Published May 5th, 2021
Structural integrity is one of the most important concepts in engineering and construction.
So what really is structural integrity?
Defining structural integrity can get very technical but Wikipedia puts it simply as:
the ability of an item—either a structural component or a structure consisting of many components—to hold together under a load, including its own weight, without breaking or deforming excessively. It assures that the construction will perform its designed function during reasonable use, for as long as its intended life span.
From this definition, we can conclude that construction with structural integrity:
- will be able to hold a load without breaking or getting deformed
- will function according to its intended purpose
- with reasonable use will last its intended lifespan
There are a lot of factors that affect a building’s structural integrity. This includes the materials used, the design, and the structure’s intended use. Because of this, large construction projects usually hire engineers specializing in structural integrity.
Why is Structural Integrity Important?
In April 2013, Bangladesh made the headlines when a commercial building collapsed in the Greater Dhaka Area. The incident killed more than a thousand people and injured twice as much. This made it the deadliest accidental structural failure in modern history.
The above incident is one of the worst examples of what could happen if structural integrity is taken for granted. Aside from being a safety issue, a weak structure can also lead to costly repair work.
What Causes Structural Failure?
The dictionary defines structural failure as the “loss of the load-carrying capacity of a component or member within a structure or of the structure itself”. It usually happens when a material is stressed beyond its strength limit.
But most of the time, a structural failure is not just caused by a single factor rather by a combination of factors. The most common of which are:
- lack of communication among the people involved in the design and construction process
- poor workmanship
- lack of construction experience
- inappropriate structural design
- poor communication between fabricators and erectors
- use of substandard materials
- compromises in professional ethics for monetary gains
- complex codes and specifications leading to misinterpretation and misapplication
- not enough construction time
- failure to accurately predict loads
- erroneous calculations
- untrained field inspectors
- failure to consider environmental conditions like floods, droughts, earthquakes, etc.
How Do You Test Structural Integrity?
As mentioned, there are several factors that can affect a structure’s integrity. That’s why evaluating structural integrity involves applying various techniques such as:
- penetration resistance test
- mechanical and train gauging
- concrete resistivity test
- penetration resistance test
- full-scale load test
- surface penetration radar survey
- ultrasonic pulse velocity test
- impact echo test
- leak testing
- thermal/infrared testing
- vibration analysis
How Can Structural Integrity Be Improved?
Despite its importance, structural integrity is an often-overlooked factor in construction projects. That’s why some structures fail to hold up to their purpose or stand the test of time. To ensure that your project or property is structurally stable, make sure to:
Never Take Shortcuts
By law, geological surveys and soil testing should be done before planning the structure design. Unfortunately this doesn’t always happen in practice especially if the project has a tight deadline. Taking shortcuts lead to inappropriate designs, erroneous calculations, and ultimately, structural failure.
Use Quality Materials
Most construction projects have a set budget. But sometimes, to save on cost, the quality of materials are sacrificed. Substandard materials are called that for a reason. They didn’t pass quality inspections and are more likely to have less load-bearing strength than standard ones.
Hire Professionals
This is a no-brainer. Hiring certified and experienced professionals might cost more for now but it will save you from costly repairs. Plus, it will ensure the safety of whoever will occupy or use the structure.
Interested In Cutting Technologies?
For nearly 40 years Cutting Technologies (CTI) has been the go-to demolition contractor for technically demanding, one-off jobs. Our wealth of experience enables CTI to bring “outside-of-the-block” approaches to achieve the impossible. Contractors trust CTI to get the job done right. Take a look at our demolition services on our website.
About The Author
As an avid traveler, Judy Ponio loves to write blogs about traveling and how to save money when making international calls.