Structural design is a highly specialized area of civil engineering. It can be described as a set of methods or tools that are used to determine safe and economical specifications for a structure, and to ensure that a planned structure will be sufficiently strong to carry its intended load. Structural engineers conduct a structural analysis to determine what internal and external forces could affect the structure, then design a structure with the appropriate materials and reinforcements to satisfy the requirements.
There is a strong relationship between the professional disciplines of architecture and structural engineering. While architects are normally tasked with designing the visually appealing features of a project, structural engineers place their focus on strength, durability and safety when designing a building.
Structural engineers combine the core principles of structural design with a sound background in physics and materials science to ensure that structures are built to withstand the loads and forces that they will encounter during their usage.
Civil engineers that design structure for construction projects must be excellent problem solvers. The decisions that structural engineers make during the structural design phase of the project will affect everything from the project cost and duration to the ultimate safety and viability of the structure.
Below, we highlight some of the most important factors that structural engineers must consider when designing a building.
1. Foundation Design
1.1) To analyses suitable sizes of shallow foundations
1.2) Base pressures
1.3) Uplift and how to avoid it
2. Simple Beam Design (Timber)
2.1) Using formula MR = fl/y to design timber beam
2.2) Principle of Modular of Section Z = bd2/6
3. Simple Beam Design (Steel)
3.1) Using Universal Beam Design Table to obtain size of beam and mass (UB)
3.2) Comment on the different sizes according to the weight
4. Simple Beam/Column Design (Reinforced Concrete)
4.1) Using area of concrete and area of steel to find the number of reinforcement
5. Euler’s Theorem for Axially Loaded Column
5.1) Euler’s Theorem for Axially Loaded Column (Design factors, Slenderness ratio, Effective length of columns ). Assumptions made in the Euler's theory and columns end condition
6. Gravity Retaining Wall Design
6.1) Effect of horizontal forces due to wind and water
6.2) Effect of horizontal forces due to granular material
6.3) Effect or surcharge
6.4) Pressure under the wall
6.5) Check factor of safety ( Uplift, Sliding, Overturning, Soil bearing capacity