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What is a
Structural Engineer?
Structural
Engineer designs the structure (skeleton) of a building or bridge so that it
won’t fall down during normal use and to prevent loss of life during an
earthquake or wind force.
What is
the difference between a Civil Engineer and a Structural Engineer?
Very good question. Structural Engineering is a
discipline of Civil Engineering. Most of the Universities give
their degrees in Civil Engineering with a concentration in Structural
Engineering. In the state of California this is a title which
needs to be earned by examination. In the state of California,
"any civil engineer may practice structural engineering except in those
areas specifically restricted. The practice is restricted by laws and
ordinances enacted by State, counties, and municipalities after the
authority was established. Currently, one must be registered as a
Structural Engineer to design Hospitals and schools (primary, secondary,
junior college) and structural systems."
What’s the
difference between an Architect and a Structural Engineer?
The Architect
designs what a building will look like and the Structural Engineer designs the
structure (skeleton) of the building so that it will not fall down.
What does a
typical workday for a structural engineer involve?
A
typical workday would involve performing structural calculations, building
computer based models of the structure, drawing up supportive details, making
plan changes, interacting with the client/architect and other consultants
involved in the project. Depending on what capacity you are working in, it
might also involve supervising junior engineers working with you on the
project, coordination/generation of cad drawings etc. If your involved
is in the construction administration phase of a project, you would be
frequenting the job site to resolve construction related issues and working
with the contractor on the project. In a nutshell, a typical day calls for a
right mix of engineering, fieldwork, public relations and
decision-making.
Can I actually
visit a structural engineering office for a brief period to get a first hand
Experience?
Sure. Almost
all of the small/big structural engineering firms in southern California area
encourage this. You can call up the human resources/office manager in a firm
and she would arrange something for you. It could range from anywhere from a
few hours to a week depending upon your interest level. You could ask the
companies to show you the different facets involved with the profession and
also maybe seek an opportunity to help them out on an actual project in some
capacity.
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