Structural engineering

From Free net encyclopedia

Image:Taipei 101 at night.jpg Structural engineering is the field of civil engineering particularly concerned with the design of complex structural systems. In a practical sense, structural engineering is largely the application of Newtonian mechanics to the design of structural elements and systems: such as buildings, bridges, walls (including retaining walls), dams, tunnels, etc.

Structural engineers ensure that their designs satisfy a given design intent predicated on safety (i.e. structures do not collapse without due warning) and on serviceability (i.e. floor vibration and building sway are not uncomfortable to occupants). In addition, structural engineers are responsible for making efficient use of funds and materials to achieve these over-arching goals. Typically, entry-level structural engineers may design simple beams, columns, and floors of a new building, including calculating the loads on each member and the load capacity of various building materials (steel, timber, masonry, concrete). An experienced engineer would tend to render more difficult structures, considering physics of moisture, heat and energy inside the building components.

In the United States, the structural engineering field is often subdivided into bridge engineering and structural engineering for buildings. Additionally, structural engineers often further specialize into special structure manufacture or construction, such as pipeline engineering or industrial structures.

Structural loads on structures are generally classified as: live loads such as the weight of occupants and furniture in a building, the forces of wind or weights of water, the forces due to seismic activity such as an earthquake, dead loads including the weight of the structure itself and all major architectural components and live roof loads such as material and manpower loading the structure during construction Structural engineers mainly fight against the forces of nature like winds,earthquakes and Tsunamis. In recent years, however, reinforcing structures due to sabotage has taken on increased importance.

[edit]