EXPLAIN

Structural engineering — a
specialty within the field of
civil engineering — focuses on
the framework of structures,
and on designing those
structures to withstand the
stresses and pressures of
their environment and remain
safe, stable and secure
throughout their use. In other
words, structural engineers
make sure that buildings don't
fall down and bridges don't
collapse.
Basically, when Civil Engineers
design our structures, we
refer to the design of the dimensions of the buildings frame works i.e. beams, columns,
walls, footings, slabs, and trusses. We design these structural members to be able to
carry loads. What are these loads? We have dead loads, live loads, wind loads,
earthquake loads, and moving loads.
Basically, it is a Structural Engineer’s job to make sure that buildings don’t fall down.
A couple of decades ago these design computations were all done manually which would
definitely take a lot of time since there are separate computations for every beam,
column, and slab of the whole structure
Because of today’s technological advancements Structural Engineers design with the help
of software that are readily available. There are several different softwares available for
Structural Engineers. They are STAAD, ETABS, SAP2000, SAFE, and Prokon and many
more.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING IN THE PHILIPPINES
ASEP - The Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines, Inc. (ASEP) is the
recognized organization of Structural Engineers of the Philippines. Established in 1961,
ASEP has been existence for more than 50 solid years.
ASEP is known for its publications like the different volumes
of the National Structural code of the Philippines, the
approved referral codes of the Philippine National Building
Code. In ASEP’s roster of members, you will find structural
engineers of renowned structural ability, reliability and
professionalism.
NSCP – National Structural Code of the Philippines. This is
the list of codes that we as Civil Engineers in the Philippines
live by. This is basically our Bible. It contains all the
information we would need in order to design structures.

ELABORATE

STRUCTURAL MEMBERS
We as Civil Engineers are directly responsible
for a structure’s framework. It is considered the
skeleton of a building. The skeleton itself is
composed of different members each with a
different function but together serves as single
functioning unit. Concrete frame structures are
the most common type of modern building. It
usually consists of a frame or a skeleton of
concrete. Horizontal members are beams and
vertical ones are the columns. Concrete
Buildings structures also contain slabs which are
used as base, as well as roof / ceiling. Among
these, the column is the most important as it carries the primary load of the building.
 SLABS
These are the plate element and carry the
loads primarily by flexure. They usually
carry the vertical loads. Under the action of
horizontal loads, due to a large moment of
inertia, they can carry quite large wind and
earthquake forces, and then transfer them
to the beam.

BEAMS
These carry the loads from slabs and also
the direct loads as masonry walls and their
self-weights. The beams may be supported
on the other beams or may be supported
by columns forming an integral part of the
frame. These are primarily the flexural
members.

COLUMNS
These are the vertical members
carrying loads from the beams and
from upper columns. The loads
carried may be axial or eccentric.
Columns are the most important
when compared with beams and
slabs. This is because, if one beam
fails, it‘ll be a local failure of one
floor but if one column fails, it can
lead to the collapse of the whole
structure.
 FOUNDATION
These are the load transmitting
members. The loads from the columns
and walls are transmitted to the solid
ground through the foundations.

SHEAR WALL
These are important structural
elements in high-rise buildings.
Shear walls are actually very large
columns because of which they
appear like walls rather than
columns. These take care of the
horizontal loads like wind and
earthquake loads. Shear walls also
carry the vertical loads. It’s an
important point to understand that
they only work for horizontal loads
in one direction, which is the axis of
long dimension of wall.
ELEVATOR SHAFT
These are the vertical concrete boxes in
which the elevators are provided to
move up and down. The elevator is
actually contained in its own concrete
box. These shafts act as very good
structural elements which help in
resisting horizontal loads and also carry
vertical loads.
 TRUSS
A truss is an assembly of beams or
other elements that creates a rigid
structure. In engineering, a truss is
a structure that "consists of two-
force members only, where the
members are organized so that the
assemblage as a whole behaves as
a single object". A "two-force
member" is a structural
component where force is applied
to only two points.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF LOADS

This is basically what the members mentioned above carry. The types of loads acting on
structures for buildings and other structures can be broadly classified as vertical loads,
horizontal loads and longitudinal loads. The vertical loads consist of dead load, live load
and impact load.
The horizontal loads comprise of wind load and earthquake load. The longitudinal loads
i.e. tractive and braking forces are considered in special case of design of bridges, gantry
girders etc...
In a construction of building two major factors considered are safety and economy. If the
loads are adjudged and taken higher then economy is affected. If economy is considered
and loads are taken lesser then the safety is compromised.
TYPES OF LOADS on STRUCTURES and BUILDINGS
1. DEAD LOAD
The first vertical load that is considered is dead load. Dead loads are permanent or
stationary loads which are transferred to structure throughout the life span. Dead
load is primarily due to self-weight of structural members, permanent partition
walls, fixed permanent equipment and weight of different materials. It majorly
 consists of the weight of roofs, beams, walls and column etc. which are otherwise
the permanent parts of the building.
2. LIVE LOAD
The second vertical load that is considered in design of a structure is imposed
loads or live loads. Live loads are either movable or moving loads without any
acceleration or impact. These loads are assumed to be produced by the intended
use or occupancy of the building including weights of movable partitions or
furniture etc...
3. WIND LOAD
Wind load is primarily horizontal load caused by the movement of air relative to
earth. Wind load is required to be considered in structural design especially when
the heath of the building exceeds two times the dimensions transverse to the
exposed wind surface.
4. EARTHQUAKE LOAD
Earthquake forces constitute to both vertical and horizontal forces on the building.
The total vibration caused by earthquake may be resolved into three mutually
perpendicular directions, usually taken as vertical and two horizontal directions.

SOFTWARES USED BY STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS

Once the Structural Engineers have the data of loads, they can begin designing the
structure itself. Making use of the following software

Extended Three-dimensional Analysis of

Building Systems - The innovative and
revolutionary new ETABS is the ultimate
integrated software package for the
structural analysis and design of buildings.
Incorporating 40 years of continuous
research and development, this latest ETABS
offers unmatched 3D object-based modeling
and visualization tools, blazingly fast linear
and nonlinear analytical power,
sophisticated and comprehensive design capabilities for a wide-range of materials, and
insightful graphic displays, reports, and schematic drawings that allow users to quickly
and easily decipher and understand analysis and design results.

Structural Analysis and Design - Perform

comprehensive analysis and design for any
size or type of structure faster than ever
before using the new STAAD.Pro CONNECT
Edition. Simplify your BIM workflow by
using a physical model in STAAD.Pro that is
automatically converted into the analytical
model for your structural analysis. Share
synchronized models with confidence for
multi-discipline team collaboration and,
most importantly, deliver safe, cost-
effective designs.

EVALUATE

1. With what was discussed above, list down all the different dead loads and live
loads of your houses below.

2. Identify the different structural members of your houses that is visible.