Structural Analysis And Design In Tomorrow's Civil Engineering Curriculum

The paper examines coverage of various topics from typical required undergraduate courses such as Statics, Dynamics, Structural Analysis, and Structural Design. We also look into material typically covered in other structures related courses such as Strength of Materials, Finite Elements, Composite materials, Continuum Mechanics, Structural Dynamics, and Vibrations. Major topics covered in these courses are examined based on the following considerations. 1. Topic important/not important for passing the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination 2. Topic important/not important for passing the Professional Engineering Examination 3. Topic related/not related to their every day work 4. Topic learned/not learned through on job training 5. Topic learned/not learned through continuing education 6. Topic fundamental to learning related advanced topics Input on these issues is sought from a selected group of practicing structural engineers and educators in Iowa. The paper summarizes results of this feedback. Introduction Engineering marketplace is vastly different today than it was few decades ago. Due to rapid advances in technology and globalization of engineering services there is high demand for engineers who have skills that go well beyond the technical knowledge gained through a typical engineering curriculum. As a result most engineering schools are under tremendous pressure to add courses into the curriculum that address the changing nature of the engineering marketplace. At the same time, because of economic factors and other issues that are well documented in debates related to the proposed ASCE policy 465, engineering schools must educate future practicing engineers generally through traditional four-year bachelors and perhaps one to two year masters degree programs. Obviously something must be taken out from the existing curriculum to make room for new courses that are designed in response to new challenges facing the engineering profession. This paper examines typical curriculum in structural engineering in an attempt to answer this question. We chose to focus on structural engineering because it is P ge 9.123.1 Proceedings of the 2004 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2004, American Society for Engineering Education our area of teaching and research focus. Also in traditional civil engineering curriculum there are several courses that deal with structures and there is constant pressure from other disciplines, even within civil engineering, to cut down on the number of required structures oriented courses. The paper examines coverage of various topics from typical required undergraduate courses such as Statics, Dynamics, Structural Analysis, and Structural Design. We also look into material typically covered in other structures related courses such as Strength of Materials, Finite Elements, Composite materials, Continuum Mechanics, Structural Dynamics, and Vibrations. Major topics covered in these courses are examined based on the considerations such as the importance of the topic for passing the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination or the Professional Engineering Examination, its relationship to every day work, its importance for learning advanced topics, and whether it should be learned through on job training or through continuing education. Input on these issues is sought from a selected group of practicing structural engineers and educators in Iowa. The paper summarizes results of this feedback. Typical Undergraduate Structures Related Courses Relevant questions for each topic 1. Is important for F.E. examination 2. Is important for P.E. examination 3. Is related to my everyday work 4. Best learned through on-the-job training 5. Best learned through continuing education 6. Is fundamental to learning advanced topics 7. Recommendation: 0: Keep as is, 1: Move to graduate level, 2: No need to teach Responses: -1: Disagree Blank (0): Neutral 1: Agree Basic Core Courses 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Statics Force vectors -1 -1 0 1 Equilibrium of a particle 0 1 0 0 -1 1 0 Force system resultants 0 1 1 -1 -1 1 0 Equilibrium of rigid bodies 0 1 0 -1 -1 1 0 Forces in Trusses & Frames 0 1 1 -1 -1 1 0 Moment and shear diagrams 0 1 1 -1 -1 1 0 Friction -1 -1 1 0 Center of gravity and Centroid 0 1 1 0 -1 1 0 Moment of inertia 0 1 1 -1 -1 1 0 Virtual work 0 0 -1 -1 -1 1 0 Dynamics P ge 9.123.2 Proceedings of the 2004 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2004, American Society for Engineering Education Motion of a point 0 0 -1 -1 -1 1 0 Force, mass, and acceleration -1 -1 1 0 Energy methods 0 0 -1 -1 -1 1 0 Momentum methods 0 0 -1 -1 -1 1 0 Planar kinematics of rigid bodies 0 0 -1 -1 -1 1 0 Planar dynamics of rigid bodies 0 0 -1 -1 -1 1 1 Energy and momentum 0 0 -1 -1 -1 1 0 Three dimensional kinematics 0 -1 -1 1 Structural Analysis and Mechanics Courses 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Structural analysis Statically determinate trusses 0 1 1 -1 -1 1 0 Shear and moment diagrams 0 1 1 -1 -1 1 0 Cables and arches 0 1 1 -1 -1 1 0 Influence lines -1 1 -1 0 -1 1 1 Approximate analysis methods 0 1 1 -1 -1 1 0 Moment area method 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 1 1 Conjugate beam method 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 1 2 Castigliano's theorems 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 1 1 Force method 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 1 1 Slope-deflection equations 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 1 1 Moment distribution method 0 1 -1 -1 -1 1 1 Displacement method 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 1 1 Matrix methods 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 1 1 Mechanics of Materials Stress & Strain 0 1 1 -1 -1 0 0 Torsion 0 1 1 -1 -1 0 0 Stresses in Beams 0 1 1 -1 -1 0 0 Deflection of beams 0 1 1 -1 -1 0 0 Stresses due to combined loads 0 1 1 -1 -1 0 0 Composite beams 0 0 1 -1 -1 0 0 Columns 0 1 1 -1 -1 0 0 Inelastic action 0 1 1 -1 -1 0 0 Soil Mechanics P ge 9.123.3 Proceedings of the 2004 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2004, American Society for Engineering Education Physical Properties of Soils. 0 -1 1 1 -1 1 0 Permeability of Soils. 0 -1 0 1 -1 1 0 Stresses in Soils. 0 -1 1 1 -1 1 0 Compressibility; Settlement. 0 -1 1 1 -1 1 0 Shear Strength of Soil. 0 -1 1 1 -1 1 0 Stability of Slopes. 0 -1 1 1 -1 1 0 Lateral Earth Pressure. 0 -1 1 1 -1 1 0 Bearing Capacity 0 -1 1 1 -1 1 0 Structural Design Courses 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Design of steel structures Allowable stress design (ASD) 0 1 1 -1 -1 1 0 Load & resistance factor design 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 2 Loads on structures 0 1 1 -1 -1 1 0 Tension members 0 1 1 -1 -1 1 0 Compression members 0 1 1 -1 -1 1 0 Beams 0 1 1 -1 -1 1 0 Combined beam-columns 0 1 1 -1 -1 1 0 Bolted connections 0 1 1 -1 -1 1 0 Welded connections 0 1 1 -1 -1 1 0 Steel building frames 0 1 1 -1 -1 1 0 Composite beams 0 1 1 -1 -1 1 0 Plastic analysis & design 0 1 0 -1 -1 1 1 Design of concrete structures Singly reinforced beams and slabs 0 1 1 -1 -1 -1 0 Doubly reinforced beams 0 1 0 -1 -1 -1 0 Shear in beams 0 1 1 -1 -1 -1 0 Continuous beams 0 1 1 -1 -1 -1 0 Serviceability 0 1 1 -1 1 -1 0 Walls 0 1 1 -1 -1 -1 0 Columns 0 1 1 -1 -1 -1 0 Footings 0 1 1 -1 -1 -1 0 Formwork 0 1 1 -1 -1 -1 0 Detailing concrete structures 0 1 1 -1 -1 -1 0 Advanced Structures Related Courses Relevant questions for each topic P ge 9.123.4 Proceedings of the 2004 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2004, American Society for Engineering Education 1. Is important for P.E. examination 2. Is related to my everyday work 3. Best learned through on-the-job training 4. Best learned through continuing education 5. Is fundamental to learning advanced topics 6. Recommendation: 0: Teach at the graduate level, 1: Teach at the undergraduate level, 2: No need to teach Responses: -1: Disagree Blank (0): Neutral 1: Agree Advanced analysis courses 1 2 3 4 5 6 Basic finite element analysis -1 -1 -1 -1 1 1 Advanced finite element analysis -1 -1 -1 -1 1 1 Structural dynamics and vibrations -1 -1 -1 -1 1 1 Matrix analysis of structures -1 -1 -1 -1 1 1 Advanced soil mechanics -1 0 -1 -1 1 1 Advanced mechanics of materials -1 -1 -1 -1 1 1 Continuum mechanics -1 -1 -1 -1 1 1 Plates and shells -1 -1 -1 -1 1 1 Energy methods -1 -1 -1 -1 1 1 Structural stability 0 1 -1 1 1 0 Composite materials 0 1 -1 1 1 0 Fracture & fatigue mechanics 0 1 -1 1 1 0 Advanced design courses Design of high-rise building -1 1 1 -1 -1 1 Design of bridges 1 -1 1 -1 -1 1 Design of timber structures 1 1 -1 -1 -1 0 Design of masonary structures 1 1 -1 -1 -1 0 Prestressed concrete design 1 1 -1 -1 -1 0 Shell structures -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 1 Advanced concrete structures 1 1 -1 -1 -1 1 Advanced steel structures -1 1 -1 -1 -1 1 Earthquake resistant design 1 1 -1 -1 -1 1 Design for wind loads 1 1 -1 -1 -1 0 Blast resistant design -1 0 -1 -1 -1 1 Foundations and retaining walls 1 1 -1 -1 -1 0 Deep foundations -1 1 -1 -1 -1 0 Advanced analysis & design courses P ge 9.123.5 Proceedings of the 2004 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2004, American Society for Engineering Education Parking structures 0 1 -1 -1 -1 0 Structural optimization 0 0 -1 -1 -1 0 Boundary elements 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 1 Meshless finite elements 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 1 Blast & Fire resistant design 0 1 -1 -1 -1 0 Design practice and Marketing Project management 0 1 -1 -1 -1 1 Marketing services 0 1 -1 -1 -1 1 Business development 0 1 -1 -1 -1 1 Ethics 0 1 -1 -1 -1 0 Communications 0 1 -1 -1 -1 1 Quality control 0 1 -1 -1 -1 1 International marketplace 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 0 Sustainability 0 1 -1 -1 -1 0 Cost estimation 0 1 -1 -1 -1 1 Project financing 0 1 -1 -1 -1 0 Implications of Results While the sample size on this survey was relatively small, it does provide some interesting feedback that should be considered when major curricular developments are being planned. The results from the core course part of the survey can best be summarized as “maintain the status quo.” Even the notion of teaching some of these topics by distance education was not well received. T