Major: M.S. in Structural Engineering
Class: 2007
Going until you find yield
Having renovated older buildings, engineer Brian Rinke decided to investigate the strength and integrity of steel structural beams from older buildings for his master's in structural engineering thesis.
"Steel in older buildings isn't as strong as what they produce today," said Rinke, who earned his bachelor's in architectural engineering from MSOE in 1995.
Rinke reinforced old beams from a former elementary school by welding modern steel to them. Using MSOE's labs, Rinke load tested the beams to find their yield point and determine whether the higher yield stress of the additional pieces would increase their load carrying capacity.
"What became apparent is that the yield strength of the original beam was going to control the design of the whole system," he said. In other words, the yield stress of the additional steel did not have an impact on the load carrying capacity. However, using steel to increase size, section and area reinforces the beam.
After graduating with his master's in structural engineering thesis in 2007, Rinke is now a Principal at The Matrix Group Engineering Consultants in Milwaukee. Notes Rinke, "My education at MSOE was the biggest contributing factor to helping me get where I am today. We also look for the high quality standards instilled in the MSOE graduates for our current staff."