structural engineering
Building strength discipline
Structural engineering is the branch of engineering concerned with designing buildings, bridges, and other structures to withstand the forces acting on them—gravity, wind, earthquakes, the weight of occupants and contents.
Structural engineers calculate loads and stresses to ensure a structure won't collapse or deform unacceptably.
The discipline sits at the intersection of physics, materials science, and architecture.
Pressure, mental or vocal
- strainExcessive stretching force
- torsionRotational strain force
- compressionForcing into smaller space
- tensionStretched or strained state
shear · deflection · buckling · fatigue · fracture · deformation · elasticity · plasticity
Structure spanning an obstacle
- damWater-holding barrier
- tunnelEnclosed underground route
- highwayMajor road for travel
- railwayTrack system for trains
viaduct · aqueduct · retaining wall · culvert · pier · abutment · span · suspension bridge
Solid building mixture
- steelCarbon-hardened iron alloy
- timberWood for construction
- rebarSteel strengthening concrete
- reinforced concreteCement with steel bars
masonry · carbon fiber · alloy · weld · bolt · rivet · aggregate · grout
Structural support member
- columnVertical structural element
- trussLoad-bearing beam arrangement
- girderMain structural support beam
- joistHorizontal structural beam
lintel · pier · buttress · arch · cantilever · rafter · strut · framework
Permanent structural weight
Substances reacting to stimuli
- 3D printingCreating objects by depositing layers
- biomimicryDesign imitating natural systems
- grapheneMonolayer carbon hexagonal lattice
- aerogelsExtremely light porous solids
Device reducing vibration or flow
- ductilityAbility to stretch unbroken
- liquefactionConversion to liquid state
- seismic zoneEarthquake-prone geographic area
- diaphragmMuscle separating chest, abdomen
stress
Pressure, mental or vocal
- strainExcessive stretching force
- torsionRotational strain force
- compressionForcing into smaller space
tension · shear · deflection · buckling · fatigue · fracture · deformation · elasticity · plasticity · statics
bridge
Structure spanning an obstacle
railway · viaduct · aqueduct · retaining wall · culvert · pier · abutment · span · suspension bridge · arch bridge
concrete
Solid building mixture
reinforced concrete · masonry · carbon fiber · alloy · weld · bolt · rivet · aggregate · grout · formwork
beam
Structural support member
- columnVertical structural element
- trussLoad-bearing beam arrangement
- girderMain structural support beam
joist · lintel · pier · buttress · arch · cantilever · rafter · strut · framework · skeleton
dead load
Permanent structural weight
smart materials
Substances reacting to stimuli
- 3D printingCreating objects by depositing layers
- biomimicryDesign imitating natural systems
- grapheneMonolayer carbon hexagonal lattice
damper
Device reducing vibration or flow
- ductilityAbility to stretch unbroken
- liquefactionConversion to liquid state
- seismic zoneEarthquake-prone geographic area
- engineeringblueprint, project manager, computer science, R&D, schematic
- civil engineeringbridges, highways, tunnels, foundations, dams
- engineering servicesconsulting, construction management, project management, feasibility studies, building design
- structural engineeringstress analysis, shear forces, load bearing, girders, steel beams
- building engineeringload bearing, steel framing, reinforced concrete, cantilevers, retaining walls
- earthquake engineeringseismic waves, liquefaction, seismic risk, dampers, ductility
structural engineeringarchitecture
Building design discipline
architectural design · aesthetic design · ornamental design · interior design · decorative arts
structural engineeringaesthetics
Theory of beauty
artistic expression · intuitive design · conceptual design · conceptual art
structural engineeringdemolition
Deliberate structural destruction
deconstruction · wrecking · implosion · dismantlement · kinetic art
structure, engineer, infrastructure, structured, engineering, structural, structures, engineers, restructure