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Structural Engineering
Buildings and structures take careful planning in order to ensure that they don't collapse or fail in any way. Structural engineers analyze and study the way in which buildings support loads.
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What is soft-story seismic retrofitting?
A soft-story building has a first floor that's more flexible than the ones above -- think apartments over a department store that's mostly open space. How does soft-story retrofitting keep such buildings from collapsing in a quake?
Is steel still the best material for building?
Steel is getting more expensive because the prices of iron and coal are rising. Are there alternatives to steel that can do the same job -- or better -- for less?
5 Amazing Elements of Green Architecture
You might associate green architecture with plastic rain barrels or ugly solar panels, but green design has come a long way. Green architecture can be gorgeous, as we'll see in this article.
How Geodesic Domes Work
If you think regular old domes took the world of structural engineering by storm, you should meet their geodesic cousins. What is a geodesic dome, and who first came up with the idea of building triangle-covered spheres as practical structures?
How Floating Bridges Work
Bridges span the gap and help us get from point A to B, but who knew they could float, too? Find out what the deal is with floating bridges in this article.
5 Things Jenga Can Teach Us About Structural Engineering
Jenga seems like such a simple game -- all you have to do is keep a tower of wooden blocks from toppling over. It may be simple, but it's anchored by several complex structural engineering concepts.
5 Things Lego Blocks Can Teach You About Structural Engineering
Playing with Lego blocks isn't just child's play. In fact, these blocks and products present a hands-on opportunity to learn the basics of structural engineering.
10 Reasons Why Bridges Collapse
You may see most bridges as those things you cross on your way to somewhere else, but where would you be if one collapsed? We've figured out 10 reasons why the worst happens.
How was the construction of the World Trade Center unique?
The World Trade Center employed several new approaches to skyscraper construction. From slurry walls to sky lobbies to "tube within a tube" design features, what made this project distinctive from an architectural engineering standpoint?
What grade of steel was used in the World Trade Center?
The materials used to build the World Trade Center's twin towers have been heavily scrutinized since the 9/11 terrorist attacks -- including the steel that formed the frames of the skyscrapers.
How the World Trade Center Slurry Wall Works
It's been compared Jerusalem's Wailing Wall. What purpose did the slurry wall serve the World Trade Center, and what is its significance now?
What caused the World Trade Center towers to collapse on 9/11?
It took years to construct the 110-story World Trade Center towers and less than an hour to bring them down to rubble. What ultimately caused the towers to collapse on Sept. 11, 2001?
Will the Leaning Tower of Pisa ever fall?
Pisa without its precariously tilted landmark is like San Francisco without the Golden Gate or London without Buckingham Palace. Will the peculiarly enduring tower ever vanish from the Italian skyline?
10 Cool Engineering Tricks the Romans Taught Us
When it came to building or improving things, the ancient Romans really knew their stuff. Which cool engineering tricks did they pass along to us?
Skyscraper Pictures
Skyscrapers are fascinating engineering feats, but they can also be beautiful additions to city skylines. Travel to new heights with this skyscraper gallery.
10 Expensive Restorations
Over the centuries, some of the most breathtaking buildings on Earth have been restored many times. Whether they were to make necessary repairs, update designs or adjust to changing needs, all these projects required big bucks.
Why don't water towers freeze solid in the winter?
Water towers can be found in just about every town and city in America. Have you ever wondered if they freeze in the winter?
Top 10 Structurally Amazing Bridges
Bridges move cars, trains, bikes and people, among other things. These 10 may even move your soul with their engineering ingenuity and beauty. So which 10 make the cut?
What's a brownfield?
Have you ever passed by an abandoned warehouse or gas station and wondered why the government doesn't just tear it down? Well, it may be a brownfield.
10 Construction Projects That Broke the Bank
Whether we're trying to save a sinking city or dig a massive tunnel, our appetite for construction knows no bounds. But if designers had known the actual cost of these 10 projects, they might have gone back to the drawing board.
Bridge Pictures
Bridges are amazing displays of scientific engineering. This collection of pictures highlights some of the most spectacular structures ever created.
What happens to abandoned mines?
Abandoned mine shafts may look romantic with their clapboarded entrances and rusting pickaxes, but they can be deadly. So who ensures that these dangerous sites are properly closed up? You may find the answer a little unsettling.
The 10 Heaviest Buildings Ever Moved
Hefting a sofa up a flight of stairs can take a lot of logistics. So what does moving thousand-ton buildings across cities -- or even oceans -- entail?
What if we covered a city in a giant glass dome?
Domed cities would provide the same temperature year-round, no rain or snow, and the ability to go outside without worrying about a sunburn. Have they been tried before, and what about the people who enjoy their seasons?
What if the Hoover Dam Broke?
The Hoover Dam holds back 10 trillion gallons of water. That's enough to cover the state of Connecticut 10 feet deep. How much damage would be done if the dam broke?
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