What does a structural engineer do?
Answer:
In high school take honors math and physics.
Structural engineering is a field of engineering that deals with the design of a structural system(s)with the purpose of supporting and resisting various loads. Though other disciplines touch on this field, a physical object or system is truly considered a part of structural engineering, regardless of its central scientific or industrial application, if its main function is designed to resist loads and dissipate energy.
A structural engineer is most commonly involved in the design of buildings and nonbuilding structures, but also plays an essential role in designing machinery where structural integrity of the design item impacts safety and reliability. Large man-made objects, from furniture to medical equipment to a variety of vehicles, require the input of a structural engineer.
Structural engineers ensure that their designs satisfy a given "design intent", predicated on safety (i.e. structures do not collapse without due warning), on serviceability (i.e. floor vibration and building sway do not result in discomfort for the occupants. Structural engineers are responsible for making efficient use of funds and materials to achieve these goals. Entry-level structural engineers may design simple beams, columns, and floors of a new building, including calculating the loads on each member and the load capacity of building materials such as (steel, timber, masonry, and concrete). More experienced engineers would render more complex structures, often calculating the physics of moisture, heat and energy as they relate to building components.
In the United States, the structural engineering field is often subdivided into bridge engineering and building engineering. Structural engineers often further specialize into special structural manufacturing or construction, such as pipeline engineering or industrial structures.
Structural loads on structures are generally classified as live loads and dead loads. Live loads are the weight of a building's occupants and furniture, the forces/weights of wind and water, and seismic activity. Dead loads are the weight of the structure itself and all major architectural components, as well as roof loads experienced only during construction. The limiting design criteria include forces of nature such as winds, earthquakes and tsunamis. In recent years, reinforcing structures against terrorism has also taken on increased importance.
could be in architecture, mechanical or civil engineering.
civil will do land/water/roads/grading/found... etc.
architecture does buildings/structures for the most part, and is a mix of mechanical/civil engineering and art for the asthetics.
mechanical would design the mechanical components of the rollercoasters.
each of these engineering diciplines would do something related to verifying that the structural integrity of the roller coaster being designed was sound and safe.
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