{{short description|Irreducible parts of a load-bearing structural system}} {{see also|Structural engineering#Structural elements}} thumb | right | alt=Iron frame of supply ship Qulaittuq set on the beach near Arviat, Nunavut, Canada | Iron frame of supply ship Qulaittuq set on the beach near Arviat, Nunavut, Canada In structural engineering, '''structural elements''' are used in structural analysis to split a complex structure into simple elements (each bearing a structural load). Within a structure, an element cannot be broken down (decomposed) into parts of different kinds (e.g., beam or column).<ref name="waddell">{{cite book | last = Waddelln Alexander Low Waddell | title = Bridge Engineering - Volume 2 | url = https://archive.org/details/bridgeengineeri01waddgoog | access-date = 2008-08-19 | year = 1916 | publisher = John Wiley & Sons, Inc. | location = New York | pages = [https://archive.org/details/bridgeengineeri01waddgoog/page/n906 1958] }}</ref>
'''Structural building components''' are specialized structural building products designed, engineered and manufactured under controlled conditions for a specific application. They are incorporated into the overall building structural system by a building designer. Examples are wood or steel roof trusses, floor trusses, floor panels, I-joists, or engineered beams and headers. A structural building component manufacturer or truss manufacturer is an individual or company regularly engaged in the manufacturing of components.
Structural elements can be lines, surfaces or volumes.<ref>{{cite book| last1=Ryal| first1=M.J.| last2=Parke| first2=G.A.R.| last3=Harding| first3=J.E.| title=The Manual of Bridge Engineering| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8PGk81gtCywC| format=Google books (preview)| access-date=2009-04-12| year=2000| publisher=Thomas Telford| location=London| isbn=978-0-7277-2774-9| page=98}}</ref>
Line elements:
*Rod - axial loads *Beam - axial and bending loads *Pillar *Post (structural) *Struts or Compression members- compressive loads *Ties, Tie rods, eyebars, guy-wires, suspension cables, or wire ropes - tension loads
Surface elements:
*membrane - in-plane loads only *shell - in plane and bending moments **Concrete slab **deck *shear panel - shear loads only
Volumes:
* Axial, shear and bending loads for all three dimensions
==See also== * Load-bearing wall * Post and lintel * Stressed member engine
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Structural analysis Category:Household hardware Category:Architectural elements