how do architects calculate if a structure like a bridge is stable?
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They send the drawings over to the engineer and have them do the calculations. And then they complain when the engineer say it would be unstable and that there is no way to make it stable without adding pillars or beams which would ruin the clean open design of the structure. Sometimes they do not listen to the engineer.
The engineer will do a lot of calculations on the forces and stress involved. I am sorry this post is so short but this is literally an entire collage degree to learn the basics of structural engineering. You calculate what kind of forces the structure will potentially be exposed to such as wind forces, weight from rain and snow, movements to the foundation, people and equipment moving in the structure, and of course the weight of the structure itself. You then calculate how these forces will be distributed down the structure into the foundations. To complicate matters the structure moves and twists depending on the forces applied which changes the forces. Then you multiply all the forces by a safety factor depending on the type of structure. If any structural member have more forces going through them then they are designed for the structure will have to be redesigned.
They send the drawings over to the engineer and have them do the calculations. And then they complain when the engineer say it would be unstable and that there is no way to make it stable without adding pillars or beams which would ruin the clean open design of the structure. Sometimes they do not listen to the engineer.
The engineer will do a lot of calculations on the forces and stress involved. I am sorry this post is so short but this is literally an entire collage degree to learn the basics of structural engineering. You calculate what kind of forces the structure will potentially be exposed to such as wind forces, weight from rain and snow, movements to the foundation, people and equipment moving in the structure, and of course the weight of the structure itself. You then calculate how these forces will be distributed down the structure into the foundations. To complicate matters the structure moves and twists depending on the forces applied which changes the forces. Then you multiply all the forces by a safety factor depending on the type of structure. If any structural member have more forces going through them then they are designed for the structure will have to be redesigned.
Engineer here. Dm me and I’ll run you through the math of your live and dead loads. You’ll likely need some data for your location like snow loads, wind loads, any seismic or anything else that will be in the building. I need pitch of the roof and the materials you plan to use and any opening or penetrations. I’ll need to know the makeup of your headers and the makeup of your structure ie. Wood studs, metal studs, lvl engineered lumber, steel beam etc.. I’ll also need the risk category and soil test results. Assuming this is residential. You should have a print and that’s where I would take off all of this info. It’s the architects job to track all of this down with the authority having jurisdiction who issues the permits.
Engineers do it. The bridge is modeled as a number of discrete elements, the stress and strain within each is calculated depending on the material being used etc, how weight is distributed, and a million other things, and a factor of safety is applied.
There’s an old saying, anyone can design something to stand, but only an engineer can design it to*barely* stand.
That reminds me… what do architects even do? Collecting data for engineers? Design how pretty the structures must be?
Computer modeling is a valuable tool. However, this isn’t even necessary for the vast vast majority of bridges. The standards and knowledge are so well developed at this point that it’s mostly a “copy and paste” of previous designs. The safety factors in these are huge was well.
Computer modeling is a valuable tool. However, this isn’t even necessary for the vast vast majority of bridges. The standards and knowledge are so well developed at this point that it’s mostly a “copy and paste” of previous designs. The safety factors in these are huge was well.
If the structure is being designed you calculate the loads the structure is going to be subject to in two situations, intense use and extreme circumstances, based on that you matematically model the stresses and deformations in the different elements and materials. Then you check with a certain safety margin that the deformations and vibrations during intense use are not going to damage the material or scare the people using the structure, also that under extreme circumstances the structure doesn’t just completely fall apart but people can escape even though you’re just going to demolish it later.
If the structure is already being built, you load it with a weight close to the intense use limit (in a home you might use sand bags and on a bridge a column of trucks) and you check the deformations are not over the limit you imposed, in case concrete was used on location you have to collect some simples the same day, one month later check the resistance is at least the one you asked to be provided to you by the production company.
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