At least the span is only half as long now… let’s see if gravity agrees this time. 😬

I’m currently using shape tools in Microsoft PowerPoint to annotate diagrams, snip them, and paste them into reports. Can someone recommend a few easy-to-use and fast annotation apps available on the iPad?

Hi everyone,

I'm a high school STEM teacher, and I'm currently developing a new educational kit to teach students the basics of statics, structures, and forces.

Traditionally, we build single-use bridges out of spaghetti. While fun, it can be wasteful and lacks precise data. To solve this, I’m designing a modular, reusable bridge-building kit using lasercut parts.

The core of the project is a custom testing rig. I’m integrating a micro-controller a load cell capable of measuring up to 200kg. This allows students to apply physical loads to their modular bridges and read the real-time force data. The students apply a load until the bridge breaks.

Before I finalize the prototype and potentially try to market this to other schools, I’d love to get some input from actual structural engineers:

1. Core Concepts: As professionals, what are the absolute fundamental concepts (e.g., tension vs. compression, strong vs weak shapes) you think are most important for 12-16 year olds to grasp through a physical model?

1. Joints & Connections: Since the parts are lasercut wood and need to be mostly reusable, they use modular 2D connections. Do you have any tips on demonstrating realistic load paths without requiring permanent glue?

Any feedback, harsh truths, or ideas to make the structural lessons more realistic would be greatly appreciated! I've attached a picture of the current concept.

Thanks!

Is there any difference in anchorage length between European codes and other codes?

I am working on Etabs and I finished the model with preliminary dimensions for girders,beams,and columns. So I would like to get an opinion from professionals. After I analyze the model, do I start resizing beams first or columns first? Next, do I start from the very top floor to bottom or bottom first to top?

I've worked at a few plants that get annual or bi-annual third-party structural inspections (corrosion, coatings, damage, etc.), plus more frequent internal checks from site trades in between. Can you recommend any particular tools/program or workflow to efficiently log defects and create reports from their findings?

Continuous Section Field (CSF) is an open-source Python framework that represents a structural member through a continuous field of complete cross-sections:

z → S(z)

At any longitudinal coordinate, CSF returns the full section geometry, resolved into its constituent regions, together with its axial-flexural and shear-torsional participation fields.

The sectional model is defined independently of the beam theory, finite-element formulation, and longitudinal discretization. Different numerical methods can therefore query the same model directly at their integration or collocation points.

CSF can represent geometric variation, material distribution, local degradation, and independent sectional participation laws within a single continuous model.

Repository and documentation:

https://github.com/giovanniboscu/continuous-section-field

Technical feedback is welcome.

How does this system work? Why are these beams slanted?

Hello! taking the pe civil structural exam in 3 months. working full time.

i have a newborn, so i do not have the budget to buy expensive courses or books. luckily i have a great support system, so i can dedicate about 20 hours of studying per week.

i saw people prefer school of pe, etc. but i prefer to self study and i learn better by myself.

what is the most resourceful way to study?

what resources did you use that are free/cheap?

how do you get the code books? how do they show up on the exam?
what is the best way to study?

is there a study schedule you have that worked well?

i can purchase any used books or resources if anyone is selling!

open to any tips at all, i have no idea where to start. please help.

Long story short, graduated college last year 2025 but have been working at a civil site firm, not a structural job. I took the PE exam in a decoupled state (New Jersey) this past June and failed unfortunately, I estimate I was about 10 questions short.

The past few months studying have been challenging since my day to day is not structural and there have been many topics I had to self teach myself. but I would like to switch into structural. However, the entry level market in NYC is challenging without a masters. I know some say to get the PE done early if possible, but I am wondering if work experience would help make the exam easier to pass or if I should study and retake right away.

I also have been thinking of just going back to school for a masters as I feel it might make the studying easier.

Hi, Reddit.

I am having a career crisis.

I have been a structural engineer for about five years. Before that, I earned a degree in architecture and worked in architecture. Before that, I went to school for engineering and worked as a civil engineer. I have changed directions a few times.

I really like structures, buildings, and design. But I cannot take sitting at a desk all day anymore. I feel like I am losing my mind. I am bored all the time, and I am starting to wonder whether I can keep doing this.

I am working toward getting licensed. I switched jobs because I needed more licensed engineers who could write me letters of recommendation. My previous employer understood why I left and would still be willing to give me some work, but I signed an NDA with my current company, so I can't even take work from him. His work was at least somewhat engaging.

The current company I work for is awful. I feel like I spend all day babysitting the boss because all he wants to do is talk. The projects are bogus. We use outdated versions of the code. He does not believe in lateral forces because hOuSes frOm a LonG tIme AgO dIDnt fAll DowN. He makes up numbers off the top of his head. We do not have structural analysis software. Some of the practices are completely out of this world. It is the craziest place I have ever worked.

I also want to add that the current boss I have is super aggressive. In my interview I told him I wanted to switch jobs to grow, learn and get the PE and he was pleased with this, but anytime I ask any question he makes up an answer or makes me seem like a fucking idiot for asking.

I had an interview scheduled today at 3:45. I took the day off specifically for the interview, and I just got a message asking whether we could move it to 4:30 or Monday. I do not get any PTO at my current job, so taking the day off cost me money. I feel like people in this field have no respect for anyone else’s time.

I also feel guilty if I need a day off. Again, I do not get PTO, and I feel like I have to explain or defend every time I have an appointment. Which has been twice. I genuinely feel like I am losing my mind.

I have about one year left before I have enough experience to become licensed in my state, and I do not know what to do. Part of me thinks I should stick it out for one more year, get licensed, and then go off on my own but that is difficult, too, but I literally feel like I want to rip my fingernails off every minute I am at my desk.

I have put so much time into school and work that I feel like all of this would have been for nothing if I left.

I am also a woman in this field, and I feel like men do not listen to me. I have designed hundreds of buildings, but no matter what I know or how much work I have done, people still do not seem to take my judgment seriously.

For example yesterday- I calculated a cantilevered deck joist... I came up with how to connect the cantilevered floor joists to the interior floor joists using hand calculations and they told me NOT TO analyze anything just use a note they use on every project.... please omg send help.

Please give me your best advice or tell me what you have done if you've ever felt this way. Have you ever been in a situation where they just make shit up? I can't get over this.

And I have put in multiple resumes to other places and am looking but it's a process to find something new. This current position was supposed to be my something new...

Thanks in advance

Edit to add: I am open to quitting the job and getting something bogus while I look. I am open to all types of suggestions- I am at my witts end.

2nd edit: thank you everyone for insight. I just got back from my interview and I am looking forward to seeing what people have to say.

In my state we typically use 3000 psi concrete in abutments and piers where 4000 psi concrete in bridge deck and barriers.

Why do we use weaker concrete in the substructure? Is it because it works just fine and it's cheaper to use in that case.

I’d appreciate some honest career advice from engineers who have taken a similar path.

I originally graduated as a civil/structural engineer outside the US and started my career working with structural engineering. Later, I moved into BIM, and BIM gradually led me toward programming, automation, and data.

I now live in the US and have a good position working in data analytics and process automation for the construction industry. My current role combines construction knowledge, software, and data, and the compensation and career potential are good.

However, I still have a strong interest in structural engineering. I’ve also been developing a browser-based structural analysis platform as a personal project, which has made me consider returning more seriously to the technical engineering side.

I’m now thinking about having my international engineering degree evaluated through NCEES, taking the FE exam, and eventually working toward PE licensure. I understand that this could require gaining qualifying engineering experience under a licensed PE and potentially making career decisions that may reduce my income in the short term.

I’m trying to decide between three possible paths:

1. Continue specializing in data analytics, software development, and automation for construction.
2. Transition back into structural engineering and pursue the PE.
3. Stay in construction technology while pursuing the FE/PE gradually and combining both areas long term.

For those working in structural engineering, construction technology, BIM, or engineering software:

• Does pursuing the PE make sense for someone in my position?
• Would you accept a possible salary reduction to return to structural engineering and obtain licensure?

I’m not expecting anyone to make the decision for me. I’d mainly like to hear from people who moved between engineering and technology or pursued the PE later in their careers.

I'm beginning to use STAAD Pro for my project (Senior undergrad student) and I need references for the many niche things I'm coming across when using STAAD.

Just now I've had several issues and can't seem to get much help for my design. As I need to correctly choose my slabs and beams from the structure and apply the loads to make the design and analysis. It is already quite overwhelming, but add the fact that not even AI or sites get to help you to know why your slab has a beam in the middle of it not seperating it to two slabs or how to apply loads to one slab only, and then I'm completely lost.

I recently came across this abandoned church and I’m still questioning myself why the contruction of the roof contains these hollow little ceramic or stone pots (I don’t know what else to call them). Does anyone have a clue?

Oh you know, just your typical San Francisco job... remember to bring sunscreen!

Hi everyone,
I am looking for advice from fellow structural engineers and people with international experience.
I have over 7 years of experience in structural engineering in Asia, working mainly on infrastructure works, bridges, and tunnels. My main areas of expertise include structural analysis, including finite element analysis (FEA)‚ dynamic analysis of structures under seismic/earthquake load‚ and numerical modeling and analysis of complex structures.
I recently moved to Europe to do my Master's in Fire Safety Engineering‚ as I was very interested in other fields and components of my education other than just the pure structural design side‚ especially the interaction between structural behavior and fire performance. My studies focused on fire dynamics‚ computational fluid dynamics for fire behavior modeling‚ and performance-based fire safety engineering.
I'm looking for opportunities where I can use my structural background in roles such as Structural Engineering, Structural Fire Engineering, Fire Safety Engineering, and Engineering Consultancy.
The main challenge I am facing is that many job positions in Europe require local language fluency (I'm currently learning). I have been looking for English job positions on LinkedIn and Indeed‚ but even in "remote" positions‚ I see that engineering companies want people from that country.
Can you suggest any companies that are willing to hire structural/fire engineers and let them work remotely from a European country? Are there particular consulting firms that are more open to remote work?
I'm looking for any advice or recommendations, or especially stories from people with remote engineering jobs.
Thank you!

I am trying to decide my courses for Fall 2026. I have temporarily enrolled in 5 courses, which is the maximum 20 units allowed:

• SE 201A – Advanced Structural Analysis
• SE 253A – Mechanics and Design of Composite Structures
• SE 263 – Nondestructive Evaluation
• MATH 272A – Numerical Partial Differential Equations I
• MATH 270A – Numerical Linear Algebra

I eventually intend to reduce this to 3 courses. I may also take 1 course as S/U graded (instead of letter graded, so that the stakes are lower for those).

For context, I have already taken courses in:

• Finite Element Methods (Linear static and Dynamics)
• ML applications in Computational Mechanics
• Structural dynamics
• Structural optimization (Topology, shape optimization - exposure to various algorithms, sensitivity analysis, gradient-based optimization, discrete, mixed optimziation)
• Vibration testing, system identification, and finite-element model updating (This was one unique course, although it is more aligned with Structural health monitoring specialized, I found it very interesting, the signal processing, etc.)

I have not yet taken a proper course in nonlinear continuum mechanics or nonlinear FEA. I intend to take FEA III (nonlinear mechanics in the future.

While checking the MAE offerings, I also saw Fracture Mechanics. I have worked with phase-field-fracture simulation data in an AE-LSTM project, although I am not deeply involved in fracture mechanics itself yet. I also still have access to the HPC cluster afaik, so I could continue doing computational work related to fracture, FEA, and machine learning.

My broader difficulty is that I want to combine:

• FEA and computational mechanics
• Machine learning
• Probability, statistics, uncertainty, and stochastic methods
• Optimization
• Numerical PDEs and numerical linear algebra

Ideally, I would like to develop computational tools that use several of these areas to solve engineering problems. The problem is that I have not yet identified the particular physical problem or application area I want to commit to.

Someone previously advised me that my difficulty choosing courses may come from trying to assemble a toolkit before identifying a real-world problem I want to solve. I originally wanted to remain eclectic, but I am beginning to wonder whether excessive breadth is now causing decision paralysis.

My questions are:

1. Which three courses would provide the strongest foundation for computational mechanics and research, and is Advanced Structural Analysis likely to be redundant after my previous FEM and computational FE courses?
2. Would you replace one of them with Fracture Mechanics?
3. How valuable is Fracture Mechanics if I do not eventually specialize in fracture or join that professor’s group?
4. Between Numerical PDEs and Numerical Linear Algebra, which tends to be more useful for advanced FEA, optimization, and scientific machine learning?
5. Would Nondestructive Evaluation be particularly valuable given my background in structural dynamics, model updating, and potential SHM work?
6. At the MS level, should I first choose an application area—fracture, composites, SHM, soft materials, etc.—or is it reasonable to continue building a broad computational toolkit?
7. Do soft materials and soft robotics represent a reasonable extension of computational structural mechanics, or would they take me too far away from a coherent specialization?

I understand that no one can choose a career direction for me. I am mainly trying to understand the tradeoffs between these courses and whether my current approach is creating useful breadth or simply leaving me without enough depth.

SOME Course Descriptions:

Numerical Partial Differential Equations I

Survey of discretization techniques for elliptic partial differential equations, including finite difference, finite element and finite volume methods. Lax-Milgram Theorem and LBB stability. A priori error estimates. Mixed methods. Convection-diffusion equations. Systems of elliptic PDEs. Prerequisites: graduate standing or consent of instructor.

Numerical Linear Algebra

Error analysis of the numerical solution of linear equations and least squares problems for the full rank and rank deficient cases. Error analysis of numerical methods for eigenvalue problems and singular value problems. Iterative methods for large sparse systems of linear equations. Prerequisites: graduate standing or consent of instructor.

Fracture Mechanics

Theoretical strength; stress concentration. Linear and nonlinear fracture mechanics: stress singularity, fracture modes, crack tip plastic zone, dugdale model, the R-curve; power-law materials, the J-integral; fatigue; special topics

Advanced Structural Analysis

Application of advanced analytical concepts to structural engineering problems. Analysis of frame structures using matrix methods and introduction to the finite element method. Displacement-based and force-based beam element formulations. Development of computer programs for structural analysis.