Structural engineering is a branch of civil engineering that is concerned with the structural

design of man-made structures. Often described as designing the ‘bones and muscles’ of
structures, these engineers need to understand the rigidity, stability and strength of both
buildings and non-building structures. This includes factors such as loading and susceptibility
to earthquakes.
Structural engineers work with architects, building services engineers and other
professionals and may be charged with supervising construction projects. In addition,
structural engineers can also be involved in the design of other assets where structural
integrity impacts function and safety, such as machinery, medical equipment and vehicles.
What Do Structural Engineers Do?
Structural engineers apply their expertise in applied mathematics, mechanics, and materials
science to assess how structures will withstand their own weight and external forces,
employing both empirical and theoretical design codes, with a focus on corrosion resistance.
They utilize specialized software for precise design and analysis, and their roles may involve
working on specific elements or entire structures, leading to specialization in areas like
bridge design or materials such as concrete and steel. Their primary objective is to ensure
that structures can endure various pressures and environmental conditions while complying
with standards, codes, and budget constraints. Working in collaboration with civil engineers
and architects, structural engineers play a crucial role in designing safe and efficient
structures, analogous to architects shaping the appearance, and structural engineers
focusing on the framework.
Structural Engineering History
Structural engineering is one of the oldest engineering disciplines, with its roots dating back
thousands of years. It emerged as a distinct profession separate from architecture during the
Industrial Revolution in the late 19th century. Before this division, architects and structural
engineers were often referred to as master builders. Some of the earliest pioneers of
structural engineering, including Imhotep, who oversaw the construction of Pharaoh
Djoser's step pyramid in ancient Egypt, are known by name. Throughout history,
construction work was primarily carried out by skilled artisans, such as stonemasons and
carpenters, under the guidance of master builders. Knowledge of how structures could
withstand loads and environmental conditions was based on experience and intuition, often
held within guilds. Over the centuries, various scientists and mathematicians, including
Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo Galilei, Robert Hooke, Isaac Newton, Leonard Euler, and more,
made significant contributions to the foundations of structural engineering. Some structural
engineers, like Gustave Eiffel, are renowned for overseeing the construction of iconic
structures such as the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty. Today, many famous structures
owe their existence to businesses or government agencies, and they continue to push the
boundaries of engineering, such as the Large Hadron Collider and the James Webb Space
Telescope.
Types of Structural Engineering Jobs
Different structural engineering jobs can be broken down by what sort of structure is being
created:
1. Building Engineering
This large area of structural engineering is closely related to architecture and involves the
engineering related to the design and function of all types of building. While architecture is
more concerned with aesthetics, structural engineering is more focused on the functional
requirements and safety of a building, ensuring that they can withstand movements or other
forces that could cause failure. This area of structural engineering includes a number if
specialities, including earthquake engineering, façade engineering, fire engineering, roof
engineering, tower engineering and wind engineering.
2. Earthquake Engineering
This specialism of building engineering is worth considering on its own. Concerned with
understanding the interaction between structures and the shaking caused by an earthquake,
this type of engineering focuses on factors such as base isolation, which allows the
structure’s base to move freely with the ground.
3. Civil Engineering Structures
These structures include bridges, dams, earthworks, foundations, offshore structures,
pipelines, power stations, railways, retaining walls and structures, reservoirs, roads, tunnels,
waterways, and more. Safety is of paramount importance here and many of these designs
need to be signed off by a chartered engineer. These types of structures often need to cope
with extreme variations in temperature, loading, pressure and more, as well as being
constructed in corrosive environments such as the sea, underground, or at industrial
facilities.
4. Mechanical Structures
Mechanical structures are those that are able to move, as opposed to being static. These
structures have to be able to withstand fatigue and variations in how the load impacts the
structure during motion. These forces can vary greatly and at a significant rate, so structural
engineers need to ensure that they can be withstood during the structure’s entire lifetime.
Mechanical structures include items such as boilers and pressure vessels, carriages and
coachworks, cranes, escalators, lifts, marine vessels and more.
5. Aerospace Structures
Aerospace structures include everything from aeroplanes (both commercial and military), to
spacecraft, missiles, and launch vehicles. These structures need to be able to withstand
different variations in temperature, pressure and loading, while often being lightweight and
stiff. Aircraft structures, for example, are frequently made using thin plates that are
supported by stiffeners, bulkheads and frames that are held together with welds, rivets,
screws and bolts.
6. Nanoscale Structures
Nanoscale structures are those that are of a size between molecular and microscopic. These
can be nanotextured, nanotubes, or spherical. Nanoscale particles are also known as
ultrafine particles (UFPs), although UFPs can be larger than nanoscale and reach up to
micrometres in size.
7. Medical Equipment Structures
Structural engineering is also used in the design of medical equipment. This includes for
diagnostic equipment, surgical equipment, and monitoring equipment. Again, safety is of
vital importance, as is the structural integrity of these items.
Structural Elements
Although there are many different applications, when taken back to the most basic level,
there are only a small number of different structural elements:

 Arches
 Beams
 Catenaries
 Columns
 Plates
 Shells
Where Do Structural Engineers Work?
Most structural engineers work in an office environment working on structural engineering
designs for construction or engineering consultancies, although others will work on site to
oversee the actual construction.
Structural engineers may be called to work on a new design or to help plan a change of use
for an existing structure. This could include adding floors or an area of expansion to a
building, ensuring that the structure is still safe and able to meet the requirements of use.
Structural engineers are also called upon if there is damage to an existing structure, whether
from corrosion, fire, flooding, or even just general wear and tear. This work will require the
engineer to visit the site and visually assess the structural integrity of load bearing elements
and suggest repairs to return the structure to a usable state.