Concrete project (civil engineering field)

The structural system we visited was tensile structures and compressive structures. Members of tensile structures are subjects to pure tension under the action of external loads. Because the tensile stress is uniformly distributed over the cross-sectional area of members, the material of such a structure is utilized in the most efficient manner. Compression structures develop mainly compressive stresses under the action of axial loads. Because compressive structures are susceptible to buckling or instability, the possibility of such a failure should be considered in their designs if necessary, adequate bracing must be provided to avoid such failures.

Structural components are beams, columns, and concrete slabs. Beams are a structural element that is capable of withstanding load primarily by resisting bending. The bending force induced into the material of the beam as a result of the external loads, own weight, span and external reactions to these loads is called a bending moment. Concrete slabs are a common structural element of modern buildings. Horizontal slabs of steel reinforced concrete, typically between 4 and 20 inches (100 and 500 millimeters) thick, are most often used to construct floors and ceilings, while thinner slabs are also used for exterior paving. Column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below, in other words a column is a compression member.

Types of loads are dead load, live load, snow load, rain load, wind load, seismic load. The dead load includes loads that are relatively constant over time, including the weight of the structure itself, and immovable fixtures such as walls, plasterboard or carpet. Live loads, and imposed loads, are temporary, of short duration, or a moving load. Seismic loading is one of the basic concepts of earthquake engineering, which means application of an earthquake-generated agitation to a structure. It happens at contact surfaces of a structure either with the ground, or with adjacent structures, or with gravity waves from tsunami. Wind engineering analyzes effects of wind in the natural and the built environment and studies the possible damage, inconvenience or benefits which may result from wind. In the field of structural engineering it includes strong winds, which may cause discomfort, as well as extreme winds, such as in a tornado, hurricane or heavy storm, which may cause widespread destruction. Snow loads occur in colder climates and are of varying duration. Snow, unlike live load, is considered to everywhere present at a given time. The magnitude of snow load is highly dependent on local weather patterns, terrain, and latitude. Snow drifting must also be considered when snow loads are present. Rain and/or ice loads are similar to snow loads in their predictability. Ponding loads are more predictable and are treated separately.