Week 3 constructing

This week in our tutorial, we did a workshop where the class was divided into 3 groups and were assigned with different types of wood to build a sturdy beam based on how we construct it.

The types of wood give were -

Group 1- 2 ply wood(1200x3.2x90mm), 2 pine wood (1200x35x35mm) Group 2- 2 pine wood(1200x42x18mm), 2 Ply wood Group 3- 1 ply wood(1200x3.2x90mm,, 3 pine wood (1200x35x35mm)

I was assigned to group 4 .The tools we had to work with was

Screws were used to join the pine wood together

Pieces of wood to act as joist

- saw, bench holder, nails, hammer, screw and screw gun.

We constructed our beam by using 2 pine wood joined together with 3 smaller pieces of pinewood to acts as the joist where it can help to distribute forces and it is enclosed with our ply wood.

The plywood is then nailed on top of the pine wood

During the testing of our beam, it was observed that our beam started to crack nearer to the middle section of the beam and the ply wood started bucking outwards. It was explained that the crack that was located near to the middle section might be caused by the quality of the wood and he buckling of the ply wood was caused by the types of nail used.

Plywood ‘pops’ out from the wood due to the wrong use of nails

The group 2 was tested next. The results of their beam was the beam started buckling and soon cracked at the area where the force acted upon. Due to its box like shape, it was natural for thebeam to cracked

that way

The last group which was group 1 constructed a ladder like beam and was purely attached with screws. The beam took a while to buckle as its structure from the pieces of wood in the middle which helps to distribute the force and its strong attachment. Therefore to conclude out workshop, group 1 had the sturdiest beam.

After that, we had a small ‘field trip’ around the campus to study different buildings located around campus.The first place we went to was: EASTERN PRECINT STUDENT CENTRE (ERC) Links to other the: buildings: narrow passageway

Potential construction constraints: Weathering from the bricks can occur over a long period of time.

Construction type: Mass construction The roof is constructed using a framing system

Structural System: Compressive (from the bricks, and concrete blocks) Materials: Tensile (From the framing system that holds the roof) Brick walls, concrete walls/ blocks with glass windows, walls and ceiling

MSLE

Potential Construction constraints:

Links to other buildings: brick pathway

Bricks may weather over a long period of time and the glass doors may not be very durable for a long period of time or if any accidents happens to it.

QUEENS COLLEGE EXTENTION

Links to other buildings_ Materials:

Pathway/ tar road

Bricks, glass(door,windows), concrete

Construction type: Mass construction Construction type: Mass construction Structural systems: compressive system

Structural System(s)-

Compressive

ORMOND THEOLOGY CENTRE RECEPTION

Materials:

Potential construction constraints_

Reinforced concrete, glass blocks, glass (window), Links to other buildings_ Road, path

Steel drainage pipe

Construction type Mass construction, framed construction Structural System(s)_ Compressive system Tensile system

Materials Glass blocks, concrete, steel, copper

Other relevant comments_ The glass blocks acts as an insulator of heat and also contributes to the building aesthetics.

While visit the sites. We also went to the construction that is going on in the oval pavilion which we have to visit weekly to check its visit.

E-learning Constructing Drawing was mentioned in the e-learning. The things discussed were: -

That working drawings always work at millimetres A north point is needed Hatching or the types of lines used indicates the type of timber or materials used

Masonry and mass construction was discussed in the second art of the eLearning. The information that was discussed are: -

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How masonry includes the usage of stone, clay bricks and concrete blocks. With this, the masonry is strong in compression and has a lower or weaker tensile structure to it.

The examples of stones ususally used in buildings are sandstone and igneous rocks.

Different types of arrangement of bricks were also mentioned

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Bricks were then compared to concrete blocks.

Bricks Rocks Naturally coloured but minerals can Shrinks (moisture evaporates) change it Absorbs water Undergoes more chemical reaction than bricks Helps to prevent spreading of fire in buildings

Moreover, Foundations was explained in the E-learning in relation to the reading by Ching.

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Ching(2008), mentioned that foundations are used so that buildings can transfer loads into the ground.

It was further elaborated from the eLearning that the ground reacts equally and opposite to the load so that the building can be supported

The types of foundation mentioned by Ching (2008) are

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The shallow foundation which the foundation is placed nearer to the ground surface Deep foundation which are foundations that is located deeper down to the ground.

The types of foundation depends on the types of soil and rocks where the foundation is put on. For example if the soil is mainly loose, a deep foundation is used as the harder rocks are usually found deeper underground (Ching, 2008).

Reference List Ching, FDK 2008, ‘Floor Systems’, Building Construction Illustrated: Fourth Edition, John Wiley & Sons Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey,pp.47-54.