Price: RM 3 Editor: LIM JOE ONN (0318679)

Price: RM 3

Editor: LIM JOE ONN (0318679)

tructural engineering is a field of engineering dealing with the analysis and design of structures that support or resist loads. The work of a structural engineer takes account mainly on safety,

technical, economic and environmental concerns, but they may also consider aesthetic and social factors.

Structural engineering is usually considered a specialty discipline within civil engineering, but it can also be studied in its own right.

THINGS STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS DO

elatively little is known about this unsung band of heroes, who are

fundamental to any building project.

Structural engineers are specialists in construction, design, repair, conversion and conservation. They are

concerned with all aspects of a structure and its stability.

Structural engineers are most commonly involved in the design of buildings and large structures, such as bridges and viaducts. However, they can also be involved in the design of machinery, medical equipment, vehicles or any item where structural integrity affects the item’s safety or function.

Besides that, structural engineers must ensure their designs satisfy the given design criteria, which includes safety, serviceability and performance.

WHY ARE STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS IMPORTANT?

tructural engineers are a key part of the design and construction team, working alongside contractors and architects. Together they create

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERSSpecialists in design and construction

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all kinds of structures from houses, theatres and hospitals to bridges, oil rigs and space satellites.

Every structure has to deal with the conditions in which it is built. For instance, houses in Malaysia will need structures that can withstand high tropical temperatures and heavy rainfall while houses in Switzerland will need a very strong roof structure to deal with continuous snow and ice loads. Bridges all around the world will need to carry different kinds of crossing loads, be that people, cars or even high speed trains. It is a structural engineer's job to consider all the possible factors.

If a structure was a human body then the architect would be concerned with the body shape and appearance, and the structural engineer would be concerned with the skeleton.

Modern day humans spend most of their time in buildings. Hence, structural engineers are important as everything we do every day is inside a structural engineer's work.

Structural engineers arguably perform one of the most important roles in the construction industry.

Without the skills and technical knowledge of structural engineers, the buildings which we inhabit and spend our time in on a daily basis could potentially cause us serious injury or even death. This is because without the input of a structural engineer, buildings may twist, bend, or vibrate in ways that cause both structural damage and put human lives at risk. It is also the responsibility of a structural engineer to make sure that older buildings can withstand forces in a safe fashion.

TRAITS OF A STRUCTURAL

ENGINEER

A structural engineer needs to display keen commercial awareness and understanding of the business implications of his or her decisions.

Structural engineers are people who enjoy the responsibilities, challenges and the excitement of an innovative and varied career.

hese people make a difference and shape the built environment. Structural engineering presents both creative and technical challenges and requires

excellent problem-solving and management skills.

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Structural engineers are highly analytical people. They must be good at maths, IT and mechanics.

Communication skills are particularly important in this profession as structural engineers deal with a wide range of clients and colleagues. For example, they may have to convey complex concepts to

a client who is unfamiliar with structural engineering principles.

ROLES OF A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER

he role of a structural engineer today involves a significant understanding of both static and dynamic loading, and then the structures that are available to resist them.

During the lifetime of a typical building, various stresses and strains will test its physical composition. Hence, it is the role of the structural engineers to ensure that the structure is strong and flexible enough to remain safe and sturdy. Structural engineers will monitor the progress of an architectural project from its initial stages to its completion. They usually create initial design models, using in-depth mathematical and scientific knowledge, and, once construction has started, they monitor the work and meet with contractors to ensure that the designs are being followed closely.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER

tructural engineers are responsible for engineering design and analysis. Entry-level structural engineers may design the individual structural elements of a structure, for example the beams, columns and floors of a building. More experienced engineers may be responsible for the structural design and integrity of an entire system.

Structural engineers are responsible for making creative and efficient use of funds, structural elements and materials to achieve complex yet sustainable structural systems.

Structural engineers are also responsible for the safety and integrity of the whole structure. They have a huge responsibility as it could be said that the lives of the people in the structure they designed are in their hands.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING

Structural engineering has existed since humans first started to construct their own structures back in prehistoric times. It became a more defined and formalised profession with the emergence of the architecture profession as distinct from the engineering profession during the Industrial Revolution in the late 19th century. Until then, the architect and the structural engineer were usually one and the same – The Master Builder. Only with the development of

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specialised knowledge of structural theories that emerged during the early 20th centuries did the professional structural engineer come into existence.

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING THEORY

The theory is based upon physical laws and empirical knowledge of the structural performance of different materials and geometries. Structural engineering design utilises a number of simple structural elements.

A: Every career has their own problems to a certain extent. In a construction project, problems can start as early as the designing phase. The most distinct challenge of structural engineers is that they need to suit the demands of the architect while balancing the safety of the building design in terms of the design constraints. Usually, architects want more space inside the building. Thus, engineers need to think of innovative ideas to suit both the architect’s demands and the code of safety. During the construction phase, problems can arise from the process of implementing the project, quality control and coordination of manpower.