What is Structural Engineering?

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 stable, safe and secure throughout their use. In other words, structural engineers make sure that bridges don’t collapse and buildings don’t fall down. 

Structural engineering theory is based upon applied physical laws and empirical knowledge of the structural performance of different geometries and materials. Structural engineering design uses a number of relatively simple structural concepts to build complex structural systems. Structural engineers are responsible for making efficient and creative use of funds, materials and structural elements to achieve these goals.

Structural engineers are responsible for structural design and engineering analysis. Entry-level structural engineers may design the individual structural elements of a structure, such as the columns and beams of a building. More experienced engineers may be responsible for the structural design and integrity of an entire system, such as a building.

Entry-level positions generally require a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering; however, a Master of Science degree or even a Master of Business Administration may be required for senior-level, research and faculty positions.

History of Structural Engineering

The history of structural engineering dates back to at least 2700 BC when the step pyramid for Pharaoh Djoser was built by Imhotep, the first architect in history known by name. Pyramids were the most common major structures built by ancient civilizations because it is a structural form which is inherently stable and can be almost infinitely scaled (as opposed to most other structural forms, which cannot be linearly increased in size in proportion to increased loads).

Throughout ancient and medieval history most construction and architectural design was carried out by artisans, such as carpenters and stone masons, rising to the role of master builder. No theory of structures existed and understanding of how structures stood up was extremely limited, and based almost entirely on empirical evidence of ‘what had worked before’. Structures were repetitive, and increases in scale were incremental.

The foundations of modern structural engineering were laid in the 17th century by Galileo Galilei, Robert Hooke and Isaac Newton with the publication of three great scientific works. In 1638 Galileo published “Dialogues Relating to Two New Sciences”, outlining the sciences of the strength of materials and the motion of objects (essentially defining gravity as a force giving rise to a constant acceleration). It was the first establishment of a scientific approach to structural engineering, including the first attempts to develop a theory for beams. This is also regarded as the beginning of structural analysis, the mathematical representation and design of building structures.

Structural Engineering Education

To become a structural engineer, you need a bachelor’s degree in civil or structural engineering. Before you earn your engineering degree, you must have a solid foundation in physics as well as specialized areas of mathematics, such as geometry, trigonometry and calculus.

It is crucial to gain knowledge in these areas, as careers in structural engineering involve the application of principles in these areas to solving real-world problems.

To lay solid groundwork for your education, you should begin by pursuing coursework in the above-mentioned areas while you’re still a high school student. If you do not gain knowledge in physics and specialized areas of mathematics before entering university, you will be behind and may find yourself trying hard just to catch up. A university education in structural engineering typically consists of coursework that applies directly to professional applications..

Students will typically study dynamics and statics, conceptual structural design, materials engineering, engineering graphics, computer aided design and structural analysis, among other engineering classes. Structural engineering students also do in-depth exploration of structural design with each of the commonly used construction materials, including steel, reinforced concrete and composites.

Many structural or civil engineering programs also require students to take classes in English or communications, as much of what structural engineers produce consists of drawings and reports, making it very important for structural engineers to have excellent written and verbal communications skills.

Structural Engineering Careers

Jobs

A structural engineer is generally located in the building industry and works alongside other professionals to create concepts to meet client needs. They usually begin as civil engineers and as they advance on their career path within the company will become promoted to other roles. A bachelor’s degree is required for the position, with many holding degrees in civil engineering or related engineering fields. Individuals with a firm holistic understanding of both the operational and physical aspects of projects tend to excel in this position.

Employment of civil engineers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2018 to 2028, about as fast as the average for all occupations. As infrastructure continues to age, civil engineers will be needed to manage projects to repair, rebuild and upgrade bridges, roads, dams, levees, airports, buildings, and structures of all types, according to the BLS.

Salaries

The top respondents for the job title structural engineer are from the companies Aecom Corporation, Kpff Consulting Engineers, Inc. and The Boeing Company. Reported salaries are highest at Northrop Grumman Corporation where the average pay is $87,634. Other companies that offer high salaries for this role include Jacobs Engineering Group Inc and The Boeing Company, earning around $79,697 and $77,322, respectively. Kpff Consulting Engineers, Inc. pays the lowest at around $63,976. Thornton-Tomasetti Group, Inc and Aecom Corporation also pay on the lower end of the scale, paying $64,799 and $69,127, respectively.

An entry-level structural engineer with less than 1 year experience can expect to earn an average total compensation (includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay) of $60,368. An early career structural engineer with 1-4 years of experience earns an average total compensation of $64,910. A mid-career structural engineer with 5-9 years of experience earns an average total compensation of $77,080. An experienced structural engineer with 10-19 years of experience earns an average total compensation of $89,882 based. In their late career (20 years and higher), employees earn an average total compensation of $102,474, according to PayScale.com.

What Do Structural Engineers Do?

Responsibilities

Some job responsibilities of a structural engineer include:

• Account for possible project challenges or constraints and proactively seek to manage challenges
• Assist other department engineers in creating practical demonstrations of proposed solutions and demonstrating them to other members of the team
• Define clear goals for all aspects of a project and develop steps for their proper execution
• Establish a framework for necessary contributions from various departments and facilitate their collaboration
• Mentor civil engineers and facilitate a holistic understanding as to the scope and plan for projects
• Provide detailed specifications for proposed solutions including time and scope involved
• Work alongside project management teams to successfully monitor progress and implementation of initiatives
• Work closely with building department within the company to ensure hardware is available for projects and working properly

Skills

Structural engineers will need to possess the following skills:

• A willingness to take responsibility for major decisions
• Excellent numeracy skills
• Excellent analytical skills
• Familiarity with computers and software programs
• Good problem-solving skills
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Good technical skills
• In-depth scientific knowledge
• The ability to work well as part of a team
• The ability to use own initiative
• The ability to pay close attention to detail
• The ability to explain complex conceptual information in simple terms
• The ability to work to tight deadlines and remain calm under pressure
• The ability to stick to tight budgets

Future of Structural Engineering

The structural engineering industry is being hit by many different changes at the moment but if you are just starting out in the industry or their career journey then they can look forward to a very exciting future of developments.

Structural engineering is one of the main parts of the construction industry. Without the qualified structural engineers, architecture wouldn’t have kept evolving and pushing the boundaries. One way to see that is by checking out the London skyline! The industry has definitely changed a lot over the past decade but what does the future hold for structural engineering?

It is difficult to see the definition of a structural engineer changing too much within the next decade. We always need an engineer’s services as they are essential to us all. Buildings wouldn’t be constructed safely without them! Of course, they will still be responsible for designing and looking into a structure that will support a building or other kind of construction.

The structural engineering sector is constantly growing and changing! The architecture has been evolving especially! There has been a real increase in buildings that are fluid and organic in recent years and this architecture is always causing new challenges for structural engineers. As the designs are becoming more complex and the architects begin to get more ambitious the engineers will find it increasingly challenging.

The ever-growing technology can be a key factor in the next few years. A structural engineer has the chance to gain new skills as the technology industry forever evolves. An engineer’s role may soon show the creative side of design too! This doesn’t mean that technology is taking over structural engineering it means that technology is allowing a structural engineer to collaborate with other experts in construction and learn their skills.

The best time to join the structural engineering industry is now, there has never been a more exciting time. The sector is in for massive development, and the job itself is to set to evolve into something that encompasses so much more than the traditional concepts of structural design. As our buildings keep getting taller and our needs change, a structural engineer will step up to the plate and show us all what a great design and creative thinking can really do.

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