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CD
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Posted: Sun Apr 11th, 2004 08:59 pm |
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GENERAL STRUCTURES
I've heard that you can no longer use the time during the exam tutorial to go over the Reference pages they give you. But you will not need to remember any of the formulae for Max. Moment, Shear and Deflection that are in the steel manual, because they are on the reference section you can access during the exam. However, I would recommend that you be familiar with them before going in. I marked all the math questions and did them at the end.
Here is some advice from David Thaddeus that I found very helpful:
“As far as memorizing the formulas, it is by far more important to know what is involved in a formula, rather than memorize it without fully comprehending how and when it applies. I am trying to emphasize that there is a fair amount of "qualitative" questions about the formulas themselves.
As for the radius of gyration, it is important to recognize that it is strictly a property of the geometry of the section (r = (SQRT (I÷A))) and is critical in the assessment of the slenderness of steel columns. The lesser the radius of gyration, the more likely a steel column is to buckle (the other factors that affect the slenderness of a steel column are its un-braced length and how strongly its ends are connected.”
Make sure you know the concepts behind the formula, which will in turn help you to remember the formula itself better. For example in the deflection formula the span of a beam (L) is to the 3rd power (cubed) where the load (W) is to the 1st power; therefore increasing the span of a beam will impact its deflection much more than if you increase the load. Similarly values in the denominator they will impact the result differently than values is in the numerator.
As far as which formulae to remember, I found that I only needed to remember 3 or 4 and knowing a bit of algebra you can solve for any variable:
# Modulus of Elasticity formula:
E = Stress (F) ÷ Strain or E = (P ÷ A) ÷ (Deformation ÷ L)
and all the variations of that formula
i.e.: Deformation = (P ×L) ÷ (A × E)
# Section Modulus formula:
S = M ÷ Fb and know how to solve for each variable
ie: M = Fb × S & Fb = M ÷ S
Also know that S = I ÷ c and therefore Fb = Mc ÷ I
They will give you (S = (b × d2) ÷ 6
# Formula for Shear
Fv = const. × V ÷ A and same as above know how to solve for each variable
# Coefficient of thermal expansion (n) is the ratio of unit strain to temperature change and is constant for a given material.
n = D / L D = n L t
t
D = PL ÷ AE P ÷ A = DE ÷ L
# They will give you most of the geometry formulae for the area, moment of Inertia (I) and Section Modulus (S) for rectangular shapes and other basic shapes, but not the area of a circle - so remember the formula for the area of a circle and it’s circumference.
# Although they will give the Deflection formulae, know that
Delta L = (Const. × Load × Span3) ÷ (E × I)
# Know how to solve for angles and legs of a triangle, all I needed on my test was the basic:
a2 + b2 = c2
Sin = opposite ÷ hypotenuse, Cosine = adjacent ÷ hypotenuse and Tangent = rise ÷ run
# Know how to figure the loads on tributary areas.
# Know how to figure out reactions.
# For the 2 moving load problem, the formula is in the steel manual, but all you need to know is how to figure the reactions at the worst case scenario, for shear it would be with the loads closest to the supports and for bending it would be with the loads at the center, then treat them as regular point loads.
Math problems are really only about 15% to 20% of the test, the rest of it will be questions on general knowledge of how structures work, what is the best system for a given situation, and some on cost in general. Look at the reference list NCARB suggests for this division and go to the library they have a few of them.
GOOD LUCK!!
Last edited on Sat May 13th, 2006 03:46 pm by CD
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Tokolosi
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Posted: Tue Apr 13th, 2004 08:37 pm |
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Great post!
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Kevin
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Posted: Sun May 2nd, 2004 08:42 pm |
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| bumping to top... too bad we can't make a "sticky" of this info so it's pinned to the top all the time.
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donna
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Posted: Mon May 3rd, 2004 08:30 pm |
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Last edited on Wed Jan 26th, 2005 12:40 pm by donna
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CD
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Posted: Tue May 4th, 2004 02:39 am |
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Kevin & Donna et al:
The notes on the above post came from a word document I put together while I was studying for GS in July 2003 and I have shared it 'many times' since. It's been on the webbcomm ftp site and now on this one. I've updated the word document on this ftp site to show the changes to the new ARE rule of not being able to access the reference section before the exam starts. The file is now called GS-Notes-May-2004.doc so it should be readily available at any time now.
Good luck to all!!!!!
Last edited on Sat Nov 1st, 2008 11:55 pm by CD
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jstokes
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Posted: Tue Jun 29th, 2004 05:50 pm |
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| Where do you find out what NCARB lists for references?
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CD
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Posted: Tue Jun 29th, 2004 11:35 pm |
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| If you don't have the NCARB ARE guidelines V-3.0 you can download it from the NCARB sites. Here is the link http://www.ncarb.org/are/areguidelines3.pdf. You'll find the references for each division there.
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eeclare
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Posted: Sun Jul 11th, 2004 12:20 am |
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| Thanks for the helpful tips... It means a lot when sorting through the study materials!
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Fitzer
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Posted: Tue Aug 10th, 2004 06:21 pm |
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| For the GS exam I would go over Archiflash cards one more time if you have them, and review types of structures, and how to choose a system according to specific building design situation. Check out Architect's Studio Companion, the chapter on choosing a structural system, and Ching's Building Construction Illustrated.If you dont' own these books, just go to the library or a major chain bookstore and skim through them. I think knowing how to recognize a connection type and its use (shear,moment) and the weld symbols will help. But don't cram, just review the material thoughtfully, and get some sleep the night before, eat breakfast and don't go to work before the exam. These things kept me sharp for the test.
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guest
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Posted: Fri Feb 11th, 2005 04:45 pm |
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| http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/jo24/
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guest
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Posted: Fri Mar 25th, 2005 01:38 pm |
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Hi CD
where can i find gs note may 2004?
I could't find in webbcomm.biz site !!
thanks
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CD
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Posted: Fri Mar 25th, 2005 11:57 pm |
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They are in this forum's ftp site. Click on the "FTP Upload" green button above, follow the instructions and look in the General Structures folder.
Good Luck!!
CD
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hitman1968
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Posted: Mon May 2nd, 2005 12:58 am |
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| The ARE sample questions and answers book from NCARB was a great help since it is very similar in scope to the actual exam. The ALS books and mock exam books and CD's are also a great help.
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Elmhurst
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Posted: Thu Jan 12th, 2006 04:19 am |
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| Which chapters should you read in the Ballast book for this exam?
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yana
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Posted: Fri Jan 13th, 2006 05:02 pm |
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ADDITIONAL READINGS;
"Architect's Portable handbook" by Pat Guthrie
System costs/ flooring / roofing
"why buildings stand up" by Salvadori
"why buildings fall down" by Salvadori
"Structure in architecture " by Salvadori
Notes on Calculations;
- Don't get hung up with math.
- Calculations are similar to sample questions from FLASHCARD 5th edition.
- Understand basic E, S, I, r, Slenderness Ratio( Know all what letters mean in each formula)
- Variables for formulas ; S( in relation to depth of beam), Deflection( in relation to L(length), in relation to I( moment of inertia)
Last edited on Sat Jan 21st, 2006 06:11 pm by yana
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violet78
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Posted: Mon Apr 24th, 2006 06:26 pm |
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Those notes have a typo...section modulus formula used d squared, not d cubed.
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ihatebricks
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Posted: Fri Jun 9th, 2006 02:39 pm |
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Also good general knowledge - for some reason I don't think they mention thsi in ALS but I recall it from college -
trusses with web diagonal bracing pointed down and in (\|\|/|/) have diagonal members in tension.
trusses with web diagonal members pointed up and outward (/|/|\|\) have diagonal members in compression.
If you get a question on a truss, and for some reason blank out on the calc, you can at least eliminate some answers by tension or compression.
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cjayzdad
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Posted: Fri Oct 6th, 2006 01:55 am |
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Study Cheat Sheets: One of Four
Attachment: Cheat001.pdf (Downloaded 2658 times)
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cjayzdad
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Posted: Fri Oct 6th, 2006 01:56 am |
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| 2 of 4 Attachment: Cheat002.pdf (Downloaded 1612 times)
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cjayzdad
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Posted: Fri Oct 6th, 2006 01:57 am |
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| 3 of 4 Attachment: Cheat003.pdf (Downloaded 1390 times)
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cjayzdad
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Posted: Fri Oct 6th, 2006 01:57 am |
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| 4 of 4 Attachment: Cheat004.pdf (Downloaded 1452 times)
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Rio
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Posted: Fri Oct 6th, 2006 03:10 am |
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Thanks to both of you for sharing this valuable information.
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cjayzdad
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Posted: Thu Nov 2nd, 2006 02:55 am |
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Good Truss Resource.
CJ
http://www.arch.usyd.edu.au/~mike/Struct01/BPNotesWebFiles/BP0038to46.pdf
P.S. - this looks like a great resource - but only a portion of a larger document. Please let me know if anyone can get the rest of the document. The above link may be password sensitive to access similar documents.
ANOTHER great resource discovered by Vishal (in another post):
http://acg.media.mit.edu/people/simong/statics/Start.html
MUST SEE!!!!
Attachment: BP0038to46.pdf (Downloaded 2154 times) Last edited on Sat Nov 4th, 2006 04:06 pm by cjayzdad
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sentino
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Posted: Thu Jan 18th, 2007 10:42 pm |
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Thanks so much for this information. . .I will add it to my review! Excellent work!
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kingbonk
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Posted: Sun Jan 21st, 2007 04:41 pm |
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that interactive truss java thing is JUST what i have been looking for, to comprehend whats going on. THANK you.
btw, im kingbonk, im new here.
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pass before I retire
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Posted: Tue Jan 23rd, 2007 09:11 pm |
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| This is sooo helpful. Wish I'd read it before I failed this test. Thank you.
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zrw-58
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Posted: Tue Nov 13th, 2007 03:49 pm |
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| Thankyou for all the info
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Amyback
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Posted: Mon Feb 18th, 2008 06:29 pm |
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| Thanks so much for all the tips and info. I am taking my GS exam on Friday and am NOT looking forward to it.
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sentino
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Posted: Mon Feb 18th, 2008 07:31 pm |
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Don't be afraid. . .just study, and picture yourself holding that State certificate in your hands when it comes in the mail. . .feel the freedom of being able to sign and seal your drawings. Close your eyes each evening, and picture yourself as a licensed Architect. . .That's what I did towards the end to help get over the structural sections. There are some really good books out there about the Law of Attraction. . .it makes getting there seem natural, and without resistance. . .It made studying, and taking the tests less painful. And yes, it does feel incredible when you do get that large envelope in the mail, and you KNOW it's in there, and you slip it out, and it has YOUR name on it. . .It's better than I imagined it. . .Now if this market would pick up a little. . . . 
Good luck!
Last edited on Mon Feb 18th, 2008 07:31 pm by sentino
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greenmaven
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Posted: Fri Apr 25th, 2008 04:30 pm |
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| Word-up Sentino! I just started studying for this one. Big thank you's to everyone for posting such great tips!
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zeetee
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Posted: Wed May 7th, 2008 07:57 am |
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THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
YOUR WEBSITE IS AWESOME!
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SOFIA MARRERO
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