Title:
In Search of Elegance: The Evolution of the Art of Structural Engineering in the Western World
Author(s):
Michael P. Collins
Publication:
Concrete International
Volume:
23
Issue:
7
Appears on pages(s):
77-92
Keywords:
DOI:
Date:
7/1/2001
Abstract:
Structural engineering can be defined as the art and science of designing and constructing structures with economy and elegance that can safely resist the forces to which they may be subjected. This article follows the evolution of the art of structural engineering by examining examples of elegant structures from the time of the Roman Empire to the present. Examples include the Pantheon in Rome, Italy; St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, England; the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Calif.; and the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada. The evolution of the design procedures used by structural engineers is also described. This article is a record of the Phil M. Ferguson Award lecture presented by the author at ACI’s 1997 Fall Convention in Atlanta, Ga.