Structural Calculations Course
Master the structural calculations that engineers rely on every day to design safe, code-compliant buildings. This course takes you from fundamental force principles through beam design, column buckling, connection detailing, and foundation sizing. Whether you're entering the profession or sharpening your technical skills, you'll finish with the calculation confidence that real projects demand.
What you will learn:
You will learn how to identify and classify every load type acting on a structure, construct accurate shear force and bending moment diagrams, and size beams and columns for bending, shear, and buckling. The course covers cross-section properties, deflection analysis, and serviceability checks alongside bolted and welded connection design. You will also apply these principles to reinforced concrete, steel, timber, and masonry members. Foundation design, from shallow footings to deep piles, is included so you can handle the full load path from roof to soil. By the end, you will produce complete, well-documented structural calculations ready for professional review.
How you study in a practical way Structural Calculations Course
How you practice Structural Calculations Course
For companies who want to train their team
With Dedika for businesses, the course includes exercises and examples tailored to your own business and the way your company needs.
Course content
8 Chapters • 32 LessonsDuration between 4 and 360 hours (you decide)
Chapter 1HideHide detailsSee detailsFoundations of Structural Engineering
Foundations of Structural Engineering
Lesson 1 • Stress and Strain Fundamentals
Introduces normal and shear stress, strain definitions, and elastic behavior. Links material response to applied loads for member sizing.
Lesson 2 • Forces and Equilibrium Principles
Covers scalar and vector forces, resultants, and static equilibrium conditions. Establishes the mechanical foundation for all subsequent load analysis.
Lesson 3 • Material Properties for Structural Use
Examines mechanical properties of steel, concrete, timber, and masonry. Connects material behavior to appropriate structural applications.
Lesson 4 • Structural Systems Overview
Surveys beams, columns, frames, trusses, and shells as load-carrying systems. Provides context for choosing calculation methods in later chapters.
Chapter 2HideHide detailsSee detailsLoad Identification and Classification
Load Identification and Classification
Lesson 1 • Lateral and Environmental Loads
Covers wind, seismic, earth pressure, and hydrostatic loads. Prepares students to apply lateral forces in structural models.
Lesson 2 • Gravity Load Types
Defines dead, live, and superimposed dead loads with typical magnitude ranges. Grounds load quantification in occupancy and material data.
Lesson 3 • Load Combinations and Factors
Explains limit-state design philosophy and factored load combinations. Ensures students apply correct combinations before member design.
Lesson 4 • Tributary Area and Load Takedown
Teaches tributary area method and vertical load distribution through a structure. Enables accurate load delivery to columns and foundations.
Chapter 3HideHide detailsSee detailsReactions, Shear, and Bending Moment
Reactions, Shear, and Bending Moment
Lesson 1 • Continuous Beams and Frames
Extends shear and moment analysis to multi-span beams and simple frames. Introduces moment redistribution concepts for indeterminate structures.
Lesson 2 • Bending Moment Diagram Construction
Derives bending moment diagrams from shear diagrams and direct integration. Links moment peaks to critical design sections.
Lesson 3 • Support Conditions and Reactions
Classifies pin, roller, and fixed supports and their reaction components. Provides the starting point for all beam and frame analysis.
Lesson 4 • Shear Force Diagram Construction
Develops shear force diagrams from first principles using the section method. Connects shear distribution to beam design requirements.
Chapter 4HideHide detailsSee detailsSection Properties and Flexural Design
Section Properties and Flexural Design
Lesson 1 • Shear Stress in Beams
Derives shear stress distribution using the shear flow formula. Connects shear stress peaks to web design in steel and timber beams.
Lesson 2 • Cross-Section Geometric Properties
Computes centroid, moment of inertia, and section modulus for common shapes. These properties directly enter all flexural and deflection calculations.
Lesson 3 • Beam Sizing and Adequacy Checks
Applies bending and shear capacity checks to select and verify beam sections. Integrates load effects with section properties for code-compliant design.
Lesson 4 • Flexural Stress Distribution
Applies the flexure formula to determine bending stress across a cross-section. Identifies extreme fiber stresses governing member capacity.
Chapter 5HideHide detailsSee detailsDeflection Analysis and Serviceability
Deflection Analysis and Serviceability
Lesson 1 • Virtual Work and Energy Methods
Applies the unit load method to compute deflections in beams and frames. Extends deflection analysis to indeterminate and complex structures.
Lesson 2 • Double Integration Method
Derives deflection equations by integrating the moment-curvature relationship. Builds analytical rigor for non-standard loading and boundary conditions.
Lesson 3 • Serviceability Limit State Checks
Evaluates computed deflections against span-to-deflection ratio limits. Addresses long-term creep and vibration criteria for occupant comfort.
Lesson 4 • Elastic Deflection Formulas
Uses standard deflection formulas for common load and support configurations. Provides rapid deflection estimates for routine beam design checks.
Chapter 6HideHide detailsSee detailsColumn and Compression Member Design
Column and Compression Member Design
Lesson 1 • Euler Buckling and Slenderness
Derives the Euler critical load and defines effective length for various end conditions. Links slenderness ratio to buckling susceptibility.
Lesson 2 • Combined Axial and Bending Loads
Uses interaction equations to check columns under simultaneous axial force and bending. Addresses biaxial bending and moment amplification effects.
Lesson 3 • Column Capacity Reduction Factors
Applies reduction curves and design curves to account for imperfections and residual stresses. Produces realistic column capacities for design use.
Lesson 4 • Axial Compression and Direct Stress
Calculates direct compressive stress and checks short-column capacity. Establishes the baseline before introducing buckling effects.
Chapter 7HideHide detailsSee detailsConnection and Joint Design
Connection and Joint Design
Lesson 1 • Weld Group and Joint Detailing
Analyzes eccentric weld groups and translates calculations into practical joint details. Addresses fatigue, access, and inspection requirements.
Lesson 2 • Bolted Connection Fundamentals
Covers bolt shear, bearing, and tension failure modes with capacity formulas. Provides the basis for sizing bolted lap, splice, and bracket connections.
Lesson 3 • Weld Types and Capacity
Defines fillet and groove weld geometry and calculates weld throat capacity. Connects weld sizing to force demand and material strength.
Lesson 4 • Bolt Group Analysis
Distributes eccentric shear and moment loads across bolt groups using elastic methods. Identifies the critical bolt for capacity verification.
Chapter 8HideHide detailsSee detailsFoundation and Geotechnical Load Transfer
Foundation and Geotechnical Load Transfer
Lesson 1 • Shallow Foundation Design
Sizes isolated, strip, and combined footings for concentric and eccentric column loads. Checks bearing pressure distribution and overturning stability.
Lesson 2 • Deep Foundation Principles
Covers pile types, capacity from skin friction and end bearing, and pile group effects. Prepares students to verify pile designs from geotechnical reports.
Lesson 3 • Soil Bearing and Settlement Basics
Introduces allowable bearing pressure, settlement limits, and soil classification. Connects geotechnical parameters to foundation sizing decisions.
Lesson 4 • Footing Structural Design
Designs footing thickness and reinforcement for punching shear and bending. Integrates geotechnical bearing with structural concrete design.
Your valid completion certificate
This course is for you:
Civil engineering graduate: needs to convert academic theory into workplace calculation practice.
Structural technician: wants to move beyond detailing into independent member sizing work.
Architecture professional: seeks to evaluate structural feasibility before engaging an engineer.
Construction project manager: needs to read and challenge structural calculations with confidence.
Career changer from physics or manufacturing: brings analytical skills and wants engineering application.
Self-taught builder or contractor: ready to formalize structural intuition with proven calculation methods.
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