Keeping up with building up

Building collapses and general structural failure per se have become less common in recent years because of our understanding of the complex physics of construction. However, the increase in the number of factors contributing to building failures has once again thrust the field of structural engineering into the limelight.

Structural engineering, usually considered a field of civil engineering, concerns itself primarily with the strength and stability of single and multi-story buildings, bridges, roads and other construction works. In contrast to their counterparts from previous generations, a structural engineer today has to consider not only the structure itself, but also new external factors such as extreme weather systems and, more importantly, the threat of terrorism.

It has been discovered that weather patterns have become more unpredictable in recent years. Storms, cyclones and hurricanes have gotten more powerful, and are predicted to grow even stronger as the oceans warm up and the water cycle begins to pick up terrifying speed as it goes along. In this light, high-rise structures, in particular, now have to be built to withstand tremendous wind forces. With countries armed with their architects and engineers racing to build taller, more intricately designed hotels and commercial towers, structural engineers now have to make decisions based on more complicated computations of wind and other forces acting upon structures at previously unimaginable heights.

Moreover, following the 9-11 attacks in 2001, questions were raised as to whether the damage sustained by the twin towers could have been avoided, or at the very least, mitigated, had the structures been designed to withstand extreme temperatures and aircraft collisions. Given that skyscrapers are being built at such soaring heights, the risk of aircraft collisions is indeed a real risk, whether such crashes be deliberately caused by terrorists with their own political agenda, or simply due to inexperienced or inept pilot error.

Given these new risks, structural engineering as we know is itself being re-engineered. Building authorities may have to begin revisiting the existing codes in their jurisdictions. Indeed, the general public has to be ensured that the archaic standards formulated prior to these novel threats can still provide them with some modicum of assurance that when they set foot on or inside these man-made concrete marvels, they will be protected not only from the elements but also from the threat of the structure itself.