Structure is an assemblage of load bearing elements (or) a structural system is made up of several elements which are load bearing and hence they are called structural elements.
Elements which are not load bearing are non – structural elements ( in buildings such as finishes, partitions etc.) but they are part of whole system.
Our body is such an example of Structural System. In school we used to carry so many books on our back still we didn’t fall or collapse thanks to load carrying capacity of spinal chord and the remaining bones.
Structural Analysis is the most important part which is intermediate between Planning and Design. But it also plays a role in planning to fix certain structural elements so that they are aesthetically better and functionally satisfied.
Structural Analysis is application of mechanics where response is determined of a structure subjected to loads (direct or indirect).
But sometimes analysis will be a part of already constructed building. You want to construct an additional two floors over the existing building then you go for analysis to check that the response are appropriate (or) any major failure doesn’t occur in the structural elements.
The actual structure is so complex we reduce it to simplified physical model ( prepared in any analysis software) and finally obtain the response in terms of mathematical model. Here the term “Response” refers to “force” and ” displacement “.
While preparing the physical model we must ensure that,
I. The assumptions made are in good correlation with the actual structure and there is no much divergence from it.
II. Assuming the model is not much diverted from actual structure, the response obtained are within the permissible limits.
“Summary” – Analysis is performed to determine the force response and displacement response of a structure due to direct loading (or) indirect loading such as lack of fit, environmental changes, constructional errors etc.
ANALYSIS AND DESIGN 