What is Structural Engineering?

Structural engineering is one of the most important roles in the construction process. 

In fact, every piece of architectural brilliance, from the iconic Empire State Building in New York to the Burj Khalifa (the world’s tallest building in Dubai), would not have been possible without the marvels of structural engineering.

But exactly what is structural engineering, what is a structural engineer and what do they do?

Well, in this article the team here at IKT Consulting are going to be answering that precise question, providing you with a comprehensive overview of the role of a structural engineer and helping you to understand why they’re so vital to every construction process.

Structural engineering is one of the most important roles in the construction process. 

In fact, every piece of architectural brilliance, from the iconic Empire State Building in New York to the Burj Khalifa (the world’s tallest building in Dubai), would not have been possible without the marvels of structural engineering.

But exactly what is structural engineering, what is a structural engineer and what do they do?

Well, in this article the team here at IKT Consulting are going to be answering that precise question, providing you with a comprehensive overview of the role of a structural engineer and helping you to understand why they’re so vital to every construction process.

What Is Structural Engineering?

Whether you’re building a new structure, upgrading an existing one or making significant repairs or renovations, a structural engineer is almost always necessary. 

Structural engineering is a type of civil engineering that is crucial when it comes to building man-made structures such as residential properties, commercial offices, skyscrapers, and pretty much any type of building you see out in the world. A structural engineer is fundamentally responsible for ensuring that a structure is stable, strong, structurally sound and, above all, is not going to collapse or fall down. 

Usually, a structural engineer will work alongside architects during the design process but it is also common for them to be brought on board a project later down the line to ensure what is being built is safe. With this in mind, it’s commonplace to see structural engineers on building and construction sites overseeing projects. 

Every structural engineer will have a thorough knowledge and understanding of physics, mathematics and science which helps them to assess structures and come to a conclusion about whether they are safe or need additional safety measures installed. They will also understand the context of a project. For instance, if it is a new sports, gymnastics or dance venue being built it is important the floor does not vibrate when exposed to heavy footfall as it’s likely these buildings will see a lot of energetic activity. 

Sometimes, a structural engineer will be brought in to review an existing structure. This is often the case when a building is being renovated or amended in some way. In these instances, a structural engineer will often produce a structural engineer report. This report will outline all of the engineer’s findings including any recommendations or safety measures that need to be implemented.  

Benefits Of Structural Engineering 

While making use of a structural engineer is often a necessary part of a construction project, they can also provide a wide range of benefits that make the work easier. 

Primarily, they are there to analyse structures to ensure they are safe, durable and stable, however, they can offer a variety of advantages including:

Safety assurance

First and foremost, a structural engineer is there to make sure structures are safe for occupants and those who are going to use them. This process involves assessing potential risks, taking into account the loads, forces and design structures that may need to be put in place to withstand them. The importance of this cannot be understated as these are the things that, ultimately, stop a building from collapsing and other structural failures from occurring. The safety of all occupants and users is in the hands of the structural engineer. 

Ensures compliance with legal codes and standards

As well as the practical and safety aspects a structural engineer can help with, they also play an important role when it comes to ensuring you and your project are compliant with the necessary legislation and legal requirements that come with the construction of a new building. Every structural engineer is well-versed in the various building codes and standards that come with a construction project, and they will ensure the project complies with these, safeguarding those who work on the project as well as the public and future occupants or users of a new building.  

Design

Structural engineers can also assist with the design of a building, contributing to its final appearance and aesthetic. They’ll consider the best materials to use, the best way to design a building based on structural integrity concerns and even help to reduce costs without impacting the safety of a build.

Sustainability

With sustainability and environmental practices now often a requirement on any new building project, a structural engineer can help to ensure this factor is considered. They will account for energy efficiency and the use of eco-friendly materials to ensure new developments that require a sustainable approach can do so without adversely impacting safety. 

Reduced Risk

In a similar vein to overseeing the entire safety of a new building, structural engineers will help to mitigate any risks. The analysis they perform can identify weak points or problem areas that could potentially cause a structural failure. With this in mind, builders can intervene and make any necessary modifications.

Structural Engineering Roles 

Unlike some construction roles where the same or similar tasks are performed, structural engineers wear many hats and are required to act as specialists in a whole host of different areas in order to ensure a safe and structurally sound project. 

This includes the following:

Safety experts 

The most important aspect of every structural engineer’s job is building safety.

In particular, they’ll be aware of what is needed for a building and its infrastructure to be robust, durable and stable and the various procedures that must take place to stop it from falling down or collapsing. This includes considering environmental concerns and, in some cases, natural disasters. 

As part of this role, they are required to have a thorough understanding of all the necessary building and safety regulations and remain up-to-date with any changes. 

Designers 

In addition to the practical aspects of a build, most structural engineers also work as designers on a project. This means they will help to design a building that is structurally safe at all times, while still remaining true to the provided brief. 

Buildings and structures will need to be in place for many decades or even centuries, and during the design process, it is important a structural engineer is involved to recommend the best materials and process to ensure this type of longevity can be achieved. 

Problem solvers    

Another important role that a structural engineer needs to perform is that of a problem solver. 

As anyone who works in the world of construction will be well aware, it is rare for projects to run completely smoothly. There are often a few hiccups along the way and it often falls to the structural engineer to come up with a solution. This is usually where their mathematical or scientific expertise comes into its own as this often provides the basis of how to solve the issue. 

Types Of Structural Engineering

As well as the different roles a structural engineer may be required to perform during a project, there are also some specific types of structural engineering that people often decide to specialise in.

Let’s take a look at a few of the main areas of the discipline. 

Building engineering 

Perhaps the biggest and most popular area of structural engineering is building engineering. 

This facet of structural engineering is comparable with architecture, but whereas architecture is primarily focused on the aesthetics of a building and what it will look like, building engineers will be more concerned with its functionality and usability. This will include safety and whether the design is suitable to withstand external forces and environmental conditions such as wind. 

Building engineering can also be broken down into several more specialist areas such as facade engineering, fire engineering, tower engineering and more. 

Earthquake engineering 

One of the biggest causes of a building collapse is earthquakes. While Asia, and Japan in particular, are more susceptible to earthquakes than Europe and the UK, it is still necessary to consider how a building will perform if a quake occurs. 

Earthquake engineers will consider what needs to be in place to give the building the best chance of protection in the event an earthquake happens. A large part of this type of engineering is focused on the base of a building and allowing a structure’s base to freely move if the ground below is also moving. 

Civil engineering structures 

It’s not just buildings where structural engineers are required. Bridges, dams, offshore structures, pipelines, power stations and a whole host of other civil and industrial structures must be safe and structurally sound. 

This is where civil engineering structure experts come in.

It’s their job to enhance safety in these areas and ensure they are able to cope with temperature changes, heavy loads, corrosion and more. 

At IKT Consulting, we are structural engineering experts who provide a wide range of professional services to the construction industry. Our client sectors include homeowners, landlords, building developers, commercial, education, healthcare, and other industries.

From structural engineer reports to inspections and calculations, we can provide you with a comprehensive overview of your next project to ensure it is safe and structurally sound. Contact our expert team today to find out more.