Structural Engineering Key Terms

Understand the ABC's of structural engineering

By Howard Robertson

Structural engineering is an important sub-branch of civil engineering. It deals with the evaluation, analysis, design, construction and repair of load-supporting elements of structures.

Whether you want to pursue a career in the field of structural engineering or you want to consult a structural engineer, you will need to understand various technical terms. This guide will explain key terms relating to structural engineering, such as earthquake engineering, fire engineering, tensile strength, compressive strength, columns and beams.

Earthquake engineering

Earthquake engineering is a branch of structural engineering that deals with the study of seismic loading on different residential, commercial and industrial structures. This science is related to the design, construction and maintenance of structures against earthquakes.
Try: To understand the basics of earthquake engineering, read through information at NISEE (National Information Service for Earthquake Engineering).

Fire engineering

Fire engineering (also known as fire protection engineering or fire safety engineering) deals with the preventive techniques that protect construction structures and personnel from various hazards posed by fire and smoke.
Try: The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) offers basic information about fire engineering and its scope.

Wind engineering

As the name indicates, this branch of structural engineering studies the effect of wind on different civil engineering products.
Try: For the definition of this term, read through information at CPP, Inc., a reputable company in the field of wind engineering.

Tensile strength

Tensile strength is the ability of a material to withstand longitudinal stress before it breaks. A structural engineer must be aware of the tensile strength of standard materials used in different civil engineering projects.
Try: To learn more about tensile strength and its units, read through the glossary at Granta Design Limited. In addition, you can read through the snow and avalanche glossary at CSAC.

Compressive strength

Compressive strength is the ability of a material to withstand stress and load that tends to crush it. For a structural engineer, it is very important to consider compressive strengths of different materials used for erecting the structure.
Try: For the definition of this term, you can read through the glossary of construction terms at Contractor School Online. Additionally, ConProTec (PDF) offers a glossary of technical terms, such as tensile strength and compressive strength.

Beams

A beam is a horizontal structural member that supports other loads by virtue of its internal resistance to bending.
Try: You can read through the glossary of building terms at Buildeazy.Com Ltd.. Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) also offers a glossary of technical terms, such as beams.

Columns

Unlike beams, a column is a vertical structural member that transfers loads from other structural members. A column must have sufficient compressive strength so that it does not buckle under the loads acting on it.
Try: BuildingsGuide.com Online Inc. offers definitions for various building terms, such as beams and columns. You can also read through the explanation by IDEERS, a project by the University of Bristol.