My study week for the ARE Structural Systems exam is over. Was it worth it? Yes.
Still I rescheduled because I became more and more confident that I wouldn’t be ready. I focused primarily on Ballast (the ARE Review Manual) and I looked at a few AREforum threads. What did I learn?
- I’ve got to know certain basic formulas and units. Formulas like moment, stress, strain, modulus of elasticity. Know that statics stuff.
- Then understand structural “decision-making” when using wood and steel. Basically know how to choose (calculate) a beam or column size. Same thing for masonry walls. Understand structural decision-making for concrete. Because it is a composite it’s more complicated, but still understand. (That could mean calculate beam size or rebar area. I’m not too sure. I’m still studying.)
- Then understand lateral loading from wind and earthquakes. Understand it conceptually, oscillations, period, shear, diaphragm, reentrant corners. (Possibly understand some calculations. I’m not too sure. I’m still studying.)
- Then methods and materials, like connections, material properties, welding symbols and terms like blocking and bracing.
I can be ready, I just need to keep studying.
The ARE Review Manual points out certain calculations are complex and likely not covered by the architect registration exam. They seem to make this assumption in part due to the exam’s time constraints. Two minutes per question (or whatever it is) does not permit certain in depth analysis per question. Still Ballast covers some International Building Code calculations for certain lateral loading calculations regarding earthquakes and some calculations for concrete beam size and steel area.
I’m concerned with how much calculations, I’ll actually need to understand. I’m confident that if I get my hands on enough questions to review, I’ll be able to understand the calculations to break them down into the ideas of the basic statics (moment, bending, load, stress, strain) and understand what happens to one component in a calculation (or formula), when another changes. I think the exam’s intent is a kind of basic structural understanding, that I’m still trying to get my hands on.
PPI