Engineering - Structural
Structural engineering is the process of researching, planning, designing, and analyzing structural systems and structural components. Engineers in this field work mainly in environmental, economic, and technical concerns, while considering social and aesthetic factors.
Structural engineering is typically considered as a specialty branch discipline within the civil engineering field, but it also stands alone in its own right. United States-based structural engineers are typically licensed as civil engineers, yet the situation varies between states. In the United Kingdom, the majority of structural engineers who are working in the building industry are classified as such rather than as civil engineers.
Common buildings or structures which are designed by structural engineering include bridges, stadiums, towers, and large structures. Other types of structures such as ships, aircraft, space satellites, or oil rigs can also be designed and created by structural engineers. Most engineers are employees in the construction field, yet they retain their licenses and titles as structural engineers in shipbuilding, automobile, and aerospace industries. While working in the construction industry, structural engineering specialists work closely with construction managers, quantity surveyors, electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, civil engineers, and architects to complete a wide variety of projects.
Specialists in structural engineering ensure that bridges and buildings are built strong and stable, able to resist a host of structural loads or stressors such as traffic, temperature, earth pressure, earthquakes, rain, snow, wind, and gravity, among others. They also carefully design these structures to remain rigid during these conditions, so as not to vibrate or deflect beyond acceptable limits. Preventing structural fatigue is vitally important in the structural engineering field, especially in consideration for aircraft and bridge design, but also for other structures which will experience large numbers of stress cycled over the years. In addition, careful consideration is given to the durability of the building materials, such as how well they will stand up against deterioration, mishaps, damage, erosion, or common wear-and-tear over the design lifetime.
A structural engineering degree is usually obtained through a bachelor's degree program in civil engineering, followed by a master's degree which specializes in structural engineering. Fundamental, core subject areas in the education of a structural engineer include strength of mechanics or solid materials, statics, dynamics, material science, conceptual structural design, and numerical analysis. Structural design courses will address issues such as reinforced concrete, timber, composite structure, masonry, structural steel designs, and building material planning. Structural analysis courses include classes in structural failure analysis, structural dynamics, structural mechanics, and other topics which are designed to help the student to gain fundamental theory and analysis skills in the field.
