Structural Engineering
Structural Engineering
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Who am I?
• Rachael De’Ath
• Senior Engineer in Building Structures, Arup Bristol
• MEng CEng MICE MIStructE
• Joined Arup in 2003 as a graduate
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How did I get here today?
• A levels in Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Design Technology
• Study Dentistry at Kings College London
• Study MEng in Civil Engineering at University of Bristol
• Graduate Engineer in Building Structures at Arup
• Secondment to Carillion for 15 months
• Sit and pass ICE CPR, become Chartered Civil Engineer
• Senior Engineer in Building Structures at Arup
• Sit and pass IStructE member exam, become Chartered Structural Engineer
• Continue working as a Senior Engineer, working on a wide variety of projects, and developing skills in refurbishment.
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Working as a Graduate Engineer
• Design calculations
• Reviewing drawings
• Answering site queries
• Visiting site
• Design of whole building
• Increasing responsibility
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Secondment to Carillion
Seconded to Carillion for 15 months to gain site experience and knowledge of buildability.
Experience to help complete ICE training objectives
Range of different roles
• Liaising with Authorities
• Design Management
• Sustainability
• Site Supervision & Management
• Commercial
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Projects I’ve worked on• MBNA Phase 7
• Cribbs Causeway and Oxford Westgate Shopping Centres
• Barge Arm, Gloucester Docks
• Wiltshire and Swindon Heritage Centre
• Kings Mill Hospital
• New Student Accommodation, Bristol
• Bristol Harbourside Buildings 3b, 5 and 6
• Cotham, Florence Brown, Castle View, Hannah More, Air Balloon, Bridge
Farm and Fairlawn schools
• Computershare Offices Refurbishment
• Bristol Temple Meads and Swansea Stations
• Structural Surveys
What is Structural Engineering?
The design and creation of buildings, bridges, structures and
infrastructure.
Improving and developing the environment in which we live.
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What is Structural Engineering?
“Structural Engineering is the art and science of
designing and creating a skeleton or frame that can
resist the loads that are applied to it. The skeleton or
structure should be efficient and although draped in a
skin or façade, the structure should be considered as
architecture in its purest form”
John Roycroft, BDP
What makes a good Engineer?
The word engineer comes from the Latin word “ingenerare”, which means ingenius.
• Someone with technical skills and a creative side.
• Someone who can think logically.
• Someone who can solve problems.
• Someone who is creative.
• Someone who can work with others in a team.
What do I do on an average day?
• Talk to/liase with the rest of the design team and the client.
• Calculations, by hand and using computer analysis.
• Manage others and run projects
• Help more junior engineers working for me
• Work with others to solve problems.
• Prepare information for drawing and detailing.
• Go to meetings and visit site
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The Design Team
• Who makes up the design team?
• What are there individual roles?
• How do we, the structural engineer,
fit into this?
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The Design Process
• Brief
• Scheme Design
• Detailed Design
• Construction
Scope for change Cost of change
How do Structural Engineers “Design”Lots of options is the norm:
• via a number of sketches / options in parallel with
simple calculations
• There is rarely one solution, and often must assess
options against some criteria
Phase 2 - Detailed calculations
The ability to actually construct it: Build-ability
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Career development and getting Chartered
• Positive attitude
• Your own responsibility
• Structured training schemes
• Take opportunities that are available
• Proactive approach
• Good industry links
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Future Opportunities and career development
• Career progression doesn’t stop once you’re chartered
• Engineering can offer good career progression
• I have worked on lots of different projects over the last 11 years
• There are opportunities to work around the world
• There are good promotion possibilities
• There are always new developments and options for specialising your career – I am currently working on refurbishment and heritage projects
Why be an engineer??
• Every day is different, so you
don’t get bored!
• Work with lots of different people
from different disciplines.
• Lots of problem solving to keep it
interesting.
• Not always stuck in the office.
• Get to see what you’ve designed
being built which is very
rewarding.
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Thank you