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Assalam u Alaikum, This is Muneeb Badar. I am UET graduate. My session was 2001. I am currently working in Saudi Arabia. My experience is in Linear and Non Linear Time History Analysis. I used to work on Performance Based Design of Tall Buildings. I am happy to find such a fantastic page. Thanks Muneeb

Thanks Muneeb and you are warmly welcomed here. Put up a photo soon

Dear Mr. Waqas, Your study about Non Linear Analysis is quite impressive. I just want to add some more details. There are three types of design. 1- Service Level Earthquake (SLE) 2- Design Basis Earthquake (DBE) 3- Maximum Considered Earthquake (MCE) SLE is at service level. Which means that in EQ there should be no problem for non structural members. DBE: In code based design, we use DBE level earthquake. This earthquake is frwquent earthquake with return period of 475 years( I think). During this code uses actualy 100% forces and reduce these forces by reduction factor R. Means we design our structures for reduced forces as explained before. Actually in this case code allows the structure to yield at certain locations for certainm members. But code do not specify these locations and members as R is the overall division factor. So during an earthquake it is not necessary that the members will yield which we assumed to be yield. For example if beam at any location yielded then it will not transfer forces to the column. But we are not sure that column will yield first or beam will yield first. Code tried to take this by incorporating the stiffness modifiers but still it is not 100% reliable. So thats why nobody can gurrantee the building to perform 100% in earthquake when designed by Code. MCE: This is the third and extreme level of earthquake.Return period is 2475 (I think). This can only be incorporated by using Non Linear Time History Analysis. In this we can check the reinforcement designed on DBE level for capicity check by considering the actual yielding and energy disspation. We can set a limit for structure for example Life Safety, Immediate occupancy or collapse prevention. We allow the memebrs to yield upto acertain level and beyond that level we ll not allow the structure to yield. We can actually see that which member is yielding and the after yeidling what is the force and design for that force. The difference is that in code based design we aare not sure how much energy is dissipated in the structure. Code just provide 2 or 3 types or R factors depending upon the building type. So ist ios not 100 % accurate. Secondly code reduces the forces for all modes of structure but actually it can not happen. We can not reduce all modes because we can only reduce the modes which are yielding. So thats why 21.1.1 says that integrity should be maintained. But code do not give any gide line how to maintain that integrity. By using that R factor??? how can we do that????? So code just wrote that thing. Actually that integrity can only be assured by using the Non Linear Time Histoiry Analysis and stops the stucture to deform beyond which we do not require to deform. Sorry if I write something out of topic. Thanks Muneeb

Aoa. I agree with Waqas in that a structural engineering student must focus on LEARNING THE BASIC STRUCTURAL CONCEPTS. And, this should be his/her prime goal. As far as learning of software is concerned, although these are good tools for a structural engineer, IMHO a good structural engineer MUST be able to solve most of design and analysis problem MANUALLY (i.e., by hand calculation), BEFORE he learns to solve them using some software. The reason is that in solving many type of structural problems, faced in the field, you might neither have any software available, nor time to develop one to tackle the situation. Moreover, structural software are generally very costly as well. Resultantly, you will get stuck up somewhere, especially for situations you have no software. However, if you have good structural concepts, and have learnt the art of solving structural problems THROUGH HAND CALCULATIONS, you will be a much more efficient and good structural engineer in future. I, therefore, recommend that Chokehold, and other similar fellows studying in various engineering universities, must focus a lot on their studies during education, keeping in view above points, in order to have developed basic skills necessary for becoming a good structural engineer on completion of their education. Structural and other computer software should definitely be learnt by the engineer, but only with a view to augment basic engineering knowledge and to speed-up the design work. Regards.

I am also a relatively fresh graduate. I completed my civil Engineering in 2013. The first and foremost thing u MUST know is ur interest. In what field you have Interest, learn about ur field the most u can. Because in student life, you have plenty of time to study and these BOOKISH KNOWLEDGE is going to benefit you ultimately. In field you see things practically but in student life, you must focus on your concepts etc so that they an benifi you when you are in field. The second thing is that, Try to learn maximum softwares. I am a structural design engineer so softwares for this field you MUST LEARN are, AUTOCAD, ETABS, SAP, STAAD, SAFE, MS OFFICE etc. MS Project and Primavera must also be learnt. There is one also software called TEKLA that you must learn. There are 2 years still left so you can learn these softwares well.. And the most important thing,,,,, GO AND JOIN PART TIME JOB/INTERNSHIP Paid/Unpaid with any of professional you get chance. Big names are not necessary. At start attach with any of professional you get chance.. but this will benefit you because when you will complete your degree, you will be already having professional experience. by the way what is ur university?