Structural Drawing: What It Is and How It’s Evolving ?

Structural engineers use engineering formulas relating to material properties and physics to design structures which will withstand all the forces the structures may be subject to. Examples of such forces are gravity, wind shear, stresses due to aging of materials and seismic vibration.

Structural drawings are part of the language the same structural engineers use to communicate with contractors, fabricators and regulatory bodies. These drawings describe the details of an object’s supporting members, such as beams and columns, which are designed by the structural engineer.

Structural drawings are crucial in the construction of buildings, tunnels, ships, aircraft, oil drilling platforms, bridges, retaining walls, mines, infrastructure projects, automobiles and any other object subject to significant forces.

Examples of elements described in structural drawings are beams, columns, trusses, roof framing, braces, steel connections, concrete footings, pile foundations, metal decking, joists, stairs and handrails.

Structural drawings are executed by structural draftsmen. Structural draftsmen typically work under the structural engineer responsible for the structural design. Skilled structural draftsmen convert the engineer’s sketches into CAD drawings, and also check that the designs conform to the relevant statutes and building codes.

In addition they compile material takeoffs and are responsible for keeping records of all drawings produced and transmitted downstream.

During the later half of the twentieth century, structural drawings were created on the computer using specialized software. This software created two-dimensional (“2D”) images of structures; conceptualizing the actual object in its real, three-dimensional (“3D”) form took place only in the mind. This called for highly developed spatial conceptualization abilities on the part of the concerned individuals.

But the twenty-first century saw the emergence of advanced 3D software tools for structural drafting. These tools enable draftsmen to instantaneously create a 3D element (such as an I-beam) by merely entering its dimensions. Subsequently, on the screen, the element can moved, rotated and joined with other elements just as it would be in the real world.

Once an entire object has been thus drawn from 3D elements, the software automatically creates a bill of materials, and if costs are put in by the draftsman, an itemized estimate is also output.

All this translates to shorter turnaround times for the production of drawings and more accuracy in the drawing itself.

Since the time structural drawings were created on computers, they were stored in electronic form. With advances in network communication, paperless transmission of drawings from one node in a network to another became possible. The network now encircles the world (as the Internet) and structural drawings are transmitted between countries quickly and easily.

Using additional collaboration software, structural drawings are now created by teams separated by thousands of miles, faster, more accurately and with more creative input than at any time in human history. No wonder a structure can be designed in the US, drawn in India and built in the Middle East!

About The Author:

Lucky Balaraman

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http://www.ezinearticles.com/

Importance of CAD Services in today’s business world

Software Industry is having a blast nowadays as it has become an essential part of almost all businesses, whether it is a medical billing business or business with mechanical background. Different types of software and services are utilized by business organizations for their activities and operations. In that CAD has been playing a vital role in all these business technologies.

CAD- Computer Aided Design, perhaps you can even consider it as a BACKBONE of computer technologies. Basically CAD is a tool used for designing and drawing of models or products related with architecture, mechanical engineering and electronics design in a digitized form. With the assistance of these CAD services, one can have a view of one’s products and can easily calculate whether it is feasible for one’s business or not.

Drawings and designs prepared from CAD will give user flexibility in the drawing process as he will also be able to modify dimensions with minimum efforts. CAD is widely used in 3D modeling, 2D designing, mechanical design, architecture drafting and design. 3D modeling is one of the most happening services from CAD. It is used to provide 3D effect to your mechanical or architecture product models and makes them look attractive and nice.

Talking about contribution of CAD in mechanical design, well CAD is most commonly used in the design and development of machinery related products. It can easily develop complex designs of mechanical products, machine components with maximum accuracy and minimum efforts. These designs will help architects, mechanical engineers in the real estate & manufacturing industry globally.

Now when talking about CAD drafting software, CAD drafting software is used mostly for developing architectural designs or drawings. CAD drafting software has all the primary features available in commonly used engineering CAD software. The most eminent characteristic of this type of software is that it allows users to differentiate components that is, to mark different components of a design with different color combinations provided with the software.

Architectural design can be identified as architectural drawing on computer and getting your architectural drawing done in a computerized and well maintained manner. When it comes to designing of buildings, CAD is used in architecture as an efficient tool for designing all types of buildings. Conclusion is that CAD can be used by consumers in designing and developing various products. It is very important in engineering field to develop conceptual designs and layout analyses of components in manufacturing methods.

About The Author: Mike Thomas

URL: http://www.structuraldraftingdesign.com

Email: info@structuraldraftingdesign.com

3D Design and structural analysis: Important concept of structural engineering

In today’s competitive world, one will have to be aware of latest technologies and methodologies used nowadays. And especially when you are dealing with services related to CAD, you must have come to know that how greatly these services are going to help you to get benefited.

In this article, we are mainly focusing on two topics:

· 3D Design

· structural analysis

3D Design- 3 Dimensional Design is one of the most promising services in the recent times. In structural design and structural drafting, these 3d services play a vital role. To develop a physical model of any structural design is a time consuming and at the same time a little expensive process. On the other hand, by using 3D design services, we can have following advantages:

· Better Quality and Efficiency

· Precious time is saved

· Individual error is minimized.

3D Design services gives a 3D effect to any kind of image e.g. jpg, gif, bmp. The respective image is going to have depth, height, and width and products are represented as they happen and thus helping you in a great extent to improve your business productivity. When used along with CAD (Computer Aided Design), it can convert all paper documents to digitized format. These kinds of 3D software can provide magical quality; accuracy and the tools can create high quality 3d products & animations.

About The Author:
Mike Thomas

Published By:
http://www.structuraldraftingdesign.com/

Structural design

Structural design is the first most important distinctive ability of spirited advantage. It is a network of relational contracts inside, or about, the firm. It is a picture of relationships held by a firm within or outwardly, or with a group of other firms.

Design can add worth and provides competitive advantage by means of encouraging the configuration of organizational information and the growth of organizational routines and supportive ethics. A number of firms such as IBM and Marks & Spencer have an influential and identifiable business civilization. Each of these companies has created an arrangement, a definite manner, and a set of routines which operates to get the best out of employees. These routines have continued to create outstanding results and add worth.

Kay (1995) points out, “structural design depends on the skill of the firm to construct and sustain extended term relationships…it is easier to maintain design than to set out to make it.”

Other than the previous sources of competitive advantage, the sustainability of structural design rests on the height of skills of senior mangers. The first most important step for the managers is to distinguish the nature of the firm’s design and the role it plays in the markets the firm serves. Kay argues that there are two key types of characteristic capability based on architecture.

To start with, the firm’s structural design may produce a flow of innovations which forms a sustainable advantage. Secondly, the design of the firm may permit the firm to productively accept new skill sooner and more powerfully than its competitors.

Article Source: http://www.bigarticle.com/

Modelling a Structural Steel Support

I often have to create structural steel supports for dust collectors or baghouses and at first I spent a lot of time making repetitive structural steel details of the gussets, braces, baseplates, columns and angles.

The shape of the gussets and bracing would basically remain the same, but their dimensions would vary. The sizes of the support columns and the baseplates would change, due to overall changes to height, width and depth of the structural steel support.

1. Over time I developed a structural steel support model using solidworks 3D design software.
2. The model was driven by a design table.
3. This allowed me to vary the height and depth and column size and other variables, and have solidworks create a complete set of structural steel details for the support including bill of materials.
4. It is certainly a big timesaver.
5. The same model could have been created in Solid Edge, Catia or Autodesk Inventor or whatever 3D modeling software the reader is comfortable with. My preference is solidworks because that is what I am most competent with.

The model also reduces the possibility of error. In the past details had to be copied from assemblies and their dimensions added often on a separate drawing sheet. If the assembly or general arrangement drawing ever got changed, there was a possibility that these changes could be overlooked on the detail sheet. Now with the model, any changes made to it are reflected in the details.

There are limitations. One model cannot be used for all my structural support needs. As the support gets larger, the geometry of the bracing and gussets may need to change and so for that you really need a separate model. Of course, If you have one working model, you just need to add to it and save as a new model for the larger style of structural support.

Article Source:

http://www.aaadrafting.com/Structural_Steel.html

What is Structural Analysis?

An Overview of Structural Analysis

Structural analysis is the process that examines the physical integrity of a structure, such as an aircraft, bridge, building or sea vessel. This process relies on the constant laws and principals of physics and mathematics to predict and examine the stability of a structure. It is often used to evaluate the ability of a structure to withstand high winds, forces of nature, heavy weight loads, earthquakes and flood waters.

Why Structural Analysis is Important

Structural analysis is an instrumental part of any architectural student’s training. Engineers rely on structural analysis to render structurally sound plans and models. Without structural analysis, countless dollars would be wasted on the trial and error method of building full scale structures only to find later that they are physically flawed.

The process can also be used :

• to evaluate the safety
• integrity of bridges
• embankments and
• buildings following a natural disaster such as an earthquake or flood.

In this form, structural analysis can help to save lives. The process and the physical laws that govern it were studied by historical figures such as Leonardo da Vinci and Galileo Galilei.

The Goal of Structural Analysis

The main goal of the structural analysis process is to compute the internal forces, stresses and deformations of any given structure. By inputting certain facts pertaining to the materials used, support conditions, structural loads and geometry, a resulting equation can be compared to know failure criteria.

Three Approaches to Structural Analysis

This process can be approached in three different ways: the mechanics of the given materials, continuum mechanics and the elasticity theory, and the finite element approach. All three approaches are based on the fundamentals of equilibrium, constitutive, and compatibility.

Approach One: The Mechanics and Strength of the Materials Used

This approach uses the known properties of each type of building material and examines mathematically how those materials will react under the stress of a load. The computations are based on linear isotropic infinitesimal elasticity and Euler-Bernoulli beam theory. This approach is considered to be simpler in nature than the other two and can be computed by hand.

Approach Two: Elasticity Methods

The second analytical approach uses a set of equations for linear elasticity. This system is part of 15 partial differential equations and may be used only for relatively simple geometries. This process is useful in examining structural elements such as beams, shells, columns, plates and shafts. This approach can also be computed by hand.

The Third Approach: the Finite Element Approach

The finite element approach examines a structure’s connection between various materials and determines the flexibility or stiffness of the structure. This approach is used for more complex structures and often requires the use of a computer.

This brief overview of structural analysis examines the bare bones basics of the process and does not include the inherent limitations and effectiveness of each approach to structural analysis.

Josh Parker is a staff writer for Strucalc – Structural Analysis Software Company. StruCalc is one of the most intuitive structural analysis and design programs available. With structural analysis software, you can Quickly size beams, columns, and footings with StruCalc 7.0 Software. Strucalc offers quality, professional software, built with strict engineering methods and specifications to every business in need of an easy to use, affordable software package.

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Structural Engineering – The Vital Design Process

Without the brilliance of most structural engineers, our world would be a very different place. Simply put, structural engineering is a vital design process for modern society.

The word “engineer” has several meanings. It can be used as a verb that describes making something happen. It is a noun that describes the man who gets to drive the train. Yet, another meaning, also a noun, is of a person who is a professional and educated craftsman. What is structural engineering? It is a part of this vast profession of the engineer. Many people consider it a subsection of the field of Civil Engineering, but others see it standing alone.

Civil Engineering is really just a term to separate the original and older form of engineering, which is Military Engineering, into something that is not used for warfare or defense.

• Structural Engineering has to do with structures.
• This can include a multitude of things from furniture to space stations; from dams to apartment buildings.
  
• The important thing and the thing that occupies the attention of the structural engineer is resisting load and dissipating energy.

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary gives a very interesting definition of engineering. It is one of many uses of the word, of course, but it is the one that best fits the idea of structural and civil engineering. It says it is “the application of science and mathematics by which the properties of matter and the sources of energy are made useful to people.” The key here is the idea of making something useful to people.

Load can take many forms. It is sometimes called “stress.” For example, a bridge must be build to handle load and stress that comes from the weight of the structure itself or the traffic passing over it. It can be subjected to stress from the wind and the weather. The “properties of matter and the sources of energy” must be transformed into something that can be useful to people. A structure is useful to people only if it is safe and if it can withstand stress.

Structural engineering is not often viewed as an art. It is seen more as science and in the cold and harsh light of practical application. This view misses the truth, however, when one things of the structures of the world both in our long past and in our amazing present. The imagination and creativity that has been shown from the Pyramids of Egypt to the mighty Hoover Dam to the bridges and tunnels that have crossed our rivers and even oceans, surely must rank with the greatest art our minds have known.

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Reliable and affordable Structural Engineering and Structural Design Services in India

The boom of computers in the several past decades has made a major impact on almost every field of human endeavor. It has introduced new possibilities also for structural engineers, draftsman whose primary task is to design buildings, bridges and other structures. Structural design can be considered to be a combination of art and science.

At Structural Design and Drafting Services, we utilize our core competencies, combined experience and the latest in technology to provide you high quality civil engineering, 3D modeling services, structural consultants, structural analysis, drafting detailing services and Building Contractors in India, Our Experts team members enable us to deliver value added services across the globe with speed and accuracy and gives you advantages like:

• Lowest possible rates
• Enhanced performance
• Security & Reliability
• Saving precious time and money
• Within Deadline.

Structural drawings are part of the language the same structural engineers use to communicate with contractors, fabricators and regulatory bodies. These drawings describe the details of an object’s supporting members, such as beams and columns, which are designed by the structural engineer.

Structural design software is used mostly for developing architectural and complex machine designs or drawings. It has all the primary features available in commonly used engineering software.
The most eminent characteristic of this type of software is that it allows users to differentiate components:

• To mark different components of a design with different color combinations provided with the software.
  
• Using additional structural software, structural analysis and structural drawings are now created by teams separated by thousands of miles, faster, more accurately, cost effective and within deadline in India.

Structural drawings are a task to locate, cumbersome to handle and difficult to view. The apprehension on the well being of invaluable Structural drawings is a common phenomenon worldwide. Structural drawings are crucial in the construction of buildings, ships, aircraft, tunnel, bridges, retaining walls, mines, infrastructure projects, automobiles and any other object subject to significant forces. Structural drawings are executed by structural draftsmen. Structural draftsmen typically work under the structural engineer responsible for the structural design. Skilled structural draftsmen convert the engineer’s sketches into CAD drawings, and also check that the designs conform to the relevant statutes and building codes.

Structural engineering services range from designing to building information modeling making us your one stop solution. An amalgamation of an excellent team of structural engineers and state-of-the-art systems making constant endeavors to provide high quality, cost effective and time bound structural drafting design services. Structural engineering services includes civil and structural drafting, architecture structural construction building engineering consultants from structural analysis and 2D and 3D Modeling services with lowest possible rates and within time bound. Structural Vibration analysis & design expertise in structural analysis, structural steel design, Structural design software, wood structural design at affordable cost in India.

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