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What is a Structural Engineer?

by Engineer Designer on July 8, 2010

I think most folks have a pretty good idea of and an appreciation for what Structural Engineers do. Basically, we keep things standing. We make sure that the buildings and the homes that folks use will remain in the form intended. The field extends beyond buildings. Watch the wings flex upward as your airliner leaves the runway. Most folks give it nary a thought as the wing deforms, by design, into the shape that will carry you and your travel brethren through the halls of air. It is one of those things we tend to take for granted. I do - and I am one ("I are one" as the old poem goes). I crawl into the roller coaster and give not a thought to the possibility that the thing might fail. I mount the free standing stairs, or venture out over that glass overhang at the Grand Canyon, or the Golden Gate in San Francisco, the last thing on my mind is that it could fail. Well, not exactly. I do have the faith but as an Engineer myself I must admit that I always look at the structure and try to figure out how they did it, what the likely problems were that were solved, and marvel. Structural Engineers create drawings and specifications, perform calculations, review the work of other engineers, write reports and evaluations, and observe construction sites.  They have a uniquely significant responsibility for protecting the public relative to the other design disciplines since so many safety issues ride upon their decisions. Structural engineers must ensure their designs satisfy given design criteria, predicated on safety. The theories of Structural engineering are based upon physical laws and empirical knowledge of the structural performance of different types of materials. Knowledge and performance in the field depends upon a detailed knowledge of loads, physics and materials to understand and predict how structures support and resist self-weight and imposed loads.  It depends on the knowledge of materials and their properties, in order to understand how different materials support and resist loads. A structural engineer will typically have a four or five year undergraduate degree, followed by a minimum of three years of professional practice before being considered fully qualified.  Many students who later become structural engineers major in civil, mechanical, or aerospace engineering degree programs, with emphasis in structural engineering.  My own field of study was Engineering Science and Mechanics - which was in the aerospace department Structural engineers are licensed or accredited by different societies and regulatory bodies around the world.  Usually, just prior to or shortly after completing their bachelor’s degrees, engineering majors take an exam that, once passed, affords the test taker the designation of engineer-in-training (E.I.T.). To eventually obtain the PE designation (Professional Engineer) one must obtain a passing score on the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering exam plus a passing score on 16 hours of structural engineering licensure examinations. Structural engineering specialties for buildings include:
  • Earthquake engineering
  • Façade engineering
  • Fire engineering
  • Roof engineering
  • Tower engineering
  • Wind engineering
In one form or another the field has existed since humans first started to construct their own structures dating back to to 2700 BC when the step pyramid for Pharaoh Djoser was built by Imhotep, the first engineer in history known by name.  If one looks at many of the ancient buildings, like St, Peter's Cathedral in Rome, it becomes obvious that there was quite a bit of engineering know-how in those days. I've personally marveled at the dome and  wondered how I would have solved the problems it posed to the builders of the time. The above is mostly the technical side of structural engineering. Additionally, these can be combined with skills in architectural design and construction to achieve an excellent and valuable balance in a professional. The profession is in demand in many areas where a PE seal is required on documents to obtain permits. Some folks are surprised that they need a sealed drawing just to permit a simple backyard shed. All of us rely on engineers. It is a profession well worth considering if you are considering building a career. Like all other professions, it is not difficult, as long as one can confront the basic sciences and make sure he or she never passes a word that is misunderstood. Doing so is generally the first step towards failing at a subject. Folks I have helped in mathematics were not stupid, they had just been looking the other way when a basic concept was taught and missing that link they lost out and concluded that mathematics is difficult. Is is not - if one does not skip. If you are looking do get into the profession, contact your state Engineering Society. They will be complete delighted to fill you in on the requirements and point you in the direction of a great and fulfilling field. If you need specific advice, feel free to contact me.
Structural engineers must ensure their designs satisfy given design criteria, predicated on safety (e.  Structural engineering theory is based upon physical laws and empirical knowledge of the structural performance of different landscapes and materials.  Structural engineering has existed since humans first started to construct their own structures.  Structural engineers are licensed or accredited by different learned societies and regulatory bodies around the world (for example, the Institution of Structural Engineers in the UK)[3].  Structural engineering dates back to 2700 BC when the step pyramid for Pharaoh Djoser was built by Imhotep, the first engineer in history known by name.  Structural engineering specialties for buildings include:Earthquake engineeringFaçade engineeringFire engineeringRoof engineeringTower engineeringWind engineering[edit] Earthquake engineering structuresMain article: Earthquake engineering structures.  Structural engineering depends upon a detailed knowledge of loads, physics and materials to understand and predict how structures support and resist self-weight and imposed loads.  Structural engineering depends on the knowledge of materials and their properties, in order to understand how different materials support and resist loads.  Structural Engineers create drawings and specifications, perform calculations, review the work of other engineers, write reports and evaluations, and observe construction sites.  Structural engineers have a uniquely significant responsibility for protecting the public relative to the other design disciplines.
Structural
Structural engineers must ensure their designs satisfy given design criteria, predicated on safety (e.
Construction
Construction is a dangerous pastime, and builders sometimes take undue risks in order to save time or money.  Construction experience and report writing skills are essential.
Degree
A structural engineer will typically have a four or five year undergraduate degree, followed by a minimum of three years of professional practice before being considered fully qualified.  Many students who later become structural engineers major in civil, mechanical, or aerospace engineering degree programs, with emphasis in structural engineering.  Usually, just prior to or shortly after completing their bachelor’s degrees,engineering majors take an exam that, once passed, affords the test taker the designation ofengineer-in-training.  A passing score on the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering examPassing scores on 16 hours of structural engineering licensure examinations consisting of one of the following: NCEES structural exams, 8 hours of which are the Structural II examA 16-hour, state-written structural exam taken prior to 2004The NCEES Structural II exam plus an 8-hour state-written examFour years' acceptable structural engineering experience completed after earning a bachelor's degree A maximum of 1 year of credit may be awarded for graduate engineering degrees that include at least 6 semester (9 quarter) hours of structural engineering.

Working with a non-Engineer Draftsman and Designer

by Engineer Designer on July 4, 2010

Want to talk briefly about hiring a draftsman or designer who is not a registered Engineer or Architect. There are many very excellent designers who are very capable in training, experience and natural talent to design you a beautiful home. I want to be on the record stating that I endorse this action and think you can make an excellent choice and decision if you wisely choose such a talent. I work with a few folks are are not registered professionals yet whom I consider to be extremely fine designers. Over the years we have worked up an excellent rapport and trust. I've grown to trust their work and will gladly seal their drawings after a few tweaks here and there. If these folks have designed many projects they generally have worked up a successful menu of details that will pass engineering muster. Sometime, when working with a draftsman/designer for the first time, there are a few more back and forth issues at the beginning. But these are largely ironed out over time and it becomes an excellent mutual endeavor. I've written in other articles my views and opinions of the DOT.COM E-plan world out there. These are a different situation entirely and hiring a designer/draftsman is a far better choice, in my opinion. These "stock" plans are often incomplete, void of required details and are always unsealed and can't be used to obtained permits in Florida and many other areas of the country. The problem with these folks is that getting revision is very expensive, very time consuming and quite commonly impossible. With a locally hired draftsman (drafts person actually :-)) a professional Engineer can at least work with a human being and get the plans adjusted to the required standards so he can place his seal. Normally, too, he or she, the Engineer,will want their  name somewhere on the drawings. The Engineer protects his professional position by taking control over certain aspects to the plans which meets the strict requirements of Chapter 471 (the Florida Statute which governs the engineering profession). While the Engineer Designer is an expert designer, I am always happy to work with talented and skilled designers (non-Engineers) who are experienced, have good communication, and are professional in attitude. They often produce excellent work. So if you have found a draftsman designer, and would like to work with the Engineer Designer to review and make sure the plans meet structural muster, go for it. Put us in contact and I will be happy to lend my own skills to the project. Let's face it, design and construction is a team sport.

Airport Communities

by Engineer Designer on July 3, 2010

In 2004 I decided to focus all my professional efforts into the design and engineering field. This gave me the opportunity to do something that I had dreamed of for a couple of decades - the ultimate dream of most pilots: move into an aviation community. I designed our new home and we moved into a small 25' camper trailer on our property at Love's Landing, in Central Florida, and set about building those plans into our new home.  The day we moved out of that camper and into our new, rather sparely furnished, at the time, home, was one of our happiest and most fulfilling. What is an aviation community? It is one of the real symbols of freedom to any living in the United States - pilot or non-pilot. It is a residential community, a collection of homes and hangars, owned and lived in by individuals who also own, individually or collectively as a small group, a runway or sometimes more than one runway. These individuals (and that is a very descriptive word in this case) own their own aircrafts. They keep these airplanes on their own property, in hangars (usually) and may come and go, by air, as they please. Most such neighborhoods have streets like any other place one has ever seen or lived in.  Cars go up and down the streets just as we see most anywhere in the U.S of A. But the exception is, and its a big one, that in these aviation communities the cars share the roads with airplanes. Yep - they use the same road. The airplanes have right of way so if a car and airplane are vying for the same patch of road, the car will move off the road, into a driveway or to the site, and let the airplane pass.It's a friendly act and each in the neighborhood gladly makes way for their aviation brethren. The airplanes are usually on their way to the runway to fly into the yonder, or are just returning from a trip and heading back to their home. It is an unusual sight for those not used to it. The hangars usually range from about 1500 sqft on up to 6000 sqft or so. A common size that I have observed is about 2000 sqft. These hangars become places to store an airplane or two, as well as, usually, the myriad of objects that red blooded Americans like to accumulate - with the additional aviation items and tools that pilots often need and want. Some hangars are separate to the home - some, like my own, are connected and look like they are part of the house. From the front one would scarcely know that I have a hangar. For my wife and I, this neighborhood has been a dream come true. Though living in the country and away from our families in Tampa, we feel less isolated because we can simply hop in the airplane and head down for a visit. The neighbors here are like no others I've experienced. Most communities, at least these days in America, tend to become sets of isolated homesteads - with neighbors often having only the mildest familiarity with each other. But in this community there is a camaraderie that I've never seen. The common aviation interest is the likely genesis, but we generally know and care about each other. We get together in the evenings to watch a neighbor in his or her biplane - simply congregating in our golf carts or on foot in little impromptu powwows. There is nothing like a cool October evening, sun about an hour from setting, half the community out just enjoying life, aviation, and each other's company.  Sunday's are a common time that a group from here will fly out to a breakfast destination. We also have an Experimental Aircraft Association chapter which meets on the field each month. it's nice just to walk down to one of our neighbor's hangars and meet with our friends to share or appreciation for aviation. We also have fly-ins here, a few times per year. Literally hundreds of others will fly their own airplanes in and we will join for lunch and other festivities. In my business I've found that living here has offered me the opportunity to travel throughout the state of Florida and Southeast United States. That and the internet make the delivery of my engineering and other services a breeze. Few other countries have the freedoms in aviation that we still have in this country. It is a freedom that is being fought for each day in Washington. AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) is a tireless promoter of that freedom and remains vigilant to help keep politicians from reducing those freedoms. I personally believe that private, general aviation pilots, are like the canaries in a mining cave. Watch them to see how free this country is - just as the miners watch the canaries for signs of poor air. You see the pilots, free to fly their own airplanes, free to live and fly from communities such as this, and this country can be considered to still be in relatively good shape.  See those freedoms erode, and so will go many others. If you are a pilot, you should consider living this dream. There are many sources of data of the many such communities around the country. Florida has a large number of them because of our wonderful flying weather. Just contact someone associated with such a community, you may well be invited in for a visit. I've included a little video on this blog following a routine day trip I recently took to Clearwater,  Florida.  Hope you enjoy. And if you have any questions about airport communities, give me a call or drop me a line. I can get you in contact with the right people to start your dream. I've designed many airport community homes in numerous states.  Contact me if you need help with your design.

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