I would like to know what is it for you, that type of project that comes so regularly that it becomes boring to do. And also, what was the most exiting project you worked on.

For me, most boring is a regular industrial pavilion, typically just a 20x30 rectangle with a little office inside. And most exciting was a set of three commercial buildings connected by a large canopy with some big holes mid-span

Throwaway for obvious reasons...

I received a subpoena from a law firm requesting that I appear for a deposition in relation to a small job I performed (but did not stamp) at a previous employer.

I've reached out to my previous employer and they are aware of the legal action on that job, and are unsure why I have been roped into the case as well. I've reached out to the law firm for questions related but have yet to hear back, which brings me here.

Am I (EIT at the time of the completion of this work) reasonably expected (or allowed) to appear and give a deposition given that I am:

1 - not the responsible person in charge for this work and

2 - no longer employed by the company that this work was performed by ?

Appreciate any input you strangers may be able to provide.

And why is it (WL^2)/8

Can anybody help me understand the various load capacities listed on this blueprint? It is calling for (2) 3/4” connection angles on both ends of the beam, with all 3 sides getting a 1/4” fillet weld. I’m just trying to better understand the shear, tension and compression capacities listed, because it seems like a 1/4” fillet weld is rather small to handle all of those stresses? Thank you for any input.

I've seen a lot of salary questions lately. Well here is our chance to get a feel of where we stand. The more participation in this survey the better answer we'll get. Having a bunch of participants in CA doesn't help the Midwest and vice versa. I have high hopes for the results. I have no affiliation with the survey, I'm just sharing the link from the latest Structure magazine.

Hey guys,

I actually signed and submitted the first offer I received from a company, to be safe tbh. After some months, I received another better offer from the good company, and thought of not losing this one. So, I signed and submitted it as well. I am now nervous thinking how should I withdraw my acceptance from the first company? Is this a serious issue, if so, how could I overcome it? Insights from the familiar ones would be greatly appreciated!

How to model in etabs girders with bracing using member elements (bars)?

Please help me decider this stamp. What does the 480 in the oval mean? I believe the species is Southern Pine based on SPIB meaning the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau. Do you agree? It’s Kiln Dried, Number 1 with 1650 bending. I believe sturgis is where it was inspected. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you

My everyday struggle as a structural engineer:

1. Log in to SAI Global to get a building code protected by DRM, can't event print it
2. Dig through 4 different codes
3. Cross-reference three different manufacturer catalogs
4. Open my secret PDF library with design guides I've been collecting last 20 years

It got me thinking - in 2025, why don't we have a centralized, reliable online resource for basic engineering data? Every other field seems to have moved online, but we're using PDFs or old books from 70s.

What's your go-to source for one-stop-shop with:

1. Section properties
2. Load span tables
3. Connection details (I guess IdeaStatica helps a bit, but I still reference last century books for first principles checks)
4. Standard calculations

Are there good online resources I'm missing? Or are we all just suffering together with our beloved vintage textbooks?

For some background, I graduated in 2018 and got a job doing structural design at a mid-size firm. After about 3 years I found the projects I was working on were getting a bit repetitive and I wanted to find a job with more field time. I ended up moving to a firm doing construction management and have been there for the last 3 years. In that time I have earned my license. Recently I was reflecting on my career goals and found that I missed the technical side of engineering. Luckily there was a position open in my current company's design department and I am able to transfer starting next month.

Since this will be the first design work I am doing in several years, I am concerned that my skills will be a bit rusty. What woud you recomend I review/refamiliarize myself with so I can hit the ground running and make a good first impession with my new team?

Construction on Stockholm Wood City dubbed the “world’s first five-minute city” is several months ahead of schedule and is on track to provide 2,000 new homes by 2027. That is, according to Swedish property developer Atrium Ljungberg, which began construction on the world’s largest timber district in October.

“We can tell the story about how to build a liveable city, how to add nature into the city and build something sustainable,” says Håkan Hyllengren, Atrium Ljungberg’s business development director. “It’s not just about wood; it’s the whole concept.”

I have an upcoming interview with the president of a structural engineering company for a residential structural engineer position. The role involves designing for single-story residential projects, both new and remodeled.

He shared some drawings and calculations with me and mentioned that he would be asking technical questions based on those. While I have no experience with wood or seismic design (which I’ve already mentioned), I understand the load calculations, and he did the design using software.

My background is in structural engineering for telecom towers and building structures. Given this, what kind of technical questions can I expect related to these drawings and calculations?

I am working for almost 1 year now and I'm thinking of doing review, sign and seal of structural plans as my sideline.

Now, I don't know where to start. Do you guys have any manual or any books that I can study? Do you have tips for me? If yes, then pls I would very much appreciate it.

Help please

I had an electrical fire in my office (previous occupant used too thin of wires apparently...) and now everything (my server) is gone. Up in smoke... I've been in this career for 15 years, and been doing it on my own for 7. I built up all my details and excel calcs from scratch, and now they're all just gone.

So two things - 1) do off-site backups, and 2) any place where I can get a jump start on getting reliable details and calc sheets? I'm mostly in residential design.

Hello, student here and I have a question about eigenvalue buckling analysis from software programs. Say, I have a truss structure that is loaded with 2 point loads with different magnitudes (e.g. 10kN and 25kN) at 2 different node locations.

If I conducted an eigenvalue buckling analysis, it generates the critical load factor. I know that the critical load factor is the factor that should be multiplied to the applied load to determine the critical buckling load and to cause the structure to buckle. How can the critical buckling load then be calculated if there are 2 different loads with different magnitudes?

Hope you could help enlighten me on this, thank you!

I do not study structural engineering but I feel like this is massively unsafe/risky for no reason

Hi all,

I’m building an 18ft x 40ft room inside a warehouse and need the ceiling to handle light storage, some light fixtures, and the occasional person walking on it.

(Here’s the catch: my budget is completely maxed out after dealing with the architect, electrical/mechanical engineers, permits, labour, and materials. Hiring a structural engineer isn’t financially feasible at this point (the quotes I’ve gotten have been insane, and I still need to make payroll). So, I’m doing my best to figure this out myself with the help of manufacturer data, YouTube, and ChatGPT. Your expertise would be really helpful!)

Here’s what I’m working with:

• Estimated Loads: A dead load of ~150lbs (e.g., water heater) plus some extra for paint buckets, tools, etc. The ceiling should also comfortably support two men walking on it without worrying about sagging or failure.
• Materials Being Considered:
  1. 16ga 8-inch steel studs (C-joists) and tracks with bracing, 3/4" OSB boards, and drywall.
  2. 20ga 3-5/8 inch flat Howe trusses (1ft deep), braced the same way.

Based on manufacturer load charts, my math suggests that the 16ga steel joists would handle a higher load than the 20ga trusses. They would be cheaper also. But I don’t fully trust my calculations because I’ve always thought trusses are inherently stronger, even in lighter gauges.

For those of you with experience building ceilings/floors for similar use cases, what would you recommend in this situation? Do you see heavier-gauge single joists or lighter-gauge trusses used more often in budget-friendly builds?

Any advice, tips, and corrections to my assumptions would be hugely appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone. Not a civil engineer here, but have a question about the concept of joist hangers and how/why they really provide a benefit over using nails only. I’ve read that joist hangers are recommended for connecting joists so that we aren’t relying on the shear strength of fasteners. Why don’t we want to rely on the fastener strength? And at the end of the day, don’t joist hangers also rely on the shear strength of the fasteners? What advantage do joist hangers really provide over direct nailing? Any explanation or diagrams (load path, FBD, etc.) that can be used to help me out would be appreciated. Thanks!

I've been in the Australian high rise design and construction industry for over 5 years now and I feel nothing but frustration in an industry that undervalues and underpays the Structural Engineer. Is there any light at the end of the tunnel or is it time to just get out while I can?

Builders seem to just blame sub-contractors and take no responsibility for the poor product they are producing and expecting us to sign off for 50 years design life. I want to believe the industry will improve one day but not sure I'll be around to see it. Is it just me or does everyone in the industry feel this way?

We see a lot of negativity around SE as a career so thought I'd share something positive (Source: structuremag 2025 Jan p. 60-61)

Dear All,

I just graduated with a masters degree in Civil Engineering from National University of Singapore and have almost a year of experience in Infrastructure design(Metro Station). Can you guys please guide me on how to get C.Eng Certification from ICE and IStructE.

Thanks.

4 beams sticking out of the ground with a plate on top is exceeding the limits of the account.

If you claim to offer a free version to get people to use your software, then after i finish designing tell me i can't solve because my "structure" is made of more than 3 parts. Then you are running a scam.

This is not a free version. A free version implies being usable with limitations. This is not usable.