WHAT IS A STRUCTURE ?

A STRUCTURE MAY BE DEFINED AS AN ASSEMBLY OR GROUP OF MEMBERS/ELEMENTS COMBINED TOGETHER TO FORM A FRAMEWORK TO SERVE THE REQUIRED PURPOSE. IT CONSISTS OF MEMBERS, JOINTS, SUPPORTS AND OTHER COMPONENTS REQUIRED TO SATISFY ITS PURPOSE.

IN ENGINEERING TERMS -

WHEN A ELASTIC BODY IS SUBJECTED TO A SYSTEM OF LOADS  &  DEFORMATION TAKES PLACE , A RESISTANCE IS SETUP AGAINST THE DEFORMATION THEN THE ELASTIC BODY IS KNOWN AS A STRUCTURE.

A STRUCTURE MAY BE CLASSIFIED INTO 3 TYPES BASED ON ITS GEOMETRY 

1. ONE DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURE (SKELETON)  - FRAMES , BEAMS, CABLES , ARCHES ARE THE EXAMPLES OF ONE DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURE.

2. TWO DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURE (SURFACE) - SLABS , PLATES ARE THE EXAMPLE OF TWO DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURE.

3. THREE DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURE (SOLID) - WALLS, DAM, MASSIVE FOUNDATION ETC.