Modern Structural Engineering Challenges: Honing Structural Engineers to Be Better Professionals
During the turn of the 20th century, buildings and other structural designs were built with simple tools. But that was already a thing of the past; the process of designing structural pieces have since evolved. Today's civil and architectural engineers draw experience and knowledge based from massive amounts of research, applying to their profession the things they have learned from past failures brought upon by natural calamities and previous human assumptions that simply did not pan out. Building designs and constructions before used very simple codes and calculations. Thanks to modern advancements in structural engineering, new codes were invented, computer systems are being used and more and more challenging concepts are being encountered by those in this profession keeping them up and alert on their toes. Mentioning some examples may prove how structural engineering has advanced itself in the course of time.
Example 1: Boston City's Building Code created in 1907. It's design and structural layout were based on simplified calculations of the materials that were present during that era--a few pages of live loads which include wind and snow, earthquakes are not even included or considered, and some pretty reasonable engineering knowledge about stone and concrete foundations. Back in the day, handmade drawings were surprisingly clear and detailed; simple but sufficient. In 1910, engineers have managed to build the massive Union Station Building in Massachusetts using only 16 drawings showing its would-be structure.
Technological advancements were all being made left and right. The 1930s proved to be a productive year in terms of architectural engineering since the erection of the Chrysler Building at 1047 feet and the Empire State Building at 1200 feet. The concept of moment distribution was well applied by structural engineers on their new designs in order to create better, taller and challenging structures.
As time passes by, more and more innovations in the world of architectural engineering are taking place. The codes of practice, the standard material specifications, the computations and even how the architectural drawings are being created have all changed, but for the better. The "slide rule" was replaced by the "calculator", the building codes have expanded, and computer drafting was born displacing the use of manual drawings. Technological advancements indeed are great tools which can help existing structural engineers in california and design professionals to further push the quality of their work.
These changes admittedly advances the profession for local structural engineer. It is now up to its present practitioners and future leaders in the field to catch up with technology and make use of what they have in order to make even more better structures in the future.
Example 1: Boston City's Building Code created in 1907. It's design and structural layout were based on simplified calculations of the materials that were present during that era--a few pages of live loads which include wind and snow, earthquakes are not even included or considered, and some pretty reasonable engineering knowledge about stone and concrete foundations. Back in the day, handmade drawings were surprisingly clear and detailed; simple but sufficient. In 1910, engineers have managed to build the massive Union Station Building in Massachusetts using only 16 drawings showing its would-be structure.
Technological advancements were all being made left and right. The 1930s proved to be a productive year in terms of architectural engineering since the erection of the Chrysler Building at 1047 feet and the Empire State Building at 1200 feet. The concept of moment distribution was well applied by structural engineers on their new designs in order to create better, taller and challenging structures.
As time passes by, more and more innovations in the world of architectural engineering are taking place. The codes of practice, the standard material specifications, the computations and even how the architectural drawings are being created have all changed, but for the better. The "slide rule" was replaced by the "calculator", the building codes have expanded, and computer drafting was born displacing the use of manual drawings. Technological advancements indeed are great tools which can help existing structural engineers in california and design professionals to further push the quality of their work.
These changes admittedly advances the profession for local structural engineer. It is now up to its present practitioners and future leaders in the field to catch up with technology and make use of what they have in order to make even more better structures in the future.
