Introduction
Structural engineering is an engineering discipline that is concerned with the analysis, design, and testing of structures that must support loads. It is found in many engineering branches, most commonly aerospace, civil, and mechanical engineering. The analysis of structures is necessary to optimize them for their ability to resist loads, to last a lifetime, and to provide a safe engineering solution to oftentimes difficult design problems. The design of structures is critical to the overall process of conceptualizing and producing a product. The testing of structures is usually a final step to assess product fragility and to prove that a specific design meets specified requirements. Structural engineers oversee and participate in all disciplines that are related to the structural engineering of real-world products and structures.

Structural Engineers
Structural engineers have a unique and important responsibility for ensuring that structures are safe, as well as optimized for weight and load bearing capability. The importance of a structural engineer’s abilities and credentials are evident in all walks of life. This can be seen in the design of everyday structures, such as skyscrapers and bridges. It is also obvious in ‘high tech’ aerospace applications, such as airplanes, rockets, or space vehicles, such as the Space Shuttle. Structural engineers routinely provide safe structures that protect people, ensure the safety of astronauts, or simply ‘perform an intended function’. Structural engineers must provide structures that do not fail by overload or fatigue, regardless of the application. The structural engineer works closely with many other disciplines within and outside of engineering.

Education
The educational requirements for structural engineers are very similar to all engineering students. There is a strong emphasis on math skills, with science and the humanities being important secondary skills. Most structural engineers take all the rudimentary classes in statics, dynamics, and strength of materials. In addition, further study in engineering mechanics specialties such as vibration and advanced mechanics of materials is normally emphasized in both Bachelor’s and advanced degree programs. Emphasis on both theoretical and experimental verification of structural behavior is also an important part of the educational process that occurs at structural engineering schools. Once the educational process is completed, graduates can look forward to finding a variety of structural engineering jobs with engineering firms, the government, and private industry.

History
Structural engineering dates back to the days of the pyramids in Egypt. It is obvious that a masterful job of structural design and assembly was done to create these huge structures. These structures were commonly built during this time period because of their stability and the ability for engineers to scale their dimensions for new projects. It is likely that structural theory did not exist at this time, but pyramid designs were based on empirical information that had been gathered from previous successful projects. The Civil Engineering community can look with pride at these historic structures for the engineering ingenuity and resourcefulness in building these massive stone structures.

Introduction
Vibration analysis software is an essential tool for professionals who are analyzing the vibratory behavior of structures and machines. There are two types of vibration analysis investigations that are commonly done today. The first involves analyzing the mechanical vibration of new products that are being designed or tested. The second involves analyzing the vibration that exists in rotating machinery such as compressors, turbines, and motors. Advances in computing power and software have greatly enhanced the vibration analysis process for both new and existing products. The most common software package for analyzing new products is finite element analysis software. Vibration in existing machinery is analyzed with integrated software that enhances the vibration analysis equipment.

Vibration Analysis Using Finite Element Analysis Software
Finite element analysis (FEA) software is routinely used for vibration analysis of structures and new products. This method allows the analyst to consider the complicated structures that cannot be analyzed with elementary structural analysis software. Using FEA for vibration analysis involves dividing the structure into a number of elements, and then using the software to calculate the product’s natural frequencies and mode shapes. Using a defined vibration excitation (random vibration, for instance), FEA software is then used to predict the vibratory response (displacements and stresses) of the structure being analyzed. This process can then be repeated until the product is structurally optimized.

Vibration Analysis Software for Evaluating Machinery Vibration
Vibration analysis software is an essential tool for analyzing and evaluating the mechanical vibration that occurs in rotating machinery. In the past, diagnosis of equipment problems using vibration analysis was mostly dependent on the ability of the maintenance technician or the plant engineer. However, today’s vibration analysis equipment utilizes software that has greatly enhanced the analysis of vibration measurements and the prediction of equipment performance. Vibration condition monitoring involves transmitting large quantities of data from a transducer to a separate data collector for subsequent processing and analysis. The software is then used in analysis of multiple machine vibration parameters to assess operating performance. Maintenance personnel then use the data to determine if unscheduled maintenance is necessary, or if shutdown is required..

Summary
Vibration analysis software can be used effectively to analyze new products, or to evaluate the vibration that occurs in rotating machinery. Finite element analysis software allows engineers to optimize new product designs by predicting the vibration scenarios that would occur during operation. Using vibration analysis software for assessing machinery vibration is a cost-effective method to minimize down time and maximize equipment utilization.