Building SuperstructuresBuilding Superstructures

ConstructionConstruction

Mr. O’RourkeMr. O’Rourke

3 Kinds of Superstructures:3 Kinds of Superstructures:

MassMass

Bearing WallBearing Wall

FramedFramed

Mass StructuresMass Structures

Nearly/totally solidNearly/totally solid

Little or no space insideLittle or no space inside

Use large amounts of materialUse large amounts of material

Mass Structures (cont’d)Mass Structures (cont’d)

Most materials are in natural stateMost materials are in natural state Soil, rock, reinforced concrete, asphalt pavingSoil, rock, reinforced concrete, asphalt paving

Materials are mixedMaterials are mixed

Keeps costs lowKeeps costs low

Bearing WallsBearing Walls

Have usable space, thick wallsHave usable space, thick walls

Made of brick, Made of brick,

block, or rockblock, or rock

Not as good for Not as good for

buildings with +1 story buildings with +1 story

Bearing Walls (cont’d)Bearing Walls (cont’d)

Concrete Block walls- Industrial and Concrete Block walls- Industrial and commercial commercial

Tilt-up Bearing walls- Tilt-up Bearing walls-

Reinforced concreteReinforced concrete

Frame StructuresFrame Structures

Made from wood, reinforced concreteMade from wood, reinforced concrete

or steelor steel Have a skeleton usually enclosedHave a skeleton usually enclosed Frames are made of beams, rods, poles and Frames are made of beams, rods, poles and

boardsboards

Frame Structures (cont’d)Frame Structures (cont’d) Provide more Provide more

space insidespace inside

Use less materialsUse less materials

Easy to insulateEasy to insulate

1-4 story buildings 1-4 story buildings use wood->use wood->concrete->concrete->steelsteel