Structural element
Irreducible parts of a load-bearing structural system
title: "Structural element" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["structural-analysis", "hardware-(mechanical)", "architectural-elements"] description: "Irreducible parts of a load-bearing structural system" topic_path: "general/structural-analysis" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structural_element" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Irreducible parts of a load-bearing structural system ::
In structural engineering, structural elements are used in structural analysis to split a complex structure into simple elements (each bearing a structural load). Within a structure, an element cannot be broken down (decomposed) into parts of different kinds (e.g., beam or column).{{cite book | last = Waddelln Alexander Low Waddell | title = Bridge Engineering - Volume 2 | url = https://archive.org/details/bridgeengineeri01waddgoog | access-date = 2008-08-19 | year = 1916 | publisher = John Wiley & Sons, Inc. | location = New York | pages = 1958
Structural building components are specialized structural building products designed, engineered and manufactured under controlled conditions for a specific application. They are incorporated into the overall building structural system by a building designer. Examples are wood or steel roof trusses, floor trusses, floor panels, I-joists, or engineered beams and headers. A structural building component manufacturer or truss manufacturer is an individual or company regularly engaged in the manufacturing of components.
Structural elements can be lines, surfaces or volumes.
Line elements:
- Rod - axial loads
- Beam - axial and bending loads
- Pillar
- Post (structural)
- Struts or Compression members- compressive loads
- Ties, Tie rods, eyebars, guy-wires, suspension cables, or wire ropes - tension loads
Surface elements:
- membrane - in-plane loads only
- shell - in plane and bending moments
- shear panel - shear loads only
Volumes:
- Axial, shear and bending loads for all three dimensions
References
References
- (2000). "The Manual of Bridge Engineering". Thomas Telford.
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