SE Exam Design Standards - AASHTO Specification

[mcg7996]

I am preparing to take the SE Vertical - Buildings exam this October (2021). I reviewed the required design standards and it has been updated to require the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specification, 8th edition. When I go to AASHTO website they sell it with a disclaimer that the code is OBSOLETE and only for the SE exam. Attached is a close to $600 price tag, for a code that is obsolete in practice. Seems like a scam to me. To make matters more insulting, they charge 5% shipping on all orders. I was wondering if anyone knew an alternate way to obtain this code? Or is there a way to get around using the newest edition? Could I use the 7th edition as long as I am aware of the changes? Any information on this topic would be GREATLY appreAttach filesciated.

 

[E720]

I just PM'd you some information.

 

[Vin]

I just PM'd you some information.

Hello, I m looking for the AASHTO 8th edition as well. Is there a way i can borrow/ rent or get a second hand book? The book is expensive and I am not going to use it after the SE exam.

 

[hilli78]

I just PM'd you some information.

I am also looking for the AASHTO 8th edition for the SE exam. My company doesn't do Bridges and I won't have any use of it after the exam.

 

[Manufacturingman]

When it comes to editions, you should be able to find a list of what has changed from edition to edition. Using a previous edition is usually ok.
For example, in ASCE 7-16, the equation for calculating Design Ice Thickness changed from 7-10. In 7-10, the equations was 2.0*t*Ii*fz*(Kzt)^.35 whereas in 7-16 it became t*Ii*fz*(Kzt)^.35.
That seems like a pretty big deal. The ice map also changed. so, for Kansas City, the nominal ice thickness went from .75" (2010) to 1.5" (2016). Well, that accounts for the factor 2, so the design ice thickness stays the same except the Ice importance factor for Class 3 buildings also changed from 1.25 to 1.15.
In most areas of the US, the change didn't actually result in a different end result. Class 1, 2 and 4 buildings in probably 75% of the major metro areas didn't change. Philadelphia's nominal thickness stayed the same, so the design thickness would be cut in half. NYC's nominal went from .75 to 1.0, so the design thickness changed slightly, etc.
The point being, if you use a different edition, KNOW the changes. I will be using the 7th edition LRFD. I can't justify buying the 8th, and it's a disservice to testers to force them to buy the newer edition. I'm surprised it's consider obsolete since the 7th edition was the edition for the spring exam.

I am preparing to take the SE Vertical - Buildings exam this October (2021). I reviewed the required design standards and it has been updated to require the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specification, 8th edition. When I go to AASHTO website they sell it with a disclaimer that the code is OBSOLETE and only for the SE exam. Attached is a close to $600 price tag, for a code that is obsolete in practice. Seems like a scam to me. To make matters more insulting, they charge 5% shipping on all orders. I was wondering if anyone knew an alternate way to obtain this code? Or is there a way to get around using the newest edition? Could I use the 7th edition as long as I am aware of the changes? Any information on this topic would be GREATLY appreciated.

View attachment 22971

 

[thedaywa1ker]

When it comes to editions, you should be able to find a list of what has changed from edition to edition. Using a previous edition is usually ok.
For example, in ASCE 7-16, the equation for calculating Design Ice Thickness changed from 7-10. In 7-10, the equations was 2.0*t*Ii*fz*(Kzt)^.35 whereas in 7-16 it became t*Ii*fz*(Kzt)^.35.
That seems like a pretty big deal. The ice map also changed. so, for Kansas City, the nominal ice thickness went from .75" (2010) to 1.5" (2016). Well, that accounts for the factor 2, so the design ice thickness stays the same except the Ice importance factor for Class 3 buildings also changed from 1.25 to 1.15.
In most areas of the US, the change didn't actually result in a different end result. Class 1, 2 and 4 buildings in probably 75% of the major metro areas didn't change. Philadelphia's nominal thickness stayed the same, so the design thickness would be cut in half. NYC's nominal went from .75 to 1.0, so the design thickness changed slightly, etc.
The point being, if you use a different edition, KNOW the changes. I will be using the 7th edition LRFD. I can't justify buying the 8th, and it's a disservice to testers to force them to buy the newer edition. I'm surprised it's consider obsolete since the 7th edition was the edition for the spring exam.

My opinion is that making building engineers buy and study AASHTO in the first place is a huge disservice and waste of everyones time and money. (I'm sure bridge guys feel the same about having to learn a bunch of buildings stuff)

I have no idea what changed between AASHTO versions, but I have heard they are substantial. The wind chapters of ASCE-7 changed pretty substantially as well.

I would not recommend going into the test with old versions of codes. A few hundred bucks now, or risk another $500 exam fee and 6 months of studying plus the same few hundred bucks to get the codes you realized you actually need....plus, we are technically supposed to be using the new codes in practice, are we not?

I'd maybe risk it for the PE, personally (I didn't even bother taking AASHTO for the PE). Not for the SE.

Edit: The exam already has a 30% pass rate, why would you make it harder on yourself

 

[reptar]

I just PM'd you some information.

Hi I'm also in the same boat & looking for any leads on the 8th edition if you could help.

 

[mg93]

Hi I'm also in the same boat & looking for any leads on the 8th edition if you could help.

Could I get it too please ?

 

[MOULVV]

I have the PDF version of AASHTO 8th edition and it's printable.

 

[David Connor SE]

I can attest that the changes from AASHTO 7th to 8th edition were substantial. Especially wind loads on bridges. However, the wind loads are very similar to determining building wind loads now.

 

[mg93]

David, I can see that you have an entire book on the subject. Could you please tell me more about your book ?
Thanks !

 

[David Connor SE]

David, I can see that you have an entire book on the subject. Could you please tell me more about your book ?
Thanks !

Yep, it's a book that I wrote after I took the SE exam back in 2014. It was the book I wish I had for studying bridge problems. Being that I'm a "building" structural engineer I really needed help with bridge problems. However, at the time there was very little out there. Only a handful of problems in some PPI books and the NCEES practice exam. So I wrote this book. The entire book is 40 vertical bridge problems and 40 lateral problems, but I also split the book up for those that maybe only needed vertical or lateral problems. Each problem has detailed solutions with reference to the appropriate section to use in the AASHTO code. Many people who were studying for the SE exam have bought the book and have told me that it helped them a lot on the bridge problems. You can pick it up on Amazon by using the links on my website www.davidconnorse.com.

Thanks!

 

[nikkipall2]

I am preparing to take the SE Vertical - Buildings exam this October (2021). I reviewed the required design standards and it has been updated to require the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specification, 8th edition. When I go to AASHTO website they sell it with a disclaimer that the code is OBSOLETE and only for the SE exam. Attached is a close to $600 price tag, for a code that is obsolete in practice. Seems like a scam to me. To make matters more insulting, they charge 5% shipping on all orders. I was wondering if anyone knew an alternate way to obtain this code? Or is there a way to get around using the newest edition? Could I use the 7th edition as long as I am aware of the changes? Any information on this topic would be GREATLY appreAttach filesciated.

View attachment 22971

Hello!! I am in the same boat as others on this thread - taking the exam in October, but I only the 7th edition of the code. Would anyone be able to share the 8th edition? It would be very much appreciated!!

 

[mg93]

There's a similar thread and there's a link there to a drive that has it all

 

[nikkipall2]

There's a similar thread and there's a link there to a drive that has it all

Awesome! Any chance you could direct me to that specific thread? There are so many different threads on this site, it’s overwhelming!!

 

[mg93]

Sure. Tomorrow morning when I get to my computer. If I forget then please comment here and remind me again.

 

[nikkipall2]

Sure. Tomorrow morning when I get to my computer. If I forget then please comment here and remind me again.

Thank you so much!

 

[mg93]

Here

https://engineerboards.com/conversa...th-all-the-new-codes.24083/#convMessage-63761

 

[SE in the works]

I'm taking the Lateral SE exam - Buildings this October and need some help finding the 8th edition of AASHTO spec. I've been told that if I have the 7th edition I just need to bring a copy of chapter 3 and it should be sufficient because most of the changes related to the morning breath of the lateral exam can be found there. Appreciate any help.

 

[psustruct]

You should work thru the NCEES sample exam and make the decision for yourself.