The process of developing a solution based on a project brief provided by the client and drafting construction instructions is known as structural and mechanical engineering design services. During this procedure, the design contractor has to consider things like money, regulations, climate, and aesthetics. Typically, these groups will consist of multiple engineers and an architect.

A thorough building structure design is quite helpful for construction management. Apart from making it easier for the general contractors to obtain the necessary permissions, the design facilitates improved planning, more precise cost estimations, and transparent communication.

7 Stages of Structural Design of Building

A building's structural design is an essential procedure that guarantees the structure can bear all the loads it will encounter in its lifetime. Although it is a multi-step, intricate procedure, most buildings' general framework is the same. Below is a summary of the essential actions.

1. Abstract Design

To establish a structural design for the building plan, a structural design engineer will first examine the drawings made by the architects. In conjunction with mechanical engineering design services, the engineer will explore the different areas within the residential, commercial, or industrial building. The site's conditions are assessed when designing structures, considering factors like the soil report, exposure type, and wind load.

Following establishing environmental elements, engineers preliminarily create architectural components, such as floor plans, walls, and roofs, using architectural drawings to design structural steel buildings. After locating and arranging for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing conflicts, footings, slabs, load-bearing walls, beams, and columns are designed.

2. Load Calculation

An analysis by a structure engineer should be performed on all possible loads that a building may encounter in its lifetime. As a result, you must consider the different loads according to where your construction is located. By studying the proper structural design codes and references, you may determine the values of these loads.

In the real world, multiple loads act simultaneously on the building. Architectural design services ensure the entire load is considered when designing and drawing constructions. A load analysis involves determining which load combinations are the worst for your structure.

3. Structural Investigation

Structural engineers are responsible for analyzing the structural components. This analysis includes responses from load combinations, bending moments, and regular and torsion stress diagrams. Both primary and complex structural analyses are performed using Building Information Modeling (BIM) software, such as Autodesk Revit.

4. System Design

After completing the structure's preliminary design, the structure engineer will focus on designing the system from the top down. A thorough understanding of the structure's load path is necessary, with particular emphasis on the impacts of uplift, sideways stresses, and gravity loads on the many components that make up the structure. The engineer will start the initial designs of the various structural systems once they have a broad idea of the structure's load path.

5. Feature Detailing

The precise dimensions and intricate design of the structural components are provided through architectural design services. The structural engineer will conduct comprehensive member analysis for specific spans, including projecting the loads applied to the roof. Careful preparation of the steel connection details can significantly reduce construction costs.

6. Design and Drafting

Structural engineers refine the structural design using the technique. Revit offers integrated analytic tools and support for a wide range of CAD and BIM programs, assisting project teams in gaining insights and leveraging data to achieve outcomes. As a result of its change, the more precise load paths are now included in the structural analysis model.

7. Building Administration

Structural contractors must guarantee that the construction and design of the building align with the construction shop drawings. Therefore, efficient construction administration is needed for a structure to be structurally stable. In the later phases of the building process, the engineer is often requested to examine delayed requests for information, obtain code approvals, and create construction schedules.

Engineers will ensure that the building is constructed in compliance with the structural plan and monitor the development process on behalf of the customer. They will also regularly visit the site to ensure that construction is proceeding as planned and that no mistakes have been made in the product installation.

Final Takeaway

The primary goal of structural analysis and design is to build a residential, commercial, or industrial structure that can withstand all applied loads without failing over its lifetime. Structural engineers use a simplified, step-by-step procedure to design a structurally sound structure by integrating mechanical engineering design services. BIM tools such as Autodesk Revit further reduce the structural analysis and design process.