Things to Consider In the Structural Analysis and Design Process

Structural engineering is a branch of study that is related to the design and construction of different types of structures such as the residential and commercial buildings, skyscrapers and various special structures such as the auditoriums, malls and multiplexes, tunnels, underground parking garages and flyovers etc.

Like any other engineering field, structural analysis and design is also a prerequisite for the efficient completion of any particular structural project.

Therefore, a highly skilled workforce is necessary in order to maintain all the optimum structural standards during the structural design process.

The professionals associated with the structural analysis and designs are known as the structural engineers. The basic principles that the engineers consider while developing any structural design are the strength and stability of the structures.

Some of the important parameters that the professionals calculate in the whole process are:

• The existing internal and external loads on the particular structure.
• The response of the different structural elements to the different emergency load conditions.
• Evaluation of the gross factors such as the shearing stress and the bending movements of the structural elements.
• Calculation of the effects produced as a result of the change in the existing load conditions. 
• Selecting the proper materials for the design of the various structural parts.

With the advancement in the computer technology, numerous computer-aided design tools are now being available. These software tools help in the efficient structural analysis and design in a faster way than earlier.

The computer tools greatly reduce the complexity of the designs and ultimately reduce the finish time of the projects.

The design codes play a vital role in the whole structural analysis and design process. The codes and standards to be followed in the structural projects vary according to the different geographical locations.

Hence, while designing the projects, the engineers need to be aware of all the updated structural engineering standards of the particular location they are dealing with.

With the innovation in technology, now various performances based structural analysis and design methods are being implemented in the industry so as to determine the realistic behaviour of the different structures under different load conditions such as earthquakes, volcano etc.

In this way, the structural engineers are trying to render optimum safety and sustainability to the different structures.

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Nikunj Patel is an Engineering Consultant at Outsourcing Steel Detailing (OSD). The OSD is an India based Structural Steel Detailing Service Provider firm. Nikunj is expert in steel Detailing Design, Structural Designing and Auto CAD 3D Modeling.