Structural design is a fundamental discipline in the construction of buildings, bridges, towers and other structures. Also, in leisure and tourism projects such as waterparks and theme parks, campsites, hotels and resorts, and shopping centres, to which Amusement Logic is dedicated. In their case, the ultimate goal is to create structures that are safe, strong and capable of withstanding the loads applied. And yet as exciting and fun for visitors, tourists, guests and users as possible.
Loads that a structure must withstand
The loads that a structure must withstand are a fundamental factor in structural design. These loads can be of different types: dead loads (the structure’s own weight) or live loads (the weight of people and objects present in the structure); and also wind and seismic loads amongst others. Structural engineers must take all these loads into account in the structural design, in order to ensure that they will withstand them.
Strength of materials
Material strength is another key aspect of structural design. Structural engineers select the right materials for the loads that the structure will carry and the environmental conditions to which it will be exposed. For example, the design of a structure located in a seismic zone must offer resistance to earthquakes, while that of a structure in a coastal zone must make it resistant to corrosion by salt water.
Distribution of elements and forces
The proper distribution of elements and forces is another fundamental issue in the design of structures. Structural engineers expect loads to be distributed evenly and efficiently when designing a structure. For this purpose, they rely on structural elements such as beams, columns, arches, cables, etc., which distribute the loads effectively.
As we can see, these aspects are crucial to create safe structures capable of withstanding the demands placed on them, also in hotels and resorts, water and theme parks, campsites, shopping centres and other leisure and tourism facilities designed by Amusement Logic.
By Raúl Soriano, senior modeller in the Architecture Department at Amusement Logic
