ABSTRACT
Preliminary design may be defined as a rapid approximate manual method of designing a structure as opposed to carrying out rigorous analysis and detailed design. The overall aim for a given structure is to identify critical loads, estimate design actions and select sections. The problem is bound up with conceptual design, alternative systems, idealization, identification of critical members and rationalization. The process depends greatly on the designer’s experience and use of appropriate design aids. The term is also often applied to manual design.
