Best seismic design books according to redditors

I took the Structures focus for the PE exam, I can't recommend for you an exact prep schedule, but I can tell you mine.

I studied for a total of 500 hours at 40hrs/wk took approximately 3 months or so. 200 hrs of prep for the PE exam itself and 150 hrs each for the Survey and Seismic portions.

I prepared using the CERM, PPI Sample problems, NCEES Sample Exams, and the following:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1888577940/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1591261007/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1591263786/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Did I over do it? Without a doubt I over did it. But I can also say that I rolled up on the test, took a dump on its front lawn and lit it on fire. I also managed to finish so quickly that I took a bit of a nap during the NCEES exam. I was however working up to the last minute on the Survey and Seismic portions. Those sections weren't hard, you just need to manage your time well and you will be fine.

When you do walk into the exam, you will see people with half-pallet carts filled with reference materials. You will not need that many books, you only really need your CERM, applicable code manuals, as well as a rapid reference note binder that you compile yourself. I flew in to California to take it, and all my reference materials fit into a back pack and a carry on suitcase.

I also, took a review course offered at the local university, go to every class and never skip!

Feel free to ask me if you have any questions, best of luck!

I mean, don't get me wrong, the PNW is FUCKED if there's a full rip of the CSZ. Talking about like 30m of movement along the shoreline in a very short time, like 5 minutes.

This is one of the books that Prof Zentner recommends if you want the real skinny.

For concrete, Paulay and Priestley Seismic Design of Reinforced Concrete Buildings (I also think it does a bit of CMU). Paulay I think did a book before this one on more general concrete design (maybe with Park).

Link

This book is the basis for seismic design of concrete... and even if you don't do seismic design generally, it really helps with understanding the behavior of the material.

For steel I always end up using the AISC design guides.

Not really a technical guide, but the book The Tower and The Bridge I thought was brilliant when I read it a few years ago. It touches on the art of structural design.

I think a subscription to some of the top engineering magazines is pretty key to keep up on things as well (although I've been bad about keeping up with them myself). The technical gurus in my office though are always reading them.