2.2 Structural Design

This lesson on structural design focuses on the fundamentals of designing safe and efficient structures like buildings and bridges. It covers how engineers select materials, determine dimensions, load calculations, and design codes and standards. The lesson provides a strong foundation for understanding the principles behind structural design and their practical applications.

What is Structural Design?

Structural design ensures a structureThe organisation and order of information in a text. can safely carry imposed loads without failure, meet serviceability criteria, and maintain economic efficiency. The Eurocodes adopt a limit state design approach, this involves:

• Material selection (concrete and steel in this module).
• Structural safety checks for Ultimate Limit State, (ULS) - ensures safety under extreme loads.
• Serviceability checks for Serviceability Limit State, (SLS) - ensures usability under normal loads.