The Importance of
Structural Engineering
Structural
engineering, a part of civil engineering, has emerged as a critical part of the
construction process. Its first recorded use dates back to 27th century B.C.
when Egyptian Polymath Imhotep designed and constructed the famed step pyramid
of Saqqara. Leonardo Da Vinci created many outstanding designs ahead of his
time using structural engineering methods. Its use became central to
construction activities in the 19th and 20th centuries when steel was used in
large scale to build huge structures, such as Eiffel Tower, WTC, Sears Tower,
big apartment blocks, and infrastructure projects.
With
advancement of technology and introduction of CAD for design and finite
analysis, structural engineering has become a part and parcel of construction
process for both building and non–building structures. Expert structural
engineers are being entrusted with the responsibility to make designs,
structural analysis, steel detailing, and safety assessment of structures to be
constructed. It assures error-free design, risk analysis, effective cost and
material estimation, and creative use of individual structural elements.
The
followings points demonstrate importance of structural engineering for building
structures and foundations.
Structure Design Support
Structural
engineering plays a key role in designing both individual elements and the
structure as a whole. The intricate designs of modern structures call for
astute creativity in defining support and load resistance systems. An engineer
expert in structural detailing is the most capable to provide precise
information about foundations, floors, type of roofs, beams, quantity of steel
required, alignments leading to durability, retaining walls, suspension of
bridges, etc. Accordingly designs are amended and drawings are generated.
Structural Analysis
Use of
complex designs and composite materials in modern structures demands effective
structural analysis for design reliability, safety, strength, material
specification, and stress design based on empirical and scientific basis.
Structural engineers working as sub–consultant to architectures help delineate
internal and external factors, such as load, wind velocity, intersections,
nodes, components, and landscape on the structure steel system, utility, and
capabilities. They detail capabilities of structures regarding support and
performance satisfying building design codes, aesthetic features, criteria, and
customer needs.
Safety Assessment
Structural
engineering helps predict safety and assess capacity and stability of a
structure against static and dynamic loading. Structural engineers check
internal and external forces, including fracture, materials used, earthquake,
vibration, creep, structure fatigue, temperature, wind, and dynamics, which
have bearing on the structure. It also delineates structural ability to show
warning signs before collapsing of pre–stressed and post–tensioned structures
and requirements for their serviceability long after the construction is
completed. This helps plan the design and construct the structure keeping in
view the safety and security of workers, visitors, and customers and avoiding
potential dangers.
Estimation
Structural
engineering helps outline behavior of individual structural members and the
most suitable geometries and material requirements for them. It divides a
complex structure into individual elements and creates separate design and
analysis for them while providing details structural analysis. Structural
detailing of steel, fabrication needs, erection height, alignments, reinforced
cement concrete components, composite structures, and replacement designs. The
process also provides information on steel beams, frames, girders, gantries,
and columns. This enables builders to test design efficacy, figure out material
needed, and estimate costs while aiding creative and efficient utilization or
resources.
Source : http://www.indiacadworks.com/