Physical Systems in Building
Structures
To aid your reading of chapter 1 of Understanding Buildings, here is a list of concepts mentioned in the chapter, and a few study questions. Keep these in mind as you read, and come to class Thursday with questions they may raise.
There is no written assignment for Thursday (Jan 6). Just read and get as far into the ideas as you can. I will hand out an assignment on Thursday to be due 12 days later (Tuesday, Jan 18).
Understanding Buildings, Ch. 1: Structure
NB: summaries on pp 8, 12, 20, 24, 28, 31, 38
TERMS:
|
self-weight |
scale effect |
dead load |
|
live load |
stiffness vs. strength |
stress |
|
strain |
shear |
center of gravity |
|
component forces, resultant forces |
beam |
bending moment |
|
internal moment of resistance |
triangulation |
cavity construction |
|
platform frame |
balloon frame |
simple span |
|
cantilever frame |
portal frame |
skeleton frame |
|
overturning moment |
shear wall |
structural grid |
|
module |
differential settlement |
membrane |
|
HP surface |
double curvature |
STUDY QUESTIONS
• why (specifically) are high, thin walls more liable to instability than shorter, thicker ones?
• in what sense is the bow truss illustrated on page 12 "really a beam theory summary"?
• what does it mean for a building to make "structural sense"? (The book uses the phrase in relation to high-rise structures; be ready to explain what it means in relation to any of the structural types discussed.)
• "The column stresses vary enormously." (p. 25) Explain.
• why can concrete shells be much thinner than masonry domes?
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