To produce a safe design within budget and approved by all stakeholders, structural engineers have to review multiple alternatives for structural elements, building materials and much more. This job requires analytical ability, vision, technical knowledge and experience.
Accurate data form the basis of the design work required to produce a structure capable of withstanding all applied loads without failure over its expected service life. Reliable design requires reliable data, as well as clear communication between architect and engineer. Mutual understanding throughout the construction process is essential to align stakeholders and bring the project to a successful conclusion.
1. Data is the first step towards a common understanding of what is needed.
An architect usually sketches the initial vision of what a building, bridge or other structure should look like, including the materials to be used. But it's the structural engineer's job to transform this vision into a workable design, compliant with current regulations and capable of withstanding all applied loads without failure over its expected service life.
The structural designer works with the information available, which may sometimes be incomplete. The risk is that the design is created on the basis of information that may later change radically, and the work then has to be redone.
Right from the conceptual phases - i.e. the initial design of the building - accurate data is needed to understand the architect's vision, meet structural design code recommendations and reduce risks. The experience and technical knowledge of structural engineers are essential to translate information and data into the knowledge needed to create a reliable design. Working with 3D design intentions can help structural engineers to better understand structures so they can do their job effectively.