03 xinyu

Week 3 studio journal

Xinyu Shi (585924)

In week 3’s studio, the first activity was a construction workshop. We were supposed to construct a structure that can span 1000mm and will take a point load at its centre.

Different but similar materials were given, our group was given two 1200x3.2x90mm plywood and two 1200x35x35mm pinewood.

We used quite long time to finalise our design. At first, we considered to make it like this.

By cutting some cracks on the pinewoods and cut the plywood into equal pieces,

then insert and attached the pieces with the pinewood top and base. However, after discussion, we thought a complicated process of making would be involved. We were only given 45 minutes to make the structure; we need to ensure our designed model could be completed within the time limit.

Then we came up with this idea shown above, it is also a truss structure. But the position of the wood are arranged differently; we decided to place the plywood on the top and bottom and cut the pinewood into equal pieces and pin it with plywood.

The reason that we came up with a truss structure, it is because that after we complete the model, it will be tested and the force will be at the center of the structure. With our truss structure design, there will be triangle right in the middle of the model. Once the force is exerted, the force will be split out by the triangle, and the stress will be reduced.

Firstly, we use measuring tape to measure the length of the pinewood and marked it into six equal pieces by using the marking tool. Then the pinewood was cut into six equal pieces by using a saw.

Then we started to use screws to connect the pieces with the plywood on the top and bottom. Hammers were used to knock in the screws and nails.

Finally, we finished our truss structure.

After all groups completed the models, we started to test the structures and destroyed them by using the squeezing equipment.

With the first group, once only few pressures were added on the model, it started making noises. Then as more pressures were added it started breaking in the middle, which is near the nail section. The nails used are plain head nails. And inside the pinewood was breaking into halves as well.

The 2nd group was successfully passed the test and the structure was not destroyed by the machine.

This group’s structure used one 1200x42x18mm pinewood and placed it on two plywood. Two equal pieces of cut pinewood were also pinned with them both on top and bottom. Those two plywood had a lot of bending forces, so that it did not break at all. This structure was really successful. Also it did not use much working force,

comparing to the other groups’ structures.

With the 3rd group, one plywood had been placed and connected with two pinewoods at two sides. Once the pressures were added more it started breaking and broke in the middle. This might because there wasn’t any useful bending stress by the plywood in this case and it was placed vertically. So that both of the pinewood and plywood broke in the middle of the structure.

The 4th group was our group. The structure was not broken in the middle of it. However, one of the nails was loose and jump out. This might because of the bending forces of the plywood on the top and bottom.

The use of materials would affect the stability and strength of the construction, and its appearance. A good structure and design should be able to use less material and working forces.

Site Visit ERC Steel frame beam Glass supported by steel Contraction joints Concrete compress smooth floor

MSLE

Concrete panel, zinc wall, aluminum window frame, column wall, reinforced concrete framed building.

Ormond Theology Centre Reception

Stainless steels/sharp edges/ aluminum framed window/ vertical steel beam/ variation in colour following hydration