‘Compression’ Mass Construction
Constructing Environments Maxwell Bracher 636699
Week One comparison between ‘compression’ and ‘tension’. Task is to build the tallest structure possible using mass construction.
Mass Construction: “The use of dense, high mass materials” (WikiHelp 2013) REQUIREMENTS: An opening Some form of cover
Constructing Environments Maxwell Bracher 636699
Double brick construction Wall resists lateral seismic and wind forces Variation in materials - wooden blocks and clay bricks Elastic bands used to secure horizontal bonds Multiple bonds: Stretcher bond Use of ‘soldiers’ Freeform bonds Difficult to maintain consistency, wooden blocks not the same ratio as standard brick - 230mm x 110mm x 76mm. Pyramid structure - downward bearing of load. Refer right Clay brick courses inserted periodically to increase stability
Constructing Environments Maxwell Bracher 636699
Seen clockwise from top left: Course of soldiers and headers to tie the double brick construction together. Couses of common stretcher bond, clay brick modules, soldiers and headers. The archway can be seen, supported by elasticband-secured course. A prefabricated method of construction was used for the building of the tower.
Constructing Environments Maxwell Bracher 636699
Right: The tower prior to its destruction Load is borne directly down the spire, through the tower, across the beams and to the foundations. Support beams are built from the tower to the side walls to distribute the load from the tower alone to the entire structure. Courses of clay brick adjust the centre of gravity as construction continues upward. Brick is a form of mass construction that is dense, heavy, and rigid. However with no bonding agent (such as mortar), the structure became unstable.
Constructing Environments Maxwell Bracher 636699
The spire was the first feature to be destroyed. Instability caused by the laying of the final brick. Destruction of the tower followed as wobbling increased exponentially. Courses of brickwork were maintained as the tower fell, Foundations were demolished manually. Strength was maintained throughout the demolition process.
Constructing Environments Maxwell Bracher 636699
REFERENCES English - WikiHelp. 2013. AutoDesk WikiHelp. Viewed 8th August 2013, <http://wikihelp.autodesk.com/enu.> Boral 2013, Brick bonds and other decorative effects, Boral Australia, Sydney. Viewed 8th August 2013, <http://www.boral.com. au/images/common/clay_bricks_pavers/pdfs/1_307.pdf> Masonry Institute of British Columbia 2013. Masonry Institute of British Columbia, Victoria. Viewed 8th August 2013. < http://www. masonrybc.org/document/manual/2.1.3.pdf>
Constructing Environments Maxwell Bracher 636699