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CM Exam Prep Notes-Part 1

This document provides guidance and materials for preparing for the Institution of Structural Engineers Chartered Member Examination. It includes: 1. An overview of the exam format and tips for preparation and time management. 2. Sections covering key structural engineering topics like stability, movement, structural forms, precedents, analysis, and preliminary design. 3. Examples of structural schemes and solutions for sample exam problems. The document aims to familiarize candidates with the type of quick conceptual design and analysis required on the exam through examples, in contrast to normal detailed design practice. It emphasizes generating multiple distinct viable solutions and considering a broad range of design factors.

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312 views

CM Exam Prep Notes-Part 1

This document provides guidance and materials for preparing for the Institution of Structural Engineers Chartered Member Examination. It includes: 1. An overview of the exam format and tips for preparation and time management. 2. Sections covering key structural engineering topics like stability, movement, structural forms, precedents, analysis, and preliminary design. 3. Examples of structural schemes and solutions for sample exam problems. The document aims to familiarize candidates with the type of quick conceptual design and analysis required on the exam through examples, in contrast to normal detailed design practice. It emphasizes generating multiple distinct viable solutions and considering a broad range of design factors.

Uploaded by

Sutha
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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IStructE RoI Branch

Institution of Structural Engineers


Chartered Member Examination
Preparation Course

Dr. Colin Caprani


DIT Bolton St.

Rev. 2011.1

1 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch

Contents
1. Introduction ......................................................................................................... 4
1.1 The CM Exam ................................................................................................... 4
1.2 Explanatory Notes: Standard terms and phrases .............................................. 5
1.3 Suggested CM Examination Timetable ............................................................ 8
1.4 Example Letter .................................................................................................. 9
2. Overall Structural Behavior ............................................................................. 11
2.1 Stability of Buildings ...................................................................................... 11
2.2 Allowing for Movement ................................................................................. 15
3. Structural Form ................................................................................................. 24
3.1 Key Principles in Choosing Structural Form .................................................. 24
3.2 Choice of Form ............................................................................................... 26
4. Precedence Studies ............................................................................................ 29
4.1 Patera Building System................................................................................... 29
4.2 Pompidou General ....................................................................................... 31
4.3 Torroja Madrid Racecourse ......................................................................... 34
4.4 Torroja Half-Mile Viaduct, Unbuilt, 1956 .................................................. 36
4.5 Torroja Operating Theatre, Madrid University ........................................... 37
5. Preliminary Analysis ......................................................................................... 38
5.1 Preliminary Loading ....................................................................................... 38
5.2 Preliminary Structural Analysis ...................................................................... 46
5.3 Tributary Areas ............................................................................................... 56
5.4 Table of Fixed-End Moments ......................................................................... 61
5.5 Table of Displacements .................................................................................. 62
6. Preliminary Design ............................................................................................ 63
6.1 Reinforced Concrete ....................................................................................... 64
6.2 Prestressed Concrete ....................................................................................... 68
6.3 Steel Non-composite .................................................................................... 72

2 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch

6.4 Composite Construction ................................................................................. 74


6.5 Timber Joists in Domestic Construction ........................................................ 75
7. Car Park Layout Design ................................................................................... 76
7.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 76
7.2 Car Sizes and Swept Path ............................................................................... 78
7.3 Bay, Aisle and Bin Dimensions ...................................................................... 80
7.4 Headroom and Ramps..................................................................................... 84
7.5 Ventilation ...................................................................................................... 86
7.6 Miscellaneous ................................................................................................. 87
8. Examples ............................................................................................................ 88
8.1 Beams, Slab and Column Example ................................................................ 88
8.2 Flat Slab Example ........................................................................................... 99
8.3 Sample Scheme Problem 2 ........................................................................... 103
8.4 Sample Scheme Problem 4 ........................................................................... 111

3 Dr C. Caprani
IStructE RoI Branch

1. Introduction

1.1 The CM Exam


The IStructE CM Exam is quite unlike any other exam you may do and quite unlike
normal design practice. This makes it difficult to prepare for through usual design
practice, but the simple scheme design solutions on the CM Prep Course and the very
quick design/analysis procedures are easy to get used to. For this reason the examples
at the back of these notes might seem strange to design practice, but they should help
get across the idea of quick sizing and approximate design.

General Advice:
Read all the paper including the preambles;
Note the marking percentages and allocate time accordingly;
Read the reminder from the examiners;
Read all the questions to assess what is being asked, to determine how difficult the
problem really is.

Having decided which question:


spend time thinking about it before committing yourself to paper;
work out precisely what your answer will be;
this should take at least 30 minutes before a word is written.

Specific Advice:
Take the Henry Kissinger Approach know your answer and find the question for it.
This approach has its dangers though!

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IStructE RoI Branch

1.2 Explanatory Notes: Standard terms and phrases

Design appraisal

A detailed description of a viable structural solution for the schemes. This will
normally include consideration of a number of ideas and a reasoned argument to
d be
made to stability, economy, robustness, buildability, durability and safety. Candidates
will be expected to consider a broad range of alternative materials and structural
forms. In addition, the challenges posed by the CM examination questions require an
innovative, less standard approach.

Appropriate sketches

It is expected that these will be freehand sketches that are approximately to scale.
They should normally have sufficient detail to clarify the main points referred to in
the design appraisal.

Viable structural solutions

constructed safely. Two distinct and viable solutions are required. It is expected that
distinctly different solutions will involve the use of different structural arrangements
and action to transfer all the applied loads to the supporting ground. It will not be
acceptable to propose two solutions with relatively minor differences, e.g. the use of
reinforced concrete flat slab floors instead of beam and slab floors. Similarly,
replacing structural steel beams and columns with insitu reinforced concrete beams
and columns in a building frame would also not be considered to be distinctly
different as the basic structural arrangement and actions are very similar in both
cases.

5 Dr C. Caprani

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