What is Structural Engineer?

 I have been super busy the last three weeks. We had a submission, a Detailed Design submission, you don't have to know what that is. So, I didn't have enough time to sit down and pen my thoughts carefully. I have the resources though, both theoretical and application wise.  Today's blog is an update that I have completed my first project as a Structural Engineer. It is a mall at Sharjah, by the name ALJADAH. You can google, it's pretty, at least Architecturally. It wasn't the smoothest of projects, that's what my mini bosses told. It's my first project, who am I to judge? I learnt few things down the process. I got to learn technical structural things, but also the working of a corporation. But maybe, it is what it is.  Ow! why do you have to google it. I will attach the image here. See how pretty it is. But it was such as dreadful for us Engineers. I don't understand the Architecture urge to make changes as fast as they do. Some interesting takeaways f...

It's always good to read about the works and words of the people before us. And I come across lots of writings which suggests the importance of hand/manual calculations to cross verify the results by a software. It usually goes like this : " Whenever I ask a beginner/trainee whether he checked it manually, their answer is usually NO". Manual calculations are a must, but if it's just a calculation, what better than a computer. So it's more important to understand how the software works and gives the results of an analysis/design. ETABS is a software by CSI. It is an integrated software for the structural analysis and design of buildings. It is like an standard in the construction industry. But it is a tool, which gives the results as per the input and it should not be taken at a face value. This series will be updated as per my experience and discovery of the working of the ETABS software. There are manuals for its working for sure. But what good is a manual if you...