Structural Engineering Thesis Ideas?

crazydingo

Hi, I'm diong Structural Engineering in DIT and I have to decide what I want to do for my thesis next year but I really don't know what to do.
So I thought I'd ask here and see if there are any good ideas floating about.
Does anyone have any interesting or new ideas for a structural engineering thesis?

Fake Tales

crazydingo wrote: »

Hi, I'm diong Structural Engineering in DIT and I have to decide what I want to do for my thesis next year but I really don't know what to do.
So I thought I'd ask here and see if there are any good ideas floating about.
Does anyone have any interesting or new ideas for a structural engineering thesis?

Maybe contact companies to see if they want research done, i hear the esb are going to be hiring a lot at somestage.

crazydingo

They have already started interviews, I know someone who went to one

Ninja101

Growing superstrong morphable living bio-cities using an AI nanobot swarm.

or...

The use of concrete in concrete blocks.

godtabh

Creating a "pod" or prefab apartment block great than 3 (i think is the limit at the moment) stories.

advise12345

Ya, I have a great one and its highly practical as well not like a lot of them which to to be academic dribble.


''How the muck do I get I job when I finish my Degree?''

gone are the days of the engineers gloating at the unemployed Arts Students!

IDCI

Not a structural engineer, but there was a paper a few years ago in my area (machining) where the authors carried out a parameter sensitivity study of finite element models of the cutting process which recieved alot of interest. I'd imagine a similar study one with some structural engineering scenarios would garner interest?

Basically you just show how the model output is affected by changes in e.g. software used, mesh density, element type, step-time (for explicit solvers) etc. and then calculate the parameter sensitivies. Also, if there are any common assumptions made, such as some standard value that is always given for the UTS of concrete or whatever, it can be interesting to see how the model output can be affected by variations in that.

Just an idea, but two advantages would be:
1] You only really have to make one or two working models, and then just change simple parameters.
2] You should be pretty nifty with FE by the end of it which is handy for mechs anyway once you go looking for work (imagine it's the same for structural engineers?).

crazydingo

I'll run it past a lecturer and see if there is any potential for it. Thanks for that!

Cheeble

You could go for something fleetingly topical and do a study of bricking up natural sea inlets on the west coast to act as storage for pumped hydro schemes. (see various forums for spiritofireland).

Cheeble-eers

murfie

Cheeble wrote: »

You could go for something fleetingly topical and do a study of bricking up natural sea inlets on the west coast to act as storage for pumped hydro schemes. (see various forums for spiritofireland).

Cheeble-eers

Isn't it natural valleys or adjacent hills they propose on blocking in for that. And then pumping the water in? I think i shall go read up on that, sounds like something that will either work great or be a spectacular waste of money.

Kareir

Hey,

This might be too late, and I have no idea what a good topic would be, but how about a building with a tunnel through it? surely that'd be a different thing to do? Vibration from trains going through, etc?

_Kar.

crazydingo

It's interesting alright but those buildings already exist, however, any potential problems from those that could be investiated and possible solutions presented might make for a good thesis. I'll look into it!
I have to have a small proposal in on Friday, so the pressure is on!