CEO

• Structural engineering is the discipline that deals with the identification of the loads that a structure may encounter throughout its expected existence, the determination of an acceptable structural configuration, the selection of the material and dimensions of the members, the definition of the assembly process, and finally the monitoring of the structure as it is assembled and possibly even during its life.
• Structures are everywhere in the built environment, including buildings, bridges, tunnels, storage tanks, and transmission line towers.
• Structural engineering ensures the safety and stability of structures before they are added in some creative designs for visual appeal.
• The National Structural Code of the Philippines (2010) defines a structure as something that is built or constructed, an edifice or building of any kind, or any piece of work artificially built up or composed of parts joined together in some definite manner.
• Structural types are also classified by makeup into frame, truss, girder/beam, arch, cable, shell, and thin shell structure.
• Critical concerns of structural engineering include ensuring that the planned structure will be sufficiently strong enough to bear its intended load and withstand possible environmental conditions.
• Structural types are classified by function into building, bridge, tunnel, tower, retaining wall, and platform.
• One of the primary concerns to a structural engineer is ensuring that the structure will not collapse when subjected to its design loading.
• Structural types include buildings, bridges, tunnels, towers, retaining walls, and platforms.
• Structural design ensures that the forces generated internally within the structure due to external loading combined satisfy the conditions for force equilibrium.
• Structural designing is based on applying the principles of physical laws and mathematics into building structures.
• A structure is an assemblage of components which are connected in such a way that the structure can withstand the action of loads that are applied to it.
• These loads may be due to gravity, wind, ground shaking, impact, temperature, or other environmental sources.
• Examples of structures employed in civil infrastructure are buildings, bridges, dams, tunnels, storage tanks, and transmission line towers.
• Structural engineering is the discipline which is concerned with identifying the loads that a structure may experience over its expected life, determining a suitable arrangement of structural members, selecting the material and dimensions of the members, defining the assembly process, and lastly monitoring the structure as it is being assembled and possibly also over its life.
• Structures differ in their makeup (i.e., the type and configuration of the components), and also in their function.
• A structure is classified according to its function and the type of elements used to make up the structure.
• Typical structures and their corresponding functions are listed in Table 1.1 and illustrated in Fig 34.
• A classification according to makeup is listed in Table 1.2 and illustrated in Fig 35.