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Structural engineering
Structural engineering is the field of civil engineering particularly concerned with the design of load-bearing structures. In practice, it is largely the implementation of mechanics to the design of structures, such as buildings, bridges, walls (including retaining walls), dams, tunnels, etc.
Structural engineers need to design structures so that while serving their useful function, they do not collapse, and do not bend, twist, or vibrate in undesirable ways. In addition they are responsible for making efficient use of funds and materials to achieve these structural goals. Typically, apprentice structural engineers may design simple beams, columns, and floors of a new building, including calculating the loads on each member and the load capacity of various building materials (steel, timber, masonry, concrete). An experienced engineer would tend to design more complex structures, such as multi-storey buildings (including skyscrapers), or bridges.
Loads are generally classified as: "live loads" such as the weight of occupants and furniture in a building, the forces of wind or weights of water, and the forces due to an earthquake; or "dead loads" such as the weight of the building itself.
Traditionally, structural engineering used careful placement of coordinate axes to simplify complex equations associated with tensor quantities such as stress and resulting displacements of structural elements, such as beams. This simplification was essential to being able to solve problems. A successful engineer must design a structure to withstand the loads specified to be placed upon it. As long as the design loads are not exceeded the structure should spring back when the load is lifted, or hold steady indefinitely. The advance of computer software has allowed many of the more complicated calculations to be carried out more accurately and quickly.
One of the most straightforward mechanisms of analyzing structures is the method of statics in which Newton's laws of motion are used to determine the forces acting on the components of a structure, generally by assuming that the material is rigid and uniform.
Another mechanism capable of handling more complicated situations is the finite element method which is capable of calculating forces in structures made of various materials with differing properties.
See also
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Structurae
International database and gallery of structures of interest to the civil engineer.
http://www.structurae.de
The American Concrete Institute (ACI)
ACI International is dedicated to improving the design, construction, manufacture and maintenance of concrete structures.
http://aci-int.org/
ISIS Canada | Intellegent Sensing for Innovative Structures
New designs for civil engineering structures using fibre reinforced polymers and fibre optic structural sensors
http://www.isiscanada.com/
Structural Integrity Monitoring Network
Web based forum for structural integrity monitoring and non-destructive testing techniques.
http://www.simonet.org/
Structural Testing Laboratory
Materials and structural testing at Ruhr-Universität Bochum.
http://www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/kib-kon/
Canadian Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute
CPCI Members have 35 plants located throughout Canada for producing the precast concrete you require for your project.
http://www.cpci.ca/
Portland Cement Association Homepage
Where cement and concrete are concerned, so is the Portland Cement Association: in contributing to a better environment, in improving our product and its uses, and in raising the quality of construction.
http://www.portcement.org/
Institute for Research in Construction
The National Research Council's Institute for Research in Construction (IRC) is Canada's construction technology centre. IRC provides research, building code development, and materials evaluation services.
http://www.nrc.ca/irc/irccontents.html
American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)
Information, news and publications (including some free to download) for structural steel design.
http://www.aisc.org/
The Tunnel Page
The longest road and rail tunnels in the world grouped by categories such as sub-sea tunnels, and immersed tubes.
http://home.no.net/lotsberg/
Forms and structures generated by identicals elements
Research dealing with generation of double curvature forms with a unique modulus: an equilateral triangle.
http://members.aol.com/equilatere
Structural Engineers Forum
Technical support forums and mutual help system. Selling and recruiting forbidden.
http://www.eng-tips.com/gthreadminder.cfm/lev2/21/lev3/68/pid/507
Civil & Structural Engineering ResourceWeb
Links to professional organizations, publications and software.
http://web.singnet.com.sg/~icyh1955/civil.html
WWW Virtual Library: Structural Engineering
Links for earthquake information, government, and standards and specifications.
http://www.virtualengineer.com/vengvlib1.htm
European Group for Structural Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence
Information on events, members and links.
http://www.strath.ac.uk/Departments/Civeng/egseaai/
iCivilEngineer - Structural Engineering
Catalogs Internet resources of structural engineering and only contains the links of technology information intensive sites.
http://www.icivilengineer.com/Structural_Engineering/
ASRANet
Network for integration of advanced structural analysis with structural reliability analysis. Public pages, links, products, research, focus groups.
http://www.asranet.com
Structural Engineering Society New Zealand
Information on SESOC activities in New Zealand. Contacts for SESOC management committee and the current calendar.
http://sesoc.org.nz
Advanced Series of Structural Engineering Training
Provides up-to-date postgraduate training in the theory and practice of structural engineering.
http://asset.civil.gla.ac.uk/
SteelStuff
Up-to-date information on the design and construction of fabricated structural steel buildings.
http://www.engr.psu.edu/ae/steelstuff/steelstuff.htm
strunet.com
Flowcharts and spreadsheets with the applicable code provisions for designing concrete elements.
http://www.strunet.com/
International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering - IABSE
Non-profit scientific society established in 1929 to promote the international exchange of knowledge in the field of structural engineering. Includes membership directory, publications, and conferences.
http://www.iabse.ethz.ch/
Wonderful world of structural engineering
Good construction practices, earthquake and cyclone resistant construction, and careers in civil engineering.
http://members.tripod.com/str_n_tips/welcome.htm
SAC Steel Project
Seeks to develop reliable, practical, and cost-effective guidelines and standards of practice for the identification and inspection of at-risk steel moment frame buildings, the repair or upgrading of damaged buildings, the design of new construction, and the rehabilitation of undamaged buildings.
http://www.sacsteel.org/
Electronic Journal of Structural Engineering
Publishes original articles and technical papers.
http://www.civag.unimelb.edu.au/ejse/
SEsite
Structural engineering software, technical publications, text books, code books, and jobs.
http://www.sesite.com/
Southern African Institute of Steel Construction (SAISC)
Promotes the steel construction industry in Southern Africa. Includes membership information, educational courses, and events calendar.
http://www.saisc.co.za/
Nova Online: Why the Towers Fell
Investigates the causes of the collapse. Includes interviews with a survivor and an engineer, information on the design of the building.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/wtc/
Dr. Qing Quan Liang
Research and publications in structural optimization, automatic generation of strut-and-tie models and steel-concrete composite structures.
http://www.geocities.com/pbo_liang/
Civil/Structural Engineering Forums and Portal
Discussion forums, news, resources, and downloads for civil and structural engineers.
http://www.cseforum.net
Findanengineer.com
Locator service for structural engineers allowing search based on specialization and location.
http://www.findanengineer.com/
Structural Design Spreadsheets
Microsoft excel spreadsheets for foundation, concrete, masonry, and wood design and lateral analysis (wind, seismic, etc.). Free download of demonstration versions with professional versions available for purchase.
http://www.engineering-international.com/
SEI Wind Effects Committee
A committee of ASCE's Structural Engineering Institute dedicated to the study of wind forces on structures and the response of structures to those forces. Site includes news and information on pertinent technical sessions at conferences.
http://www.seiwec.net
American Society of Civil Engineers - Structural Engineering Institute
Organized to advance the science of structural design through a wide range of professional activities. Includes information about constituent committees.
http://www.seinstitute.org/
Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute - CRSI
Foster the continued growth of reinforced concrete construction . Includes downloadable publications, technical resources, and information on the educational foundation.
http://www.crsi.org/
Design Failure Lessons - Hyatt Regency Hotel Catwalk Collapse
Why it happened and how it could have been avoided.
http://www.me.utexas.edu/~me179/topics/lessons/case2.html
IASS 2004 Symposium
Shell and Spatial Structures from Models to Realization. September 20-24, 2004, Montpellier, France.
http://www.IASS2004.org/
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