Engineering underpins our everyday existence, but most of us never think about the contributions of specialists like structural engineers. Many people don’t even realise that the buildings, bridges, roads, and other structures that we rely on daily wouldn’t exist without them.
But what exactly is it that structural engineers do? If you’re looking for a straightforward answer to this complicated question, then you’re in the right place – this blog explains everything you need to know about how structural engineering works.
What does a structural engineer do?
The main role of structural engineers is to help with designing and constructing buildings and other structures that are fit for purpose and completely safe. They also help to improve existing structures by analysing their structural integrity.
A structural engineer is an essential part of any large-scale construction or renovation project, as they make the crucial calculations for how the structure will respond to external forces. Without them, buildings wouldn’t be safe or stable.
Specific tasks that make up structural engineering work may include:
- Calculating technical loads and stresses
- Creating and testing computer models
- Preparing reports, drawings, and designs
- Developing budgets and recommending construction materials
- Obtaining planning permission/building regulation approval
- Liaising with a team of professionals, e.g. architects and contractors
- Managing projects and administering contracts
- Monitoring and inspecting construction work
- Inspecting older buildings for structural defects
- Recommending repairs for existing structures
Structural engineers face the challenge of ensuring that structures can withstand local wind loads and seismic activity, and that the foundations and reinforcing beams support their weight. This requires an in-depth understanding of physics and maths.
You probably see the results of structural engineering every day without realising it. Every multi-storey building and bridge relies on a structural engineer’s handiwork. You’ll most likely find them working for/with construction contractors, engineering consultancies, or local authorities.
The structural engineering design process
You can hire a structural engineer at any point in a project, but it’s most common to get them involved from the start. They can consider the initial plans for your structure, then carry out the required research so they can alter the design according to their findings.
Structural engineers will take into the conditions of the site location, including environmental factors, and the limitations of the construction material and method choices. They’ll then work with the architects and contractors in the project team to make sure everything is completed safely, following legal guidelines at every step and inspecting the finished structure.
When you engage a structural engineer at the very beginning, the process goes something like this:
Conceptual design
- Reviewing architect drawings.
- Considering load distribution (bearing walls, columns, and beams, roof and floor layout).
- Determining site specifications (soil, wind exposure, seismic load etc).
- Adjusting design to avoid mechanical conflicts with wiring and plumbing.
System design
- Considering top-down load path (gravity loads, lateral loads, uplift).
- Designing structural systems (roof, walls, floor, foundation and footings).
- Analysing and compiling information into construction plans.
Element engineering
- Representing accurate measurements with 2D or 3D computer software.
- Using analysis model to check defined loads (dead, live, wind, seismic, etc).
- Determining axial forces (bending, sheer, drag, combined, etc).
- Commencing initial member sizing for further design steps.
Design and drafting
- Iterative design (coding and redesigning analysis model with accurate load paths).
- Drafting and fine-tuning design until all elements meet legal code requirements.
- Creating detailed and full final structural plans for use in actual construction.
Construction admin
- Reviewing applications for approvals and construction schedules.
- Obtaining planning permissions and/or regulatory approvals.
- Monitoring construction progress and performing site inspections.
Do you need a civil engineer or a structural engineer?
If you’ve been looking for help with a construction project – by searching for structural engineers in Manchester, for example – then you might be confused about the mix of civil engineering and structural engineering services available. The truth is that the two are closely related, because structural engineers are a specific type of civil engineer.
So, whether you need structural engineering in Liverpool or civil engineering in Wigan, you’ll likely be hiring the same type of specialist. Structural engineers just happen to be experts in the impacts of physical force on construction elements, while civil engineers have a broader remit (generally assisting with the design of roads and public infrastructure).
Both types are necessary for designing and building structures that are functional and safe, they just have slightly different areas of focus. Most structural engineers work for companies offering a range of civil engineering services, anyway, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding one that works for you.
