Week 2 Structural Loads and Forces

Part 1 Knowledge Map

Frame:•rigid frame

• shear wall• braced frame

Structural loads and forces• Structural joint• ESD• Bracing• Frame

Structural Joint:Structural elements can be joined to each other in 3 ways.

Pinned Joints:allow rotation but resist translation in any direction

Roller Joints:allow rotation but resist translation in a direction perpendicular into or away from their faces. This joint is not frequently used.

ESD(environmentally sustainable design).Common strategies: • local materials• efficiency • thermal mass• solar energy• night air purging• wind energy• cross ventilation• smart sun design• insulation• water harvesting

Bracing: • diagonal bracing• sheet bracing

Fixed Joints:maintain the angular relationship between the joint elements, restrain rotation and translation in any direction, and provide both force and moment resistance

My design is to build a column using the balsa wood strips. When balsa wood was cut into very think strips, it became very fragile. However, it can bear much bigger tension forces instead of compression. For the base, several balsa wood strips were used as bracings. As we learned that diagonal bracings can stop the frame from moving and these bracings bear tension force. The balsa tower was a column because in this case, a cylinder might be very difficult to build as these balsa stripes were fragile and can be broken very easily. Some stripes were used horizontally so as to connect the vertical ones and use tension force again to prevent this tower from collapse. As no joints were being used, this tower could not be very stable. It will undertake more pressure if fixed or pinned joints can be used.

References

Ching, F 2008, Building construction illustrated, Wiley, New Jersey.

Newton, C 2014, Structural loads and forces, University of Melbourne, viewed 19 March 2014, ! https://issuu.com/envs10003/docs/week_02_guide/2?e=8943534/7032196