A brief description about various load bearing structural

elements

All the elements which form a part of structural design are either required for resisting the load

which is imposed on the building from a variety of internal and external forces or for

transmitting the load to land on which the building is constructed. The structural design process

is very complicated as it is ultimately answerable for the longevity of the building and hence it is

important for structural engineers to accurately design all the structural elements such as beams,

columns and trusses etc. For developing long-lasting buildings its structural design remains

crucial and for its effective development engineers are required to make use of proper planning,

conceptual thinking, analysis of load calculations, structural engineering mechanics and logical

reasoning etc.

Structural design teams should also be very particular about the implementation of structural

design and codes, which ultimately means that they should be conversant with the standards

which are developed by American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), the European

Confederation of Iron and Steel Industries, Canadian Institute of steel construction and World

Steel Association etc.

Description of load bearing and load transmitting structural elements

Beams are important structural components which are created from wood, concrete and

metal etc, and they are primarily utilized for withstanding the load which is put upon a

building.

While developing structural beams their length, size and shape etc is very important when

it comes to their capacity to resist loads.

High level of compressive and shear stresses are faced by structural beams because of the

fact that heavy internal and external load is tackled by them.

Braces are other important structural components which are instrumental for the

development of structural framework as the framework is stiffened by them.

Structural columns are highly crucial elements which are necessary for the effective

development of structure because they are accountable for transmitting the both dead and

live loads which is faced by a building.

The actual load of building components which is faced by its structural framework is

called as dead load. Whereas the load which comes on structural framework from natural

forces such as winds, snowfall and earthquakes etc is called live load.

Trusses are also very significant structural elements as they are used for supporting the

roof when it comes to building construction.