LEARN STRUCTURAL TIPS

WHO IS  STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS AND WHAT THEY DO

👆👆👆Imagine if structural engineers are following the above concept there will be more accidents on the street and finally structure engineers will become fractured engineers, Can we compare structural engineers with doctors? This may sound strange but let’s find out.

Structural engineers design the skeleton of a building to achieve acceptable probability so it could provide satisfactory performance during its entire life. Like doctors, they treat the human body by analysing body conditions first and once diagnosis is identified, they continue with appropriate treatments and how to maintain the body from functioning normally and healthy.  Both professions are somewhat identical and the aim is to satisfy, correct and avoid all the conditions from resulting to failure to extend its lifespan.   

                                                  

                                         On the other hand, doctors examine their patients to diagnose their conditions. If necessary, they write recommendations for laboratory testing to support their diagnosis and to know the root of the problem. They also write prescriptions and advice like changing one’s lifestyle, they ideally read more books to learn more in their chosen profession, update themselves by learning how to use updated medical equipment to make safe and efficient treatments for their patients unlike structural engineers also need to upgrade with software's. For short, most doctors make   correcting measures for an existing built human structure.

While structural engineers they start from calculating stability, strength and rigidity of the structure before building it. They test and examine the structure to control and avoid failures. They also need Soil laboratory tests before they introduce their structural design.  

Structural Engineering is among the oldest type of engineering, dating back to the first instance of tree branches being lashed together with vines to make a shelter. Throughout history it has been recorded that people have been designing and building increasingly larger and more sophisticated structures. Beginning from primitive huts to international high-rise buildings. 

Structural Engineering in an integral part of Civil Engineering in which engineers are educated to create the ‘bones and muscles’ that creates the form and shape of man-made structures. The role of each structural engineer is a key component in the construction process, it is a part of the wider discipline of civil engineering.

               It Involves Analysis design, construction and maintenance of structures that reinforces or counteract loads, such as buildings, skyscrapers, dams and bridges. Unlike Architects, who focuses on the appearance, shape, size and use of the building, Structural Engineers must solve technical problems taking things into consideration like battling gravity, wind, earthquake, weather conditions to provide the world with outstanding structures.

Structural engineers often specialise in particular types of structures, such as buildings, bridges, pipelines, industrial, tunnels, vehicles, ships, aircraft and spacecraft vision for the project.

Structural engineers design roof framing (beams, rafters, joists, trusses), floor framing (floor decks, joists, beams, trusses, girders), arches, columns, braces, frames, foundations and walls. The materials they use include steel, concrete, wood, masonry, and aluminium.

                                     As an entry-level structural engineer, they may design individual structural elements of a particular structure, such as the beams and the columns of a building. More experienced engineers may be responsible for the structural design and integrity of an entire system, such as a building and sometimes they do inspection to ensure that the ongoing work exactly matching with the approved drawings.

Don’t take it too seriously guys, this is how architects and structural engineers make fun with each other but there is truth in the joke. 

Joking aside, the development of specialised knowledge of structural theories appeared during the 19th and early 20th centuries, the professional structural engineers come into existence since 1990s. Specialised software has become available to aid in the design of structures, with the functionality to assist in the drawing, analysis and designing of structures with maximum precision; examples software include AutoCAD, Staadpro, ETABS, Safe , Prokon, Revit Structure, etc. Such software's may also take into consideration environmental loads, like earthquakes and winds.                                                   

                                          Structural Engineers should not depend on the software alone. Ideally, they should practice at least with 3 or 4 buildings by manual calculation to acquire the behaviour of structure element-wise and as well material properties. They can prepare their own excel sheets to save their time for manual calculations and then they can go ahead with the use of software. Nowadays, we can see that a lot of juniors are immediately using CSI and other software's without having any basic knowledge in structural designing. I would like to stress that this field is not video game to essentially use mouse and keyboards for making the dummy structures (A non-technical person can also do the modelling of the building) Structural design requires major responsibility aiming to produce safe, stable and economical structure.  For structural work, a municipality license can be obtained only after completing a prescribed amount of education and work experience.  

 Have a fun with the below pictures......😍😂

sohel.civ@gmail.com