A structural engineer analyzes, designs, plans, and researches structural components and systems to achieve design goals and ensure the safety and comfort of users or occupants.
Their work mainly considers safety, technical, economic, and environmental concerns, but it may also consider aesthetic and social factors.
Structural engineering is a sub-discipline of civil engineering that deals with the structural integrity and strength of a building or structure.
Structural engineering is a specialty of civil engineering that ensures the structures are safe, economically stable, and don’t collapse under applied loads. It is mainly focused on the analysis and design of the structure.
Structural engineering theory is based on applied physical laws and empirical knowledge of the structural performance of different materials and geometries.
Furthermore, Structural engineering design uses several relatively simple structural concepts to build complex structural systems.
Structural engineers are responsible for making creative and efficient use of funds, structural elements, and materials to achieve these goals.
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Responsibilities of a Structural Engineer
Structural engineers are responsible for engineering design and structural analysis. Entry-level structural engineers may design the individual structural elements of a structure, such as the beams and columns of a building.
More experienced engineers may be responsible for the structural design and integrity of an entire system, such as a building.
Structural engineers often specialize in particular types of structures, such as buildings, bridges, pipelines, industrial structures, tunnels, vehicles, ships, aircraft, and spacecraft.
Structural engineers ensure that buildings and bridges are built to be strong and stable enough to resist all appropriate structural loads (e.g., gravity, wind, snow, rain, seismic [earthquake], earth pressure, temperature, and traffic) to prevent or reduce the loss of life or injury.
They also design structures to be stiff enough to not deflect or vibrate beyond acceptable limits.
Human comfort is an issue that is regularly considered within the limits. Fatigue is also an important consideration for bridges and aircraft design or for other structures that experience many stress cycles over their lifetimes.
Consideration is also given to the durability of materials against possible deterioration which may impair performance over the design lifetime.
A structural engineer also plays a major role in a team among other professionals like surveyors, quantity surveyors, and architects engineers.
The following tasks must be performed by a structural engineer:
- Design models of structures using the software.
- Assessing the reaction of structures to pressures and stress.
- Finalizing the appropriate concrete materials that would be suitable for the structure.
- Assessing the budget of the project.
- Liaising to ensure that newly erected buildings are structurally sound.
- Using computers and computer-aided design technology for simulation purposes.
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Skills required to become a Structural Engineer
It’s necessary for every structural engineer to possess the following skills:
- Analytical skills
- Detailed orientation
- Creativity
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Communication skills
- Knowledge of CAD software applications like ETABS, SAFE, STAAD Pro, PROKON, AutoCAD, etc.
- Excellent computer skills
- Knowledge of construction management
- Familiarity with codes and regulations specific to the industry
- Up-to-date technical skills
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Role of Structural Engineer in Building Design
The role of a structural engineer today involves a significant understanding of both static and dynamic loading and the structures that are available to resist them.
The complexity of modern structures often requires a great deal of creativity from the engineer to ensure the structures support and resist the loads they are subjected to
A structural engineer will typically have a four or five-year undergraduate degree, followed by a minimum of three years of professional practice before being considered fully qualified.
Structural engineers are licensed or accredited by different learned societies and regulatory bodies around the world (for example, the Institution of Structural Engineers in the UK).
Depending on the degree course they have studied and/or the jurisdiction they are seeking licensure in, they may be accredited (or licensed) as just structural engineers, as civil engineers, or as both civil and structural engineers.
Another international organization is IABSE (International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering).
That association aims to exchange knowledge and advance the practice of structural engineering worldwide in the service of the profession and society.
- Urbanization, buildings, and civil infrastructure are the most important in the world for any economy. Require lots of natural resources and energy for their construction, operation, maintenance, and deterioration.
- Structural engineers play an important role in the efficient design, construction, and execution of a building. At the beginning of construction projects in collaboration with structural engineers, architects, owners, and construction managers, architects decide on the effectiveness, feasibility, and cost-effectiveness of concepts. As the project progressed to the design stage, structural engineers produced the first set of executive design documents.
- Structural engineers have traditionally not identified themselves with environmental sustainability. Growing concerns for the natural environment, the rise of smart cities, and the growing importance of sustainability and energy efficiency are driving the demand for structural engineers.
- Building construction consumes natural resources, potable water, and energy. Secondly, the construction process also contributes to 30% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Thus, a sustainable environment is not achievable without the contribution of the building & construction sector, especially the structural engineering domain.
- The renewable energy department is a great leading factor. The concept of sustainability is gaining popularity these days and it is increasing its applicability in the energy sector.
Where does a Structural Engineer work?
The major employers of structural engineers include:
- Engineering consultancies
- Local authorities
- Railway operators
- Civil Engineering contractors
- Public utility companies
- The Civil Service
- The Armed Forces
We hope this article helped you learn about Structural Engineers. You may also want to learn about What is Civil Engineering? | History and Functions, Engineering Disciplines, Brick Masonry | Advantages, and Disadvantages, and Structural Engineers.
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