The conceptual design hither to has been an individualistic approach practiced over a long period of time and not taught in universities. However, the conceptual design approach is very important to produce sound and sustainable structures. Engineers like Robert Maillart, Alexandre Sarrasin, Eugéne Freyssinet, Joerg Schlaich and Christian Menn significantly contributed to the evolution of today's international state‐of‐art technology and the cultural value of modern engineering structures. Billington called efficiency, economy, and elegance as common denominator for conceptualization of bridge design to counter countless anonymous, frequent utility structures based on mere technical and economic criteria. Many iterations of the design process are required at this stage to refine the concept for design and construction to adhere to functional, sustainability, financial and other constraints like right of way, etc. The tools used for analysis for investigations and iterations of the options may not necessarily be refined ones during conceptual design stage. The designer should have developed creative skills having a bent of mind for architecture and an architect having a broad insight in to structural engineering to render the best of the concept designs. While the structural designer must have a profound knowledge of engineering and available technologies, the architect can contribute in developing broad culture in many and important contextual aspects.

中文翻译：

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结构的概念设计

迄今为止，概念设计一直是一种个人主义的方法，长期以来一直在实践，并且在大学中没有教授。但是，概念设计方法对于产生合理且可持续的结构非常重要。Robert Maillart，Alexandre Sarrasin，EugéneFreyssinet，Joerg Schlaich和Christian Menn等工程师为当今国际最先进技术的发展以及现代工程结构的文化价值做出了重要贡献。Billington称效率，经济和优雅为桥梁设计概念化的共同标准，以应对仅基于技术和经济标准的无数匿名，频繁使用的公用事业结构。在此阶段，需要对设计过程进行多次迭代，以完善设计和构造的概念以符合功能，可持续性，财务和其他限制，例如通行权等。用于分析调查和选择方案的工具在概念设计阶段可能不一定要经过改进。设计师应该具有创造性的技能，对建筑抱有一定的主见，并且建筑师对结构工程具有广泛的见识，可以提供最好的概念设计。尽管结构设计师必须具有丰富的工程知识和可用技术，但建筑师可以在许多重要的背景方面为发展广泛的文化做出贡献。设计师应具有创造性的技能，对建筑抱有一定的志向，而建筑师则对结构工程具有广泛的见识，可以提供最好的概念设计。尽管结构设计师必须具有丰富的工程知识和可用技术，但建筑师可以在许多重要的背景方面为发展广泛的文化做出贡献。设计师应具有创造性的技能，对建筑抱有一定的志向，而建筑师则对结构工程具有广泛的见识，可以提供最好的概念设计。尽管结构设计师必须具有丰富的工程知识和可用技术，但建筑师可以在许多重要的背景方面为发展广泛的文化做出贡献。