CONSTRUCTING ENVIRONMENTS WORKSHOP #1- WEEK 4 TASK: WE WERE ASKED TO CONSTRUCT A CONSTRUCTURAL ELEMENT ‘BEAM’. OUR DESIGNS WOULD NEED TO WITHSTAND A POINT LOAD APPLIED AT THE CENTRE OF OUR STRUCTURE. RESULTING DEFLECTION LEVELS WERE TO BE OBSERVED AND RECORDED. I was assigned to group one. We were allowed: • Two pieces of Ply: 1200x 32.2 x 90mm • Two pieces of Pine: 1200x 35x 35mm • Structure needed to span 1000mm • 45 Minutes to complete our structure We initially observed the qualities of our materials. • Natural flaws such as knots and occasional pitch streaks were noted • Ply less likely to distort • Pine is a softer wood DESIGN: My group set aside five minutes to discuss how we might fulfill the requirements of our task. • We eventually agreed it would be wise to provide as many load paths, to distribute the load evenly along our structure, as possible.
THE LOAD UPON OUR BEAM WOULD THUS BE DISTRIBUTED VERTICALLY ALONG VERTICAL MEMBERS AND SPREAD ALONG HORIZONTAL MEMBERS.
BEAM STRUCTURE CRITERIA 1. STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS: •
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A beam design of vertically supporting members/struts (Pine), horizontal members lend additional support (Ply).
2. JOINT SYSTEM: 1 (IMAGE) • Nails 3. HOW IT WORKS: 2 (IMAGE) •
Vertical members distribute load to horizontal members. Beam is in Compression and Tension, however tension and compression are reduced due to vertical members distributing loads.
4. MAXIMUM LOAD AND DEFLECTION: • •
Load: 380 Deflection: 60mm
RESULTS/ OBSERVATIONS Our beam was placed in a contraption that would test its durability under direct point load pressure applied at its center. • Our beam began to bend at 270 • It fractured vertically at 350, fracturing at a nail joint • A piece of pine popped from a knot and unceremoniously landed in the tray below at 380 (This was interesting as we didn’t factor imperfections as drawbacks). • There was only one fracture point on our beam (there may have been internal damage that we couldn’t see).
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OTHER TRAM DESIGNS GROUP 2: 1. STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS: • A beam design of vertically supporting members/struts (Pine), horizontal members lend additional support (Ply). 2. JOINT SYSTEM: 1 (IMAGE) • Nails 3. HOW IT WORKS: 2 (IMAGE) •
Vertical members distribute load to horizontal members. Beam is in Compression and Tension, however tension and compression are reduced due to vertical members distributing loads.
4. MAXIMUM LOAD AND DEFLECTION: • •
Load: 410 Deflection: 60mm GROUP 3:
1. STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS: • A beam design of vertically supporting members/struts (Pine). 2. JOINT SYSTEM: 1 (IMAGE) • Nails 3. HOW IT WORKS: 2 (IMAGE) •
Vertical members distribute load to horizontal members.
4. MAXIMUM LOAD AND DEFLECTION: • Load: 260 • Deflection: Unrecorded