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Civil Engineering/prerequisite for a newbie structural engineer

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Expert: - 4/1/2011


Question
sir,
when a new civil engineering graduate joins structural design office , what basic knowledge do you (as an expert and experienced engineer)expect to carry with him?
for example, should he be able to design a simple slab,beam,column,footing,retaining wall etc ? or all of them? or even some more detailed elements like different types of slabs or only theoretical knowledge about them is enough?

Answer
Hi Talha,

Yes, he should be able to design the simple elements you list, but he should do these by manual/hand calculations rather than by using computer software. Until an engineer understands clearly the basics of structural analysis and design it is dangerous to let him loose on powerful software because he will not be able to ascertain whether the output is correct.

You should also know how a structure is expected to deform under loading and what the bending moment and shear force diagrams should look like.

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Arshad Khan

Expertise

I can answer any questions to do with civil and structural engineering consultancy and construction industry in East Africa and the Middle East, and specifically with the analysis and design of reinforced concrete structures. My particular expertise is in the aseismic design and optimisation of tall buildings.

Experience

Employment history: 36 years in Construction and consultancy in the UK, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Africa, Somalia, Zambia, Austria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Doha and the U.A.E.

Organizations
.Fellow of Institution of Structural Engineers (UK) .Fellow of Institution of Civil Engineers(UK) .Member of the Institution of Engineers, Kenya .Registered Engineer, ERB, Kenya .Member of the Architectural Association of Kenya (Engineers Chapter) .Chartered Engineer (UK)

Publications
•1984: International Conference on the Art and Practice of Structural Design, London •1994: 3rd Int. Kerensky Conference in Structural Engineering, Singapore •2008: International Conference on High-Rise Towers, Abu Dhabi

Education/Credentials
BSc, 1st Class Hons, in Building Engineering, University of Bath, UK MSc in Concrete Structures and Technology, University of London. Diploma of Imperial College, UK.

Awards and Honors
•Science Congress Special Award (for 2-seater Hovercraft - 1968) •Institution of Civil Engineers Award for outstanding performance at Bath University (1975) •Concrete Society Postgraduate study Bursary Award (1976) •Consular Representative for British High Commission, Nairobi. (1995 to 1998) •Examiner for Institution of Civil Engineers Professional Interviews, Nairobi. (1997 to 1998) •Branch Representative in Vienna for PI assessment for Inst. of Struct. Engrs. (1999 to date)

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