Structural Engineering

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Who am I?

• Rachael De’Ath

• Senior Engineer in Building Structures, Arup Bristol

• MEng CEng MICE MIStructE

• Joined Arup in 2003 as a graduate

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How did I get here today?

• A levels in Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Design Technology

• Study Dentistry at Kings College London

• Study MEng in Civil Engineering at University of Bristol

• Graduate Engineer in Building Structures at Arup

• Secondment to Carillion for 15 months

• Sit and pass ICE CPR, become Chartered Civil Engineer

• Senior Engineer in Building Structures at Arup

• Sit and pass IStructE member exam, become Chartered Structural Engineer

• Continue working as a Senior Engineer, working on a wide variety of projects, and developing skills in refurbishment.

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Working as a Graduate Engineer

• Design calculations

• Reviewing drawings

• Answering site queries

• Visiting site

• Design of whole building

• Increasing responsibility

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Secondment to Carillion

Seconded to Carillion for 15 months to gain site experience and knowledge of buildability.

Experience to help complete ICE training objectives

Range of different roles

• Liaising with Authorities

• Design Management

• Sustainability

• Site Supervision & Management

• Commercial

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Projects I’ve worked on• MBNA Phase 7

• Cribbs Causeway and Oxford Westgate Shopping Centres

• Barge Arm, Gloucester Docks

• Wiltshire and Swindon Heritage Centre

• Kings Mill Hospital

• New Student Accommodation, Bristol

• Bristol Harbourside Buildings 3b, 5 and 6

• Cotham, Florence Brown, Castle View, Hannah More, Air Balloon, Bridge

Farm and Fairlawn schools

• Computershare Offices Refurbishment

• Bristol Temple Meads and Swansea Stations

• Structural Surveys

What is Structural Engineering?

The design and creation of buildings, bridges, structures and

infrastructure.

Improving and developing the environment in which we live.

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What is Structural Engineering?

“Structural Engineering is the art and science of

designing and creating a skeleton or frame that can

resist the loads that are applied to it. The skeleton or

structure should be efficient and although draped in a

skin or façade, the structure should be considered as

architecture in its purest form”

John Roycroft, BDP

What makes a good Engineer?

The word engineer comes from the Latin word “ingenerare”, which means ingenius.

• Someone with technical skills and a creative side.

• Someone who can think logically.

• Someone who can solve problems.

• Someone who is creative.

• Someone who can work with others in a team.

What do I do on an average day?

• Talk to/liase with the rest of the design team and the client.

• Calculations, by hand and using computer analysis.

• Manage others and run projects

• Help more junior engineers working for me

• Work with others to solve problems.

• Prepare information for drawing and detailing.

• Go to meetings and visit site

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The Design Team

• Who makes up the design team?

• What are there individual roles?

• How do we, the structural engineer,

fit into this?

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The Design Process

• Brief

• Scheme Design

• Detailed Design

• Construction

Scope for change Cost of change

How do Structural Engineers “Design”Lots of options is the norm:

• via a number of sketches / options in parallel with

simple calculations

• There is rarely one solution, and often must assess

options against some criteria

Phase 2 - Detailed calculations

The ability to actually construct it: Build-ability

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Career development and getting Chartered

• Positive attitude

• Your own responsibility

• Structured training schemes

• Take opportunities that are available

• Proactive approach

• Good industry links

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Future Opportunities and career development

• Career progression doesn’t stop once you’re chartered

• Engineering can offer good career progression

• I have worked on lots of different projects over the last 11 years

• There are opportunities to work around the world

• There are good promotion possibilities

• There are always new developments and options for specialising your career – I am currently working on refurbishment and heritage projects

Why be an engineer??

• Every day is different, so you

don’t get bored!

• Work with lots of different people

from different disciplines.

• Lots of problem solving to keep it

interesting.

• Not always stuck in the office.

• Get to see what you’ve designed

being built which is very

rewarding.

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Thank you