What is structural engineering?; Learn the language: a simple explanation of terms used by structural engineers; How do structures (and parts of structures) behave?; Units of measurement: force, mass, weight, and all the rest; Loading – dead or alive; Equilibrium – a balanced approach; More about forces: resultants and components; Moments; Reactions; Different types of support – and what’s a pin?; A few words about stability; Introduction to the analysis of pin-jointed frames; Method of resolution at joints; Method of sections; Graphical methods; Shear force and bending moments; This thing called stress; Direct (and shear) stress; Bending stress; Combined bending and axial stress; Structural materials: concrete, steel, timber and masonry; More on materials; How far can I span?; Calculating those loads