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Structural Analysis: Classification of Structures

Structural analysis is the determination of the effects of loads on physical structures. It employs fields like applied mechanics, materials science, and applied mathematics to calculate a structure's deformations, stresses, and stability. The results are used to verify a structure's safety without physical testing. Structural analysis is key to engineering design, allowing engineers to account for loads on structures like buildings, bridges, ships, and more. Loads include both permanent dead loads from structural elements and variable live loads that change over time. Engineers must consider both types of loads as well as codes and standards when designing reliable structures.

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399 views1 page

Structural Analysis: Classification of Structures

Structural analysis is the determination of the effects of loads on physical structures. It employs fields like applied mechanics, materials science, and applied mathematics to calculate a structure's deformations, stresses, and stability. The results are used to verify a structure's safety without physical testing. Structural analysis is key to engineering design, allowing engineers to account for loads on structures like buildings, bridges, ships, and more. Loads include both permanent dead loads from structural elements and variable live loads that change over time. Engineers must consider both types of loads as well as codes and standards when designing reliable structures.

Uploaded by

KramnedOdnipac
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Structural analysis

Structural analysis is the determination of the effects of loads on physical structures and


their components. Structures subject to this type of analysis include all that must withstand loads,
such as buildings, bridges, aircraft and ships. Structural analysis employs the fields of applied
mechanics, materials science and applied mathematics to compute a structure's deformations,
internal forces, stresses, support reactions, accelerations, and stability. The results of the analysis
are used to verify a structure's fitness for use, often precluding physical tests. Structural analysis is
thus a key part of the engineering design of structures. Structures and loads[edit]
A structure refers to a body or system of connected parts used to support a load. Important
examples related to Civil Engineering include buildings, bridges, and towers; and in other branches
of engineering, ship and aircraft frames, tanks, pressure vessels, mechanical systems, and electrical
supporting structures are important. To design a structure, an engineer must account for its safety,
aesthetics, and serviceability, while considering economic and environmental constraints. Other
branches of engineering work on a wide variety of non-building structures.

Classification of structures[edit]
A structural system is the combination of structural elements and their materials. It is important for a
structural engineer to be able to classify a structure by either its form or its function, by recognizing
the various elements composing that structure. The structural elements guiding the systemic forces
through the materials are not only such as a connecting rod, a truss, a beam, or a column, but also a
cable, an arch, a cavity or channel, and even an angle, a surface structure, or a frame.

Loads[edit]
Main article: Structural load

Once the dimensional requirement for a structure have been defined, it becomes necessary to
determine the loads the structure must support. Structural design, therefore begins with specifying
loads that act on the structure. The design loading for a structure is often specified in building codes.
There are two types of codes: general building codes and design codes, engineers must satisfy all of
the code's requirements in order for the structure to remain reliable.
There are two types of loads that structure engineering must encounter in the design. The first type
of loads are dead loads that consist of the weights of the various structural members and the
weights of any objects that are permanently attached to the structure. For example, columns,
beams, girders, the floor slab, roofing, walls, windows, plumbing, electrical fixtures, and other
miscellaneous attachments. The second type of loads are live loads which vary in their magnitude
and location. There are many different types of live loads like building loads, highway bridge loads,
railroad bridge loads, impact loads, wind loads, snow loads, earthquake loads, and other natural
loads.

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