Sammy Alcaraz, PE

CAN WE USE DESERT SAND IN CONSTRUCTION? What are your thoughts???

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11 Comments

The first thing that comes to my mind when working at heights is adequate fall protection training and equipment

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We're all lifelong learners. The pinnacle of learning is mastery. What better way to achieve mastery than to teach and engage with diverse perspectives, questions, and ideas? Thanks Carlie Cox for sharing these content on #infrastructure design. #Civil3d makes up bulk of the content but also #hydrology and #hydraulics is in there. A lot more to come on #structural Engineering and much much more. Keep learning. 😎

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EN - Working in an unprotected trench is dangerous. The walls can collapse suddenly and without warning. When this happens, workers do not have time to move out of the way. While a small amount of dirt may not seem dangerous, one square yard of dirt can weigh more than 3,000 pounds. This weighs the same as a compact car. This small amount of dirt is enough to fatally crush and suffocate workers. Injuries and deaths related to trench collapses continue to happen. From the years 2003 to 2017, there were a total of 373 trenching deaths. More than 80% of those deaths happened in the construction industry. Workers do not often survive trench collapses, but we can prevent them

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I have always been fascinated by the marvels of engineering, and the Golden Gate Bridge is one of the works that inspires me the most. Suspension bridges are not only visually impressive but also enable the creation of very large spans, connecting communities and facilitating efficient transportation. The Golden Gate, with its majestic design and cutting-edge engineering, is a testament to human ingenuity and what we can achieve when we combine creativity and technology. A true engineering masterpiece that reminds us of the importance of innovation in infrastructure!

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Good morning, friends, colleagues, and contacts – Happy Friday! Recently, I posted an ad on LinkedIn for a potential position in BIM & CAD coordination, and the response was overwhelming, with 35 applicants. I was truly impressed by their qualifications, skills, and experience. Many of these candidates hold advanced degrees like Ph.D.s and Masters in engineering and other technical fields. It’s disheartening to see such highly educated individuals, especially immigrants, struggling to find work in their fields here in Ontario and across Canada, with some resorting to work as drivers or delivery agents. Reflecting on my own journey since immigrating to Canada in 2004, I spent 16 years dedicated to one employer, and then two more years with another employer who, unfortunately, didn’t value that loyalty. When I found myself outside the traditional employment setup, I was thankful for the chance to start fresh, and I took a leap of faith by starting my own firm. At first, I envisioned it as a non-profit engineering venture, a way to give back to the community. However, I registered it as a corporation to establish a foothold, with the long-term goal of transforming it into a charitable or non-profit engineering organization. I believe that together, we can make this vision a reality. My goal is to reach an income milestone of $2 million at Canadian Sound Structures Inc., at which point I plan to launch "Wise Engineers" – a non-profit engineering organization here in Ontario. This milestone is achievable; for instance, a recent proposal for a two-tower project in Etobicoke with my previous employer had a structural fee of around $750,000. If we collaborate and support each other, I believe we can accomplish this ambitious vision within one or two years. The idea behind Wise Engineers is to build an organization that benefits everyone – from job seekers to developers, home buyers to community members. I’ve seen firsthand how hard-working engineers generate substantial profits but often don’t receive their fair share. With Wise Engineers, I envision a more equitable model where our community reaps the rewards of our shared expertise. Let’s work together to build a brighter future for all Canadians through engineering, wisdom, and unity.

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🚨 Structural Safety Alert: Avoid Drilling into Shear Walls! Here’s a critical example of what NOT to do on a construction site. The image shows a shear wall that has been improperly drilled to accommodate electrical conduits and a socket. Why is this a problem? Shear walls are key structural elements designed to resist lateral forces like wind and earthquakes. Drilling into them weakens their load-bearing capacity, compromises the reinforcement, and poses a serious safety risk to the building’s structural integrity. The Consequences: • Reduced resistance to seismic and wind loads. • Potential for structural failure. • Violation of building codes and standards. What Should Be Done? 1. Assess Damage: Engage a structural engineer immediately to evaluate and repair the damage. 2. Alternative Routing: Electrical conduits and sockets should be planned and routed without affecting structural elements. 3. Training: Educate workers about the importance of protecting structural components during construction. As engineers, contractors, and site supervisors, it’s our responsibility to prioritize safety and adhere to proper construction practices. Let’s work together to ensure safer buildings for everyone! #StructuralEngineering #ConstructionSafety #ShearWalls #BuildingIntegrity #EngineeringBestPractices

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The effect of belt walls and outriggers on the displacement and time period.

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Unlocking Your Potential: A Guide to Motivating Yourself and Boosting Your Goals in Engineering As an engineer, you're no stranger to challenges. From complex problem-solving to meeting tight deadlines, your profession demands a unique blend of technical expertise, creativity, and perseverance. However, even the most skilled and dedicated engineers can struggle with motivation and self-doubt. I. Setting Clear Goals Before we dive into motivation techniques, it's essential to define what you want to achieve. Take some time to reflect on your short-term and long-term goals. Ask yourself: - What specific objectives do I want to accomplish in the next 6-12 months? - What skills or knowledge do I need to acquire to achieve these goals? - How do my goals align with my values and passions? Write down your goals and make them SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound). This will help you stay focused and motivated. II. Creating a Positive Mindset A positive mindset is crucial for overcoming obstacles and staying motivated. Here are a few strategies to help you cultivate a growth mindset: - Practice self-compassion: Treat yourself with kindness and understanding, just as you would a close friend. Acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses, and remind yourself that mistakes are opportunities for growth. - Focus on the present: Rather than dwelling on past failures or worrying about the future, focus on what you can control in the present moment. - Reframe challenges as opportunities: View obstacles as chances to learn and improve. Ask yourself, "What can I learn from this experience?" or "How can I grow as a result of this challenge?" III. Building a Support Network Surrounding yourself with positive, supportive people can make a significant difference in your motivation and success. Consider: - Mentorship: - Peer support: - Accountability partner: IV. Celebrating Progress and Learning from Failure It's essential to acknowledge and celebrate your progress, no matter how small. This helps to build momentum and reinforce positive behaviors. When faced with failure, use it as an opportunity to learn and grow. Ask yourself: - What went wrong?: Analyze the situation and identify areas for improvement. - What can I learn from this experience?: Reflect on the lessons you can apply to future challenges. - How can I move forward?: Develop a plan to overcome the obstacle and continue working towards your goals. V. Staying Motivated and Focused To maintain motivation and focus, try the following: - Break tasks into smaller chunks: - Use the Pomodoro Technique: - Reward yourself: - Stay organized: VI. Creating Awareness and Staying Up-to-Date To stay ahead in the engineering field, it's crucial to stay informed about the latest developments and trends. Consider: - Industry publications and blogs: - Conferences and workshops: - Online courses and training:

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2 Comments

3D Modeling for As-Built BoQ Everything is Clear.

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One day, a colleague and I discussed the method of assigning pier labels for designing cores. The central point of our discussion was whether to use the same pier label for all walls in a core, which my colleague believes could simulate the combined behavior of the core as a single unit (and this seems logical to some extent), or to assign a different pier label to each wall, which is my preference. I hold this perspective because I understand that piers are intended to integrate the stresses across the pier width. Extending the pier width beyond 1 meter could potentially result in underestimating these stresses. Additionally, the stress levels on the walls within a core vary; some walls are subjected to higher stresses than others. By assigning the same pier label to all walls within the core, there's a risk that integrating these stresses could underestimate the results, as it reports the average stress among the walls of the core. I would appreciate hearing about the approach you use in your practice, based on your experience.

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10 Comments

And Precast detailing

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Shear wall is a structural element that resists lateral forces such as wind and seismic loads. Many young engineers are able to answer this much. They know that a shear wall needs to provide lateral load resistance. This is absolutely right. However still that is not a complete understanding of what a shear wall is.

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That's really insightful and Very informative, Thanks for sharing .. The question is, what this non conformity warning should tell me, while using [N-Vy-Vz], I suppose, it should tell me that there would be another member shall support these values and not the member I've decided to make it [N-Vy-Vz] .. I never go through using this type of model unless it is bracing connection, as it is not expected to support bending moment. I believe that any connection shall have the ability to transmit a value of moment even if small value; it should have a specific value of rotaional stiffiness depending on it's rigidity, except if it was a pin connection [one bolt in the middle] which can be considered to simulate a real pin connection

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Famous Column Failures: A Quick Guide Columns are vital for structural integrity, and their failure can be catastrophic. Here’s a summary of common types: 1️⃣ Compression Failure: Crushing in short columns under high stress. 2️⃣ Buckling Failure: Lateral deformation in slender columns. 3️⃣ Shear Failure: Diagonal cracks from transverse forces. Takeaway: Prioritize early detection, smart design, and maintenance to prevent failures.

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