West Point Bridge

WEST POINT BRIDGE: 

How do we design the best bridge? Let's go on an Information Hunt, looking for clues.

Find the words and definitions in West Point Bridge Design HELP and fill in the blanks below.

1.      Click on HELP. Then select Help Topics.

2.      You can type the word you’re looking for, or scroll down.  Once you see the word, double click on the word you want to look up.

A.     Materials:

1.      Look up materials.  List the 3 different types of materials

2.      Scroll down to Notes and Tips. Read the section.

         List strength and expense for each type of material.

3.     

	Type of material	Strength (weak to strong)	Cost (least to most)
1.	Carbon Steel	Average
2.	High-Strength Low-alloy Steel	Strong
3.	Quenched and Tempered Low-Alloy Steel	Strongest

B.     Cross-Sections

Go back to Index. Look up cross-section.  Choose Cross-Section from menu.  List the 2 different types of cross sections.

Go back to Index. Look up cross-section.  Choose the line that names the 2 cross section types. from the menu.

Look for the boxes that describe when it is most economical to use each type of cross section.

Type of cross section	Better to use for: (tension or compression)	Shown as what color (blue or red)
Solid	Tension	Blue
Hallow	Compression	Red

C.     Engineering Design Process: What are the steps?

1. Go back to Index. Look up engineering design process.  Choose The Engineering Design Process from the menu.
2. List the 7 steps.

1.      _Identify the Problem_______

2.      ___Define the problem_____________________

3.      __Develop alternative solutions__________

4.      ___Analyze and compare alternative solutions__________

5.      ___Select the best alternative __________

6.      __Implement the solution_____

7.      __Evaluate the results____

How do we optimize our bridge design?

Let's go on an Information Hunt, looking for clues.

A.                  Find the How to Design a Bridge page from the help index.  What is the objective?

To satisfy all of the specifications

B.                  Go to each step of the Design Process flowchart.  Read about the step, especially the Notes & Tips section.  Enter one important fact from each step

This is Your Career 1.2.1 (Interview)

Brandon M. Fulk, P.E.

fulk@purdue.edu

1.    What is your age?  36

2.    Where do you live? Lafayette, IN


3.    What do you like to do outside of work? I like to coach youth athletics, hunt, play softball and camp.

4.    What is your job title? Director of Internships for the Division of Construction Engineering and Management
 
5.    When and why did you choose your career path?  I selected my career path during my freshman year at Purdue.  I determined that Construction Engineering and Mgmt was what I wanted to study.  I have had 3 different types of jobs since graduating Purdue all related to my degree including my current job.
 
6.    What is the name of your company or employer? Purdue University


7.    Describe your primary duties and skills. My primary duties as the CEM Director of Internships include: student advisement relative to academics and professional careers, teach classes, prospective student recruitment, prospective company relationship development and student placement on internships.
 
8.    Describe your physical work environment. It is pretty interesting and diverse: I have an office on campus that is modest which I work out of part of the time, typical classroom and construction jobsites where our students are working which may mean that I travel a lot in a car or on a plane.

9.    What is your favorite part of your job? Helping young people succeed in the classroom and mentoring them as they prepare for a career in the industry providing advice and guidance.
 



11. Which accredited school did you first attend, and what was your degree? Purdue University and my degree is a Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering

12. Describe in detail three of the courses that you took which are closely related to your current career. Honestly, none of my courses prepared me for the job I have today but they all did.  I know that sounds funny but consider that none of them prepared me for how to teach but the fact that I have experienced what our students are currently going through allows me to be an effective mentor to our students.

13. Describe the two courses that you considered most challenging. Thermodynamics and Electric/Optics.  All of these subject matters involve situations and problems that are not visible or nor can you put your hands on it.  That is a challenge for me not to see these processes in a tangible format.

14. What resources did your school have available to help you get through the most difficult courses? I assume you are referring to Purdue.  Great question.  I did a poor job of seeking out assistance.  In my current position, I understand there are help groups and help sessions that assist students who are struggling with a subject.  In addition, professors and teaching assistants are easily approachable and willing to help.

15. Regarding the two most challenging courses, how did you persevere?  I worked hard and repeated work over to ingrain the concepts.  In addition, I sought help from classmates willing to work with me and explain the subject matters.


16. From what school(s) did you receive graduate degrees? I currently plan on enrolling in Purdue’s graduate program to obtain my Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering with an emphasis on Construction.

17. What was the title or titles of the degree(s)? Not applicable yet.


18.  What licenses do you have and what were the exams required to receive those licenses? I have a PE (Professional Engineering) License.  I am able to certify the accuracy of a design and manage individuals associated with the design.  I was able to take this test after working in the industry for 4 yrs and then taking an 8 hr exam.  I studied solid for 3 months leading up to this test averaging 16 hrs and still working full-time.
 
19. How would your clients and co-workers describe you?  I think they would consider me an honest and hardworking individual.

20. What do you hope to accomplish at the conclusion of your career?  I hope to have provided every young person that I come in contact with a positive environment to grow personally and professional so they become a valuable member of their local community and the engineering community.

21.  Why should a high school student consider a career in your field?  What important contribution(s) can they make?  I believe a person should consider the construction industry as it relates to CEM because of the technical nature and the hands on experience that a person can obtain.  It is personally gratifying and enriching because you solve and provide resolutions to problems/situations that better the quality of life for a community.

1.2.1 This is Your Career

1. What is your age?
27


2. Where do you live?
I live outside of Mead, Nebraska.



3. What do you like to do outside of work?
I like to raise and race my barrel horses across the state.  As well as hunt and camp.



4. What is your job title?
Project Engineer


5. When and why did you choose your career path?
I choose this career path in high school, because I choose this career because it interested me.
 6. What is the name of your company or employer?
EctoHR
 7. Describe your primary duties and skills. [Cite your source(s)]
Draw engineering conclusions for data analysis within area of technical proficiency.Work on small projects or portions of larger projects, with work being reviewed by senior or appropriately experienced engineer. Research and ensure assignments meet regulatory and industry codes, laws and requirements, as well as client requirements.  Prepare statements of work for subcontractors.Organize project teams.
(http://www.engineerjobs.com/job.php?jobid=82021&utm_source=Indeed&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Indeed)


8. Describe your physical work environment.
There is not much physical work.


9. What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of the job is being able to come home and know I finished a good days worth of work.
 10. What is your salary? [Cite your source(s)]
$60,000 (http://jobs.recruitics.com/job/Project-Manager-Lincoln-Nebraska-25021/)


11. Which accredited school did you first attend, and what was your degree? [Cite your source(s)]
Purdue University, Degree in Civil Engineering
 12. Describe in detail three of the courses that you took which are closely related to your current career. [Cite your source(s)]
CE 398 (Introduction to Civil Engineering System Design),
CE 498 (Civil Engineering Design Project), and CE 331 (Engineering Materials II) these classes really build on the ideas that are important in civil engineering.
https://engineering.purdue.edu/CE/Academics/Undergraduate/PlanStudy/

13. Describe the two courses that you considered most challenging. [Cite your source(s) and include a course listing from the appropriate degree program]
CE 270 (Introductory Structural Mechanics) and CE 399 (Oral and Written Communications).  I found structural mechanics difficult because I had to memorize all the different materials and oral communications was difficult because I get nervous when doing class presentations.
https://engineering.purdue.edu/CE/Academics/Undergraduate/PlanStudy/

14. What resources did your school have available to help you get through the most difficult courses? [Cite your source(s)]
Purdue had many resources available from simply being able to join clubs dealing with these topics to being able to work individually with other instructors.https://engineering.purdue.edu/CE/Academics/Undergraduate/PlanStudy/




15. Regarding the two most challenging courses, how did you persevere?
I just kept up on my studies and put more time into those classes than I did the other classses.

16. From what school(s) did you receive graduate degrees? [Cite your source(s)]
Purdue University

17. What was the title or titles of the degree(s)? [Cite your source(s)]
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE)
https://engineering.purdue.edu/CE/Academics/Undergraduate/PlanStudy/

18. What licenses do you have and what were the exams required to receive those licenses? [Cite your source(s)]
I had to recieve my Professional Engineers license. 
http://www.engineerjobs.com/job.php?jobid=82021&utm_source=Indeed&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Indeed

19. How would your clients and co-workers describe you?
My clients and co-workers would describe me as outgoing.

20. What do you hope to accomplish at the conclusion of your career?
I hope to have made a difference and look back at one thing I did as the highlight of my career no matter how long it took.

21. Why should a high school student consider a career in your field? What important contribution(s) can they make?
A high school student should consider a career in this field because of the difference they can make to others.  It is always satisfactory when you can make a client happy.

Conclusion
1. You described a career related to civil engineering and/or architecture. Is this the career field that you are currently most interested in at this stage in your life?
No I am not really interested in a career in or related to civil engineering.
  2. Rank and describe the three most important characteristics that you value in choosing a post-secondary school.

Recognition- how well this school is recognized by employers
Degrees offered- it is important to make sure the school you intend to go                to offers what you want
Cost- is there a school that offers similar education, but cheaper
 3. Rank the following in the order of importance to you regarding a career: job satisfaction; salary; making a difference; level of responsibility; titles; benefits; hours; co-workers; supervisors. How will a career in civil engineering or architecture satisfy the factor that you ranked highest?
Job Satisfaction
Salary
Benefits
Level of responisbilty
Making a Difference
Supervisors
Co-Workers
Hours
It would not really satisfy job satisfation.  I am not really that interested in a career in this field.