subject: Industrial property The Impact of Structural Engineers [print this page] Industrial property The Impact of Structural Engineers
Structural engineering is a critical but little known aspect of any construction project. Structural engineers are responsible for all phases of the structural design of a project. The design directly affects the longevity of a structure which is directly related to its sustainability. Structures that last longer require less frequent replacement, less construction, fewer materials and in the end are more sustainable.Structural engineering is critical to any project and in everyday life, people travel into, over, and through the results of projects that are designed and implemented by a structural engineer. Buildings, bridges, and tunnels are just some of the examples of such projects.A structural engineer must account for many different factors in the design, the climate and the loads placed on the structure. Wind, snow, and shifting ground are just some of the natural factors that come into play. When the World Trade Center was being built in New York City, structural engineers had to devise a means to keep the local rivers from undermining the integrity of the towers.Nothing of their size had ever been constructed before and many potential solutions were merely theoretical. The structural engineer who was in charge of the project created a means of using sludge walls to hold out the water and protect the interior of the massive towers footprints. Then, as if that were not enough, they were required to consider the effect the wind would have on the buildings themselves.A structural engineer faces many obstacles from the beginning of any project. This requires a great deal of foresight, education and imagination. This fact is especially true in certain geographical regions. In Florida for example, a structural engineer has to consider the force of high winds and rains on any structure due to the risk of hurricanes. The highly saturated ground of that state must also be taken into account.Longevity is an important part of any large construction project. Millions of dollars are at stake. The building must last. That is why structural engineers are so important. Their expertise can help ensure that nature and time will have minimal effect on their projects. They also are required to take into consideration the natural flexibility of buildings. Some level of flexibility and give required, but too much can have cataclysmic effects.A structural engineer must consider many variables and they do so by surveying the location and studying historic models. When a bridge is being designed, it needs a certain level of flexibility but not too much or it becomes unsafe to travel across. It must also withstand regular vibration without weakening joints or components. Structural engineering is what makes these structures safe.A structural engineer is critical to any modern construction project. Structural engineering was critical in many of historic projects such as the pyramids or the Roman Coliseum. As modern society embraces sustainability, an experienced engineer and their team, will become even more important.
