Interdisciplinary Approach in Engineering

Role of Civil Engineer in general or in Civil Engineering Field:-

For any type of Civil Engg. Project, Civil Engineer performs following functions.

1. Preparation of layout of open plot:- He does survey of the open plot of the proposed construction project and prepares a layout plan.

2. Preparation and approval of plan:- Civil Engineer prepares plan on the layout of the proposed construction project and sends it for approval.

3. Preparation of Structural design and estimation of cost:- after approval of plan, he prepares the structural design and finds out the probable cost of the project by estimation.

4. Finding out the foundation details:- Civil Engineer is also responsible for carrying out foundation investigations at proposed site and prepare an investigation report ( i.e. bearing capacity and foundation load ).

5. After the budgetary sanction the actual construction of the project starts.

6. Testing, supervision and execution:- Civil Engineer has the responsibility of testing the construction material at site, maintain quality of work, get the work executed as per the drawing, make payments for the finished works, to the contractors and labors.

7. Civil Engineer solves disputes, if any, on the site by functioning in the capacity of arbitrator.

Role of civil engineer in mechanical engineering:-

In Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineer performs three functions:-

1. Planning and designing of the industrial structure.

2. Actual supervision and execution of construction work.

3. Installation of different types of machines and equipment.

Planning:- while planning the industrial structure, it has to be done as per requirement of the industry. The principle of grouping shall be strictly followed. Following points should be considered

a) The shops should be placed in sequence as the process of product demands.

b) There should be enough space in between two machines for the workers to move and to keep raw

material.

c) Changing room for workers, W.C.’s & bath rooms, place for storage of raw material and godowns for

finished goods are the necessities of the plan.

d) The administrative building should be easily approachable and should be placed near the main

entrance.

e) The entrance gate and exit gate should be different with check post at these gates.

Designing:- The design procedures are different for R.C.C. structures and steel structures, in case of industrial structures along with the dead and live load on the building. Wind load is also considered for structures of height more than 15 m. the gantry girders and the column supporting the gantry girder are properly designed. Selection of roofing material is also very important.

2. Actual supervision and execution of work: -

Execution of construction work for industrial structures is different than other structures. The footings and columns may be of R.C.C. but the roof structure is made up of trusses. The truss members are made up of angle section or channel section and are either connected to each other by means of rivets or by welding.

The lifting of the roof truss is effected by means of cranes. Proper supervision is necessary while lifting roof truss at the time of installation. The Civil engineer along with construction work, has to look into the safety of labours working at higher locations. He has to maintain a constant supply of materials so that work is not held up due to lack of building materials. He keeps all the record of number of labors employed per day, quantity of building material utilized and quantity available in the store.

3. Installation of different types of machines and equipments : -

The work of design of machine foundation is carried out. The foundations for the machines should be

strong enough to resist the static, dynamic and vibratory forces over it. The machine should be anchored

firmly to the foundation block of R.C.C. by means of strong anchor bolts. The foundation should be stable

and rigid and should not deflect from its original position due to vibrations of machines.

Role of Civil Engineer in Electrical Engineering:-

1.  POWER HOUSE : - In the conventional methods of generation of electricity, Civil Engg. Branches involved are Surveying, Fluid Mechanics, and Geotechnical Engg. & Foundation Engg. Irrigation Engg. and Structural Engg. There are different methods of generation of electric power such as i) Hydroelectric ii) Thermal iii) Atomic.

In case of hydroelectric power, the location of power station may be underground or above the ground. The specifications for each type of power station vary depending on type of generation of power. The Civil engineer has to look after the construction of power house building and supervise the construction of cooling water tanks, locating different units on grid lines of the project land and then to execute the construction of individual structures such as electrostatic precipitators, turbo generator house, coal handling plant, cooling towers.

Role of Civil engineer in the installation of hydroelectric power house is as follows:-

1) Site selection, foundation investigation, foundation design and treatment if required to increase the

stability of foundation as well as power station.

2) Design and construction of intake structure at reservoir.

3) Design and construction of head race tunnel or design of diameter of penstock and methods of

supporting the penstock.

4) Design of power house is done from the design head of water in the dam.

5) Design of tail race channel.

2. TRANSMISSION TOWERS: -

Towers are tall structures with relatively small cross section and have a large ratio between the height and maximum width. A tower is a single cantilever structure freely standing and self supporting fixed at its base.e.g- Radio and television towers, towers for power transmission lines and relay system. Tall transmission towers provide necessary clearance, where the transmission cables have maximum sag. The towers may be built up with three or four legs. The height of tower ranges from 20 to 40 m. the towers of such heights provide 6 to 10 m height from the ground surface to the point of the maximum sag of the cable.

The following points are considered from civil engineering Point of view:-

1) Design of transmission tower

a) The loads on transmission tower are due to vertical loads, self weight of tower, self weight of insulators and fittings and wind load.

b) All above mentioned loads are considered and suitable type of foundation is selected depending upon the sub-soil condition.

c) Steel sections used in superstructure are designed based on the forces exerted on them.

2) Alignment of tower line is done by the use of theodolite.

3) Ground profile leveling of the alignment of the tower line is done by the use of dumpy level or auto level.

4) From ground profile leveling, height of the transmission tower is fixed in order to maintain proper clearance from ground.

5) Execution of erection of transmission tower on site: - The actual work of erection of tower starts by providing the centerline along which the towers are to be erected. For this part of survey work is carried out by civil engineer. During erection process civil engineer is responsible for the following activities on site

a) Suggestion methods of actual erection b) Foundation treatment

c) Suggesting proper safety measures while actual erection

d) To collaborate with Electric engineer for successful completion of erection work of tower.

Role of Civil Engineer in Chemical Engineering:-

Role of Civil engineer in case of Chemical plant which manufacture chemicals, may be acidic in nature or having explosive properties certain special points are taken into consideration. The functions of Civil engineer are enlisted below.

1. Planning, design, construction and maintenance of chemical plant.

2. Designing of open shed for the manufacture of acids or hazard chemical processes.

3. Suggesting a proper type of acid resistant flooring, non-erodable finishes to walls and roofs and execution of construction work.

4. Civil engineer has to pay a special attention towards the construction of chemical tanks for storing chemicals.

5. Knowledge of fluid mechanics is used to measure discharge of chemicals and dyes.

6. Provision of sand in open spaces and surrounding areas of chemical plant is done. Adequate ducts for water pipe line and provision of fire hydrants should be provided.

7. Steel work in roof or frame work of shed needs to be painted with rust proof paint.

8. Ensuring proper electrical conductors and earthing work for the industrial shed and building.

Role of Civil Engineer in Electronics & Telecommunication

Engineering:-

Civil engineer perform following functions :-

1. Site selection for the location of antenna tower.

2. Selection, design and construction of foundation for tower.

3. Fabrication and erection of tower at site.

4. Excavation for cable duct and underground network for cable duct.

5. Towers for receiving the signals are carefully and properly erected on top of building, selected for communication.

6. Planning and design of control room related to instrumentation in coordination with instrumentation engineer.

7. Sound proofing of some rooms, required for broadcasting station.

8. Air-conditioning of some rooms required in case of television studio.

9. Use of special type of foundation sometimes needed for housing or installation of instrument.