Department of Civil Engineering

Structural Design II
Structural Design Process
 Introduction

This section explains the structural design process and is

focussed on;
• Client-Engineer relationship
• Design stages

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 Client-Engineer relationship

Most infrastructure projects are Multidisciplinary, bringing together a wide range of professionals
including, structural/civil engineers, electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, quantity surveyors,
architects, environmental engineers etc.

The client normally appoints one of the professionals as the principal consultant depending on the
nature of the project.

The principal consultant manages and administers the activities of all consultants on behalf of the
client

The structural/civil engineer is often appointed as principal consultant in projects that do non building
projects such as industrial structures, bridges, dams, power plants, chimneys, electricity transmission
towers

Architects or quantity surveyors are often appointed as principal consultants on building projects

During the construction phase of the project the structural engineer maybe appointed as the client’s
principal agent [also referred to as the ‘agent’ or ‘project manager’. The principal agent’s role is to
act between the client and the contractor in terms of provisions of the agreed contract.

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 Design stages
• The Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) defines a minimum of six stages to facilitate the execution of an
engineering project.
• This framework is useful for;
1. co-ordination and distribution of expected deliverables during the project
2. Financial planning and estimation of the engineer’s fees.
• In the past the engineer’s fees were based on a percentage of the cost of structural content. Nowadays the
majority of projects go through a tender process.

• The stages for an engineering project are;

Stage 1 - Inception
Stage 2 - Concept and viability (Initial or Preliminary design)
Stage 3 - Design development (Detailed Design)
Stage 4 - Documentation and Procurement
Stage 5 - Contract Administration and Inspection
Stage 6 - Close-Out (Hand-over)

In the following section, the activities and deliverables at each stage of the project, as given by ECSA, are
listed.

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 Design stages

Stage 1 (Inception/ Project brief) activities Stage 1 deliverables / outcomes

At the end of stage 1, the following
1. Assist in developing a clear project brief.
should be achieved;
2. Attend project initiation meetings. 1. Agreed services and scope of work.
3. Advise on procurement policy for the project. 2. Signed agreement.
4. Advise on the rights, constraints, consents and approvals. 3. Report on project, site and functional
5. Define the services and scope of work required. requirements.
4. Schedule of required surveys, tests,
6. Conclude the terms of the agreement with the client.
analyses, site and other
7. Inspect the site and advise on the necessary surveys, analyses, tests investigations
and site or other investigations where such information will be required 5. Schedule of consents and approvals
for Stage 2 including the availability and location of infrastructure and and related lead times.
services.
8. Determine the availability of data, drawings and plans relating to the
project.
9. Advise on criteria specific to own scope of work that could influence
the project life cycle cost significantly.
10. Provide necessary information within the agreed scope of the project
to other consultants involved.

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 Design stages

Stage 2 deliverables / outcomes

Stage 2 (Preliminary Design) activities 1. Concept design.
1. Agree documentation programme with principal consultant and other 2. Schedule of required surveys,
consultants involved. tests and other investigations
2. Attend design and consultants' meetings. and related reports.
3. Establish the concept design criteria. 3. Preliminary design.
4. Prepare initial concept design and related documentation. 4. Cost estimates as required.
5. Advise the client regarding further surveys, analyses, tests and
investigations which may be required.
6. Establish regulatory authorities' requirements and incorporate into the
design.
7. Refine and assess the concept design to ensure conformance with all
regulatory requirements and consents.
8. Establish access, utilities, services and connections required for the design.
9. Coordinate design interfaces with other consultants involved.
10. Prepare preliminary process designs, preliminary designs, and related
documentation for approval by authorities and client and suitable for
costing.
11. Provide cost estimates and comment on life cycle costs as required.
12. Liaise, co-operate and provide necessary information to the client, principal
consultant and other consultants involved.

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 Design stages

Stage 3 (Detailed Design) activities Stage 3 deliverables / outcomes

1. Review documentation programme with principal consultant 1. Design development drawings.
and other consultants involved. 2. Outline specifications.
2. Attend design and consultants' meetings. 3. Local and other authority
3. Incorporate client's and authorities' detailed requirements into submission drawings and reports.
the design. 4. Detailed estimates of construction
4. Incorporate other consultants' designs and requirements into costs.
the design.
5. Prepare design development drawings including draft technical
details and specifications.
6. Review and evaluate design and outline specification and
exercise cost control.
7. Prepare detailed estimates of construction cost.
8. Liaise, co-operate and provide necessary information to the
principal consultant and other consultants involved.
9. Submit the necessary design documentation to local and other
authorities for approval.

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 Design stages
Stage 4 – (Documentation and Procurement) Activities
1. Attend design and consultants' meetings.
2. Prepare specifications and preambles for the works.
3. Accommodate services design. Stage 4 Deliverables
4. Check cost estimates and adjust designs and documents if necessary to remain within 1. Specifications.
budget. 2. Services co-ordination.
5. Formulate the procurement strategy for contractors or assist the principal consultant 3. Working drawings.
where relevant. 4. Budget construction cost.
5. Tender documentation.
6. Prepare documentation for contractor procurement. 6. Tender evaluation report.
7. Review designs, drawings and schedules for compliance with approved budget. 7. Tender recommendations.
8. Priced contract documentation.
8. Call for tenders and/or negotiation of prices and/or assist the principal consultant
where relevant.
9. Liaise, co-operate and provide necessary information to the principal consultant and
the other consultants as required.
10. Evaluate tenders.
11. Prepare contract documentation for signature
12. Assist in pricing, documentation and tender evaluation as required when the detailed
services for these activities are provided by others.
13. Assess samples and products for compliance and design intent.

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 Design stages
Stage 5 (Contract Administration and Inspection) Activities
1. Attend site handover. Stage 5 deliverables
2. Issue construction documentation in accordance with the documentation schedule including, reinforcing 1. Schedules of predicted cash flow.
bending schedules and detailing and specifications of structural steel sections and connections.
3. Carry out contract administration procedures in terms of the contract. 2. Construction documentation.
4. Prepare schedules of predicted cash flow. 3. Drawings register.
5. Prepare pro-active estimates of proposed variations for client decision making. 4. Estimates for proposed variations.
6. Attend regular site, technical and progress meetings.
5. Contract instructions.
7. Review the Contractor's quality control programme and advise and agree a quality assurance plan.
8. Inspect the works for quality and conformity to contract documentation 6. Financial control reports.
9. Review the outputs of quality assurance procedures and advise the contractor and client on the 7. Valuations for payment certificates.
adequacy and need for additional controls, inspections and testing. 8. Progressive and draft final account(s)
10. Adjudicate and resolve financial claims by contractor(s).
11. Assist in the resolution of contractual claims by the contractor.
9. Practical completion and defects list
12. Establish and maintain a financial control system. 10. All statutory certification and certificates of
13. Clarify details and descriptions during construction as required. compliance as required by the Local and other
14. Prepare valuations for payment certificates to be issued by the principal agent. Statutory Authorities
15. Instruct, witness and review all tests and mock ups carried out both on and off site.
16. Check and approve contractor drawings for design intent.
17. Update and issue drawings register.
18. Issue contract instructions as and when required.
19. Review and comment on operation and maintenance manuals, guarantee certificates and warranties.
20. Inspect the works and issue practical completion and defects lists.
21. Arrange for the delivery of all test certificates, statutory (regulatory) and other approvals, as built
drawings and operating manuals

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Stage 6 – (Close-Out / Completion, hand over and Stage 6 deliverables
operation) Activities 1. Valuations for payment certificates
1. Inspect and verify the rectification of defects 2. Works and final completion lists
2. Receive, comment and approve relevant payment 3. Operations and maintenance manuals,
valuations and completion certificates guarantees and warranties
3. Facilitate and/or procure final operations and maintenance 4. As-built drawings and documentation
manuals, guarantees and warranties. 5. Final accounts
4. Prepare and/or procure as-built drawings and
documentation.
5. Conclude the final accounts where relevant.

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 Summary

This section discussed the relationship between the engineer and the client, the role of the
structural engineer, and the commonly adopted stage design framework.

The stage design process will be used in the design project in this course.

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 Project planning considerations

The previous section provided an outline of the various stages in the

execution of an engineering project, from inception to hand over Project Phases
Stage 1 - Inception
The following section discusses some key considerations to be
Stage 2 - Concept and viability (Initial or
taken into account during project development. It is important
Preliminary design)
to note that the role of the engineer, in addition to providing
engineering services is to advise as well as ‘educate’ the client Stage 3 - Design development (Detailed Design)
where necessary about socio-economic impacts of a project
Stage 4 - Documentation and Procurement
Stage 5 - Contract Administration and
Thus from the onset the engineer and the client must
carefully consider and agree on sustainability, health & Inspection
safety aspect of the project and to some extent Stage 6 - Close-Out (Hand-over)
buildability of the project.

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 Project planning considerations
Sustainability is defined as the need to ensure
that development meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of Society
future generations to meet their own needs.

To achieve a sustainable engineering project, the

engineer should aim to reach a balance between the Sustainability
triple bottom line factors that underpin sustainability.
The triple bottom line factors for sustainability are;
Environment Economic
• Environmental protection
• Economic growth
• Societal needs

Triple bottom line factors

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 Project planning considerations

Sustainable construction therefore requires careful

consideration of the triple bottom line factors. It
requires efficient use of resources, eradication of
pollution, due consideration of the needs of local
people. Sustainable construction must address the
following;

• Re-use of existing built assets

• Waste minimisation
• Energy minimisation [during construction and
operation]
• No pollution
• Preserve biodiversity
• Preserve heritage
• Conserve water
• Respect for people and their environment

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 Project planning considerations

In South Africa, the Occupational Health

and Safety [OHS] Act provides
legislation [1993] for health & safety in
the work place and the regulations for
the construction industry are given by
the Department of Labour [2014]

Occupational Health & Safety issues

should be discussed at project inception.
The engineer must;

• Ensure that the client is aware of

his/her duties and
responsibilities throughout the
project
• Ensure there are measures to The Engineer must be familiar with OHS regulations for the
protect people on site construction industry

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 Project planning considerations
Buildability is defined is the extent to which the design of a project
facilitates the ease of construction, allowing the most efficient and
economic use of resources, subject to the overall requirements for
the completed project(CIRIA, 1983). DESIGN FOR
The majority of construction projects following two stage process,
design followed by construction. The separation of these two
functions can lead to problems at the construction stage.
BUILDABILITY
Buildability evaluation ensures that timeous project delivery,
ensuring quality and value for money. Buildability evaluation Building information
involves the consideration of; modelling [BIM] provides a
• The sequence of construction activities powerful platform for
• Possible use of standard structural elements; evaluating buildability
• Opportunities for pre-cast construction or prefabrication
• Temporary works (including formwork, falsework and
scaffolding)
Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA) (1983), Buildability: An
Assessment, CIRIA, London.

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 Sustainability, occupational Stage 1 deliverables / outcomes
At the end of stage 1, the following
health and safety and buildability should be achieved;
influence structural design decisions, 1. Agreed services and scope of work.
and project cost. These issues and 2. Signed agreement.
3. Report on project, site and functional
how they will be addressed in the requirements.
project must be discussed at project 4. Schedule of required surveys, tests,
inception. analyses, site and other
investigations
5. Schedule of consents and approvals
and related lead times.
Once the engineer and the client conclude
stage 1, the structural engineer develop
structural concepts, preliminary designs
and preliminary costs

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 Stage 2 of Engineering Project
Stage 2 deliverables / outcomes
This section discusses some elements of Stage 2 of an 1. Concept design.
2. Schedule of required surveys,
engineering project. The discussion will focus on; tests and other investigations
and related reports.
Concept development (conceptual design) 3. Preliminary design.
Preliminary design 4. Cost estimates as required.

[Link]

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 Conceptual Design
Conceptual design is the process where the basic decisions are
made relating to the nature and form a structure

• Use and functionality

• Form and structural efficiency
• Aesthetics
• Environment
• Economy
• Maintenance, Inspection,
repair, demolition, recycling

Increasingly, the Engineer

Structural monitoring
is required to consider instrumentation in the gallery
whole life cycle of a concrete arch dam

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 Conceptual design
Final decision on
• Structural form
• Choice of materials
• Layout of entire structure
• Arrangement of structural elements

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 Conceptual design

The end of the conceptual design phase is marked by a solution accepted by the client and relevant stakeholders

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