Structural engineering is a discipline under civil engineering which deals with the skeleton of man-made structures. Structural consultants use their expertise in structural engineering to design buildings or non-buildings. Industrial projects have components like buildings, load-bearing structures, foundations, bridges, road crossings for utilities etc. The structural design for these components is also in the scope of an industrial structural consultant.
What do structural consultants do?
The structural consultants use their knowledge about stability, strength, rigidity and seismic susceptibility to create an optimized design. Additionally, they work in tandem with consultants of other disciplines to meet project goals. Furthermore, in industrial projects, structural consultants also are involved in designing machinery, medical equipment, and vehicles where structural integrity affects functioning and safety.
Loads
The structural consultant analyses the loads to be applied. The loads considered are as follows:
- Vertical/ Gravity loads: These loads include the weight of building components like walls, flooring, mechanical system etc.
- Horizontal/ Lateral Loads: These loads include wind, explosions, earthquakes etc.
The structural consultant designs the load-bearing components of man-made structures. The structural design consultant then runs the structure on software for testing the performance. Furthermore, the structural consultants look for ways to optimize structural efficiency while efficiently using funds, structural elements and materials.
Activities for structural consultants in industrial projects
In an industrial project, there are many activities. However, the following activities need the services of a structural consultant:
- Analysis and design of the structure
- Seismic assessment
- Structural steel detailing and evaluation
- Design of foundations
- Stress & failure analysis
- Concrete design and analysis
- Design and detailing of Pre-engineering building
- Construction detailing and drawings
- Proof checking
- Evaluation of soil test report
- Bar Bending Schedule
- Shop drawings and Part numbers
- Steel erection layout
- Roof truss shop drawings and erection drawings
- BOM – Bill of Materials
- Erection drawings for steel structures
- Connection drawings and blown up details
- Quantity Estimation
- As-Built Drawings
To conclude, for industrial projects, be it a greenfield or a brownfield project, the role of structural consultants is essential. Furthermore, their expertise is needed for projects where the structure has to be rehabilitated. The structural design consultant’s role in industrial projects cannot be overlooked.
