Customer Reviews

Architecture Exam Review, Vol. 1: Structural Topics, 6th Edition

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Disappointingly, this book is full of formula errors. This book must be used in conjunction with a formal Structural Analysis book in order to check and or correct 40% of the formulas given. This book does give you a broad over view of Structural Systems, but do not rely on it to be correct. My firm has both this book and the study series by Kaplan, suffice it to say Kaplan's Structural series is a much better study guide and so far I have found no formula errata. My Structural Engineer Colleagues can not believe That this book by Steven E. O'Hara and David Kent Ballast ever made it through any type of pre-production review with this many errors.

I gave it 5 stars because I just passed all 9 of ARE. For mutiple choice divisions. I only studied the Architecture Exam Review Volume I/II and flash card, plus Graphic Standard, Chin's Illastrated books and some downloaded online documents. These togeather covered more than 70% of exam topics, by applying common sense or just guessing for the remaining 30% questions, most people should have no problem to pass ARE.
Instead of studing many 1000 page books and couldn't remember any contants, I found it's more efficient to study just few smaller books Thoroughly.

I bought this book as a structural topics refresher for the Architectural Engineering Professional Engineering exam. I was an AE structural option in college, so I knew all this stuff at some point, but I haven't looked at in five years! This book provides a great refresher, reminding you of the important things so you don't get bogged down studying theory from class notes. It's pretty thorough and covers an excellent range of topics (loads, connections, wood, steel, concrete, masonry, etc.). A few qualifiers:
1) Because I was a structural option, the topics were easier to grasp/recall. If you aren't familiar with structural concepts, this may not be your only resource, as it does not go into extreme explanation. The book assumes you have at least been introduced to the topics.
2) This covers the basics. You aren't going to get into plastic vs. elastic analysis, indeterminite analysis (outside of trusses), etc. But if you are looking for one user-friendly book to cover 80% of what you need to know, this is it!
3) Well-written. Good pictures and brief explanations. Goes into just enough detail to cover what really matters.
4) Has sufficient tables and graphs (borrowed from ACI 318, AISC, NDS, etc.) so you don't have to buy those to cross reference. Examples illustrate how to use the tables and graphs.
5) Good sample problems with explanations of why the wrong answers are wrong.
6) Some of the code references are a few years outdated.

I think this book is excellent. It is written for the engineer kind of thinker. Somebody with mathmatical difficulties may find Kaplan/ALS material more helpful.

A good location to find many different subjects to the topic. Each chapter has sample exam questions for review. A good resource but not the ONLY resource you should use if you are taking the Architectural Registration Exam.