About the author  ⁄ Dilip Khatri, Ph.D., S.E.

Dr. Khatri, Ph. D., S. E., is a consulting engineer and owner of Khatri International Inc., based in Las Vegas, NV and Arcadia, California. He has been a structural engineer for 41 years and is licensed across the USA, Canada, and Australia. He may be reached at (dkhatri@aol.com).

Measure the distance between two points using a ruler, and you may read “12 inches.” This implies that the relative accuracy is to the nearest inch. If I write “12.00 inches,” then this implies accuracy to nearest 1/100th of an inch. For a foundation, the accuracy of ± ½ an inch may be appropriate. The tools of that construction trade do not have a high level of precision (i.e., a backhoe, shovel, or excavator). In contrast, for an Aircraft Wing on a fighter jet, the accuracy may be measured in Mills (0.001 inches) or 1/1000th of an inch. Understanding the level of accuracy required for a given task involves familiarity and judgment.
Read More →
For many structural engineers, the subject of fatigue analysis has been limited to a few simplified evaluations based on the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) Steel Construction Manual that says less than 2,000,000 cycles implies no problem. For concrete structures, the presumption of any fatigue loss was never even a design consideration in typical coursework or practice.
Read More →
Who are we to the Public? Do they know or care about what we do? Sadly, the public doesn’t know who we are or what we do. Structural engineers have allowed our clients (architects) to define the meaning of “buildings” and thus have grabbed credit for our work for the past 100 years. An architect represents every project, with no space/room for the technical accomplishments that make those projects happen.
Read More →
Structural Engineering is an evolving field. Our profession continues to innovate with brilliant new technology, materials, and analysis methods, at an ever increasing pace. I can remember when I started as a junior structural engineer in 1983, the introduction of personal computers was just beginning to take place, along with the finite element method for structural analysis. This was a significant step forward from the previous generation of engineers who grew up on slide rules. After 33 years, I’m still learning.
Read More →

Frida Restaurant in Torrance, California

One of the most satisfying aspects of being a structural engineer is to see your project constructed. Even more satisfying is knowing you contributed to making something unique, creative, and aesthetically pleasing to society. Inspiration and gratification are rare in any professional endeavor, and the author is pleased to be part of the team that has made this project a reality.

Read More →
Los Angeles is no stranger to earthquakes and, like other cities in California, has experienced extensive damage in previous seismic events, which has led to significant advancements in earthquake engineering. Some might say that L.A. has been the epicenter of seismic code development since the 1933 Long Beach Earthquake. Because of its long history with seismic events and their aftermath, Los Angeles has embarked in a leadership role to create a long-term program to educate the public, help building owners to seismically strengthen their buildings, and improve overall community resiliency after the next earthquake.
Read More →
STRUCTURE magazine