What's the best way to work with other engineers during facility structural analysis?

Delivering a design on time while meeting the project requirements is a challenge. When the project work is divided among the team, it is required to identify the role of each engineer. There will be seniors to everyone in the team except the team leader who will work coordinating with other subordinates. Every junior engineer should report to his senior and also, the senior shall be responsible for the work carried out by engineers under him. Effective communication, having regular meetings to discuss the issues connected to the work, monitoring the progress of the work, etc. would enable us to reach the goal.

When reviewing older structures, it is important to consider their design age as well. Maintenance issues should be considered separately from design issues. By that, I mean that older structures were often designed with loads that may not be the same as the ones used today. If compared against modern standards these structures may fail; but they have stood many years and are field proven. It may be necessary to return to older codes and see what they were designed for first, then review what actual conditions they withstood. Was there a 1 in 100 year snow fall event in their service life? They may prove to be more resilient than initially anticipated.

CUANDO SE EJECUTA UNA INGENIERIA MULTIDISCIPLINARIA, ES NECESARIO QUE EXISTA UN INGENIERO DE PROYECYO, QUE COORDINE TODOS LOS TRABAJOS Y AVANCES DISICIPLINARIOS, EL CUAL SE APOYE CON LOS INGENIEROS DE DISE?O ESTRUCTURAL PARA EVITAR QUE EL DISE?O DE INSTALACIONES INTERFIERA CON LOS ELEMENTOS ESTRUCTURALES QUE PUEDAN PODEN EN RIESGO AL SEGURIDAD Y LA OPERACION, EXSITEN SOFTWARE COMO EL NAVIS, REVIT, TEKLA, RISA, ETC....

SE RECOMIENDA QUE PARA OPTIMIZAR TIEMPOS Y MOVIMIENTOS DE UN PROYECTO DE INGENIERíA ESTRUCTURAL, SE IDENTIFIQUEN LAS FORTALEZAS DE LOS COMPA?EROS DEL EQUIPO, DISTRIBUYAN ALCANCES, COMO; MODELAR, ANALIZAR, CALCULAR, DISE?AR, ESPECIFICAR, DIBUJAR, MTO, REVISAR Y FIRMAR, ENTRE TODOS, SEGúN SUS ESPECIALIDADES!!!

To work effectively with other engineers during facility structural analysis: Clearly define goals and project scope. Assemble a diverse team with relevant expertise. Maintain open and transparent communication channels. Assign specific roles and responsibilities. Establish a collaborative workflow and use collaborative tools. Encourage knowledge sharing and regular meetings. Document the process and track progress using version control systems. Implement quality assurance and peer review processes. Promote continuous learning and staying updated with industry trends. Foster a positive team environment based on respect and constructive feedback.

At first use simplified methods of analysis such as checking existing facility information ( technical drawings) to assess span to depth ratios & where repeated members are under the most load (also considering fatigue and vibration). Then, perform an overall visual non-intrusive inspection to see if your findings (looking for cracking, corrosion, or post-construction repairs) matches with your initial desktop analysis. Next check deflections of critical structural members identified (are within limits) & take detailed measurements of any sectional loss, reassessing the reduced profile of members to understand utilisation ratios to determine where repairs & structural upgrades such as added steelwork or carbon fibre are needed.

Take time to talk to Mechanical & Electrical Engineers involved in the facility, to understand where they see loads being added to structures in the future, or how easy it will be to temporarily re-divert existing services to access structural members requiring repair or significant upgrades. Environmental & Process Engineers can help you understand which materials may be favoured by the client (is stainless steel preferred due to facility cleanliness for example, or does the facility have a commitment to limiting its carbon footprint which constrains the use of highly cementitious concrete) & consider other constraints with regard to work area accessibility. Also consult with Geotechnical Engineers if differential settlement is apparent.

If analysis highlights are area of risk which is or was inaccessible at the time of initial inspection, carefully explain to your client the importance of performing the necessary physical checks in this area & ask whether you can speak to their process or mechanical engineer concerning the potential issue. Be careful with the use of case studies to highlight your concerns for what could be potentially going wrong if you don’t inspect the area (you don’t want to raise the alarm too early!) concentrate on communicating your professional duty & that otherwise you will have to label the area as excluded from your survey (likely compromising their insurance) or they can seek a second opinion if needed. HSE & SCOSS reporting is a last resort.

Becoming an expert in the industry is not that easy. You only can achieve it by hard working. This can be done by doing two things. First, we should learn the fundamentals. Studying technical documents, reading related documents, studying projects, having a good awareness of the subject area, etc. will make you knowledgeable. The second thing that we need to do is acquire good experience by engaging in good projects. If you have the knowledge, and experience gained from the practical work will do the rest.