Everything you need to know about Structural Engineering

What Does a Structural Engineer Do?

What does a structural engineer do? We’re glad you asked! Structural engineers are the people who actually create and design drawings and specifications for structures to be built. They perform all the calculations required to make sure said structures will be sturdy and safe, while also being able to handle stress and weight loads, as mentioned earlier. Moreover, they “analyze and design the gravity support and lateral force resistance of buildings, bridges and other structures“.  More tasks that fall under the responsibility of a structural engineer include, but are not limited to: reviewing the work of other engineers to check for any errors or provide improvements, writing evaluations and reports on specified structures, as well as physically observing construction sites.

Responsibilities Include:

MyMajors.com, lists a structural engineer’s job to include:

• Analyzing blueprints, maps, reports, and topographical and geological data;
• Estimating the cost and quantities of materials, equipment and labor;
• Computing load and grade requirements, water flow rates and material stress factors to determine design specifications;
• Inspecting project sites to monitor progress and ensure the project is being constructed according to design specifications;
• Conducting studies of traffic patterns or environmental conditions to identify potential problems and assess how they will affect the project.

License Required

Structural Engineering requires a professional engineer’s license to be obtained in order to practice in the field. Licenses are acquired after the completion of a prescribed amount of schooling, work experience, and finally successfully passing a large exam. Different states may demand different requirements.

Similarly, structures in different states have different requirements. But this makes perfect sense if you think about it. Buildings in California need to be built to standards that can withstand earthquakes. While buildings in Florida, especially those on the coasts, need to be built to withstand hurricanes. Structural engineers take all of these elemental variables into consideration when designing a building; as well as when offering technical advice regarding the project.