What Fields Exist Within Structural Engineering?
My Personal Take
Hi friends, 👋👋
Structural engineering is such a big field that most engineers focus on one area in their careers.
This depends on the interests of us engineers, but also the company we work for.
Now the list of fields is my personal take on the industry and I might have forgotten one or the other.
You might also disagree with some of the points. And that is cool.
Let us know, in the comments below, how you would separate the fields of structural engineering. ✍️✍️
So let’s get into it. 🚀🚀
1. Building Engineering 🏫🏫
Most structural engineers work within building engineering, designing buildings alongside architects, MEP engineers, electrical engineers, etc.
This can be factories, new housing, office buildings, airports but also renovation projects.
In this sector, most engineers are confident in designing in concrete and steel. Depending on the company and country, knowledge about timber and masonry is also required.
2. Bridge Engineering 🌉🌉
Many people also call bridge engineering, the supreme discipline of structural engineering, because of its complexity.
Due to this difficulty, companies and individuals specialize even in the type of bridge such as suspension bridge, cable-stayed bridge, arch bridge, frame bridge, etc.)
3. Underground Structures and Geotechnical Engineering 🚇🚇
Some would now argue that underground structures and geotechnical engineering are 2 separate fields, and that might be true. However, it’s also true that they work with each other.
Tunnels, retaining walls, metro stations, anchors and struts are examples of underground structures.
However, in order to design them geotechnical properties need to be known (earth pressure, soil type, groundwater level, etc.)
4. Foundation Engineering and Geotechnical Engineering ⬛⬛
As for underground structures, foundations need to be verified for their material resistance (concrete or steel) and for their geotechnical/soil resistance.
Most engineers who specialize in building or bridge engineering can also design foundations. But in bigger companies, there are departments that specialize in foundations.
5. Wind Turbines 💨💨
Because I am living in Denmark, I have friends who work in the wind turbine industry, mostly designing the steel and geotechnical structures (foundations) of wind turbines.
With the push for more renewable energy sources, this industry is probably going to get bigger.
6. Wind Engineering 🌬️🌬️
As wind led to bridge collapses, more research has been done and people specialized in the subject.
Most experts also work in other fields, such as bridge or building engineering.
7. Earthquake Engineering ⬅️➡️
Earthquakes led to devastating collapses of buildings and other structures.
As a result, research in the area led to engineers specializing in the area.
8. Façade Engineering 🏢🏢
More architecturally complex buildings and the demand for fast construction led to this area of structural engineering - façade engineering.
Façade engineers design the prefabricated elements and connections to the structure of the building.
9. Computational Engineering 🖥️🖥️
Structural engineering couldn’t be done effectively any more without computers and software programs.
Could you calculate the internal forces of a big project by hand as quickly as finite element programs?
No.
Don’t get me wrong. Hand calculations are great for learning purposes and for checking. But it’s not scalable.
Computational engineering within structural engineering covers:
3D modelling
Finite element models
Parametric design
AI and machine learning
Etc.
Have a great day!
Laurin
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