Standard Handbook for Civil Engineers 
asked by jazzman on November 10, 2006 3:46 AM
THE source for the state of the art in civil engineering The only one-stop review of the state of the art in the field, Standard Handbook for Civil Engineers, Fourth Edition, edited by Frederick S. Merrit, M. Kent Loftin, and Jonathan T. Rickets, gives you fingertip access to everything from the fundamentals of civil engineering to the most recent planning, design, and construction techniques related to 23 different disciplines--including systems design, geotechnical engineering, and community and regional planning. Over 700 Tables, formulas, and drawing make every explantion and procedure crystal clear. Inside you'll find the latest: ACI, ASTM, and AISC code changes; changes in highway and airport pavement design and construction; procedures for nondestructive testing of piles and applications of geosynthetics; EPA and OSHA regulations; methods of load-and-resistance factor design of structural steel; specifications for wood construction and much more.
Reviews
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I've read several other of the reviews, and feel the need to add a little to the conversation.
This book will not make you into an engineer if you don't have the foundation knowledge required. It is a desk reference, useful mainly for a quick review, of principles outside your primary area of engineering practice, when you need a quick refresher.
I am a degreed and licensed Civil Engineer, but I am primarily a Construction Engineer. I use this book to get myself back upto speed on topics that I haven't dealt with in a while, and to do field checks on designs I'm trying to build before I call the Design Engineer. I've got several hundred text books, and years worth of journals, and technical reports available in my office. They don't fit in my breifcase and travel to the field well. The handbook does.
I wouldn't rely on the knowledge contained in this book alone, to execute a design for any complex or critical project. I doubt that any competent professional would, or should.
All said, it is worth every penny you spend on it.
This book will not make you into an engineer if you don't have the foundation knowledge required. It is a desk reference, useful mainly for a quick review, of principles outside your primary area of engineering practice, when you need a quick refresher.
I am a degreed and licensed Civil Engineer, but I am primarily a Construction Engineer. I use this book to get myself back upto speed on topics that I haven't dealt with in a while, and to do field checks on designs I'm trying to build before I call the Design Engineer. I've got several hundred text books, and years worth of journals, and technical reports available in my office. They don't fit in my breifcase and travel to the field well. The handbook does.
I wouldn't rely on the knowledge contained in this book alone, to execute a design for any complex or critical project. I doubt that any competent professional would, or should.
All said, it is worth every penny you spend on it.
reviewed by sumbuddy on November 21, 2006 8:56 PM
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I found it most complete reference for civil engineers ,I always carry this book in my travels ,I found it complete in this fields: safety and health concerns, and the most current codes changes including ACI, AISC, ASTM,
and you find powerfull data in covers systems design, community and regional planning, the latest design methods for buildings, airports, highways, tunnels and bridges. It includes sections
what do you want else ,buy it and carry all knowlege you can have.
and you find powerfull data in covers systems design, community and regional planning, the latest design methods for buildings, airports, highways, tunnels and bridges. It includes sections
what do you want else ,buy it and carry all knowlege you can have.
reviewed by john316 on November 25, 2006 8:49 AM
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The fifth edition update mainly reflects changes in code requirements for structural engineering. Other sections seem barely changed from the fourth edition. The water resources chapter has several misprinted tables. Use the corresponding tables out of the fourth edition.
Generalle well-written and easy to follow. Useful as a supplemental study reference for the Civil PE Exam.
Could use a good bibliography.
reviewed by mattisboss on November 27, 2006 5:15 AM
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I'm a senior in CE this year and I have been using the 2nd edition of this book (1976) more or less daily as I work on my senior design projects. Not really in depth on any one subject, but its great if you just need to look up a formula or technique that you forgot from some class. I plan to ask for the new edition as a graduation present.
reviewed by rob33 on November 29, 2006 3:39 AM