Structural and design engineering is a specialized branch of civil engineering. To describe it more precisely, it is a group of tools or methods utilized in the determination of safety and economical requirements for structures, as well as ensuring that a proposed structure will have the requisite strength to handle the intended load. A structural engineer must analyze a structure to determine both internal and external forces that can act upon the structure. Thereafter, the engineer must make a structural design using the right materials & reinforcements to meet the requirements.
Structural engineering has a strong relationship with architecture. Whereas an architect is usually tasked with the design of the visually attractive components of a project, the structural engineer focuses on the strength, safety, and durability while designing a building.
The tenets of structural design
A structural engineer combines the primary principles of structural design with a solid background in material sciences and physics in order to ensure that a structure is constructed to withstand all the possible forces and loads that it will encounter in its lifetime. As such, in case you want to erect a residential or commercial building in Texas, you need to hire structural design & engineering Texas services to give you a breakdown of what is required in creating a strong building that meets all the load requirements.
As a civil engineer, you need to have excellent problem-solving skills. Any decisions made by a structural engineer during the project’s design phase will have an effect on everything from the cost and duration of the project all the way to the viability and safety of the structure. The following are some of the factors that a structural engineer must consider during the design phase of a building:
Conducting a structural analysis to understand the impact of forces
Structural analysis is the primary method through which the structural engineer can use to ensure that a structure is able to withstand different types of forces that it might encounter in its normal operation. For example, an engineer designing a platform for a subway needs to see to it that it will not crumble under the weight of the passengers. When it comes to a railway system, the structural engineer must select the right materials that can withstand a 50,000-pound railway car without any damages. Furthermore, the train station should not collapse even when snow accumulates on the rooftop during the winter.
There are three major forces typically investigated by civil engineers during structural analysis. These are magnitude, direction, and position. Magnitude refers to the size of the force that acts upon the structure. Direction is is a vector quality describing where the force is pointing towards. A strong wind might act against the side of a structure, whereas the weight of snowfall will be directed downwards due to gravitational influence. Various material systems & reinforcements are thus required to counter various types of forces.
Choosing the right materials
Selecting the appropriate construction material sis among the key functions of the structural design. The type of materials used in construction shall determine the ability of the building to withstand both internal and external forces as well as maintaining a state of stability and equilibrium. As such, the structural engineer must select materials based on properties such as strength, toughness, plasticity, and elasticity.
Structural elements must always be stationary
To ensure that the building is stable, the geotechnical engineers must ensure that the soil underneath the structure offers a strong foundation. This will ensure that the building is immovable and can also withstand external forces. To maintain a stationary position, the sum of all forces acting on the building must equal zero at all times.
In conclusion, structural design is a very crucial undertaking in construction projects. Structural engineers are charged with ensuring that the structure is stable, safe and performs as intended. There are numerous structural design & engineering Texas services that can assist you in terms of consultation and design.
