structure

structure

1. Biology morphology; form

2. Chem the arrangement of atoms in a molecule of a chemical compound

3. Geology the way in which a mineral, rock, rock mass or stratum, etc., is made up of its component parts

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structure [′strək·chər]

(aerospace engineering)

The construction or makeup of an airplane, spacecraft, or missile, including that of the fuselage, wings, empennage, nacelles, and landing gear, but not that of the power plant, furnishings, or equipment.

(civil engineering)

Something, as a bridge or a building, that is built or constructed and designed to sustain a load.

(computer science)

For a data-processing system, the nature of the chain of command, the origin and type of data collected, the form and destination of results, and the procedures used to control operations.

(geology)

An assemblage of rocks upon which erosive agents have been or are acting.

The sum total of the structural features of an area.

(mineralogy)

The form taken by a mineral, such as tabular or fibrous.

(petrology)

A macroscopic feature of a rock mass or rock unit, best seen in an outcrop.

(science and technology)

The arrangement and interrelation of the parts of an object.

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Structure (engineering)

An arrangement of designed components that provides strength and stiffness to a built artifact such as a building, bridge, dam, automobile, airplane, or missile. The artifact itself is often referred to as a structure, even though its primary function is not to support but, for example, to house people, contain water, or transport goods. See Airplane, Automobile, Bridge, Buildings, Dam

The primary requirements for structures are safety, strength, economy, stiffness, durability, robustness, esthetics, and ductility. The safety of the structure is paramount, and it is achieved by adhering to rules of design contained in standards and codes, as well as in exercising strict quality control over all phases of planning, design, and construction. The structure is designed to be strong enough to support loads due to its own weight, to human activity, and to the environment (such as wind, snow, earthquakes, ice, or floods). The ability to support loads during its intended lifetime ensures that the rate of failure is insignificant for practical purposes. The design should provide an economical structure within the constraints of all other requirements. The structure is designed to be stiff so that under everyday conditions of loading and usage it will not deflect or vibrate to an extent that is annoying to the occupants or detrimental to its function. The materials and details of construction have durability, such that the structure will not corrode, deteriorate, or break under the effects of weathering and normal usage during its lifetime. A structure should be robust enough to withstand intentional or unintentional misuse (for example, fire, gas explosion, or collision with a vehicle) without totally collapsing. A structural design takes into consideration the community's esthetic sensibilities. Ductility is necessary to absorb the energy imparted to the structure from dynamic loads such as earthquakes and blasts. See Construction engineering, Engineering design

Common structural materials are wood, masonry, steel, reinforced concrete, aluminum, and fiber-reinforced composites. Structures are classified into the categories of frames, plates, and shells, frequently incorporating combinations of these. Frames consist of “stick” members arranged to form the skeleton on which the remainder of the structure is placed. Plated structures include roof and floor slabs, vertical shear walls in a multistory building, or girders in a bridge. Shells are often used as water or gas containers, in roofs of arenas, or in vehicles that transport gases and liquids. The connections between the various elements of a structure are made by bolting, welding or riveting. See Composite material, Concrete, Structural materials