Chartered Membership Examination: Thursday, 5 July 2018
Chartered Membership Examination: Thursday, 5 July 2018
Chartered Membership Examination: Thursday, 5 July 2018
Structural Engineering Design and Practice 5. The Examiners are looking for sound structural
designs. It should also be remembered that
09.30 – 13.00 and 13.30 – 17.00 (Discussion aesthetics, economy and function are important
between individuals is not permitted during lunch in any competent engineering scheme.
period). A period of fifteen minutes is provided for
6. Any assumptions made and the design data and
reading the question paper immediately before the
criteria adopted must be stated.
commencement of the examination. Candidates are
not permitted to write in answer sheets, or on 7. Clear drawings and sketches are required. They
drawing paper or to use a calculator during this time. do not have to be to a defined scale, but should
Candidates must satisfy the Examiners in ONE be in proportion.
question.
8. Candidates will not be allowed to include
Important any previously prepared calculations, notes,
sketches, diagrams, computer output or other
The written answer to the question selected and any similar material in their answer sheets or A3
A3 drawings must bear the candidate’s number and drawings. Any previously prepared information
the question number at the bottom of the page. Only submitted by candidates will be ignored by the
the answer sheets supplied by the Institution may examiners.
be used. The candidate’s name should not appear 9. Candidates may not bring into the examination
anywhere in the script. room any electronic devices capable of wireless
communication, optical photography or
Notes to Candidates scanning.
1. TO PASS THE EXAMINATION, CANDIDATES The following devices are not permitted: Mobile
MUST SATISFY THE EXAMINERS IN BOTH phones, Laptops, notebooks or portable
PARTS OF THE QUESTION ATTEMPTED. computers and similar devices, iPads, tablets
and similar devices, E-readers (e.g. Kindle) and
2. Candidates should note that Figures are similar devices, cameras, optical scanners and
produced to illustrate the question and are not similar devices.
necessarily drawn to scale. Figured dimensions
should be followed. Any candidates arriving at the examination room
with such devices will be asked to switch them
3. A fair proportion of marks will be awarded off and place them in a sealed bag kept by the
for the demonstration of an understanding of Invigilator for the duration of the exam, which
fundamental engineering concepts, as distinct includes the lunch period.
from calculation of member forces and sizes.
NOTE: In the calculation part of all questions, 10. This paper is set in SI Units.
establishing “form and size” is taken to mean
Now read ‘Reminder’ on page 3.
compliance with all relevant design criteria, i.e.
bending, shear, deflection, etc.
4. In all questions 50 marks are allocated to
Section 1 and 50 marks to Section 2.
Chartered Membership
Examination, a reminder from
your Examiners
The work you are about to start has many features
in common with other examinations which you have
tackled successfully but it also has some which are
unusual.
As in every examination you must follow carefully the
NOTES FOR CANDIDATES set out for your guidance
on the front cover of this paper; allocate the available
time sensibly and set out your work in a logical and
clear way.
The unusual requirement of the examination is that
you demonstrate the validity of the training and
experience that you have acquired in recent years.
The Institution must be satisfied that you are able
to bring all the various skills you are expected to
possess to the effective solution of structural design
problems – whether or not the problem is presented
in terms that are within your actual experience.
Chartered Structural Engineers must have the ability
to design and a facility to communicate their design
intentions. Where you are required to list and discuss
possible structural solutions you must show by
brief, clear, logical and systematic presentation that
you understood the general structural engineering
principles involved.
In selecting and developing your design you should
also remember the guidance given in the Institution’s
report, Structural design - achieving excellence, and
in particular:
(1) “the structure must be safe”,
(2) “a good design has certain typical features –
simplicity, unity and necessity”,
(3) “the structure must fulfil its intended function”.
If you have difficulty in deciding the correct
interpretation of a question, pay particular attention to
point 6. notes to candidates, on the front cover. The
examiners will take into account your interpretation
– and the design you base on this – if this is clearly
stated at the beginning of your answer.
Imposed Loading
6. Roof 0.6kN/m²
Offices 3.5kN/m² (including allowance for lightweight partitions)
Viewing area and auction halls 5.0kN/m2
Site Conditions
7. The site is located on the outskirts of a large city. Basic wind speed is 40m/s based on a 3-second gust; the equivalent mean
hourly wind speed is 20m/s.
8. Ground conditions are constant across the site:
Ground level – 0.15m surfacing
0.15m – 6.0m historic granular fill material, N=5
Below 6.0m very dense sand, N=50+
No ground water was encountered.
Imposed loading
7. Roof 1.5 kN/m2
Upper Floors 5.0 kN/m2
Basement floor 7.5 kN/m2
Site conditions
8. The site is located on the outskirts of a large city approximately 15 km from the coast. The basic wind speed is 42m/s based on a
3-second gust; the equivalent mean hourly wind speed is 21m/s.
Imposed Loading
7. Traffic load on carriageway 10.0kN/m2
Pedestrian load on footpath 5.0kN/m2
An accidental horizontal impact load of 500kN shall be considered in the design, acting perpendicular to the road 3.0m above
maximum flood level at any position within the normal width of the river.
Site Conditions
8. The site is in a rural area. Basic wind speed is 46m/s based on a 3-second gust; the equivalent mean hourly wind speed is 23 m/s.
9. Ground conditions (from level 58.0m):
0.0m – 1.0m top soil
1.0m – 3.5m loose gravel, N=5
3.5m – 15.0m sand and gravel, N=20
Below 15.0m dense sand and gravel, N=40
Groundwater found at the River Level ie; 57.5 due to the granular conditions
Imposed Loading
8. Roof loading 0.5kN/m²
Office floor loading 2.5kN/m²
Supermarket floor loading 5.0kN/m²
Site Conditions
9. The site is in a city-centre location. Basic wind speed is 46m/s based on a 3-second gust; the equivalent mean hourly wind speed
is 23m/s.
10. Ground conditions at the site:
0m – 0.5m Railway ballast
0.5 m – 3.0m Sand N=20
Below 3.0m Stiff Clay
Groundwater was not found.
Imposed Loading
8. All floors 3.0kN/m2. Loadings include allowances for floor finishes, ceilings and services.
9. Roof 0.75kN/m2
Site Conditions
10. The site is located in open countryside. The basic wind speed is 40m/s based on a 3-second gust; the equivalent mean hourly
wind speed is 20 m/s.
Ground Conditions
11. Existing ground level – 20.0m Sandy gravel, N=25, φ = 35 degrees, density 19kN/m3.
Ground water was recorded on the site at 2m below level 1.
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