Structural Engineering Basics

The branch of engineering that focuses on analyzing and designing structures to support external loads.

A structure where the equations of equilibrium are sufficient to determine all forces acting on it.

A structure where the equations of equilibrium alone aren't enough to determine all forces. Additional equations are needed.

Structures made of interconnected elongated members, like beams and columns. Examples are truss frames and rigid frames.

Structures made of plates or sheets that carry loads. Examples include airplane shells, tanks, and ship hulls.

An alloy of iron, carbon, and other elements. Its strength and hardness increase with carbon content.

Steel with a low carbon content, making it malleable and easy to work with.

Steel with a higher carbon content than mild steel, making it stronger and harder.

Steel containing small amounts of copper, improving its corrosion resistance.

Steel sections manufactured in mills and used as structural members. Their shapes are determined by their cross-section.

I-shaped steel sections typically used as beams and columns, designed for resisting bending moments and shear forces.

U-shaped steel sections used as beams and columns, ideal for connecting other sections, but prone to twisting.

T-shaped steel sections, used for connecting brackets to columns and for creating strong joints.

L-shaped steel sections used as connecting elements and for resisting both axial and transverse forces.

Round or square steel bars used as ties and bracing elements within structures.

Hollow cylindrical steel sections used as efficient compression members and tension members in tubular trusses.

Flat strips of rolled steel used for lacing built-up columns and acting as tension members or stays.

The weight of the structure itself, including walls, floors, and roofs. It's a constant load and is usually calculated using unit weights of materials.

Loads that vary in magnitude and position, including the weight of people, furniture, and movable equipment.

A transient load caused by wind pressure, it varies with factors like height, terrain, and the structure's shape.

A vertical load caused by the weight of accumulated snow, which depends on latitude, humidity, and the roof's shape.

The force exerted by an earthquake on a structure, causing vibrations and potential damage. It depends on the structure's location and the ground's movement.

The force a structure experiences due to expansion or contraction caused by changes in temperature. It can influence stress distribution within the structure.

The force per unit area within a structural member that resists deformation. It's caused by the applied load.

The extension of a material per unit length when subjected to tensile force. It's a measure of how much it deforms.

The stress experienced by a material under direct axial tensile load. It's calculated using the net cross-sectional area.

The stress experienced by a material under direct axial compressive load. It's calculated using the gross cross-sectional area.

The stress experienced by a material when a load is transferred from one surface to another. It's calculated on the projected area of contact.

The maximum allowable stress a material can experience in service without causing permanent damage.

A factor used to divide the yield stress of a material to determine the working stress. It accounts for uncertainties in material strength, loads, and construction.

A permanent mechanical joint used to connect two metal pieces. It involves heating a rivet and driving it into holes in the plates.

The distance between two consecutive rivets along the same row, measured parallel to the direction of force.

The distance between two rivets in two adjacent rows, measured perpendicular to the direction of force.

The strength of a rivet in shear calculated using its gross diameter and the maximum permissible shear stress.

The strength of a rivet in bearing calculated using its gross diameter, thickness of the thinnest plate, and the maximum permissible bearing stress.