ABSTRACT
Structural Engineering involves planning for the static forces that will act on a building. Until 1750, Structural Engineering was considered part of the Architect’s task, Rules of thumb, intuitive solutions, and ‘collected wisdom’ created an unofficial – and not always successful – approach. While humans instinctively recognize some forms as structurally sound (Fig. 4.1.1), the complexity of static behavior in building structures demands a professional’s knowledge and care.
