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I know it is borderline torture waiting for the SE results, but there isn't anything the person at the other end of the NCEES chat can do about it.  The SE exam just takes longer to grade because of the essay portion, and they probably don't even start grading the multiple choice portions until...

Those are PE results that are coming out.  I think someone said the SE exam grading workshop is going to be sometime after Memorial Day, so I would say 2nd week of June. 

Per NCEES chat...

We can only dream...

Yes, the 8th edition of AASHTO did undergo some fairly major changes.  A lot of it organizational, but some of it conceptual. One change is that wind loads are determined similar to buildings.  So, if you are a "buildings" person, then that change may actually be beneficial to you. 

I think they make the switch to IBC 2012/ASCE 7-10 in 2015.  I know they were still on IBC 2009/ASCE 7-05 for the April 2014 exam. 

Thanks for pointing those out. Good info. I also don't think they would help much on the SE exam, but certainly is a good "conceptual" starting point for studying seismic for the SE exam. 

TI-36X Pro.  Handy little calculator.  Easy to use, 4 visible lines on the screen.  I did not use any programmed equations on the SE, and I would be careful about doing that unless they have said it's OK. 

For step by step seismic design examples/solutions, check out the SEAOC books, Vols. 2-5 if you haven't already.  They may be a little too comprehensive, like some of the SERM examples, but you can certainly learn a lot about seismic "design" if you study those books. That being said, Seismic...

I thought about doing something like this as well after writing my bridge book, but alas real life and work caught up with me. Just know that writing a book is very time consuming, and the time consumption continues after you are done if you plan to update it after NCEES updates their code...

I agree with this assessment, and also mention it in the Tips sections of my book.  I think 2 "bins" worth of books and references is enough. 1 bin for codes, the other for study guides, references, my book :), etc.  Also, I make book recommendations in my bridge book and I think if you use...

I took the exam 5 years ago so I guess I can talk freely about it.  Based on what I can gather in this discussion, it might have had something to do with ASCE 7-10 Section 12.9.4. 

I would say R = 3.0, steel system not detailed for seismic resistance since you have cable bracing. However, you do say something about "blending the lateral resistance" which might require the R=1.5 value.  In some buildings I do, we have interior steel braced frames, and intermediate precast...

I would use ASCE 7-10 - Chapter 15 - Seismic Design Requirements for Non-Building Structures, Table 15.4-2 since a deck is not a building or similar to one.  There isn't anything in that table matches wood decks except "All other self-supporting structures, tanks, or vessels not covered above...

I guess I should modify that by saying that I hope to have the books ready as soon as they announce the code standards for the October exam, which would be in April-May time frame. 

That is the plan.

I don't.  All I know is that April will be AASHTO 7th edition.  Hopefully you don't get caught on an AASHTO code change.  There are significant differences between the AASHTO 7th and 8th editions.  A lot of it is just organizational, but some of it is fairly major. For instance, wind loads are...

Can't forget about those "footers" either. :)  

1st thing I would do is to tab your AASHTO code book.  In the Tips and Recommendations portion of my book I actually have a page of tips regarding tabs. The tabbing will start the process of learning the layout of the code. Just kinda make general mental notes of how the code is laid out, etc...

I just flipped through really quick.  May be handy if you have to draw a detail on the essay questions.  Or if you have a question asking what is the correct detail, etc.   Might help in your studies in applying the code correctly too, but then you may find that you don't need it during the exam.