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Introduction to Structural
Engineering

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Outline
Objective of Structural Engineering
Structural Engineering Process
Types of loads
Types of structures
Load paths in structures
Summary
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Civil Engineering Subdisciplines

structural
geotechnical
environmental
transportation
construction

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Objectives of Structural
Engineering
Structural engineering is the science and art of
designing and making, with economy and
elegance.
Buildings,

bridges,

frameworks,

and

other

structures so that they can safely resist the forces

to which they may be subjected.
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Structural Engineering Process

Determine types magnitudes of loads
Determine structural context
geometric and geological information
cost / schedule / height/ etc.
Generate alternative structural systems
Analyze one or more alternatives
Select and perform detailed design
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Implement (usually done by contractor)

Load
A load is a force that is supported by a structural element.
The loads on structure are classified as vertical or gravity
loads, and longitudinal loads.

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Types of loads
Dead loads
Live loads
Dynamic loads (e.g., trains, equipment)
Wind loads
Earthquake loads
Thermal loads
Settlement loads
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Dead load
Live load
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Impact load

Wind load
Earthquake load

Moving load
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Dead Loads
weight of the structure itself
floors, beams, roofs, decks, beams/stringers,
superstructure
loads that are always there

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 Dead load in a building includes, the weight of all permanent constructions,

like
Floors
Roofs
Walls
Partition walls
Beams
Column
Footings, etc.
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 The loads shall be assumed by estimating the quantity of

each material and then multiplying it with the unit weight.
The unit weights of various materials used in building
construction are given in the code IS: 875-(part-1)-1987.
The unit weight of commonly used materials are given in
the below table:

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Unit weight of building materials

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Sr . No. Material

Unit Weight

PCC

24 KN/m

RCC

25 KN/m

Brick masonry

20 KN/m

Granite stone masonry 24 KN/m

Earth (soil)

16-17 KN/m

Steel

78.5 KN/m

Water

10.0 KN/m

Wood

8.5 KN/m

A.C. sheets

0.130 KN/m

10

G.I. sheets

0.120 KN/m

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Live Loads
People, furniture, equipment
Loads that may move or
change mass or weight
Minimum design loadings
are usually specified in
the building code
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 The load which are not steady, but keep on changing position

from time to time are called imposed loads, for example,

Weight of persons
Cars
Furnitures
It is one of the major load in the design. The minimum values

to be assumed are given in IS: 875-(Part-II)-1987.

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 The code gives the values of loads for the following occupancy classification:
Residential building: Dwelling houses, hotels, hostels, apartments, etc.
Assembly building: theatres, city halls, town halls etc.
Business building: banks, court houses, libraries etc.
Office building: administration, telephone etc.
Educational building: school, college, hospital etc.
Mercantile building: shops, stores, market etc.
Industrial buildings: power plants, factory, mills etc.

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MINIMUM

LIVE LOAD

Sr. Occupancy
No.

Mini. Live load

in KN/m

Residential buildings, hospitals

2.0

Office, small work space

2.50

Banks, reading rooms

3.0

Assembly halls, restaurant, class

rooms

4.0

Warehouse, work shop, factor, store

room

5.0-10.0

Stairs , balcony

3.0-5.0

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Load Example: Live Load in Class room

Class room

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Live Load = 100 lb/ft^2

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Dynamic Loads

Moving loads (e.g. traffic)

Impact loads
Gusts of wind
Loads due to cycling
machinery

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Load Example: Dynamic Load

HVAC
F
t

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Load Example: Water in a dam

Water,
= density

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p = gh

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Earthquake Loads
Structure loaded when base is shaken
Response of structure is dependent on the
frequency of motion
When frequencies match with natural
frequency of structure - resonance

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Load Example: Earthquake Load

Earthquake Load

Earthquake Load

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Base Motion

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 Wind load is considered in design of tall buildings.

The force exerted by the horizontal component of wind is to
be considered in the design of buildings.
It depends upon the velocity of wind and shape and size of the
building.
Complete details of calculating wind load on structures are
given in IS:875 (Part-3)-1987.
Depending upon the locality of the structure, basic wind speed
( Vb ) may be obtained from appendix-A or colour map of
India given in the code.
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Settlement

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Some Types of Structures

Arch
Planar Truss
Beam/Girder
Braced Frame
Rigid Frame
Space Truss
Cable Suspended Structure

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Arch

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Planar Truss

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Beam/Girder

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Frames
Braced

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Rigid

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Cable Suspended Structure

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Cable Stayed Bridge

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Load Paths in Structures

Load Path is the term used to describe the path by
which loads are transmitted to the foundations
Different structures have different load paths
Some structures have only one path
Some have several (redundancy good)
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Load Path in Framed Structure

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Summary
Structural Engineering:
identifies loads to be resisted
identifies alternatives for providing load paths
(arch, truss, frame, ...)
designs structure to provide safe and economical
load paths (material, size, connections)
to be economical and safe, we must be able to
predict what forces are in structure.
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