tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78934791429308515532024-03-13T22:09:23.364+01:00Blog of eng. Xosé Carreira (since 2007)Structures, water, computers, languages and people (not necessarily in this order)Xosé Manuel Carreirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874312282479409720noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893479142930851553.post-4338140634524437342023-11-29T15:45:00.000+01:002023-11-29T15:45:01.142+01:00Why don't engineers make more money?<p>Engineering is a diverse field often associated with stability, but not all engineers find themselves in an affluent state. In analysing the reasons behind the varying financial statuses of engineers, it is possible to discover an interplay of factors that go beyond mere salary figures. </p><p><b>1. Climbing the Salary Ladder:</b></p><p>I perfectly remember my early days as a rookie engineer, navigating through the intricacies of the profession. It was a slow ascent up the salary ladder. Surprisingly, my academic degrees did not seem to be the main characters in this financial drama. Also, I realized that the salary disparities among engineering disciplines and sectors were not as big as I had initially imagined. Experience and, above all, site experience took centre stage. That is why at first I tried to look older than I was, for example, by growing a beard or dressing more senior.<br /></p><p><b>2. Financial Literacy is the Missing Puzzle Piece:</b></p><p>In the excitement of pursuing my passion for engineering, the importance of financial education was not taken very seriously into account. It was not until later in my career that I recognized the significance of business knowledge. Looking back, I wish I had understood the power of budgeting, scheduling, planning, measuring, forecasting and so on earlier in my career. </p><p><b>3. The Entrepreneurial Adventure:</b></p><p>While dreams of creating an startup dance in many engineers' heads, diving into the business world means embracing risks. I experienced this firsthand when I decided to dive into the side gigs world and created a small company based in the UK. The startup rollercoaster's initial loop is daunting to say the least. Engineers, wired to be cautious and conservative, find it really really really hard to take the leap. I speak from my own experience.</p><p><b>4. Passion, Ethics and the Wealth Dilemma:</b></p><p>Engineers are respected for their passion, ethical commitment and societal contributions. And it is OK. But this sometimes leads them away from the race for top-paying positions. People less skilled, but with much more ambition than me, have ended up managing my work. That position could have been mine, for sure. Striking a balance between vocation and grow is the unsolved equation for many engineers.</p><p>In conclusion, reflecting on my own experiences, the financial status of engineers is a multifaceted outcome shaped by a combination of salary dynamics, financial literacy, entrepreneurship and personal values. Understanding these factors can help engineers make better decisions. </p>Xosé Manuel Carreirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874312282479409720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893479142930851553.post-65264285691873490272023-09-07T20:17:00.000+02:002023-09-07T20:17:07.130+02:00Freelancing for Structural Engineers: specialization, collaboration and opportunity<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1UfqujeigMb3tBhXtKoBivsEyT4vUwxpZOcKlP3dgJkRtemE6M26LjNz5kyCjqxocZKUnOEvQhCiJzfVNUOzCXGuzA7j5N67GZD3NlYs2SfQ8eIidoP5BBJ_qecOsdnnRypQhPLfnD2qdltLqL1qbxX9Uhvt9zMJZnmXkwl72zX2D4vl-PvB5rjm5PBDN/s1920/structural-engineering-gc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1920" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1UfqujeigMb3tBhXtKoBivsEyT4vUwxpZOcKlP3dgJkRtemE6M26LjNz5kyCjqxocZKUnOEvQhCiJzfVNUOzCXGuzA7j5N67GZD3NlYs2SfQ8eIidoP5BBJ_qecOsdnnRypQhPLfnD2qdltLqL1qbxX9Uhvt9zMJZnmXkwl72zX2D4vl-PvB5rjm5PBDN/s320/structural-engineering-gc.jpg" width="320" /></a>In the world of structural engineering, the path to freelancing success is as diverse as the structures we design. Whether you hold a simple 3-year degree or boast a PhD from a top-tier university, the keys to thriving in this field are deeply rooted in specialization, collaboration and tons of patience.</div><p></p><p><b>Finding Your Niche:</b> The first rule of freelance structural engineering is to identify a niche. Your specialization determines your bargaining power and fee structure in a competitive landscape. For example, some engineers, like myself, specialize in computer modeling for energy and water-related structures, from tanks to levees. Finding your unique expertise is the cornerstone of your freelance journey.</p><p><b>Qualifications vs. Portfolio:</b> While qualifications are important, many clients are more interested in your portfolio than your academic credentials. Real-world experience and a network of contacts, including architects and fellow engineers, are essential before taking the leap into freelancing. If you're new to the game, platforms like Upwork, Freelance, and Guru can be your launchpad. Build your visibility through LinkedIn, engineering forums, and social media to showcase your capabilities.</p><p><b>Building Relationships:</b> Freelancing is not just about technical prowess; it is about relationships and reputation. Most successful freelancers rely on referrals from friends, family and colleagues. Attending professional meetings and maintaining an online presence can also lead to exciting opportunities. You might stumble upon small-scale projects that are not viable for larger firms but are perfect for your freelance portfolio.</p><p><b>The Collaborative Approach: </b>Beyond traditional freelancing, the construction industry thrives on collaboration. Contractors often seek the expertise of independent professional engineers for calculations and structural assessments, particularly for minor elements like handrails and staircases. This creates a win-win scenario, where engineers can outsource some of their work to freelancers while maintaining quality control.</p><p><b>Expand Your Network:</b> To secure a steady stream of jobs, it is crucial to build relationships with professionals in contractor firms. These connections can lead to collaborative opportunities that benefit both parties involved. As an independent professional engineer or a freelancer, these alliances can help you grow your portfolio and income.</p><p><b>Ambition and Integrity: </b>In the world of freelance structural engineering, ambition is encouraged, but greed is discouraged. Stay humble, and never work for free. Honesty and consistency are the cornerstones of a successful career. Building a reputation for integrity will serve you well in the long run, ensuring not only financial rewards but also respect within the industry.</p><p>In a profession driven by innovation, specialization, and collaboration, freelance structural engineers have the opportunity to shape the future of construction while enjoying the satisfaction of a well-earned income. Remember, the path to success is as diverse as the structures we engineer, and with patience, ambition, and integrity, you can build a rewarding career in this dynamic field.</p>Xosé Manuel Carreirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874312282479409720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893479142930851553.post-69102156216704911962023-03-23T09:54:00.005+01:002023-03-23T10:05:02.480+01:00Unfortunate flaws that make the human body a poorly engineered design<div>The human body is a complex system that has evolved over millions of years to optimize survival and function in its environment. However, from an engineering perspective, there are some aspects of the human body that may not be considered as "good design".</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJCCs2jTsqx7AG_3pPVxbuCe4GDMsy4BVtlCSZduIo9DTNajW2m-fh2-GLtNKqjt-heCwDECADGfXBeOeZscmsaAboZkwhHb7M7EOjlIHuovM_auR7tt0QsHtpLk6fHPpk0NQpqAz0tr5HcT4Ca6tOlygEbYj7yZLmQNaQMY_kVgXFvFd5KJA7L3XcA/s792/Neufert_paul_gisbrecht_00.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="528" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJCCs2jTsqx7AG_3pPVxbuCe4GDMsy4BVtlCSZduIo9DTNajW2m-fh2-GLtNKqjt-heCwDECADGfXBeOeZscmsaAboZkwhHb7M7EOjlIHuovM_auR7tt0QsHtpLk6fHPpk0NQpqAz0tr5HcT4Ca6tOlygEbYj7yZLmQNaQMY_kVgXFvFd5KJA7L3XcA/s320/Neufert_paul_gisbrecht_00.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>One challenge is that the human body is a generalist system that cannot be upgraded or optimized for a specific purpose. It has evolved through natural selection to adapt to a wide range of environmental conditions and functions. Additionally, the human body lacks project documentation, and many parts cannot be replicated.</div><div><br /></div><div>Dual function organs are one of the most problematic features of the human body. For example, the same anatomical structure is used for both ingestion and respiration, which can lead to choking and accidental death. The double reproductive and urinary function can also create infection problems. Human females have a narrow birth canal, resulting in increased risks during birth and extreme pain.</div><div><br /></div><div>Structurally, the human body is relatively weak compared to many engineered structures. It is not optimized for distributing assimetric loads evenly, which can often lead to musculoskeletal problems such as back pain. The spine's S-shape and the complicated design of the foot (with more than twenty moving parts!) are a consequence of our evolution from four-legged apes to two-legged creatures.</div><div><br /></div><div>Biological limitations such as the limited ability to regenerate or replace damaged parts, and the susceptibility of joints to damage, are inherent in the human body. Energy efficiency is also a weakness compared to many engineering artifacts.</div><div><br /></div><div>In conclusion, while the human body is a remarkable system, its limitations and overcomplexities that are inherent in its natural evolution may not make it a "good design" from a pure engineering perspective.</div></div><div><br /></div>Xosé Manuel Carreirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874312282479409720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893479142930851553.post-45277696871248739122023-01-17T10:39:00.002+01:002023-01-17T10:40:50.648+01:00Two recent erroneous predictions made by geologists<p>There are two important and relatively recent geological predictions that mainstream geology had to change its mind:</p><p>1. The belief in the <b>expanding Earth</b> theory in the early 20th century, which proposed that the Earth's surface was expanding and that new land was constantly being created. This theory was disproved through more accurate measurements of the Earth's size and shape. Evolutionary biologists always believed that the continents used to be connected but the theory of <b>continental drift</b>, which had been around for decades, was largely dismissed by geologists until the 1960s.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimp8M8Bv90Fn28gU_sz9Plm3pRm-lL-LxU0r0EymVV3LHkv55xH7j4LuNdPrZtlqCwifzFKfVUZIl5D2V3ynDNCos90tD_nKhgAhVmnYh3NCPqvXtVQVTTAj9FjjVGv9wyIYF1y33kbCkxoD6xSZz846Ow1wnRBaMohUCY_Fl69z26jXh49TYKxDfR_w" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="585" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimp8M8Bv90Fn28gU_sz9Plm3pRm-lL-LxU0r0EymVV3LHkv55xH7j4LuNdPrZtlqCwifzFKfVUZIl5D2V3ynDNCos90tD_nKhgAhVmnYh3NCPqvXtVQVTTAj9FjjVGv9wyIYF1y33kbCkxoD6xSZz846Ow1wnRBaMohUCY_Fl69z26jXh49TYKxDfR_w" width="245" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>2. The prediction of a <b>major volcanic eruption at Mount St. Helens</b> in the 1980s, which was based on an increase in seismic activity and deformation of the volcano's dome. Most of those geologists worked with the prestigious United States Geological Survey (USGS). While the volcano did eventually erupt, the eruption was smaller and less destructive than predicted.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"> It is important to note that scientific predictions are always subject to revision and improvement as new data becomes available, and these examples are not meant to discredit the work of geologists, but to show that even with the best data and models, geological predictions can be wrong sometimes.</div><p></p>Xosé Manuel Carreirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874312282479409720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893479142930851553.post-73175379773275447632022-08-01T20:54:00.002+02:002022-08-01T20:54:13.297+02:00Hardy Cross and the sin of arrogance<p>Once a student named Alford told [Professor Hardy] Cross that he thought one of the problem solutions in their text was wrong. Cross paced back and forth, staring hard at the student, and pointing at him fiercely. "Can you, a graduate student, actually have the temerity to accuse the internationally known engineer who wrote this book of <i>making a mistake</i>? Can you really believe that the publishers would allow such an alleged error to be printed? Can you show us the error?".</p><p>Alford seemed unable to answer.</p><p>Still pacing, Cross said, "Can anyone help Mr. Alford? Do any of you see a mistake in problem four?"</p><p>The class was silent.</p><p>"Well, Mr. Alford," Cross said sternly, "would you care to retract your accusation?"</p><p>"It's just that I can't..."</p><p>"Speak up!" Cross thundered.</p><p>"I still believe it's wrong!" Alford shouted, his face red with embarrassment.</p><p>"Then kindly come to the board and prove it to us," Cross taunted. "We shall be pleased to see the proof of your unfounded allegation."</p><p>Alford labored at the board without success for the rest of the period.</p><p>Cross began his next lecture by saying, "In our last meeting Mr. Alford raised a serious and unfounded charge against the author of our text." Staring at Alford, he said, "Have you reconsidered your accusation?"</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7qVOZyOCe0XlY5Q8hRJ-sc0Z7etWNhny7b3noOs5Wol8B4wi6LBmrUKbUAVMyTChCpiiigaIvIlt1pvNxXv_t2MCbc0tnz__MUOE2Q5dDi89tzDa0tiiF9hp2wTPkzdmfNsxfMEWQWdnFJV2IEjA0ePFce5jYc0FIzFcD8G_C6ZntglhfPl32F02Ww/s1000/3K9A6167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7qVOZyOCe0XlY5Q8hRJ-sc0Z7etWNhny7b3noOs5Wol8B4wi6LBmrUKbUAVMyTChCpiiigaIvIlt1pvNxXv_t2MCbc0tnz__MUOE2Q5dDi89tzDa0tiiF9hp2wTPkzdmfNsxfMEWQWdnFJV2IEjA0ePFce5jYc0FIzFcD8G_C6ZntglhfPl32F02Ww/s320/3K9A6167.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />"No, sir," Alford replied. "I still believe he is wrong."<p></p><p>"To the board, then. We still await your proof."</p><p>Alford's labors were again unsuccessful.</p><p>The third time the class met, Cross said, "Mr. Alford, are you ready to withdraw your ill- considered accusation about problem four?"</p><p>Moments later Alford was at the board. Within a few minutes he managed to show the solution to the problem in the book was incorrect, and he returned to his seat. Cross's pleasure was evident from his expression. </p><p>"You must always have the courage of your convictions," he said. "Mr. Alford does; apparently the rest of you do not, or you are not yet sufficiently well educated to realize that authority — the authority of a reputation or the authority of a printed page — means very little. All of you should hope to someday develop as much insight and persistence as Mr. Alford."</p><p><b>Reference: </b>Kingery, A., Berg, R. D., & Schillinger, E. H. (1967). Men and ideas in engineering: Twelve histories from Illinois. College of Engineering, University of Illinois.</p><p><b>Picture:</b> Civil engineering lecture at University of Illinois.</p>Xosé Manuel Carreirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874312282479409720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893479142930851553.post-3858709230924086942020-12-27T22:24:00.002+01:002020-12-27T23:42:15.607+01:00Why you cannot really understand science and technology books?<p>Often in Maths and Physics textbooks the authors omit crucial steps and leave you lost. In addition, understanding technical books usually requires a broad knowledge of the sciences and mathematics involved. If you have no experience, it will be like trying to read a book in a foreign language. </p><p>If you are trying to be a self-learner, you may use a textbook as a guide to the topics to study in what order and to get started on each topic, but when you feel confused, go online and Google any topic you are confused about. You will probably find several sites with different explanations on the same topic. Examine them until you find one that makes sense to you. YouTube can also be very useful here.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MFR4xAvPL-o/X-j563FVZvI/AAAAAAAAGfE/OEHcHkcf7CAyP_ofVEw2A7dQvabKDGMFwCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="728" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MFR4xAvPL-o/X-j563FVZvI/AAAAAAAAGfE/OEHcHkcf7CAyP_ofVEw2A7dQvabKDGMFwCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />I have read my share of science and technology textbooks at post-graduate level and I realized that there are mainly two types of understanding in these areas:<p></p><p>- A <b>conceptual understanding</b> of the topics without getting to the core of the problems. You will probably be able to convince people that you know these topics, because you are able to explain them so that most people understand. Many managers, consultants and even teachers are stuck at this level.</p><p>- A<b> deep understanding</b> of the topics, that comes from solving problem after problem and reflecting on them. You will have a complete understanding of the topics gained from working through exercises and will be able to apply what you have learned to solve similar problems. To make sure you are understanding properly, at least at the beginning, it is a good idea to check your ideas with someone who has more experience and knowledge in the subject.<br /><br />Reading a technical book to gain a deeper understanding is not a fast or easy approach but it is worth in the long run.</p>Xosé Manuel Carreirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874312282479409720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893479142930851553.post-88177034564825992202019-02-06T15:29:00.000+01:002019-03-12T12:31:48.437+01:00Are introverts likely to succeed at becoming good engineers?I am afraid engineering schools are statistically skewed towards introverts because the ability to avoid social distractions is helpful to gain some hard skills. The traditional engineering curriculum is weak in chances for students to understand the importance of networking and social awareness. However, life after university offers a more balanced variety of choices.<br />
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There are jobs where you are working alone most of the time in a cubicle and you spend your whole day designing and calculating so your social interactions are limited to a few guys similar to you. But there are jobs that require frequent discussions, meetings and visits.Being extrovert is a good quality to have in engineering jobs that require dealing with all sorts of people or selling an idea to decision-makers that lack a technical background.<br />
Being an introvert is a good quality to have in order to be in solitude for long readings and independent research in a quiet room.<br />
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The statistical relationship between personality style and income seems inconclusive. You just have to find your path. According to my experience, techies who are in the middle of extraversion and introversion depending on the situation, this is, nuanced personalities, composed of both types, tend to be the most valuable team members, the glue people.Xosé Manuel Carreirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874312282479409720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893479142930851553.post-25263831899240920502018-09-16T19:11:00.004+02:002019-03-07T06:38:36.148+01:00Tras la pista de Araceli Sánchez Urquijo<span style="font-family: inherit;">De <a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Araceli_S%C3%A1nchez_Urquijo" target="_blank">Araceli Sánchez Urquijo</a> (Sestao, 1920 - Terán de Cabuérniga, 2010) se
sabe que fue la primera mujer en ejercer como Ingeniera de Caminos, Canales y Puertos en España.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Araceli fue una niña vasca de la guerra que, como tantos otros niños republicanos, fue enviada desde el puerto de Santurtzi a
la Unión Soviética en 1937. Se graduó como ingeniera civil de obras hidráulicas en el Instituto
Energético de Moscú (popularmente llamado el Energo) en 1949. Comenzó a ejercer como ingeniera en Uzbekistán. Durante cinco años trabajó en Asia
central levantando centrales hidráulicas y después estuvo en la subdirección
del departamento tecnológico de una de las empresas de líneas
eléctricas [ELPAIS]. De los años en Rusia, dice Araceli, que fueron los más felices
de su vida [ZAHRA]: <i>“A Rusia se lo debo todo y eso que las he pasado canutas.
Lo que hice, en España, para una mujer hubiera sido imposible”</i> [SANCHEZ].</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W0BJJi1xPrc/W56MAMrxB7I/AAAAAAAAFSA/5TgBDlu55nwXimu9_EnFgxVGF9FNVd_zgCLcBGAs/s1600/1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="427" height="281" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W0BJJi1xPrc/W56MAMrxB7I/AAAAAAAAFSA/5TgBDlu55nwXimu9_EnFgxVGF9FNVd_zgCLcBGAs/s400/1.png" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Araceli Sánchez Urquijo
(2ª por la derecha arriba) y otros niños de la guerra. Año 1949 [SANCHEZ]</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EkB0DV-rDyk/W56MObmXbqI/AAAAAAAAFSE/8LXJQd5b1z4BxoZOP1oiCj73KtoS5VRYQCLcBGAs/s1600/2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="600" height="268" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EkB0DV-rDyk/W56MObmXbqI/AAAAAAAAFSE/8LXJQd5b1z4BxoZOP1oiCj73KtoS5VRYQCLcBGAs/s400/2.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Descanso estival del
grupo de estudiantes G-1-43 del Energo. Araceli Sánchez Urquijo es la segunda por la
izquierda en la primera fila. Año 1947 [LLANOS]</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jfdfMPXoq6M/W56MOvb0b9I/AAAAAAAAFSQ/yv3cQmmRlrED3zEsP-5ARGfv8WFUiuByACEwYBhgL/s1600/3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="484" data-original-width="600" height="321" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jfdfMPXoq6M/W56MOvb0b9I/AAAAAAAAFSQ/yv3cQmmRlrED3zEsP-5ARGfv8WFUiuByACEwYBhgL/s400/3.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Entre los primeros
ingenieros hidroenergéticos de la URSS en la Universidad de Moscú había 23
españoles (entre ellos 5 mujeres). Araceli Sánchez Urquijo es la primera por la
izquierda abajo [LLANOS]</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LVdRIOc4rsU/W56MOfNKQWI/AAAAAAAAFSc/N4BjbO2ykhUJ3uVdd8BmP9UvzB9a2c3sgCEwYBhgL/s1600/4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="826" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LVdRIOc4rsU/W56MOfNKQWI/AAAAAAAAFSc/N4BjbO2ykhUJ3uVdd8BmP9UvzB9a2c3sgCEwYBhgL/s400/4.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Araceli Sánchez Urquijo
trabajando en Asia central. Circa 1950 [CAMINO]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Aunque la politización de Araceli se hizo fuerte durante la
universidad, pues era miembro del PCUS desde 1947 [ENCINAS], decidió aprovechar
los acuerdos ruso-españoles para repatriarse. Su obsesión era regresar a su
país y lo hizo en la primera expedición de niños de la guerra que Franco
permitió. Las negociaciones comenzaron a raíz de la muerte de Stalin. Con el gobierno de Kruschev, la URSS quería
dejar de lado una imagen de país represivo y comenzó a buscar facilidades para
la repatriación de los niños de la guerra. Se consiguió que se reconocieran los
títulos soviéticos que los españoles exiliados traían casi como único equipaje
con la condición de ocultar en el curriculum que el título de ingeniería académicamente no era español. A finales de 1956, en la expedición que partió desde Odessa (Ucrania) vino a Araceli a Valencia. A su llegada los repatriados fueron recibidos por bastante
población, prensa y autoridades. Pero pronto Araceli fue sometida a interrogatorios
de la Brigada Político-Social y agentes de seguridad e inteligencia
norteamericanos.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“Todo aquello</i> –decía Araceli- <i>fue denigrante y vejatorio,
porque yo entiendo que, al llegar en aquella época de un país socialista, era
lógico un control por parte de las autoridades españolas. Eso no hubiese sido
criticado. Lo humillante fue lo otro. Y ¿qué demonios pintaban allí los
norteamericanos? Querían conocer detalles sobre los lugares de trabajo, de los
nombres de nuestros directores, incluso de los gustos de sus esposas”</i>.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“Yo creo que una cosa debe quedar clara - añadía Araceli- nosotros conocimos, amamos a nuestro país desde la Unión Soviética.
Desde los cuidados y oportunidades que allí nos brindaron. La historia, la
cultura, el arte y tantas cosas más de nuestro país y de nuestro pueblo las
aprendimos allí. Para muchos de nosotros, los familiares, después de tantos
años de separación, quedaban en una nebulosa. El país, en cambio, no. Nuestro
pueblo fue siempre algo muy vivo en nosotros. Yo tuve suerte, encontré trabajo
muy pronto. Otros no, tuvieron que aceptar trabajos inferiores a sus
conocimientos. Licenciados en económicas trabajaban de oficinistas, mandos
intermedios hacían de peones. Y mujeres que, por el mero hecho de serlo, no podían encontrar trabajo alguno. Ésta era la realidad española</i><i>”</i>. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">La operación de entrevistas y seguimientos duró casi cuatro
años y afectó a casi a un total de 1.800 repatriados. Casi 400 de ellos no
aguantaron éstas y otras dificultades de desarraigo y regresaron a la URSS. Este hostigamiento para sonsacar detalles de la organización de la producción soviética sigue sin estar oficialmente reconocido ni por por el Ministerio
de Defensa español ni por la inteligencia americana.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">En 1957 ninguna mujer había trabajado como Ingeniera de
Caminos en España. Araceli se presentó a las pruebas de contratación de Isodel Sprecher,
una empresa dedicada a la fabricación de equipamiento eléctrico y de
instalaciones de centrales de producción ubicada en la madrileña calle de
Áncora. Tuvo que oír al portero de la que iba a ser su futura empresa echarle
en cara mientras esperaba para realizar su entrevista de trabajo: “Las mujeres
de la limpieza sólo pueden entrar en la fábrica cuando hayan salido los
obreros”. El hombre enmudeció cuando supo que era Ingeniera de Caminos y una de
los cinco candidatos al puesto que ofrecía la empresa. Los aspirantes fueron
sometidos a tres pruebas. Araceli obtuvo cuatro puntos por encima del segundo
candidato mejor situado. Pese a las protestas y una denuncia a la Dirección General
de Seguridad, el emprendedor, fundador y director de Isodel, Clemente
Cebrián Martínez (1908-2000), no dudó en contratar a Araceli. Clemente era un hombre
muy respetado por el régimen franquista y la protegió por su experiencia y su buen hacer. <i>“Al capitalista le importa un pepino la
ideología con tal de que no hagas proselitismo en su empresa”</i>- aseguraba Araceli - <i>“la verdad es que fui muy respetada porque la dirección así lo
quiso</i><i>”</i>.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-whLZh5CpyLw/W56MPEzy5rI/AAAAAAAAFSg/knszml4MfPUExUBRYX9MQ9tIj771pXd5gCEwYBhgL/s1600/5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="241" data-original-width="150" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-whLZh5CpyLw/W56MPEzy5rI/AAAAAAAAFSg/knszml4MfPUExUBRYX9MQ9tIj771pXd5gCEwYBhgL/s1600/5.png" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">D. Clemente Cebrián
Martínez [DMGL]</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Profesionalmente Araceli tenía un par de handicaps: no
dominaba el castellano técnico y tuvo que elaborar su propio diccionario
ruso-español de ingeniería, y se le prohibió salir del país. De hecho no pudo
hacerlo al carecer de pasaporte hasta la muerte del dictador español en 1975.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Su trabajo en Isodel consistía en adaptar los proyectos para
la construcción de centrales hidráulicas, eléctricas, térmicas y nucleares. <i>“</i><i>Durante varios meses trabajé con Ernesto Botella, el suegro del ex-presidente Aznar, que era jefe de talleres. Él me quería en su departamento
porque sabía de mi dominio tecnológico. Los dos primeros años fueron un pulso
continuo con los ingenieros: los planos que se dibujaban eran un desastre y yo los
devolvía con las correspondientes anotaciones y correcciones”</i>. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A mediados de los años sesenta, la multinacional británica Kellogg's Corporation convocó un concurso para el proyecto eléctrico de la
refinería de Repsol en Puertollano. Araceli envió una propuesta de proyecto con cientos de planos a Londres. A los pocos días se recibió un telegrama
en Isodel solicitando la presencia del ingeniero Sánchez en Londres. Clemente no se lo podía creer. Era la primera vez que la
empresa ganaba un concurso internacional. Franco amenazó con cerrar Isodel si
Araceli salía de España. Afortunadamente los ingenieros británicos vinieron a
verla y adjudicaron el proyecto a Isodel [ELPAIS].</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BY8VM1CGH-w/W56MPsRnMEI/AAAAAAAAFSo/g8bEmq4agSQudesCBheLdiYqg-C6fIH_ACEwYBhgL/s1600/6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="658" height="187" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BY8VM1CGH-w/W56MPsRnMEI/AAAAAAAAFSo/g8bEmq4agSQudesCBheLdiYqg-C6fIH_ACEwYBhgL/s320/6.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Aparición de Araceli
Sánchez Urquijo en La2 de TVE [CAMINO].</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Formó
parte del equipo fundador del Club de Amigos de la Unesco y fue activa
presidenta y luego vocal de la Organización Social de Mayores de Izquierda
Unida. También apareció en el documental Niños de Rusia en 2001 [CAMINO]. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pasó sus últimos años en la Avenida de la Paz en Madrid y luego, </span>bajo los cuidados de de su sobrina,<span style="font-family: inherit;"> en Terán de Cabuérniga (Cantabria).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Referencias:</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">[CAMINO] Camino, J. (2001) Los niños de Rusia. Tibidabo
Films.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLlde6xDTbI"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLlde6xDTbI</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">[DMGL] Digital Mechanism and Gear Library. Clemente Gabriel
Cebrián.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> </span><a href="http://www.dmg-lib.org/dmglib/main/biogrViewer_content.jsp?id=20896004&skipSearchBar=1"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">http://www.dmg-lib.org/dmglib/main/biogrViewer_content.jsp?id=20896004&skipSearchBar=1</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">[ELPAIS] "El ingeniero Sánchez: mujer y comunista"
El País, 4 de Febrero de 1999.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> </span><a href="https://elpais.com/diario/1999/02/04/madrid/918131070_850215.html"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">https://elpais.com/diario/1999/02/04/madrid/918131070_850215.html</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">[ENCINAS] Encinas, M. A. (2008). </span><span style="margin: 0px;">Fuentes históricas para el estudio de la
emigración española a la URSS (1936-2007)</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">. Exterior XXI.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span></span><a href="http://www.exterior21.org/publicaciones/FUENTES%20HISTORICAS%20EMIGRACION%20URSS.pdf"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">http://www.exterior21.org/publicaciones/FUENTES%20HISTORICAS%20EMIGRACION%20URSS.pdf</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">[LLANOS] de los Llanos Más, V. (2002). </span>Te acuerdas,
Tovarish...?:(del archivo de un" Niño de la guerra")<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
(Vol. 31). Institució Alfons el Magnànim. </span></span></span><a href="http://perexilandia.es/cultura/literatura/te-acuerdas-tovarisch/capitulo-5-parte-1"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">http://perexilandia.es/cultura/literatura/te-acuerdas-tovarisch/capitulo-5-parte-1</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">[PRADES] Prades, E. P., Tecglen, E. H., Lobatón, P.
(2004). Los niños republicanos en la guerra de España. Madrid: Oberon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">[SANCHEZ] Sánchez, R. P. (2012). </span><span style="margin: 0px;">Y además, el frío</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">.
Editorial Club Universitario.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span></span><a href="https://books.google.es/books?id=bxmKquvf0r4C"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">https://books.google.es/books?id=bxmKquvf0r4C</span><span style="color: #b00000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">[ZAFRA] Zafra, E., Crego, R., Heredia, C. (1989). Los
niños españoles evacuados a la URSS,(1937) (Vol. 4). Ediciones de la Torre.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> </span><a href="https://books.google.es/books?id=E-zsVFfQ5JkC"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">https://books.google.es/books?id=E-zsVFfQ5JkC</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">[ZAHRA] Zahra, T. (2011). </span>The Lost
Children<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">. Harvard University Press.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://books.google.es/books?id=pZfk4gYUOjAC"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://books.google.es/books?id=pZfk4gYUOjAC</span></a> </span></span><i></i></div>
Xosé Manuel Carreirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874312282479409720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893479142930851553.post-13520952733395177162018-01-24T18:32:00.002+01:002018-02-04T13:47:58.248+01:00What are the basic differences between ACI 318 and Eurocode 2?Structural codes were created to guide the design process to ensure that the structure is safe under most conditions. ACI 318 is an American norm and EC2 is a European norm. As you can imagine, the epistemological approach is very different for historic reasons. I have used both reinforced concrete codes. ACI is basically an empirical code with traditional formulas that resemble rules of thumb. Eurocode 2 is based on a sound underlying theory of concrete mechanics (see Fédération Internationale du Béton and the Model Code 90) that then is adjusted to experimental results by means of coefficients. ACI is a pleasant piece to read, truth be said while teading the EC2 is like reading any bureaucratic EU law or any arid materials science paper.<br />
<br />
For me the main resulting diferences are:<br />
<ul>
<li>How the safety factors are applied. EC2 applies constant safety factors to the materials. Safety factors in ACI are not applied directly to the materials but to the reinforcement situation (tension, compression, shear or flexure). That is why interaction diagram in Europe is more like an oval but the American interaction diagram looks like a squid.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UkSE7Har4pk/WncAVw4G1RI/AAAAAAAAFJQ/dcsBxxVD_7I0BywfAiRVZpU2hJvG711hQCLcBGAs/s1600/ACi.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="566" height="326" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UkSE7Har4pk/WncAVw4G1RI/AAAAAAAAFJQ/dcsBxxVD_7I0BywfAiRVZpU2hJvG711hQCLcBGAs/s400/ACi.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<i><br /></i>
<i>ACI interaction diagram</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-INSiJ0uTrEI/WncAeyCqp_I/AAAAAAAAFJU/ypt-ZMsaov4BtXB0WZDj4lHbkvnWLtErgCLcBGAs/s1600/EC2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="613" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-INSiJ0uTrEI/WncAeyCqp_I/AAAAAAAAFJU/ypt-ZMsaov4BtXB0WZDj4lHbkvnWLtErgCLcBGAs/s400/EC2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>EC2 interaction diagram</i><br />
<ul>
<li>Punching and shear approaches are very different in ACI 318 and in EC2. Both neglect variables that may be important for some beams and slabs, and both have scatter of results when compared to empirical tests. Results may be unconservative or overconservative in some cases, so I recommend to use and compare both codes in case of doubt.</li>
<li>Cracking estimation does not exist in ACI 318. Ok, there is a rule of thumb for the separation of reinforcement bars for 0.41 mm average crack. Calculation of crack widths under quasi-permanent loads is mandatory under EC2. This shows a more modern approach.</li>
<li>In my opinion, ACI underestimates the influence of creeping.</li>
<li>Minimum reinfocement of columns according to ACI is 1%, everywhere and in any case. Minimum reinfocement of columns in non-seismic areas according to EC2 is just 0.4%.</li>
</ul>
Xosé Manuel Carreirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874312282479409720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893479142930851553.post-78793040471313385582018-01-14T17:15:00.000+01:002018-01-14T17:15:14.351+01:00Why is the human spine considered a bad design from an engineering perspective?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rMJQMiXsMQg/WluBip_89kI/AAAAAAAAFHo/lZDQtyv-R5c_7IGpgnnVkoV5qc-jyslHQCLcBGAs/s1600/178.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="640" height="234" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rMJQMiXsMQg/WluBip_89kI/AAAAAAAAFHo/lZDQtyv-R5c_7IGpgnnVkoV5qc-jyslHQCLcBGAs/s320/178.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
When engineers design a structure they usually plan on a lifetime of 50 years with minor maintenance. Our spine shape, like everything in biology, was not designed on purpose but it came about through random mutation and natural selection. Natural selection works a a greedy algorithm, this is, biology cannot take a leap back to a complete redesign when one evolutionary path was chosen.<br />
<br />The main problem is that the spine has to accommodate bipedalism instabilities and that the spine we have evolved mainly when we were not bipedals. Humans started to walk on two legs a short while ago in evolutionary timescales, therefore the spine is forced to support loads for which was never optimized for, working as a curved cantilever beam, supporting a big heavy head at the end of the cantilever.<br />
<br />Besides, serious problems of the human spine are caused by the materials from which it is built. Those materials have very little resistance to fatigue damage caused by repetitive loads. Sometimes the head which sits on top of the spine leads the individual to mechanical overloading. Repetitive loading leads to endplate failure which leads to disc degeneration. What is more, When subject to low oxygen caused by cigarette abuse, the discs lose their ability for self reparation and start to degenerate. The spine has a pretty small section to distribute all that weight from the top of the body to the hip. The rate of degeneration due to dynamic loads is dependent on those repetitive loads and genetic factors that govern the dynamic characteristics of the connective tissue from which discs are made and the ability to repair microcracks.<br /><br />In conclusion, our body spine is far from perfect. Mind that it is not structurally very sound to support extreme weights and cyclic loads. Take care of it.
Xosé Manuel Carreirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874312282479409720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893479142930851553.post-54254053662842944242017-10-22T19:20:00.000+02:002017-10-22T19:20:10.197+02:00What is it like to be a personal Spanish tutor for techies on Italki?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bOf0sdToETg/WezS2d5aBPI/AAAAAAAAEhE/zxtwnNtIWp8HdGhFJnyGo9UaR9wRAlgOwCLcBGAs/s1600/Dibujo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="609" height="130" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bOf0sdToETg/WezS2d5aBPI/AAAAAAAAEhE/zxtwnNtIWp8HdGhFJnyGo9UaR9wRAlgOwCLcBGAs/s400/Dibujo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
I have been teaching Spanish and Galician for engineers, techies and business people on <a href="https://www.italki.com/teacher/4062246" target="_blank">Italki</a> for the past year and it is very rewarding for me. If you do not know, Italki is the largest language learning social network with which you may find the partners and language teachers from around the world.<br /><br />I enjoy the experience because I can share my knowledge and views about a wide variety of engineering and technology subjects such as writing good consulting reports, construction glossaries, architecture and building arts and techniques, entrepreneurship, agile project management and so on. As a tutor you can decide your students, your lesson plan and your schedule.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, incomes can fluctuate a lot. Spanish is one of the cheapest languages on the platform, so you have to be quite a skilled tutor with a strong profile and good reviews to command a good hourly rate. Besides, Spain is a relatively expensive country compared to the rest of Latin America and Italki can only be considered as a sideline.Xosé Manuel Carreirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874312282479409720noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893479142930851553.post-2270872878505783132017-10-15T15:37:00.000+02:002017-10-15T15:37:04.886+02:00The tree and the cow: what doesn't stop climate change and what stops it and people don't believe it?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qw6qbATIL5s/WeNjCk3FOiI/AAAAAAAAEgo/CfHIBqalMmY9yKLrO_hCe4itQoBBmmDDwCLcBGAs/s1600/P1250837_redimensionar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qw6qbATIL5s/WeNjCk3FOiI/AAAAAAAAEgo/CfHIBqalMmY9yKLrO_hCe4itQoBBmmDDwCLcBGAs/s1600/P1250837_redimensionar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qw6qbATIL5s/WeNjCk3FOiI/AAAAAAAAEgo/CfHIBqalMmY9yKLrO_hCe4itQoBBmmDDwCLcBGAs/s320/P1250837_redimensionar.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
There are two inconvenient climate truths about beef consumption and planting trees.<br />
<br />
Many people tend to believe that <b>planting trees</b> can save us from rising temperatures, but climate science states something different. It is a myth that photosynthesis dramatically controls the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere. A massive reforestation is not a solution because trees also breathe and burn oxygen and release carbon dioxide back into the air.
What is more, reforestation programs need to be carefully designed. For example, planting adequate trees in the tropics would lead to some kind of cooling, but in colder regions, particularly wrong species in boreal areas, could lead to more warming.<br />
<br />
On the other side, <b>beef consumption</b> negatively affects climate disruption. It is bad because overpopulation of cows release more tons of methane (CH4), which is a greenhouse effect gas, and it is bad because meat has to be transported (realeasing CO2) in refrigerated trucks (realeasing fluorinated gases) from farms to slaughterhouses and then to processing centers and to local supermarkets.<br />
Industrial cow meat is one of the least climate-friendly foods in terms of greenhouse gases and it is possible to do a lot for the planet simply by giving up beef.<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Picture: cows and eucalyptus in Riotuerto (Cantabria, Spain).</span></i>Xosé Manuel Carreirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874312282479409720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893479142930851553.post-1258967122663893342017-04-01T19:22:00.001+02:002017-04-01T19:22:16.059+02:00Why has Spain produced few famous scientists over the last centuries?Spain has had a complex history that shaped the lack of a solid scientific environment over the past centuries.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gpMfpGkUyV0/WN_hqEzpa8I/AAAAAAAAEMs/phwoWLfcNxItbsw0RFlL1VsWijNYLiZdQCLcB/s1600/labo--644x362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gpMfpGkUyV0/WN_hqEzpa8I/AAAAAAAAEMs/phwoWLfcNxItbsw0RFlL1VsWijNYLiZdQCLcB/s320/labo--644x362.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
First, Spain had a much harder Renaissance than France, England, or the Italian city-states. Spain spent a good portion of the Renaissance period engaged in a religious war to kick the Arabs out and expelling the Jews. Moorish Andalusia is where an important transfer of knowledge occurred. Everything associated with Moors and Ancient philosophy was considered heresy by the Inquisition and this probably made Spanish society more conservative. The Spanish inquisition truly dampened free inquiry and scientific exploration while France, England and the Italian city-states were creating the culture that nurtured most of the later famous scientists.<br />
<br />
Then, the strongest resistance to progress and modernisation was probably expressed in the antagonism between the Francophiles and their opponents. Francophiles were accused of all sorts of religious heterodoxy. The 2nd May is a absurd public holiday in Madrid that celebrates the rebellion by the people of Madrid against the occupation by French troops. In reality, the 2nd May was a disaster day beacause of the following counter-revolution and reactionary policies. The people, blaming the policies of the Francophiles for causing the Napoleonic occupation by allying Spain too closely to France, at first welcomed Ferdinand VII. Under his rule, liberal schools and libraries were closed down, the engineering school was closed down, part of the press was suppressed and many editors and many writers were imprisoned. Even the liberal members of the Catholic church became victims of prosecution and the most scientifically educated group -the Jesuits- were expelled from Spain in mid XVIII.<br />
<br />
And, last but no less significant, the Spanish civil war and the subsequent ideological conservatism of the dictatorship were a total tragedy for Spanish science. A whole generation of promising scientists was exiled.
Xosé Manuel Carreirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874312282479409720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893479142930851553.post-21932698142782404802017-02-04T17:25:00.001+01:002017-02-04T17:26:16.225+01:00A hundred or so common used acronyms in oil and gas engineeringOne of the first things that shocked me when I started to work for the oil and gas (O&G) sector is that many acronyms and abbreviations are used. It gave me a hard work for a few weeks to get used to the language. Most of them are three letter acronyms (TLA). The list below is not anywhere near exhaustive or definitive and it is meant for indicative purposes only.<br />
<ul>
<li>AACQ = Actual Annual Contract Quantity</li>
<li>AASHTO = American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials</li>
<li>AB = Anchor Bolt</li>
<li>ABB = Activity Based Budgeting</li>
<li>ABC = Activity Based Costs</li>
<li>ABM = Activity Based Management</li>
<li>ACHE = Air-Cooled Heat Exchanger</li>
<li>ACI = American Concrete Institute </li>
<li>AE = Architecture and Engineering</li>
<li>AISC = American Institute of Steel Construction </li>
<li>AP = Accounts Payable</li>
<li>AR = Accounts Receivable</li>
<li>ASCE = American Society of Civil Engineers</li>
<li>ASCII = American Standards Code for Information Interchange</li>
<li>ASME = American Society of Mechanical Engineers</li>
<li>ASTM = American Society for Testing and Materials</li>
<li>AVL = Approved Vendor List</li>
<li>AWS = American Welding Society </li>
<li>BH = Beam Height</li>
<li>BIC = Best In Class</li>
<li>BIM = Building Information System</li>
<li>BOG = Boil-off Gas</li>
<li>BOM = Bill Of Materials</li>
<li>BOP = Bottom of Pipe</li>
<li>BOQ = Bill Of Quantities</li>
<li>BOS = Bottom of Steel (beam)</li>
<li>BTU = British Thermal Unit </li>
<li>CEN = Comité Européen de Normalisation</li>
<li>CFD = Computational Fluid Dynamics</li>
<li>CHF = Critical Heat Flux</li>
<li>DIN = Deutsches Institut für Normung (German Institute for Standards)</li>
<li>EEMUA = Engineering Equipment & Materials Users’ Association</li>
<li>EOR = Enhanced Oil Recovery</li>
<li>EPC = Engineering Procurement and Construction</li>
<li>ERP = Enterprise Resource Planning</li>
<li>FEA = Finite Element Analysis</li>
<li>FEED = Front End Engineering and Design</li>
<li>FEM = Finite Element Method</li>
<li>FHWA = Federal Highway Administration</li>
<li>FOB = Free On Board</li>
<li>FPSO = Floating Production Storage and Offloading</li>
<li>FSRU = Floating Storage and Regasification Unit</li>
<li>GAAP = Generally Accepted Accounting Principles</li>
<li>GEP = Good Engineering Practice </li>
<li>GL = Ground Level</li>
<li>GMROI = Gross Margin Return on Investment</li>
<li>GOSP = Gas Oil Separation Plant </li>
<li>GTL = Gas-to-liquids conversion</li>
<li>HAZID = Hazard Identification</li>
<li>HAZOP = Hazardous Operations</li>
<li>HE = Heat Exchanger</li>
<li>HGO = Heavy Gas Oil</li>
<li>HSE = Health Safety and Environment</li>
<li>HSV = Hookup Support Vessel</li>
<li>HVAC = Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning </li>
<li>I/O = Input Output</li>
<li>IABSE = International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering</li>
<li>IDC = Interdisciplinary Comment</li>
<li>IEEE = Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers </li>
<li>IFA = Issued For Approval</li>
<li>IFC = Issued For Construction</li>
<li>IFD = Issued For Design</li>
<li>IFR = Issued For Review</li>
<li>IPD = Integrated Project Delivery</li>
<li>ISO = International Standards Organization</li>
<li>ITB = Instructions To Bidders</li>
<li>JIT = Just In Time</li>
<li>KPI = Key Performance Indicator</li>
<li>LCC = Life-Cycle Cost </li>
<li>LNG = Liquid Natural Gas</li>
<li>LPG = Liquid Propane Gas / Liquified Petroleum Gas</li>
<li>LPH = Littres per hour</li>
<li>LPSV = Low Pressure Safety Valve</li>
<li>LVPSV = Low and Vacuum Pressure Safety Valve</li>
<li>MAWP = Maximum Allowable Working Pressure</li>
<li>MBR - Minimum Bend Radius</li>
<li>MOL = Maximum Operating Level</li>
<li>MRO = Maintenance, Reparation and Overhaul (también como revamping)</li>
<li>MSL = Mean Sea Level</li>
<li>MTO = Made To Order</li>
<li>MTO = Material Take-Off</li>
<li>MTS = Make to Stock</li>
<li>NB = "Nota Bene", Latin phrase for "Special Note" </li>
<li>NDA = Non Disclosure Agreement</li>
<li>NDE = Non Destructive Examination</li>
<li>NFPA = National Fire Protection Association </li>
<li>NIC = Not In Contract </li>
<li>NPD = Nominal Pipe Diameter</li>
<li>NPS = Nominal Pipe Size</li>
<li>NPSH = Net Positive Suction Head</li>
<li>NRI = Net Revenue Interest</li>
<li>NRV = Non Return Valve</li>
<li>NTS = Not To Scale</li>
<li>OBE = Operating Basis Earthquake</li>
<li>OD = Outside Diameter</li>
<li>OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer</li>
<li>P&ID = Process and Instruments Diagram (sometimes as PID)</li>
<li>PLEM = Pipeline End Manifold</li>
<li>PPA = Project Plan of Activities</li>
<li>PSD = Process Shutdown</li>
<li>PSS = Platform Safety System</li>
<li>PSV =Pressure Safety Valve (Equivalent to PRV or automatic Pressure Relief Valve)</li>
<li>PV = Pressure Vessel</li>
<li>RFP = Request For Purchase</li>
<li>RFQ = Request For Quotation</li>
<li>RW = Rainwater</li>
<li>SIL = Safety Integrity Level</li>
<li>SQ = Site Query</li>
<li>SSE = Safe Shutdown Earthquake</li>
<li>SSL = Structural Slab Level</li>
<li>STIG = Steam Injected Gas Turbine </li>
<li>TCP = Top of Corner Protection</li>
<li>TL = Tangent Line</li>
<li>TOC = Top of Concrete</li>
<li>TOC = Total Owning Cost </li>
<li>TOS = Top of Steel</li>
<li>TQ = Technical Query</li>
<li>TSD = Technical Support Document </li>
<li>UNO = Unless Noted Otherwise</li>
<li>VPSV = Vacuum Pressure Safety Valve</li>
<li>WP = Waterproof.</li>
</ul>
Other useful references:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_acronyms_in_oil_and_gas_exploration_and_production" target="_blank">Wikipedia list of acronyms in oil and gas exploration and production</a>.</li>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_energy_abbreviations" target="_blank">Wikipedia list of acronyms in the energy industry.</a></li>
</ul>
Xosé Manuel Carreirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874312282479409720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893479142930851553.post-64188208024668546462016-12-10T19:23:00.005+01:002016-12-10T19:29:11.179+01:00How can civil engineers improve the sustainability of buildings?There are some simple tips that can help improve the sustainability of our building solutions.<br />
<br />
First of all, go for structures that are <u>durable</u> and avoid premature obsolescence. The most sustainable thing we can do is to provide structures that will be used for decades with <u>simple and affordable maintenance</u>. Replacing structures is expensive, so it is worthwhile finding out if their service life could be extended. Consider the <u>enlargement, demolition and reuse</u> of your structures. Good engineering consulting is to keep others -colleagues or clients- informed about more than the initial costs.<br />
<br />
Then, civil engineers need to select the <u>appropriate material</u> which will not produce much harm to the environment, this is, using <u>eco-friendly materials</u> for the building. There’s a thin line between sustainability and locality. Sometimes the first step to sustainability is to choose <u>materials which are locally found and widely used in the location</u>. Consider minimizing the construction waste, noise and pollution on site. Also, try to understand the strengths of the local manpower and the traditional construction knowledge. Bear in mind that one size does not fit all and do your best to avoid the gross errors of the international style modernist movement.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iMlU2SwaXm0/WExJUtInciI/AAAAAAAAEBk/fCbE_Uo7dU43fzm1t6aANZtGqsiZxXkIgCLcB/s1600/tumblr_m1yihc6DNe1r7vzjoo1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="454" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iMlU2SwaXm0/WExJUtInciI/AAAAAAAAEBk/fCbE_Uo7dU43fzm1t6aANZtGqsiZxXkIgCLcB/s1600/tumblr_m1yihc6DNe1r7vzjoo1_1280.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Finally, adopt sustainable practices in your personal life and read about sustainability as much as you can. <b><span style="color: #990000;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cradle_to_Cradle:_Remaking_the_Way_We_Make_Things" target="_blank">Craddle to craddle</a></span></b> is a good book to start and get inspired. Whether our green proposals are accepted or not, we always have a chance to make a difference leading by example.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>Photo: Bilbao Arena Miribilla, ACXT-Idom</i></div>
Xosé Manuel Carreirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874312282479409720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893479142930851553.post-88545249767493196832016-04-18T23:24:00.003+02:002016-04-18T23:43:32.286+02:00Preferred geometry file for FEA: IGES, STEP or SAT?IGES and STEP are the widely used neutral CAD formats and accepted in nearly all software packages.<br />
<br />
IGES or IGS (Initial Graphics Exchange Specification) is the first CAD data exchange standard developed and it is capable of exchanging only geometry and topology information between different CAD systems.<br />
<br />
STEP or STP (STandard for the Exchange of Product Data) enables storing, retrieving, sharing and archiving member data (f.ex. profie sections, material properties, etc...) throughout its life-cycle among different databases and STEP has become the industry standard for Data Exchange.<br />
<br />
For Finite Element Analysis (FEA), preference for one or the other depends upon several things including:<br />
1) the source CAD that is used to create the neutral format.<br />
2) the target CAD, CAE or FEA package and the use for which the file is intended.<br />
3) the kind and complexity of geometric elements included in the design (e.g., prismatic elements, splines, surfaces, etc.)<br />
<br />
In IGES the output is in lines and surfaces while STEP file keeps the assembly hierarchy and output is a mixture of solids,volumes and surfaces. For FEA purposes IGES may be enough as you don't usually need solids/volumes. IGES works ok for importing beams and sometimes works well for plates.<br />
For those that work in the 3D solid modelling world, STEP format may be preferred as it retains the solid geometry and brings the part into the 3D modelling software in solid format. In general STEP is also more robust than IGES for plates and shells imports.<br />
<br />
ACIS SAT is very similar to STEP. The kernel of many AutoDesk and Dassault products is partially based on ACIS. For example Abaqus uses ASICS (*.SAT) as it's native kernel so I usually start there and then go to STEP and IGES would be the last choice.<br />
<br />
Stupid as it may sound, I generally request more than one format and a screenshot image of what it should look like.Xosé Manuel Carreirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874312282479409720noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893479142930851553.post-13425939777651381352016-04-18T22:51:00.000+02:002016-04-18T23:37:52.071+02:00How do I validate FEA results?First of all, check the numerical consistency of the results:<br />
<br />
- Ensure <b>convergence</b> of solution: refine mesh and check if changes in the answer are smaller and smaller.<br />
- As an error estimation look at <b>strain jumps</b> between adjacent elements with results not averaged or smoothed.<br />
<br />
Then, compare to other theoretical/numerical results if available. Compare to empirical results if available. For hand-made engineering calculations I recommend MathCAD (or Smath Studio) instead of Excel because the formulas are readeable and with named variables.<br />
<br />
Last but not least, compare with systems of <b>increased complexity</b>. For example, if you are analyzing 3D dynamic system with nonlinear material, start with 2D linear static and build confidence in your solutions by adding complexity step by step.<br />
<br />Xosé Manuel Carreirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874312282479409720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893479142930851553.post-86308738716793649122015-08-01T13:51:00.001+02:002015-08-01T13:51:34.527+02:00How to build a gas processing plantThis is an award winning short film for its educational value to the oil and gas industry. It is a pity that the video does not come with music. Included are construction methods, sequence, resources and timelines. Activities covered in the video are earthworks, pipe racks, slugcatcher, steel tanks, heavy lifts, welding & spool fabrication, pavements and fencing.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iGP7DW2caLU" width="480"></iframe> </div>
<br />
In the past two years, David H Moloney, an Irish engineer, has made and uploaded short films like this one onto YouTube showing us how civil projects are constructed. These projects range from airports, seaports, motorways and railways to oil and gas pipelines, metros, in-situ piles, bridge construction, post-tensioning, precast yard, quarry, roofing and more.
I strongly recommend to visit his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeJR9J7svhBd-C0ZoAH2fhQ" target="_blank">channel</a>.Xosé Manuel Carreirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874312282479409720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893479142930851553.post-13005468613057483942015-05-11T22:23:00.003+02:002015-05-12T11:05:42.541+02:00The theories of everything<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>When you try to be all things to all people, you end up being nothing</i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>(common saying popularized by Robin Sharma)</i></div>
<br />
I have recently finished watching The Theory of Everything. If you are interested in the borders of science, it is a must see. As Hawking admits, cosmology was thought of as a pseudoscience given that wild speculation was unconstrained due to the lack observations.<br />
<br />
More examples of the difficult birth of a new science: the government of the Soviet Union declared that Mendelian genetics or plate tectonics (continental drift) were pseudo-science. Artificial intelligence has been considered as hype and junk science by many. Dijkstra considered software engineering to be a pseudoscience.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, there are disciplines that were abandoned. For example, I have been taught elements of NLP - a debunked psycologic theory - many times on prestigious management courses. Why? Because although NLP is pseudoscience it brings under a single unique umbrella a host of useful good interpersonal and conversational techniques. Also, modern city planning has been called pseudoscience by Jane Jacobs and others.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pW_FDF6JZIc/VVEPpCawXWI/AAAAAAAADFE/8c2y7rGXf2o/s1600/nlp-project-managers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pW_FDF6JZIc/VVEPpCawXWI/AAAAAAAADFE/8c2y7rGXf2o/s1600/nlp-project-managers.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
What are the borders between mainstream science, fringe science, junk science, heuristics, useful pseudoscience, science fiction and fraud?Xosé Manuel Carreirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874312282479409720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893479142930851553.post-23271294046412082632015-03-25T11:42:00.001+01:002015-03-25T11:42:26.098+01:00When materials are getting tiredFatigue might be the the key of Germanwings accident. Fatigue is still nowadays an endemic structural problem of fuselage and specially of the rear portion of the cabin.<br />
<br />
Low cost airlines usually fly short and more than 5 times a day. Each takeoff and landing cycle and the pressurization, ice forming on the wings and depressurization associated with it adds stress and damage to the skin of the plane.<br />
<br />
Todd Curtis, a former Boeing safety engineer who is now director of the Airsafe.com Foundation said to US News <i>"if you see a wing here and three miles later you see a fuselage, one doesn't have to be an expert to speculate that it didn't happen on the ground — that something happened before it impacted"</i>.Xosé Manuel Carreirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874312282479409720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893479142930851553.post-25377882457015218122014-11-23T10:30:00.000+01:002014-11-23T10:33:09.506+01:00The rant of a senior engineer<div class="tr_bq">
One of my experienced colleagues made a blunt rant about what he felt were problems within the energy&engineering sector nowadays. Apart from the political views, which I do not totally share, it is an honest, clear, and frank writing for insight about engineering, management and factors that make talented engineers to get totally bummed out. </div>
<br />
<blockquote>
<i>"I am at home not working because of sanctions imposed on the Russians and indecision of whether we want to break up UK and Europe into small units. Scotland to break with what is the UK has caused a lot of problem to Oil & Gas and destabilized businesses and prices. Delayed projects that should be happening now. And Catalonia will cause problem for Spain. </i><i><br /></i><i>It is my belief more experienced people are sitting at home because they have been forced to continue doing nuts and bolts. The average younger engineers want to be project engineers and project managers only without practicing the core skills properly. It is the people on the shop floor which should be promoted to be managers they have clearer for sight.
Consequence is energy will cost us a lot more until we re-address who are the decision makers."</i></blockquote>
Xosé Manuel Carreirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874312282479409720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893479142930851553.post-55462900020446338692014-10-15T00:08:00.003+02:002014-10-15T00:11:29.541+02:00The design of skew reinforcement revisited<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Reinforcement that is not orthogonal or that is
arranged in more than two directions occurs quite frequently in concrete slabs.
In such cases, ultimate strength can be calculated from an equivalent distribution
of orthogonal reinforcement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IPIcf-LlrhI/VD2bPxTQZkI/AAAAAAAABkY/fYEgWjId1FA/s1600/1.TIF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IPIcf-LlrhI/VD2bPxTQZkI/AAAAAAAABkY/fYEgWjId1FA/s1600/1.TIF" height="229" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Given </span><i style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">n</i><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">
arbitrarily oriented groups of parallel bars with corresponding reinforcement
ratios </span><i style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">A(1), A(2),…, A(i),…, A(n),</i><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">
the equivalent reinforcement ratios </span><i style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Ax, Ay,
Axy</i><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> for the structural model axis XY can be obtained from the following
equations</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y833O3_jZV4/VD2bP_LdMII/AAAAAAAABkI/bojKQrpbhBc/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y833O3_jZV4/VD2bP_LdMII/AAAAAAAABkI/bojKQrpbhBc/s1600/2.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Where <i>a(i) </i>is
the angle between the group of parallel bars “i” and X axis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">These values of reinforcement are then transformed
into the equivalent reinforcement ratios in the principal directions <i>p</i> and <i>q.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7893479142930851553" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7893479142930851553" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7893479142930851553" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7893479142930851553" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rvbg67irwJ0/VD2bQIbhLLI/AAAAAAAABkU/rqo5A-KZhSU/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rvbg67irwJ0/VD2bQIbhLLI/AAAAAAAABkU/rqo5A-KZhSU/s1600/3.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Where angle <i>b</i>
can be obtained as<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VXvoRXhXd1I/VD2bQasmh_I/AAAAAAAABkQ/1v4O5DO3RAM/s1600/4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VXvoRXhXd1I/VD2bQasmh_I/AAAAAAAABkQ/1v4O5DO3RAM/s1600/4.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">A model of shells of the slab in axis XY can provide
axial forces <i>Nx, Ny, Nxy</i> and bending
moments <i>Mx, My, Mxy</i>.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YfBC5BUGSlo/VD2bRusD1YI/AAAAAAAABk4/P-JO58zDL0c/s1600/5.TIF" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YfBC5BUGSlo/VD2bRusD1YI/AAAAAAAABk4/P-JO58zDL0c/s1600/5.TIF" height="249" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">When reinforcement is arranged non-orthogonally or in
more than two directions the design moments must be obtained in the principal
directions of the reinforcement <i>p</i> and
<i>q</i>, this is, we need to obtain from
our FE software <i>Np, Nq, Npq</i> and <i>Mp, Mq, Mpq</i> before applying Wood and
Armer rule or any similar rule.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In 1968, Wood and Armer proposed a popular design
method that explicitly incorporates shell twisting moments. The Canadian code
allows a simplified version of the Wood and Armer method that I assume here for
the sake here of simplicity and safety.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Moment design rule can be stated as follows<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7_yJw-HXgCA/VD2bRhBtcYI/AAAAAAAABkc/GYuGz1CrTmU/s1600/6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7_yJw-HXgCA/VD2bRhBtcYI/AAAAAAAABkc/GYuGz1CrTmU/s1600/6.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">All plus signs apply only to bottom reinforcement and
all minus signs apply only to top reinforcement. Mpd and Mqd will be negative
for tension in the top reinforcement and positive for tension in the bottom
reinforcement. In the Canadian simplification, when the assumed-to-be-negative
design moment is positive (adds compression) that moment is taken as zero. When
the assumed-to-be-positive design moment is negative (adds compression) that
moment is taken as zero.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Axial design rule can be stated as follows<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MdIn3jW5sEo/VD2b15Lje7I/AAAAAAAABlA/1Keekmm-z8Y/s1600/7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MdIn3jW5sEo/VD2b15Lje7I/AAAAAAAABlA/1Keekmm-z8Y/s1600/7.JPG" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">It is generally assumed that tension (positive axial
force) governs the reinforcement design of the slab and the plus sign generally
applies. When the assumed-to-be-tension design axial force is a compression the
axial force can be taken as zero.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">After this step, the reinforcement Apd can be checked
with the design forces Npd and Mpd; and the reinforcement Aqd can be checked with the desing forces Nqd and
Mqd.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Some final clarifications:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">- When the slab is very thin the effective depth
difference between different groups of reinforcement may be important. In the
case of simple bending this can be taken into account simply by using capacities
rather than ratios, but if there is bending and axial forces the formulation
becomes slightly messy. In commons slabs it is usually considered an average depth
since the error is small and the Wood& Armer rule tends to overestimate the
necessary reinforcement. An alternative simple and conservative approach is to consider
the least effective depth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7893479142930851553" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7893479142930851553" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7893479142930851553" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7893479142930851553" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">- The rule of Wood and Armer presented colloquially here is a
simplified version. Full version and its variations as implemented in well known
software packages are much longer algorithms. Also, mind that Wood and Armer rule
was derived for ULS reinforcement design. For SLS, cracking or fatigue analysis
other rules and other methods may be more appropriate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">- The current post has been written as a revision of my former post <a href="http://notonlybridges.blogspot.com.es/2009/05/skew-or-non-orthogonal-reinforcement.html" target="_blank">http://notonlybridges.blogspot.com.es/2009/05/skew-or-non-orthogonal-reinforcement.html </a>and it is not intended to be published as a peer reviewed paper. Avelino Samartin and other
researchers have more rigorous procedures based on generating and rotating a
tensor of resistances. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7893479142930851553" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7893479142930851553" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7893479142930851553" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7893479142930851553" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Part I</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://informesdelaconstruccion.revistas.csic.es/index.php/informesdelaconstruccion/article/viewFile/619/701">http://informesdelaconstruccion.revistas.csic.es/index.php/informesdelaconstruccion/article/viewFile/619/701</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Part II<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://informesdelaconstruccion.revistas.csic.es/index.php/informesdelaconstruccion/article/viewFile/574/649">http://informesdelaconstruccion.revistas.csic.es/index.php/informesdelaconstruccion/article/viewFile/574/649</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Unfortunately, I have not had time to apply those procedures in my
professional practice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;">-</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Spanish version of this post has been gently published by J. A. Agudelo in </span><a href="http://estructurando.net/2014/09/29/el-problema-del-diseno-de-armado-oblicuo-no-perpendicular/" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">http://estructurando.net/2014/09/29/el-problema-del-diseno-de-armado-oblicuo-no-perpendicular/</a></div>
Xosé Manuel Carreirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874312282479409720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893479142930851553.post-36574699124523014162014-05-10T16:45:00.000+02:002014-05-10T16:45:21.018+02:00Can social media help structural engineers?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Written by
Ms. Minara El-Rahman at <a href="http://seblog.strongtie.com/">http://seblog.strongtie.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Here are
some tips for any structural engineer looking to grow his/her online presence:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><b>Map out
your social media strategy</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Think about where you want to be in terms of online
presence. It is important to be where your clients are online. </div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>Do your
potential clients have a page on Facebook? </i></div>
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<i>Do they gather and share industry
news from LinkedIn? </i></div>
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Once you decide where your clients are, start listening to
their conversations, reading their posts and following them on their social
media accounts so you can determine where you should be online and start to
build your presence. Try to narrow it down
to a few social media platforms at first so that you can devote your time and
resources to growing your social media presence. This is especially true if you
are managing your social media content yourself, or requesting someone on staff
to do it for you part time.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Make sure to take the time to think about how you define
social media success at this stage. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Is social media success a lift in
brand/company awareness? </i></div>
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<i>Is it an increase in your social media fan base,
number of retweets or traffic to your site? </i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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Once you have figured out what
success looks like to you, write it down and craft your strategy and content
around that criteria.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Create engaging content</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Offer content that is informative and interesting to the
audience you want to reach. For structural engineers, content that explains
concepts such as the importance of a continuous load path in structures in high
wind or seismic areas may show potential clients the value in working with a
professional engineer. Whether you are writing a blog post, or sharing an image
on Pinterest, content should improve knowledge, help to solve problems and
spark conversation.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Map out your content ahead of time in a content calendar. It
could be as basic as writing down your posts in a Word document and setting
reminders in Outlook. Planning keeps you consistent and accountable.
<i>Consistency</i> is key when it comes to engaging with clients on social media.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Think about creating content specific to the platform. </div>
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Pinterest and Houzz are social media platforms that rely heavily on visuals, so
content such as infographics, photos and BIMs are appropriate. </div>
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For LinkedIn,
in-depth articles about your industry tend to perform very well. Craft content
around the platform so it appeals to who you want to reach.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Measure successes</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Don’t forget to check in on your measures of success on a
monthly basis. This will help you gauge whether your social media efforts are
paying off. If you are doing well, that’s great! If you notice that you are not
quite hitting your goals, look at the numbers and adjust your strategy. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Are you
posting at a time when no one is looking at your content?</i></div>
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There are a number of
articles that recommend the best time to post content so that it will be seen. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>Is your content not resonating with readers? </i></div>
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Try to change it up so that it
really connects your readers with what they want to know.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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And one final tip: <i>be committed</i>. Posting every once in a
while or not responding quickly to readers’ comments and questions can
negatively impact a firm’s brand and reputation. However, those that are active
on social media and post regularly are able to build stronger relationships
with clients, demonstrate their expertise and ultimately grow their business.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
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Original post: <a href="http://seblog.strongtie.com/2014/04/how-social-media-can-help-structural-engineers-with-their-business/" target="_blank">How Social Media Can Help StructuralEngineers With Their Business | Structural Engineering Blog</a></div>
Xosé Manuel Carreirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874312282479409720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893479142930851553.post-28327045156097410702014-03-31T19:03:00.001+02:002014-03-31T23:26:35.506+02:00Flood simulations and actual flood riskLooking at the maps in the article http://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2013/05/way-we-build-cities-making-them-flood/5590/ I found a <a href="http://www.cnt.org/news/media/Prevalence-and-Cost-of-Urban-Flooding.pdf">report</a> by the Chicago-based <a href="http://www.cnt.org/">Center for Neighborhood Technology</a> based on 177000 local flood insurance
claims that found
no correlation between damage and floodplains, as this graph
shows: <div>
<br>
<img alt="http://cdn.theatlanticcities.com/img/upload/2013/05/14/Screen%20Shot%202013-05-14%20at%202.06.51%20PM.png" class="decoded" src="http://cdn.theatlanticcities.com/img/upload/2013/05/14/Screen%20Shot%202013-05-14%20at%202.06.51%20PM.png"><br>
<br>
It is a completely counter-intuitive result: are flood plains not always a good indicator of flood risk?<br>
<br>
The main problem is that the flood decisions that local governments are making today not only
determine how much damage future floods will cause locally, but also how healthy
the community’s river and coastal areas will be. Chicago and its surrounding cities, for example, have artificially created flood-prone places simply by paving over the region's natural ability to manage excess water.<br>
<br>
Impervious surface creates
risk over a much wider area, and it is impossible to say that just because you are
locally above the 100 year flood, flooding is not a risk.<br></div>Xosé Manuel Carreirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874312282479409720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893479142930851553.post-2639564312339685052013-11-21T23:58:00.000+01:002013-11-21T23:58:06.837+01:00Tips for importing CAD into Abaqus or similar FEM software<i>Frames:</i><br />1) Create geometry in AutoCAD or free alternatives (Draftsight, Nanocad,...). Explode entities if necesary to obtain only lines and save as Frames.DXF<br />2) Use gCAD3D (it is a free and open software http://www.gcad3d.org/), import Frames.DXF and save as Frames.IGS<br />3) Import parts as wires with Abaqus/CAE<br /><i><br />Planar shells:</i><br />1) Create geometry in AutoCAD or similar. Explode entities if necesary to obtain only lines. Separate and save as Contour.DXF and Partitions.DXF<br />2) Import Contour.DXF as sketch in Abaqus/CAE<br />3) Create part form sketch called Contour<br />4) Tools> Partition>Face>Sketch and use the sketch called Partitions<br /><br /><i>3D Shells and solids:</i><br />1) Create regions (command REGION of AutoCAD) and solids in AutoCAD and export as SAT (ACIS) file<br />2) Import parts as shells and solids with Abaqus/CAE<br /><br />The latest procedure also works for planar shells but it is less precise.Xosé Manuel Carreirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11874312282479409720noreply@blogger.com3