Fundamentals of Structural Engineering Design

Every safe and enduring building relies on the core principles of structural engineering. This text-based course introduces you to the fundamental concepts of structural design, helping you understand how forces flow through buildings and how to design safe load-resisting systems. You will transition from a beginner to a confident learner capable of analyzing basic structural components and understanding modern engineering workflows. Through clear written explanations and practical calculation examples, you will master the mechanics behind columns, beams, and foundations while considering modern sustainability practices. What you'll learn: 1. Understand foundational concepts of structural mechanics, including stress, strain, and equilibrium. 2. Analyze dead, live, wind, and seismic loads acting on various structures. 3. Design basic structural elements made of steel, concrete, and sustainable mass timber. 4. Apply modern structural analysis workflows, including building information modeling (BIM) integration principles. 5. Evaluate structural safety using load and resistance factor design (LRFD) methods. 6. Explore lifecycle analysis and carbon reduction strategies in modern structural engineering. The course begins with essential terminology and the physical principles of mechanics before moving into load calculations and material-specific design. You will then progress to modern digital workflows and sustainable design considerations, ensuring you gain a well-rounded foundation. This course is designed for aspiring civil engineers, architects, and construction enthusiasts with no prior structural design experience. Start building your engineering foundation today.