Structural Design, Volume I: Elements of Structural Design — a practical guide for students and draftsmen This authoritative text presents the core materials, shapes, and design methods used in building structures. It emphasizes a clear, orthodox approach and shows how fundamentals of mechanics and materials translate into real-world design. The book covers timber and early steel concepts, shop practice, joints, and the essentials needed to understand load paths and safe design.
This edition frames design as a practical sequence: from the properties of materials to the selection of commercial shapes, through fabrication, connections, and final detailing. It also explains how local standards and company practices influence calculations, while providing data useful for learning and early practice before local codes and specifics take over.
- Foundations of timber strength, defects, and preservation, plus material behavior along and across the grain.
- Commercial shapes and basic members for wood, cast iron, wrought iron, and early steels.
- Design considerations for beams, trusses, and frame connections, including joints, rivets, and reinforcements.
- Practical guidance on shop organization, fabrication processes, erection, and project layout.
Ideal for readers starting in structural design who need a solid, reference-style primer that blends theory with practical, verifiable data.