore all the different pile foundation types and the benefits of each…

SHELL VS MEMBRANE, WHICH ONE TO USE IN ETABS

ETABS, developed by Computers and Structures Inc. is a powerful 3D finite element software for the design and analysis of buildings. It provides Structural Engineers with a powerful tool to model both simple and very complex structures. The user has the flexibility to design “stick” or “frame” elements (such as beams or columns). There is also ability to model shells or membranes for slab and wall elements. But what’s the difference between a shell vs. membrane element? and which one should you use in ETABS? Lets take a closer look…

WHAT IS A TRANSFER BEAM IN STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING

It strikes fear into the hearts of Structural Engineers. It goes against all logical load path theory. It is a counter intuitive way to transmit vertical load from your building to your foundations. But in some cases it is a necessity. I am of course talking about the transfer beam. But what is a transfer beam and what considerations do Structural Engineers and contractors need to take in the design and construction of transfer beams? Lets take a look…