Structural Engineering Art and Approximation

“Engineering problems are under-defined, there are many solutions, good, bad and indifferent. The art is to arrive at a good solution. This is a creative activity, involving imagination, intuition and deliberate choice.” Ove Arup 20th Century Engineer

Design starts at the bottom of a pyramid of choices:

selection of materials, method of analysis,

structural form and appropriateness.

Before designing in detail

A designer needs to

approximate and

sketch.

A Book

for undergraduates

through to graduate engineers,

architects; and even experienced engineers.

It gathers together conceptual design examples for