Structural Engineering Basics

A construction material with a specific shape and chemical composition standards used in load-bearing structural elements.

A beam with an I- or H-shaped cross-section, used for load support.

The horizontal elements of an I-beam, forming the top and bottom of the 'I' shape.

The vertical element of an I-beam, connecting the flanges.

I-Beams formed by rolling metal plates through hot or cold processes.

I-Beams constructed by welding, bolting, or riveting steel plates.

The tendency of a beam to deform under load, affecting its structural integrity.

Unwanted oscillations in a beam caused by external forces, impacting its stability.

A structural steel element with a cross-section resembling the capital letter "H". It has almost the same thickness on both parallel flanges and no taper on the inside surface.

A structural steel component with a cross-section that looks like the capital letter "I". It has a slope on the inner surface of the flanges and consists of two flanges and one web.

The horizontal elements of I and H beams.

The vertical element of I and H beams. It resists shear forces, and the flanges are designed to withstand the majority of the bending moments.

A type of metal profile with a hollow tubular cross-section. Often circular or rectangular but can have elliptical or other shapes.

HSS has high resistance to lateral torsional buckling. Also referred to as tube steel or structural tubing. A HSS is sometimes mistaken for steel pipe but has different dimensions and classifications.

Widely used in welded steel frames where members experience loading in multiple directions. Square and circular HSS have uniform geometric shapes and thus uniform strength characteristics along two or more cross-sectional axes.

A HSS is made by welding three pieces together: 1. Flat steel plate is gradually shaped to a round form where edges are prepared for welding. 2. Welded edges form the mother tube. 3. Mother tube is shaped further through a series of shaping stands.

A structural column filled with concrete to improve fire resistance and structural integrity. It's often referred to as a "lolly column".

A steel bar with an L-shaped cross-section, commonly used in construction.

A steel bar with a U-shaped cross-section, used for structural support.

A steel shape resembling the letter 'T', used in construction.

A steel profile with an asymmetrical 'I' beam shape, often used in railway tracks.

A strong steel girder built from plates and angles, joined by welding or riveting.

The temperature at which steel transforms to austenite crystal structure, depending on carbon content.

External insulation applied to structural steel to prevent weakening during a fire.

A type of welded connection where the edges of two pieces of metal are joined by a groove, forming a strong and durable joint.

A type of welded connection where the two joining surfaces are butted together, and the joint is filled with molten metal.

Indicates the location of the weld on a drawing: arrow side, other side or both sides of the joint.

A type of weld used to connect two pieces of metal at a right angle.

A welded connection where a triangular shaped fillet of weld metal is deposited at the corner.

Artificial stone made from cement, water, sand, and gravel, used for construction.

Concrete that has steel bars embedded within it to enhance its tensile strength.

The ratio of water to cement in a concrete mix. Lower ratios result in stronger concrete.

The process of allowing concrete to harden and gain strength after pouring.

The ability of a material to resist being pulled apart or stretched. Concrete is weak in tension.

The ability of a material to resist being crushed or compressed. Concrete excels in compression.

The process of applying heat to concrete to accelerate its hardening and gain strength.

The age of concrete significantly impacts its strength. It gains strength over time.

Supported at both ends, one end pinned and the other either pinned or with rollers. Experiences bending, shearing, and sometimes translational moments.

Both ends are fixed, restricting rotational movement.

Similar to a simply supported beam, but one end extends beyond the support.

The unknowns (forces) are equal to the number of equations.

The number of unknowns exceeds the number of equations.

A porous material used in concrete to create lightweight floor and roof structures and for fireproofing. It can be easily identified by its porous texture that resembles sponge-like structure.

A concrete type produced from blast furnace slag, often used for creating lightweight concrete because of its inherent weight reduction properties.

Materials added to concrete to enhance its properties, such as workability, setting time, and water resistance.

Concrete containing minute air bubbles, increasing its resistance to frost damage. It improves the durability of concrete in freezing temperatures.

The process of maintaining favorable conditions for newly placed concrete, such as controlled temperature and moisture, to gain strength.

The ease with which concrete can be placed and shaped into desired molds without losing its integrity. Think of fluidity.

The ability of a concrete structure to function under intended loads without major deformations or cracking.

Cracks that appear in a structure due to immediate loading, long-term shrinkage, and temperature variations. They indicate the structure's ability to withstand the stress under varied conditions.

A type of beam supporting the roof load between larger structural elements, like trusses.

A sloping beam carrying the load from purlins or roofing materials.

A beam placed horizontally above a window or door opening, supporting the weight of the wall above.

A closely spaced beam used to support a floor, often used to carry flooring.

A beam placed between columns, supporting both the floor and the curtain wall.

The lowest beam in a building without a basement, often resting directly on the ground.

A structural member that primarily supports axial loads at its ends, often slender and rigid.

A column with an unsupported height less than 10 times its smallest width, failing primarily by crushing under load.

A column with an unsupported height exceeding 10 times its smallest width, failing primarily by buckling under load.

The sudden sideways or twisting instability of a slender member under compression, happening before it yields.

The ratio of a column's effective length to its least radius of gyration, indicating the risk of buckling. Lower is better.

The distance between the points of inflection in a buckling column, affecting its buckling load.

The additional bending moment on a structural member due to its axis deviating from the compressive force line. It helps prevent tensile stresses.

A rule stating that a compressive load applied within the middle third of a column's cross-section prevents tensile stresses.

A reinforced concrete column where the vertical reinforcement is held in place by individual lateral ties (like a cage). These ties prevent the vertical bars from buckling.

A reinforced concrete column with continuous spiral reinforcement encircling a circular core. The spiral acts like a spring, confining the vertical bars and providing extra strength.

A reinforced concrete column that combines steel shapes (like I-beams) with concrete. It can incorporate steel tubes filled with concrete, known as 'lally columns.'

A column with structural steel encased in concrete. It has a minimum concrete thickness of 7 cm (2.8 inches) and wire mesh around the steel.

A fabricated post made of steel with a flat bar or plate for attaching beams. The steel pipe may be filled with concrete for extra strength and rust prevention.

The ratio of the area of the steel reinforcement (As) to the total area of the concrete column (Ag). It must be within a certain range to ensure adequate strength and prevent excessive steel.

The minimum number of vertical reinforcing bars required in a column based on its shape. This ensures adequate distribution of forces.

Columns with a height less than three times the least lateral dimension. They can be reinforced or plain concrete and are used to transfer loads from smaller areas to a wider base.

Columns that experience initial material failure (crushing) before buckling. Their load capacity is determined by the cross-section size and material strength.

Columns that are more prone to buckling due to their increased length. They are designed to withstand bending forces caused by their slenderness.