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Structural Engineering is one of the sub-specializations under the field of Engineering. It focuses more on the framework of a structure, considering all possible stress and pressure that the structure itself may be exposed to. Structural engineers spent most of their time learning about designs that make structures safe, stable and secure at all times. Simply put, structural engineers are the experts in making sure that the bridge doesn’t fall down or that a building won’t collapse even after a 6.0 magnitude of the earthquake.
Although it is one of the oldest types of engineering, its practice continues to change with the times. Throughout history, structural engineers have contributed some of the most beautiful structures in the world. Buildings today have become increasingly larger involving the use of more sophisticated structures. They remain to be steadfast despite natural calamities such as fire or earthquake because structural engineers have made them last a lifetime.
Beginnings of Structural Engineering
The names of the first practitioners of this specialty in engineering may be lost in antiquity, but their designs have left the world in awe. Nobody could tell who designed the Parthenon during the Roman Empire or the Hanging Gardens of Babylons. But some of the rising structural engineers of this time look to these structures for ideas on how else they can come up with design ideas of today. Architects look at the appearance of the building, but structural engineers take care of the skeleton of the building to make it withstand all the pressure.
Every structure must be able to deal with the conditions that come with their purpose and their location. For example, a building should be able to withstand snow and heat while being prepared for the most active earthquake that may hit the ground. Conditions of the terrain, the water, the wind, the traffic volume – all these are factors that affect the overall design of any structure. Structural engineers look at all that and make plausible recommendations from there.
The job of a Structural Engineer
The primary concern of their job is the utmost safety and security of those who will get exposed and use the structure that they build. Whether it is a high rise building or a bridge, the structural engineer makes sure that it is as sturdy as it has been designed to be. In particular, they look into:
- The blueprints, reports, maps, and topographical data before they finalize the design of a structure.
- Estimate the cost of labor and materials that the project may require to complete.
- Compute the load grade requirement of the structure including the material stress factors before the final design specifications are put in place.
- Research the traffic patterns as well as various environmental conditions and assess how all these factors can affect the structure.
To become a structural engineer is not easy. It isn’t a walk in the park. So the next time you’ll need to build a structure, it is best only to trust the professional structural engineers to do it. Your safety is in their hands.
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