It is unlikely that you will need to analyse a bolt group in the exam, unless it is fundamental to your design (for example, if you have a footbridge support cantilevering from a rock face and anchored into the rock).
The cheat sheet contains rules for bolt groups in bending and bolt groups in torsion, as well as bolt capacities.
Part 2e of the exam generally asks you to write a method statement and programme. The examiners' reports indicate that they are generally quite disappointed with the quality of the answers to this section, probably due to the fact that people run out of time towards the end of the exam.
This section is quite difficult to prepare for, because it depends a lot on the type of structure and site specific constraints. However, we found it useful to look at a real project and "simplify" the programme as much as possible.
The cheat sheet below is for selecting a crawler crane to lift a known weight at a set radius. This can be useful in part 2e (method statement and programme) and could also be useful during the design appraisal section of the exam, e.g. if the site is congested and there is limited space for a crane then that may affect your choice of structure.
As the table lists the absolute minimum size of crane that is capable of the lift, you may choose to go one size up so that the crane is able to lift the load comfortably.
The cheat sheet below is for selecting a mobile crane to lift a known weight at a set radius. This can be useful in part 2e (method statement and programme) and could also be useful during the design appraisal section of the exam, e.g. if the site is congested and there is limited space for a crane then that may affect your choice of structure.
As the table lists the absolute minimum size of crane that is capable of the lift, you may choose to go one size up so that the crane is able to lift the load comfortably.
This cheat sheet contains the basics for sizing reinforced concrete sections in accordance with the Eurocodes.
The cheat sheet uses some conservative simplifications to make the calculations faster, such as assuming a neutral axis depth and ignoring the reinforcement ratio when calculating the unreinforced shear capacity of a section.
Wind loading is usually given in the exam. Depending on the question and form of structure you are considering, this may or may not be a significant load. This cheat sheet is therefore relevant in part 1a (design appraisal) and also in the calculation section.
Wind loads given in the exam are usually given as a 3-second gust speed, and/or a mean hourly wind speed, for example:
The site is located near open sea. Basic wind speed is 56m/s based on a 3-second gust; the equivalent mean hourly wind speed is 28m/s”
Steel arches may be useful in the exam for designing tied arch road bridges, or suspension footbridges.
The cheat sheet below describes how to determine some key arch geometry and section properties, and use it to check the following buckling modes using methods consistent with the Eurocodes:
This cheat sheet is for calculating the flexural buckling or "strut buckling" capacity of a column in compression. It could also be used to calculate the capacity of a compression flange between effective restraints.
The rules in the cheat sheet are taken from the Eurocode 3, which is based on Euler buckling theory but also includes an allowance for geometric imperfections (via figure 6.4).
The relationship between non-dimensional slenderness and the critical buckling load from Euler theory Ncr is shown below:
Plate girder design is required for many types of structure, including footbridges, steel rail/road bridges, and composite bridges in the temporary condition (supporting the weight of wet concrete during casting of the deck).
This cheat sheet aims to summarise all of the information you would need to carry out bending and shear checks on a typical plate girder.
It is assumed that the structure is a bridge, constructed in S355 steel.
It covers:
Half-through bridges are useful in the IStructE exam as they minimise construction depth and are therefore ideal for situations where there is limited headroom clearance, a common constraint.
If you are using a U-frame bridge then you need to demonstrate that you understand it will have a significant reduction in bending capacity due to buckling.
Some people just use engineering judgement to "guess" a buckling reduction factor (say 0.7 depending on span), but it's possible to calculate it reasonably quickly using this method.