Have you ever wondered how it's possible to build a skyscraper, a big
bridge, a jumbo jet, or a cruise liner?
Everything has structure. Structure is the difference between a random
pile of components and a fully functional object. Through structure the
parts connect to make the whole. Natural structures vary from the very
smallest part of an atom to the entire cosmology of the universe.
Man-made structures include buildings, bridges, dams, ships, aeroplanes,
rockets, trains, cars and fair-ground rides and all forms of artefacts,
even large artistic sculptures. The wide range of different industries
in which structural engineers work includes construction, transport,
manufacturing, and aerospace.
In this Very Short Introduction, David Blockley explores, in
non-technical language, what structural engineering is all about,
including examples ranging from the Shard in London and the Golden Gate
Bridge in San Francisco to jumbo jets like the A380 and the Queen
Elizabeth cruise liner.
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