Structural Basics - Invidious

Structural Basics

In January 2022, the blog Structural Basics (www.structuralbasics.com) was born out of the desire to teach structural engineering to students and non-engineers. Since then, we published one article a week on the blog and will continue as we go forward. 📝📝

After over a year of publishing content as articles, it's time for the next step and add video content. 📽️📽️

If you want to learn about structural engineering concepts and step-by-step guides, then make sure to subscribe and hit the notification bell! 🔔🔔

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Structural Basics

Hi friends,

I started a new YouTube channel and appreciate every follow, like and view.

Here's a vlog from Copenhagen.

Hope you enjoy watching it.

1 week ago | [YT] | 1

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Structural Basics

What exactly is a fork support?

I think it took me 1-2 years of professional experience to fully understand what a fork bearing is.

And I still discuss it with my colleagues in the office from time to time: Is this a fork support or not?

Even when checking other people’s reports, I often see that this boundary condition is entered incorrectly in the structural design software.

In my opinion, the problem is that the boundary conditions of calculation examples at university are usually given. For example, you have to verify a simple supported IPE steel beeam with fork supports for lateral torsional buckling.

But how must the connection of the IPE beam to the column be designed so that it can be calculated as a fork support?

You've finished your bachelor's or master's degree and you're doing structural analysis for the first time.

Then, in software programs such as ‪@SkyCiv‬, ‪@mbtutorial‬, ‪@FRILObyALLPLAN‬, or Polybeam from ‪@polystruc‬, you have to select the support type, such as fork support, horizontally supported at the top or bottom, or unsupported.

I always found it very difficult to determine if a beam at risk of buckling horizontally is supported by a fork or at the top—because you don't learn that at university.

After a few projects and some professional experience, you've seen a few connections and you slowly begin to understand the bearing types.

Here is my explanation of a fork bearing (have I forgotten anything in this description? – let me know your explanation in the comments):

The term fork support means that, at this point, the beam is prevented from twisting around its longitudinal axis.

Here are a few examples of connections that are fork bearings and those that are not.

Do you have any other pictures of fork bearing connections that you have designed or calculated?

1 month ago | [YT] | 9

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Structural Basics

9 months ago, I moved from Copenhagen back to Germany (Munich). Crazy how time flies.

So here's a little update about what I‘ve been up to at work:

1. I got to design many different things: schools, a warehouse, did a few steel structure verifications (Prüfung). One thing they have in common: most projects are a mix of refurbishment and new build.

2. fundamentals of structural design are the same everywhere (especially in Europe), but systems and materials are used differently in countries and even regions within countries. In Denmark, I mainly designed precast concrete buildings, while in Southern Germany a mix of in-situ concrete, timber, steel and masonry is more common. Most static systems for precast structures are simply supported beams, where Excel tools might be enough. In-situ concrete slabs with T-beams are continuous, and FE programs need to be used. The usage of finite element programs is much greater in Germany than in Denmark. Simpler static systems and the checking and QA process in Denmark are probably the 2 main reasons for that. But I might dive deeper into the differences of the two countries in a future post.

3. a lot of work with existing buildings and structures: I have to say, I quite like the challenge. Digging for information in old drawings and reports, finding solutions for what's working for the existing structure, material testing, etc.

4. lots of timber and steel design (+ connection design)

5. dynamics: 9 months ago, I didn't think I would ever deal with dynamics, as I didn't understand much of it in uni and how it's applied on real structures. Well, now I've dealt with machine foundations, many vibration analyses of steel staircases and vibration analysis of timber-concrete composite slabs and timber slabs.

6. Munich: settled well, love the city and the surrounding nature, weather is honestly amazing

7. Apart from the work stuff, I have been training a lot. Got a new marathon pb (3:25:42h) and I am currently training to become an Ironman (70.3) in August.