Structural engineering is the science and art of planning, designing, and constructing safe and economical structures that will serve their intended purposes. Structural analysis is an integral part of any structural engineering project, its function being the prediction of the performance of the proposed structure. A flowchart showing the various phases of a typical structural engineering project is presented in Figure.
1- Planning Phase
The planning phase usually involves the establishment of the functional requirements of the proposed structure, the general layout and dimensions of the structure, consideration of the possible types of structures (e.g., rigid frame or truss) that may be feasible and the types of materials to be used (e.g., structural steel or reinforced concrete). This phase may also involve consideration of non-structural factors, such as aesthetics, the environmental impact of the structure, and so on. The outcome of this phase is usually a structural system that meets the functional requirements and is expected to be the most economical. This phase is perhaps the most crucial one of the entire project and requires experience and knowledge of construction practices in addition to a thorough understanding of the behaviour of structures.
2- Preliminary Structural Design
In the preliminary structural design phase, the sizes of the various members of the structural system selected in the planning phase are estimated based on approximate analysis, past experience, and code requirements. The member sizes thus selected are used in the next phase to estimate the weight of the structure.
3- Estimation of Loads
Estimation of loads involves the determination of all the loads that can be expected to act on the structure.
4- Structural Analysis
In structural analysis, the values of the loads are used to carry out an analysis of the structure in order to determine the stresses or stress resultants in the members and the deflections at various points of the structure.
5- Safety and Serviceability Checks
The results of the analysis are used to determine whether or not the structure satisfies the safety and serviceability requirements of the design codes. If these requirements are satisfied, then the design drawings and the construction specifications are prepared, and the construction phase begins.
6- Revised Structural Design
If the code requirements are not satisfied, then the member sizes are revised, and phases 3 through 5 are repeated until all the safety and serviceability requirements are satisfied. Except for a discussion of the types of loads that can be expected.
