As a fledgling engineer who has just graduated, I found this course both challenging and rewarding. I learnt how to logically analyse beams and frames under different loading conditions and then use this information to sketch their bending moment diagrams. With most design done by software programs in today’s industry, having this background knowledge will enable me to spot any mistakes produced by the computer software.

The Understanding Structural Behaviour course provided a strong foundation in analysing how structures respond to different types of loads, support conditions, and geometry. The course covered essential topics such as simple beams, complex beams, frames, and portal frames, enabling me to interpret and predict structural responses using principles of equilibrium, compatibility, and material behaviour.

Through detailed study and worked examples, I gained confidence in drawing and interpreting Bending Moment Diagrams (BMDs), Shear Force Diagrams (SFDs), and deflected shapes. The course also introduced concepts such as load paths, moment redistribution, and the behaviour of indeterminate structures.

Overall, the course improved my analytical thinking, visual understanding of force flow, and ability to assess real-world structural systems. It has been instrumental in preparing me for further study and practical applications in structural engineering.

Professor David Brohn’s visual approach to teaching structural mechanics has transformed my understanding of structural behaviour. The course brilliantly connects theoretical concepts with practical applications through clear visualisation of bending moments, shear forces and deflected shapes.

The “golden rules” emphasised throughout the lectures such as “if a part remains straight after deflection, there is no bending moment” and “at a simple support, the bending moment is always zero” provide invaluable conceptual anchors that help develop engineering intuition beyond calculations.

The systematic progression from simple beams to complex frames built my knowledge logically, whilst the practice exercises reinforced key concepts. I particularly valued the visual correlation between loading conditions and resulting forces, which helps immediately identify critical design areas.

This course will enhance my professional practice by enabling quick identification of structural behaviour patterns without relying solely on computer analysis. The visual thinking methods will prove invaluable for efficient design verification and structural optimisation.

To fellow civil and structural engineers, I strongly recommend this course as an essential foundation. The conceptual understanding gained provides crucial “sanity checks” when reviewing software outputs and develops the engineering judgement that distinguishes exceptional structural engineers.

For IStructE exam preparation, the course directly supports success by developing the exact skills needed for the institution’s challenging design questions. Similarly, for the Certificate of Structural Behaviour exam, the focus on fundamental principles provides the conceptual framework necessary to approach structural design questions with confidence and clarity.

Thank you for providing such an excellent and valuable learning experience.

After finishing my civil engineering degree in 2016, with limited analysis skills. This course has reignited my passion for structural engineering. I’ve loved practicing the problems everyday, and learning the behavioral aspects of structural engineering. The book, the videos and the practice problems are all great. Thank you!

Dear David Brohn (MBE FIStuctE),

Thank you for your amazing book, which I will never forget throughout my future career path. I am Nay Myo Htet Paing, an MSc Civil Engineering Structures graduate from the City, University of London and also currently volunteering at IStructE London Young Members Group. Your book has provided me with a solid foundation in understanding qualitative analysis. This is the first-ever book I invested myself in, and I must say that I have gained so much confidence in my self-learning. The unique approach presented in the book has allowed me to understand concepts in ways that other textbooks have never done before.

So far, I have successfully completed the Analysis of Statically Determinate Structures section from your book, and I am confident that I will accelerate my self-learning progress with your Understanding Structural Behaviour online course and the Structural Model Kits.

Thank you once again for your invaluable contribution to my education. I look forward to continuing to learn from your expertise and insights.

I am modestly proud to announce that I have achieved the ‘Certificate in Structural Behaviour’ from The Institution of Structural Engineers UK and am now eligible to utilize the GIStructE designation.
It is imperative to highlight that the examination poses a significant challenge, particularly for engineers unfamiliar with the Qualitative approach to structural analysis. I wholeheartedly endorse ‘Understanding Structural Analysis’ by David Brohn MBE PhD CEng FIStructE as the primary study material for the examination, as well as for all civil engineers seeking to deepen their understanding of the subject matter, regardless of their intent to pursue certification.