Geotechnical Investigation Methods and their Importance in Civil Engineering

In spite of differences in using various geotechnical testing methods and equipment by geotechnical engineers around the globe, there are set of acceptable standards and the required number of tests and testing procedures that are recommended prior to the construction at the project site. Project site investigation and inspection is one the major project management tasks. Soil boring methods, material testing, and ASTM standards and procedures are important in PE exam preparation.

In civil engineering professional practice, compromising with short cut methods of investigation procedures can maximize the risk of structural durability and life. Therefore, it is always recommended to perform appropriate and accurate soil investigations to reduce the risks and failures. Department standards and quality assurance investigation procedures required to be followed for minimizing the risks and improving the overall engineering performance of the structure. It is an engineer's responsibility to implement the ASTM specified standards and testing codes along with skills and techniques for adopting the best engineering practices to meet the emerging needs of construction activities in the engineering environment. The geotechnical engineers and their engineering skills ensure better foundations, good transportation facilities and safe infrastructure for public facilities.

Geotechnical engineering is an important and critical topic for the Professional Engineering exam in civil engineering. This engineering section requires application techniques and testing skills, recommended equipment and qualified personnel. The above mentioned key areas are necessary to fulfill the requirements of geotechnical engineering attributes for the economical design and construction, for maximum life of the structure, environment friendly infrastructure that could serve for generations. 

The employment of an enormous amount of resources for adopting the geo-technical challenges are the major essentials in the construction engineering industry. Many big projects require all sub disciplines of civil engineering for better outcome. However, the implementation of selective geotechnical investigative methods in designing major projects in seismic zones, high-rise structures in sandy soils, atomic power stations and for projects requiring 100% disaster-free facilities. 

The geo technical engineering area has huge scope to provide the safe, and quality projects for public and also for infrastructure advancement. Business developments, public and economic growth in all countries across the globe compounded with a shortage of quality procedures and standards Therefore, the need of implementing quality assurance and quality control procedures by professional civil engineers with a PE exam certification than ever before.

Digital Signal Processing in Electrical Engineering

Table of Contents

1. An Introduction to Signal Processing

2. Digital Signal Processing Applications

3. Digital Signal Processing Applications - Engineering Devices

4. The Components of Digital Signal Processing

5. Digital Signal Processor Performance

An Introduction to Signal Processing

Signal processing is an emerging technology that incorporates the fundamental theory, algorithms, processing, and transferring information in different patterns, which is broadly designated as signals. Transmission of information, or signals, is done through a channel. The digital signal processor consists of anti-aliasing filter and analog to digital and digital to analog converters. Analog, frequency, and digital modulations are various aspects of transmission. The concept of signal processing is a part of the FE exam syllabus, and it is reviewed in most FE exam prep courses. The main goal of signal processing applications is to be efficient and perform reliable transmission, display of information, and storage. 

Digital Signal Processing Applications

Audio compression, digital image processing, compression of videos, speech processing and recognition, digital communications, radio detection and ranging systems, seismology, and sound navigation and ranging systems are examples of digital signal processing applications. The implementation of digital signal processing is based on the requirements of the application. 

Digital Signal Processing Applications - Engineering Devices 

Radar is an object-detection system; it uses radio waves to control the range, angle, or velocity of objects. Radar is used to transmit radio signals at distant objects and analyze the reflection. Radar is used for air-traffic control to avoid mid-air collision and to predict weather conditions. Radar is also used in meteorology to aid in forecasting the weather. 

Sonar is an application of digital signal processing (DSP); sonar uses sound propagation to navigate and communicate with or detect an object under the surface of the water. Generally, two types of technologies are used in sonar: passive sonar and active sonar technologies. Passive sonar is used to listen to the sound of the vessels; active sonar is used to release pulses of sounds and to listen to echoes. Sonar may also be used for acoustic measurements.

The Components of Digital Signal Processing 

Computation: performs mathematical operations and processes by accessing the program from the program memory and the information stored in the data memory.

Data Memory: stores the information to be processed and works with program memory.

Program Memory: stores the programs; the processor uses the program memory to compress or manipulate data.

Input/Output Ports: used for data processing and analysis.

Digital Signal Processor Performance 

The most important challenge in executing DSP algorithms is transferring the data from the memory. The goal of digital signal processing is to measure, filter, and compress analog signals. General-purpose microprocessors can execute digital signal processing algorithms successfully. DSPs use a special memory architecture that can fetch multiple data and instructions at a time. DSP processors execute one instruction per clock cycle in complex or multi-operation type of instructions. These processors include a single multiplier or MAC unit and ALU unit. DSP processors show good performance even at the modest power and memory usage. Digital signal processing is one of the courses taught in undergraduate electrical engineering, and it is reviewed in fundamentals of engineering exam prep courses for those taking the FE exam.

Significance of Solar Energy in Power Generation for Mechanical Engineering Operations

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Arrangement of Solar Power Panels

3. Utilization of Solar Power Panels for Mechanical Engineering Applications

1. Introduction

The sun emits very high, intensive energy in the form of solar radiation. The energy emitted by the sun in three minutes is equal to the world's energy consumption during a year. Most of the energy we receive from the sun is in the form of light by short-wave radiation, which is visible light to the human eye. When this radiation strikes a solid or liquid, it is transformed into heat energy. Within the past several years, solar panels have become increasingly popular as energy-saving devices that use this ideology. Solar panels are flat plate collectors that are used to collect solar energy. Solar energy has many uses including water pumping, solar heaters, solar driers, and solar power generation. 

2. Arrangement of Solar Power Panels 

In a flat-plate collector, radiation energy from the sun falls on the flat surface coated with a solar film. This surface has a high absorbing capacity and is placed toward the general direction of the sun for maximum efficiency. The materials used for the plates are copper, steel, or aluminum, and the thickness of the plate is approximately 1 to 2 mm. When evaluating the mechanics of a copper plate, thermal energy is transformed from the absorber plate to a fluid, which is then distributed in the copper tubes through the flat-plate collector. Panels are designed to have thermal insulation, with the preferred material being fiber glass behind the absorber plate to prevent heat loss from the rear surface. Engineering materials and their properties are important for the PE exam. Many PE review courses stress this topic.

3. Utilization of Solar Power Panels for Mechanical Engineering Applications

The solar panel collector reflecting surface is considered parabolic. The solar energy falling on the collector surface is focused on the absorber tube. When a large quantity of energy falls on the collector surface, it results in the temperature of the absorber liquid being higher than the flat plate collector. The flat-plate collectors may be used to heat water up to 80 degrees Celsius; the concentrators are designed to heat water from a medium temperature to high temperatures. The heated water in the flat plate solar collector is used for boiling butane under high pressure in the butane boiler; the boiling point of butane is about 50 degrees Celsius. The butane vapor, which is part of solar power plant arrangement, is used to run the steam turbine. This results in electricity. 

PE mechanical engineering review courses cover the principles of turbines and boilers. Qualified mechanical or electrical power plant engineers with professional engineering licenses can install and setup solar power plants for mechanical engineering applications.

Advantages of Solar Energy

1. The sun is an infinite source of energy, so solar energy is inexhaustible and renewable and available all over the world. 
2. It is environmentally clean and pollution free. 
3. It is the best alternative for the rapid depletion of fossil fuels. 

Disadvantages of Solar Energy 

1. The intensity of solar energy on sunny days is approximately 1.1 KW/square meter area. Therefore, a very large collecting area is required. 
2. Collecting solar energy creates a need for a large amount of land. 
3. Solar energy is not available at night or on cloudy or rainy days. 

Historical Background of Roadway Construction for Transportation Engineers

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. The Romans' Roadway Construction Technology

3. Roadway Construction Technology Improvement Methods

1. Introduction

Throughout history, humans have constantly been inventing new ways of travel. The oldest mode of travel was by foot but eventually evolved to using animals to help carry both people and materials. When motorized vehicles came along, people realized the dire need for a hard surface to accommodate wheels, which would make traveling smoother. 

These surfaces were constructed in a large scale during the period of the Roman empire with the earliest construction techniques birthing "Roman roads." The Romans, who are considered to be the pioneers of road construction, developed roads in many directions, mainly for military operations. 

2. The Romans' Roadway Construction Technology

During the Roman civilization, many roads were built by stone blocks of considerable thickness. Generally, the total thickness of the road was as thick as 0.75 to 1.2 meters. 

Overall, the required layer thickness of each course of the material depends on the average traffic load. Structural number and layer thickness calculation problems are reviewed in FE exam review courses. 

When examining Roman roads, the cross section typically has a trench of width equal to that of the carriage way. When constructing a road, the trench was excavated up to a depth until a hard stratum was reached. One or two layers of large foundation stones were laid with lime mortar at the bottom, creating a thickness of 10-20 cm for the bottom layer. Vertical curbstones were placed along the edges of the pavement. Then, a second layer of large, broken stones, which were mixed with lime motor, was laid over the bottom course up to a thickness of 25 cm to 40 cm or more depending on the requirement. The wearing course of roadway consisted of dressed large stone blocks set in lime motor at the top; the thickness of wearing course varied from 10 cm to 15 cm. This technique of construction was much stronger than that was required for animal-drawn carts during those days. Pavement design and construction is an interesting topic for professional civil engineers who are engaged in highway engineering infrastructure development projects. Fundamentals of Engineering exam certification will authenticate the design and construction process of roadways.

3. Roadway Construction Technology Improvement Methods 

Tresaguet construction technique 

Pierre Tresaguet, a French Engineer in the 1700s, developed a new method of construction, which greatly enhanced the roadway system. The system he created allowed the road to sustain less wear than the prior system of constructing roads. His method involved a layering system with both small and large stones. When constructing the road, the subgrade was prepared, and a layer of large foundation stones were laid on edge by hand. The corners of these heavy foundation stones were hammered, while the interstices were filled with smaller stones. Broken stones were placed to a thickness of about 8 cm and were compacted. The top wearing course was made of smaller stones and compacted to a thickness of approximately 5 cm at the edge and gradually increased toward the center. The shoulders were also provided with a cross slope to drain the surface water to the side drain.

Macadam construction 

John Macadam developed an entirely new method of construction compared to previous methods. His method included adding multiple steps during pavement construction, such as preparing a subgrade with a cross slope of 1 inch up to the desired width, then compacting it to the required density. Broken stones of high strength passing through a 5-cm size sieve were placed and compacted to a uniform thickness of 10 cm throughout the width of the pavement. The second layer of 3.5 cm stones were placed and compacted to a thickness of 10 cm. The top layer consisted of stones less than 2 cm and were placed and compacted to a thickness of 5 cm. These techniques provided a wide scope of ideas for recent highway engineering projects. Most of the transportation engineering related topics are reviewed in FE and PE exam prep courses for civil engineers.

Digital Signal Processing in Electrical Engineers

Table of Contents

1. An Introduction to Signal Processing

2. The Components of Digital Signal Processing

3. Digital Signal Processing Applications 

4. Digital Signal Processing Applications - Engineering Devices

5. Digital Signal Processor Performance

An Introduction to Signal Processing

Signal processing is an emerging technology that incorporates the fundamental theory, algorithms, processing and transferring information in different patterns broadly designated as signals.

The Components of Digital Signal Processing

Computation: Mathematical operations, and processes by accessing the program from the program memory, and the information stored in the data memory.

Data Memory: Stores the information to be processed and works with program memory.

Program Memory: Stores the programs; the processor compresses or manipulates data.

Input/output ports: Used for data processing and analysis.

Digital Signal Processing Applications

Audio compression. digital image processing. compression of videos, speech processing and recognition, digital communications, radio detection and ranging system, seismology and sound navigation and ranging system.

Digital Signal Processing Applications - Engineering Devices

Radar is an object -detection system. Sonar is an application of DSP.

Digital Signal Processor Performance

The most important challenge in executing DSP algorithms is transferring the data from the memory.The goal of digital signal processing is to measure, filter and compress analog signals.

Read more, https://www.schoolofpe.com/fe-electrical

Significance of Pavement Performance and Its Measurement for Highway Maintenance Program

Table of Contents

1. The Importance of Pavement Performance

2. Selection of Pavement Construction Materials for Better Performance and Safety

3. Methods that are Used to Control Pavement Cracking for Better Riding Surface

The Importance of Pavement Performance

Pavement performance is an important issue in the operation and planning of highway engineering. There are several factors that affect pavement performance, such as traffic, soil, environmental, economic and stress distribution factors. The primary function of pavement is to provide a smooth riding surface and suitable surface friction. Commuters and the residential public would like to see the pavement surface smoothness last for the maximum of its life. The magnitude of road safety has been discussed worldwide due to a day by day increase in incident rate due to road accidents. Similarly, the related environmental effects while developing and maintaining the long-term pavement performance is an important concern. Department standards and specifications thoroughly insist on adhering to quality assurance procedures. Productivity and quality control act as key control measures of the project. To become a licensed professional engineer through the PE exam (Civil), geometrics and transportation engineering topics are important for your success.

Selection of Pavement Construction Materials for Better Performance and Safety

Highway safety is an important feature of highway construction and engineering. The selection of highway construction materials is based on the type of roadway, identified and predictable traffic volume and the climatic conditions of the region. Nowadays transportation engineers have a more scientific approach; they use eco-friendly methods to construct roads, bridges and highway facilities. The highways are designed to stand up to the different stresses of heavy traffic, and they should support traffic during the different weather conditions. There are different policies of specifications and standards that are followed nationwide and are also discussed in the PE exam review course. 

Methods that are Used to Control Pavement Cracking for Better Riding Surface

Pavement joints are dynamic to control pavement cracking and pavement movement. If the pavement joints are not used in highway construction, most of the rigid pavements would be damaged with cracks within one or two years after placement. Joint spacing is highly dependent on the environment, materials and subgrade. Jointed plain concrete pavement is the most popularly used pavement construction method. The jointed plain concrete pavement has a reliable design, and it can be used in all locations. Jointed plain concrete pavement has many joints to control the location of cracking. Transverse joint spacing is selected based on temperature and moisture stresses; therefore, they do not produce intermediate cracking between joints. Types of construction joints and properties of filling materials are important for the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam. Long-term development of pavement performance and automated faulting measurements are used to identify transverse joint locations on rigid pavement surfaces. The faulting measures at those locations are measured by using the profile data collected by high speed long-term pavement performance inertial profilers. Faulting measure software is used to process and analyze the profile data. Performance models relating to the pavement distress conditions, like cracking and roughness, are also analyzed through long-term pavement performance faulting measure software.

Master Organic Chemistry

Table of Contents

1. Ask Questions

2. Try the Notecard Trick

3. Make Optimal Use of Resources

4. Opt for Spaced Repetition

While organic chemistry may seem scary, in reality, there is no class more rewarding than organic chemistry when it is understood correctly.

Ask Questions 

Reason out every single step of the mechanism and every formula you derive.

Try the Notecard Trick 

Prepare notecards with different reactions and chemical naming rules, and carry them around while quizzing yourself.

Make Optimal Use of Resources 

Leverage resources to learn the nomenclature rules, draw the complex molecular structures and gain an in-depth understanding of the various mechanisms involved. 

Opt for Spaced Repetition 

"Spaced repetition" is a smart learning technique which involves breaking down the information into smaller chunks and reviewing them regularly for an extended period of time. 

Remember, organic chemistry is not just meant for chemical engineers who will be appearing for FE chemical exams. It involves the study of molecular mechanisms and chemical reactions that lay the foundation for other branches of science too.

Personal Protective Equipment for Safety Operations at Construction Sites

Table of Contents

1. Need for Personal Protective Equipment

2. Engineering Risk Factors in An Organization

3. The Use of Personal Protective Equipment

Need for Personal Protective Equipment 

Safety is a major issue for people who work in the construction industry. Each and every year, fatal incidents happen in the construction industry due to the absence of personal protective equipment (PPE). Protection equipment protects employees against health or safety risks during construction operations. The purpose of protective equipment is to reduce employee exposure to risks when administrative control is not effective in the field to reduce these risks. Personal protective equipment includes items such as head protection, goggles for eye protection, protective footwear, and respiratory protective equipment in cases of asbestos or chemical operations. Everyone in the workplace is responsible for keeping the working environment safe. Employers and project safety managers need to know the safety regulations that are relevant to their industry and ensure that their organizations are up to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards. Construction personnel have to do their part to understand and follow the procedures. OSHA enforces safety standards and codes at all project sites to prevent incidents. Incident rate calculations and restricted days work calculations according to the OSHA manual are important for FE exam preparation. 

Engineering Risk Factors in An Organization 

Risks exist in every workplace in many different forms like falling objects from top floors of construction, sharp edges at guardrails, flying sparks during welding operations, chemical exposures during various treatment processes, and exposure to noise for long periods of time at a project site. Controlling a risk in an organization is the best method to protect employees. Depending on the category of risks, the implementation of incident controls can eliminate risks to the greatest extent possible. Project engineers must carry out a risk assessment before suggesting any personal protective equipment to safeguard an individual's health and safety. The assessment process specifies the equipment that is essential to overcome risks and identifies the suitability and compatibility of the equipment.

The Use of Personal Protective Equipment 

Personal protective equipment is generally considered a critical topic in FE exam review courses as well as on the Fundamentals of Engineering exam. Personal protective equipment helps to minimize exposure to a variety of threats and injuries. Some of the examples of PPE includes gloves, protective hearing devices, foot and eye protection devices, respirators and full body protection aprons. This personal protective equipment helps to decrease the number of workplace incidents. Many organizations use an employee safety manual and field meetings to educate employees on safety procedures. Employers are also responsible for enforcing safety procedures. Project engineers are responsible for employee actions and ensuring that organizational policies provide a safe working environment. PPE decreases the number of incidents and helps companies save money on their insurance policies. Companies with several safety incidents are generally considered high risk organizations by insurance companies. The need for personal protective equipment must be assessed by a qualified person who is capable of identifying quality equipment for a better protection of safety.

Impact of Air Pollution on Health and the Environment

Table of Contents

1. Sources of Air Pollution

2. Health Disorders Due to Air Pollution

3. Environmental Engineering Concerns Due to Air Pollution

Air pollution is an atmospheric condition that causes undesirable effects on people and on the environment. Gaseous pollutants include oxides of sulfur, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, and particulate pollutants include smoke and dust. The presence of aerosols, pollen grains and radioactive pollutants, which includes radon-222 and iodine-131, may cause air pollution. If pollutants are emitted directly from a point source, they are called primary pollutants. If pollutants are formed by an interaction of primary pollutants or with some natural constituents of the atmosphere like ozone or photochemical smog, they are called secondary pollutants. 

Sources of Air Pollution
Volcanic eruptions, forest fires, and photochemical oxidations of terpenes are natural sources of air pollutants. Electrical power plants, factories, traffic emissions, fuel burning, and agriculture activities are forms of synthetic air pollutants. Vehicles used for transportation are another major source of air pollution; automobiles release gases such as carbon dioxide and other hydrocarbons. Heavy duty vehicles spew more nitrogen oxides (NOx) and suspended particulate matter (SPM). Radon gas is a form of indoor air pollution that is  responsible for health problems including lung cancer. Radon gas is emitted from building material like bricks, concrete, and tiles that are manufactured from soil containing radium. The incomplete combustion of fuels, such as coal, wood, and kerosene, can produce a toxic gas known as carbon monoxide. Coal upon burning produces sulfur dioxide, and fossil fuels upon burning produces black soot. Both sulfur dioxide and black soot are considered to be polluting agents.
Health Disorders Due to Air Pollution
Air pollution affects human health, plants, aquatic life, materials and the environment. The human respiratory system has a number of mechanisms for protection from air pollution, but years of exposure to air pollutants adversely affects the body's resistance against these pollutants. Air pollution can cause cancer, asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, loss of lung elasticity and shortness of breath. Sulfur dioxide causes bronchitis, carbon monoxide causes suffocation, and long exposure to carbon monoxide causes dizziness, unconsciousness and even death. Pollutants like benzene formaldehyde and polychlorinated biphenyls (PSBS) causes mutations and reproductive problems. The presence of many other hazardous materials like asbestos, mercury, arsenic and radioactive substances causes lung diseases and affects other vital organs like the kidney, liver, spleen and brain. Human health disorders due to air pollution or through any other sources of working environments are frequently inspected by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) officials to prevent serious incidents. The presence of minimum levels of each contaminant is important to take appropriate preventive measures for air pollution. Engineers preparing for the FE exam can refresh their memory on contaminant levels as per OSHA standards through a fundamentals of engineering exam review course.
Environmental Engineering Concerns Due to Air Pollution
Air pollution impacts plants by destroying chlorophyll and effecting photosynthesis, necrosis, and chlorosis. Peroxylacetyl nitrate (PAN) causes silvering of lower surface of leaves and suppressed growth. High acidity in fresh water lakes may harm aquatic life. Presences of sulfur dioxide and moisture results in the formation of acid that causes damage to metal parts of buildings, vehicles, bridges and railway tracks. It is the responsibility of environmental engineers to protect the environment by controlling air pollution. Engineering concepts of air pollution monitoring and controlling are topics that are discussed in undergraduate environmental engineering courses as well as in FE exam review courses. 

Cost-Effective Engineering Solutions for Seashore Protection

Table of Contents

1. An overview of seashore protection

2. Availability of natural minerals and methods of shore protection

3. Coastal engineers and their responsibility

An overview of seashore protection

Seashores are the land along water that generally contains natural materials like sand, gravel, pebbles, cobbles, rock, and sea shells. Healthy seashores protect people and property along the coasts from winds and storms. The shore's dimensions, shape, and sand volume help protect the shore from storms. Seashores have numerous elements like bluffs, dunes, berms, and offshore sand bars, which are natural protection systems against storms. These elements protect shores by absorbing and driving away the energy of breaking waves, either seaward or on the shore itself. Surveying across the shore for its protection is always recommended for cost-effective engineering solutions. Surveying fundamentals and engineering calculations are topics that are reviewed in FE exam review courses. 

Availability of natural minerals and methods of shore protection

Sand is made up of natural minerals like quartz and feldspar. Quartz is a compound of silicon dioxide, which is the most abundant mineral available in sand, and it is very hard and durable. Shoreline erosion is a critical aspect to consider. Erosion not only affects property loss but also sediment discharge into the seas. Whenever sea levels raise, it induces serious effects on coastal surroundings. When seawater levels extend beyond the level of retention, it causes flooding and destructive erosion. Coastal engineers are responsible for the prevention and protection of the shoreline. Soil erosion is the slow destruction of land and the removal of sandbank sediments by waves or wave currents. Shoreline erosion is a common and imperative disaster for many communities. The shores can be protected by either structural methods or by regular conventional methods. Structural methods include breakwaters, seawalls, perched beaches, dikes, and levees. Conventional methods include flood proofing, groundwater drainage, and sand bypassing. These protection methods are discussed in the water resources engineering section of fundamentals of engineering exam review courses.

Coastal engineers and their responsibility

The key responsibility of a coastal engineer is to protect seashores from soil erosion. Engineers protect harbors by developing offshore barriers along with other marine structures. Generating a safe shelter for vessels is essential for seaport logistics. An engineer has to pay special attention to the coast for natural development. Another responsibility is maintaining and improving public access to the beach. The major responsibility of engineers is to reduce pollution and enhance the sustainable use of sea water. Engineers with their FE exam certification should recommend the standard structures for shoreline protection. They should certify that the materials used for construction are durable and that the structures are designed to withstand the force of sea waves. 

Design of Commercial Complex Buildings to Mitigate Space Availability Concerns

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Influence of Structural Engineering Design Methods for Better Space Utilization

3. Implementation of Design Standards for Public Safety within Space Limits

Introduction 

Space availability is a major issue in rapidly developing cities. The space crisis affects public, private, and government businesses. The main responsibility of structural engineers is to design and develop buildings that mitigate the space crisis. The design of complex structures can be achieved by incorporating some structural design techniques from the design phase to the construction phase in order to utilize the available space effectively. SE exam review courses recap structural engineering design concepts and standard design codes for professional practice. 

Influence of Structural Engineering Design Methods for Better Space Utilization

Many structural engineers have analyzed how to mitigate space availability concerns and how to improve the structural stability of high-rise buildings without any failure due to the action of various forces on the structure. Fire protection systems play a critical role in designing high-rise buildings. Planning commercial buildings with many levels can eliminate space availability problems entirely. Professional engineering skills and expertise can greatly improve problems associated with space congestion by taking preventive measures. Engineers must ensure the protection of the building due to its vertical rise at an early design stage. The cost of rework will be greater when compared to the overall cost of the building, so it is always best to consider structural stability. The special design of buildings depends on geological features of the location. There are some unique features and standards recommended for each type of construction, like commercial buildings, school buildings, hospital buildings, and national defense structures. Structural engineer exam aspirants should be familiar with reference building codes for complex building designs within a restricted space. Structural engineering design methods always determine the use of lightweight non structural elements either for the exterior or interior of the buildings.

Implementation of Design Standards for Public Safety within Space Limits

When any structural failure occurs within a structure or nearby structure, it may cause catastrophic damage to the building's internal and external features, such as the collapsing of walls, blowing out of windows, and destruction of utility connections. The design of commercial buildings against space limit constraints depends on design standards and building codes. The structural engineer's responsibility is to ensure the implementation of design standards for project approval as well as to procure an occupancy certificate. Engineers have a set of required space dimensions for protective security design. The standard references correlate each type of risk, and they provide the guidance to building owners and structural design professionals for prevention and mitigation measures. Furthermore, most of the reference books that help prepare individuals for the SE exam are related to design standards.

The Need for Marketing, Sales and Business Communication Skills in Engineering

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

2. The Process of CRM in An Organization

3. Benefits of Implementing CRM in An Organization

Introduction to Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Once businesses start growing, managers need to store an increasing amount of customer data, and it can become very difficult to keep track of every client's information. By implementing a customer relationship management (CRM) approach, an organization can easily sort out the clients' data. To maintain the records of customer data, categorization is essential. The categorization of customer data is based on inactive and active customers, suppliers, and partners. When using spreadsheets, it is difficult to for everyone in the organization to track all customer interactions. CRM makes it easy to store this kind of data and also manages all aspects of sales efficiently by providing full visibility into the sales process. Engineering economics is a major topic for the financial analysis of the organization, and it directly depends on customer relationship management. Computational tools and engineering economics concepts are reviewed in FE exam review courses.

The Process of CRM in An Organization

CRM is a method of managing the organization's relations with active and potential customers. CRM improves business relationships with customers by analyzing data involving customers' histories with a company. CRM mainly focuses on customer retention in order to drive sales growth. The primary goal of CRM is to provide integration and automation of sales, marketing, and customer support. CRM systems have a control panel that gives an overall view of the these functions on a particular page for each customer. The control panel provides customer information, existing sales strategies, future sales strategies, and a summary of all of the relationships between the customer and the company. The CRM process has three steps: sales automation, service automation, and marketing automation. 

Sales automation implements automatic tracking of a client's history for repeated sales, marketing, calls, and retail channels. Marketing automation focuses the overall marketing efforts to make them more effective and better organized. The service automation system focuses on direct customer service technology. Through service automation, customers are maintained through multiple networks such as phone calls, emails, and social media advertising. Electrical and computer engineers should be familiar with the process and functionality of customer relationship management; if they are not, fundamentals of engineering exam review courses will help to refresh and recap the programming equations for the FE exam.

Benefits of Implementing CRM in An Organization

CRM tools can systematically manage repeated tasks such as sending out marketing emails at certain times to customers and posting marketing information on social media. Customer satisfaction is an important implication for the economic performance of companies because it has the ability to increase customer allegiance and usage behavior and reduce customer complaints. CRM helps to enhance customer supporting services by sending personalized messages in a timely manner to better serve customers and to better understand their needs.

Technical Aspects of Timber Frame Construction for Residential Buildings

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Types of Timber Frame Construction

3. Strength and Fire Resistance Parameters of Timber Frame Construction

Introduction 

Timber is widely used as a construction material for residential buildings and for other structures because of its load resistance and technical properties. Timber frame construction is a predominant method of building residential homes in the United States. Timber framing is also used for commercial and industrial construction. Timber frame buildings are economical to construct and are economical to heat in the winter and to cool in the summer. Timber construction is easily adaptable to conventional building models, contemporary building models and to new building models. The physical and chemical properties of timber influence the design aspect of the structures. Professional engineers with their PE certification can evaluate the strength parameters of the timber and can make recommendations for its various applications. 

Types of Timber Frame Construction

There are different types of timber frame construction techniques. One of them is platform-frame construction; this technique facilitates a work surface at every floor level and is easily adapted to different methods of pre-fabrication. In balloon-frame construction, outside wall studs continue through the first and second floors. Nailed joints exhibit the best durability and performance because the load is perpendicular to the nails. Knowing the types of joints and load carrying capacities of jointed frame structures is important for the PE exam. Those who plan to take the exam to become a Professional Engineer must refer to the codes and standards for design purpose. 

Strength and Fire Resistance Parameters of Timber Frame Construction

The strength and resilience of timber construction is due to its structural framework of structural lumber associated with a subflooring surface and wall and roof sheathing. A firm foundation, consisting of properly designed and installed footings of adequate size, is necessary to support the structure. A reliable foundation is essential for the satisfactory performance of all structures. 

Best construction practices prevent conditions that could lead to decay or a termite attack. Floor framing consists of a system of trusses that provides support to floor live loads and gives lateral support to exterior walls. Truss frames are major load carrying components, so analysis of the forces in each member of the truss is important. Calculation of forces in truss members is refreshed in PE exam review courses. Balancing tension and compression in each frame member results in equilibrium of the structure.

All concealed spaces in timber framing are fire resistant with wood blocking or other approved materials. All wall framings must have the strength to resist dead and live loads. Timber framing must be separated from fireplace and chimney masonry. All components of a timber frame structure must be kept at least a few inches from the outside face of chimney and fireplace masonry. Roof frame and trusses must have appropriate strength to withstand rain, snow and wind loads. Timber frame construction must require insulation to provide comfort and eliminate surrounding noises. Protective coatings, such as vapor retardant film, are used to prevent moisture vapor from moving through the insulated wall. This treatment helps control dampness and increases the lifespan of the timber frame components.

Boilers for Heat and Steam Production in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Applications

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to Boilers: Definition and Usage (Mechanical or Industrial Applications)

2. Boilers in Engineering Applications

3. Different Types of Boilers Used for Various Engineering Applications

4. Difference Between Fire Tube and Water Tube Boilers

5. Advantages and Disadvantages of Water Tube Boilers

Introduction to Boilers: Definition and Usage (Mechanical or Industrial Applications)

Boilers are also known as steam generators; they are a closed vessel in which water is converted into steam through the application of heat. The steam is used for driving steam engines or steam turbines for power generation. The steam is also used for producing process steam, which is used for sizing and bleaching in the textile industry. The capacity of boilers used for power generation is considerably large compared with other boilers.

Boilers in Engineering Applications

Boilers are required to hold a certain quantity of water to generate and deliver the steam safely at the required temperature and pressure at the defined rate. Maximum heat produced by the fuel in the furnace should be utilized for engineering economics calculations. The boiler should be accessible for inspection and for further improvement. Mechanical or industrial engineers with their Professional Engineering exam certification are able to inspect and check quality control and quality assurance practices of the facility.

Different Types of Boilers Used for Various Engineering Applications

Boilers are classified according to the flow of water and hot gases.

Fire tube boilers: In fire tube boilers, hot gases pass through the tube, which is surrounded by water. There might be a single tube, as in the case of Lancashire boilers, or several tubes as in the case of Locomotive boilers.

Water tube boilers: With water tube boilers, water circulates through a large number of tubes, and hot gases pass around them. Babcock and Wilcox boilers are both water tube boilers.

Based on the location of the furnace, boilers are classified as externally or internally fired boilers.

1. In internally fired boilers, the furnace is located as an integral part of the boiler structure.
2. In the case of externally fired boilers, a separate furnace is built outside the boiler shell. 

According to the application and position, boilers are classified as stationary or mobile:

1. A stationary boiler is one which is installed permanently on the boiler foundation in any production or manufacturing unit.
2. A mobile boiler is used for ocean cargo and passenger ships with an inherent fast navigation capacity.

Difference Between Fire Tube and Water Tube Boilers

Fire tube boilers are simple, vertical type boilers; they are the simplest form of internally fired boilers. Fire tube boilers do not require a heavy foundation, and they require minimum area. In water tube boilers, water is circulated inside the tubes, and hot gas flows over the tubes. The system requires a considerable amount of area for installation. Thermal and fluid systems of mechanical engineering in PE exam review courses will describe various types of boilers and functionality differences.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Water Tube Boilers

1. Steam can be generated at a very high pressure in water tube boilers.
2. Steam can be raised at a quicker rate with large water capacity
3. The hot gases flow toward the direction of water flow, so the maximum amount of heat is transferred to the water
4. Bursting of one or two tubes does not greatly affect the boiler, so water tube boilers are sometimes known as safety boilers
5. The different parts of water tube boilers can be separated so it is easier to transport and is also suitable for use in steam power plants
6. Water tube boilers are less suitable for hard water because a small deposit of scale may cause overheating and bursting of tubes. Thus, the water treatment plant is very essential for water tube boiler consumption.
7. High operating and maintenance costs
8. A delay in water supply, even for a short period, will likely make the boiler overheated. Water level must be watched very carefully during the operation.

Professional mechanical engineers with their PE exam certification will be aware of all engineering applications of boilers and their capacity to generate steam.

Typical Blasting Methods for Structural Engineering Operations

Table of Contents

1. An Introduction to Blasting Technology

2. Blasting Technology Methods

3. Pre-Splitting

4. Smooth Blasting

5. Line Drilling

6. Perimeter Blasting

7. Cushion Blasting

8. Blasting and its Consequences

9. Safety Steps for Drilling Operations

An Introduction to Blasting Technology

Blasting technology is an essential part of the construction process to perform structural engineering activities. Blasting is the process of cracking rock material by using a small amount of explosive substance so that the rock is destroyed into several pieces. In the past, black powder and dynamite were used for the explosive process. Blast design and execution are important for successful rock removal operations. The use of excessive explosive material at the blasting site may cause unwanted caving. Blasting is used for both the rock removal process and underground mining operations. Currently, the most common explosives used in mining industries are ammonium nitrate, slurries, and emulsions. The type of blast design and explosive material consumption depends on various factors; the most common factors are rock type, density, strength, and damage condition of the existing rock base. Structural engineering exam review courses recap geotechnical engineering properties of rocks for foundation design.

Blasting Technology Methods

When the drilling process is over, it is time to start to blast to break up the rock required for excavation.  The blasting method is used for rock excavation. Controlled blasting is a technique of blasting, which is used to reduce the amount of over break and to control ground vibrations. The different types of controlled blasting techniques are pre-splitting, smooth blasting, line drilling, perimeter blasting, and cushion blasting. 

Pre-Splitting: The purpose of this technique is to reduce the impact of ground vibrations on the other side of the pre-split line.

Smooth Blasting: This technique is used mostly in underground blasting and muffle blasting as a solution to prevent fly-rock. 

Line Drilling: This is the earliest controlled blasting method used for explosive activity. This method drills the perimeter of walls to the full depth of the excavation prior to blasting. This kind of drilling is not as noisy when compared with other types of drilling.

Perimeter Blasting: This type of blasting is mostly used in underground excavation; the perimeter holes of the roof of headings and tunnels are drilled along the design in a parallel direction to the excavation.

Cushion Blasting: This type of blasting is applicable in surface trimming.

Professional structural engineers who are preparing for their SE exam must be familiar with blasting methods and their applications. 

Blasting and its Consequences

Blasting techniques and the proportion of explosives/blasting agents used to remove all rocky outcrops exhibit the least disturbance to the surrounding environment. The outcomes of any type of blasting techniques are fragmentation, muck pile displacement, ground vibrations, and oversized fly-rock fragments. The main materials used for blasting are Nitrate mixtures, Nitro-glycerine based explosives, Mono-methyl amine or Nitro-carbo nitrate based explosives, RDX, HMX, and LOX. The by-products of the explosive chemicals can cause environmental pollution and contamination.

Safety Steps for Drilling Operations

1. Many accidents occur when working with drilling machines. Miners work with thread drill steels, and they work very close to the drilling machine. To avoid accidents during drilling operations, proper safety steps should be taken.
2. Proper training must be provided to the drilling machine operator to follow the manufacturer's procedures when working with the driller.
3. Manual handling should be avoided during the drilling operation.
4. Operators should not wear loose-fitting clothing when working around drills.
5. The safety features of the equipment should never be ignored.
6. Operators should be aware of emergency stop switches and ensure the switches are in working condition.
7. The safe routing of pipes and cables should be provided so that they are not close to the spin around the drill.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards require project engineers to implement safety and precautionary measures for employees and the safety of the public. SE exam review courses refresh OSHA principles and standards for blasting operations.

What to do after your PE Exam Result

Table of Contents

1. Submit your result to obtain your license

2. Showcase your designation

3. Obtain your wall certificate

4. Obtain stamp/seal upon registration as a PE

Congratulations to all of those who passed the October 2016 PE exam. Now that you have passed, there are several steps to take.

Submit your result to obtain your license

The license will showcase to the world that you are aware of the critical elements of your job.

Showcase your designation

Showcase your designation wherever required.

Obtain your wall certificate

The wall certificate comes in few weeks or months' time after you have passed the PE exam.

Obtain stamp/seal upon registration as a PE

Once you've registered as a PE, some states require you to obtain a stamp or seal.

There are several steps to follow now that you have passed your exam, but we wish you all the best in your future endeavors as a licensed professional engineer!

Information Technology Applications for Structural Engineering Design and Execution

Table of Contents

1. Ancient Engineering Drawings

2. The Modern Technologies that are used for Construction

3. The Advantage of using Software Applications in Construction

Ancient Engineering Drawings

This article explains the importance of information technology applications used for civil engineering structural constructions. Traditional engineering drawings describe structural elements of construction. Today, we use more advanced technologies that help make drawing technical designs easier. Early engineering drawings served two purposes; they were used as a reference for engineers, and they were used to build or construct what was portrayed. Earlier drawings were more symbolic than what we are familiar with today; the engineers understood the intent of symbolic diagrams and were not taken account actual dimensions because every aspect of construction or structural element that engineers worked on was their own development. Computer-based graphic systems began to be used to improve the productivity of engineers, and large engineering companies slowly began recognizing designers. The design procedures and standard codes are critical in designing the structural engineering elements for engineers taking the SE exam. 

The Modern Technologies that are used for Construction

Graphical manipulation services are the functions that can handle user interactions in a graphical system and display requested design on the output screen. In the 1970s, new graphical manipulation software was developed to aid in the creation of engineering drawings. This software is known as Computer Aided Design (CAD). In the mid-1970s, as computer-aided design systems provided more capability than to reproduce manual designing with electronic designing, the cost benefit for the organization to switch to CAD became apparent. The earliest CAD systems handled two-dimensional data, emulating traditional drafting practices. Then CAD changed its technology from two-dimensional to three dimensional, which was completed using wireframe geometry. At present, a large number of software applications are available in all of the sub disciplines of the construction process. These software applications help structural engineers to construct buildings, dams and highways in an easy manner. Information technology is the backbone of the construction industry. Software is used to increase the productivity of the designer and to create a better design quality. Technology helps to improve the communication process with the help of documentation and helps to create a database for manufacturing various structural elements. Nowadays, structural engineering calculations have become easier on the Structural Engineering exam due to programed engineering calculators. Technology plays an important role in a structural engineer's working life.

The Advantage of using Software Applications in Construction

At present, the construction industry has high expectations. Clients need their building infrastructures to look appealing, and they should be safe and provide a comfortable environment.  Construction software can aid engineers in completing many of these tasks within a short time frame. Construction software has some tools that ensures the project stays on budget by tracking the costs and expenses. Engineering economics and quantity takeoffs in the SE exam review course recaps engineering analysis in construction project management. Construction software can greatly improve the overall quality of construction. It can facilitate more accurate designs and models through apps that allow design changes to be made directly on the systems. 

Qualifications that Make A Civil Engineer

Think of these giant structures of the world

The Empire State Building

The Library of Congress

The Brooklyn Bridge or  The Seattle Central Library

All of these marvels have redefined the limits of engineering possibilities, and they have raised the standards of engineering on a global level

Have you ever wondered how these building structures could have been

1. visualized  
2. designed  
3. planned  

Each of these structures showcases the skills of an engineer in their blueprint.

Here are some skills that individuals must cultivate along with their preparation for the professional engineering exam.

1. Critical thinking ability and logical reasoning 
2. Leadership skills that allow for the management of teams with diverse qualities and skill sets 
3. Project management skills that make monitoring progress and achieving milestones a seamless process 
4. Sound negotiation skills with customers, clients, resources, etc.

Professional engineering is a technical profession that also requires managerial skills. The art of making sound decisions while managing situations must be developed in order to be a successful engineer.

Risk Management Assessment and its Importance in Project Management

Table of Contents

1. Overview of the Risk Management Process

2. Guidelines for the Risk Management Process to Minimize Effects on a Project

3. The Five Steps of the Risk Management Process

Overview of the Risk Management Process  

Public and private organizations cannot avoid every risk, but they need to follow a process to do their best to manage potential risks. Risk factors can have an impact on many areas and can include both financial risks and risks of disasters. Disasters can be classified in two ways: natural or man-made disasters. Natural disasters include floods, fires, earthquakes, droughts and wind storms. Man-made disasters include radiological and nuclear attacks. The purpose of risk management is to identify potential problems before a risk occurs. This allows for risk-handling activities to be planned accordingly to mitigate adverse impacts on achieving objectives. The important elements to be considered during the risk management process are diagnosing the risk factor, investigation of risk assessment, emergency planning, identification of remedial measures, systematic measurement, resource availability, analyzing the cost, loss assessment and prevention measures, recovery, relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation activities. The risk management process is an important review topic in a FE exam review course. 

Guidelines for the Risk Management Process to Minimize Effects on a Project

Risk management is a continuous and progressive process that acts as a part of business and project management and the scheduling process. Risk management should specify the issues that could hinder the success of critical objectives. The continuous risk management approach has been applied to predict and reduce the risk factors that have a critical impact on a project. The process of risk management requires both time and money. The process is more likely to be employed and maintained if it is applied gradually over time. The key factor to risk management is to have a basic understanding of the process and to move towards its implementation. The key steps of risk management are identify the potential risk, measure the frequency of risks that occur, evaluate the priority of the risk, examine the alternative solution of the risk, finalize the solution and  implement and monitor the result. A better understanding of the risk management process provides ideas to help in planning suitable approaches to minimize the impact on risks. Planning and scheduling is a key concept for preparing for the Fundamentals of Engineering exam. The risk management process influences the planning and scheduling process of the activities during project management.

The Five Steps of the Risk Management Process

The process of risk management has several steps to achieve the goal. The first step of the risk management process is identifying the risk. In this step, identify, uncover, recognize and describe risks that affect the outcome of the project. The second step is to analyze the risk factor; once the risk has been identified, determine the consequence of each risk. Develop an understanding of the nature of the risk and its potential to affect project goals and objectives. This information is stored in the database. The third step is to evaluate and rank the risk level. The fourth step is planning to face the risk. This step involves taking the highest ranked risks, creating a plan for these risks to achieve acceptable risk levels and creating preventive measures for these risks. The final step is to monitor and review the risk. These five steps are done continuously to deliver a simple and effective risk management process. Project construction activity duration and activity network diagrams are critical in the FE exam for calculating the project's completion time.

The Existing Ground Conditions and Potential Effects due to the Geology of Soil during Pavement Construction

Table of Contents

1. Geotechnical Investigation Need for Construction Engineering

2. Groundwater Pollution During Construction Operations

3. Geotechnical Observations and Suggested Engineering Analysis

4. Best Management Practices for Safe Construction Operations

Geotechnical Investigation Need for Construction Engineering 

Geotechnical investigations of project sites help to analyze the ground conditions as well as the possible range of effects associated with construction due to the type of soils, geological features and the location of the groundwater table. It is necessary to study in detail the topography of the project construction area, the geology of the region, the subsurface conditions and existing aquifers. Geotechnical investigations, soil phase diagrams and the Atterberg limits are important topics for the PE exam, thus they are emphasized in the PE exam review course. The potential effects on existing ground conditions are differential settlements of underlying soil layers generally due to the weight of newly constructed embankments, inducing mechanical vibrations by driving sheet or concrete piles for foundations, pavement cracking due to heavy traffic loads and storm water erosion. 

Groundwater Pollution During Construction Operations

The quality of groundwater gradually decreases due to regular construction operations at the project site. Construction equipment, machinery spills or motor oil discharges penetrate through the soil layers along with storm water runoff. Stormwater from construction sites carries the sediment to nearby water bodies thereby diminishing the groundwater quality. Topography of the construction site and the depth of groundwater table may impact pavement construction operations. If the location of the groundwater table is near to the existing ground surface, temporary dewatering methods are used to reduce groundwater  for smooth construction operations. Dewatering methods, such as pumping, wellpoint system installation, and trenching methods, will incur an additional cost to the construction project. Groundwater flow characteristics, dewatering methods, unconfined and confined aquifers are key subtopics in the Principles of Engineering (PE Civil) exam. 

Geotechnical Observations and Suggested Engineering Analysis 

Professional engineers will have a better understanding of the importance of geology, type of soil, and groundwater table depth prior to pavement construction. Anticipating the potential effects and evaluation and testing procedures of geology, soils and groundwater characteristics are essential for pavement construction. Engineering analysis of topographic conditions of project site and geographical features in the region plays a vital role during construction operations of highway projects. Understanding that project construction activities affect soil and groundwater will minimize potential indirect effects of construction operations. Professional construction engineers should identify mitigation measures to avoid or minimize the effects on the environment due to project construction activities.

Best Management Practices for Safe Construction Operations

The project engineering team should perform a geologic project site survey along the construction zone to note existing features, such as ground exposures, slope instability characteristics and natural vegetation. Based on engineers reviewing comments on plans, the field engineering team should plan for proposed pavement construction work through either excavation or embankment. It is always good to implement best project management practices and practice the recommendations of a professional engineer with the PE exam certification as a credential.