Constructing Environments LogBook (Wk 3)

WK3 – Studio Report Lot 6

Arts West

The structural system used for the Lot 6 building, is a steel frame system. The structure is expressed, and the structural components visible include steel beams and columns. A feature of Lot 6 is the brick column that stands at the façade of the b u i l d i n g . T h i s f e a t u r e i s connected to the main building by a large steel beam that uses pin joints at both ends.

Raina Shauki 698887

The Arts West building is a good e x a m p l e o f c o n t e m p o r a r y a r c h i t e c t u r e o n c a m p u s . A combination of frame systems and solid systems have been used at the front of the building, and the m a t e r i a l s u s e d r e S l e c t i t s contemporary design. These materials include glass, matte steel and timber. The trusses of the feature shown in the image on the right show Sixed joints, which is attached to the main building with more Sixed joints.

South Lawn car park

The south lawn structure was made with a solid structural system, a regular pattern of columns supporting the roof.

Because the load that is applied to the top of this structure is heavy (buildings, lawns, people), its necessary to use a system that is able to support that load.

The arches are an efSicient way of doing this, and the concrete further re-­‐enforces the structure. The image on the left shows load path diagram through the columns. The diagram below, shows how these columns are also used to support the trees and lawn that sit above the car park.

ENVS10003 Constructing Environments

One end of the black triangular patterned steel element (pictured above), sits is Sixed to a beam using pin joints, shown in the diagram above. This beam is not load bearing, and serves as an anchor that stops the element sitting above it from swaying from side to side.

This beam is shown highlighted in red in the above picture. It’s important to note this, as it shows that not all elements of a design are structural or load bearing.

WK3 – Studio Report Union House stairs

The stairs on the Eastern side of Union House is a good example of unconventional load paths. It uses an expressed frame system, made up of steel e l e m e n t s . T h e s t r u c t u r a l components seen include ties (cables suspending the stairs) and beams (connected above the ties). The steel cables are joined to the beams using pin joints, and the stair structure itself is connected by Sixed joints. The image above shows the load path diagram of this structure. Note how it transfers load upwards, before dispersing it into the ground. The image on the left, shows a steel element that keeps the stairs from swaying, but does not transfer and loads.

Swimming Centre

North Court

The sail structure at North Court is the the only example that the class looked at that utilized a membrane system.

T h e m a i n s t r u c t u r a l components seen at this site were ties, columns and the membrane itself. Materials i n c l u d e d s t e e l c a b l e s , concrete (columns) and also a plastic sheeting. The ties are attached to columns on the outside boundary of the site by pin joints, allowing some movement of the membrane.

In this case, a membrane system was used as it is a very efSicient way to cover a large area.

The structural system used at the Beaurepaire Swimming Centre is a portal frame. This frame consists of similar steel elements that are evenly spaced apart to create a shell, which is then covered with the enclosure system. The framing for this structure is shown in the diagram on the right.

The frames in this building work like an arch, and transfer the load of the roof around the enclosed space to the ground. Materials used include wood, glass and steel, and the main joints used are Sixed joints.

ENVS10003 Constructing Environments

Raina Shauki 698887

WK3 – Studio Report Sports Pavilion

The sports pavilion was a clear example of a structure that used hybrid structural systems. A combination of frame systems and solid systems were used, along with a wide variety of materials from timber to steel to bricks to glass to concrete. The image on the left shows how all of these materials came together at the end of the build.

The structural components used include ties, columns, trusses and slabs which are used inside and outside the building. The frame of the building is not expressed (concealed) unlike many of the other buildings visited during the studio. Smaller elements are connected to each other with pin joints, and Sixed joints are used in main frame.

Geology Entrance

Unlike the other structures viewed during the studio, the Geology was an example of a small structure on campus. From the outside, the wall seems to be using a solid structural system, but in reality it is using a frame system (steel). Around the frame system, a brick v e n e e r f o r m s the an enclosure system. These bricks are not load bearing and c o n c e a l t h e structure of the entrance. The diagram shows a s e c t i o n t h r o u g h t h e entrance wall.

ENVS10003 Constructing Environments

Architecture Building

Raina Shauki 698887

The architecture building uses a frame and a planar system. The main materials visible from the outside are concrete, steel (mesh) and glass.

Many of the structural columns and beams are visible (expressed structure), and concrete slabs seem to be the main Sloor system used.

The majority of the joints that were observed at this site were Sixed joints which can be seen in the image above. As many elements of the structure were made of thick solid materials, Sixed joints (strong/rigid) make the most sense.

SMAC Outdoor Study

The SMAC outdoor study area is made of a hybrid structural system (frame and planar). There are a mixture of different materials including timber and concrete, with the majority of the exterior system being timber clad. As the top structure is not built to support a huge amount of live load, there are many cantilevers hanging off the structure. The unconventional angles of these cantilevers mean that Sixed joints are the most common in this structure. The structure is not expressed.

WK3 – Learning Loop Design of structural element based on loads to be carried, materials and form/shape chosen for element.

Strut – Slender element designed to carry load parallel to axis. Load produces compression.

Tie – Slender element designed to carry load parallel to axis. Load produces tension.

Beam – Generally horizontal element designed to carry load vertically using bending resistance.

Slab – Wide horizontal element designed to carry vertical load in bending. Supported by beams.

Panel – Deep vertical element designed to carry vertical or horizontal load.

ENVS10003 Constructing Environments

Foundations – Found at bottom of building. Form the SUBSTRUCTURE. Settlement – Over time buildings compress Earth beneath them and sink. à Footings and foundations designed to ensure even settlement.

SHALLOW FOOTING Pad footing – Spreads point load over wider area.

Strip footing – Used to spread loads through a wall of series of columns in linear manner.

Raft foundation – Provides stability by joining individual strips together as 1 mat.

DEEP FOUNDATIONS End bearing piles – extended foundations down to rock providing support.

Friction piles – rely on resistance of surrounding earth to support structure.

Retaining walls/foundations – Used in basements.

Mass construction uses stone + Earth + clay + concrete. These are all strong in compressions, weak in tension. Hard to resist abrasion, have good thermal mass and are durable.

Raina Shauki 698887 Masonry – building with units using mortal as bonding agent.

Bond – Pattern or arrangement of units.

Course – Horizontal row of units.

Joint – The way units are connected.

Mortar – Bonding agent.

Centre of mass – point about which an object is balanced.

Equilibrium – State of balance/rest resulting from equal action of opposing forces (reaction).

Applied forces (F) and reaction forces (R) equal to 0 to achieve equilibrium.

Movement of force is the tendency to make an object/point rotate. Force will only produce movement about a point if applied at a distance from that point along a line of action that doesn't’t pass through the point. à M e a s u r e d b y p r o d u c t o f f o r c e magnitude an perpendicular distance between the line of action and the point (moment arm). à Moment = force x distance

WK3 GLOSSARY

Raina Shauki 698887

Moment – Moment of a force is the tendency to make an object/point rotate. Measured by product of force magnitude and perpendicular distance from that point along a line of action that doesn't’t pass through the point. [Mo = F x D : Moment = force x distance] Retaining Wall – Used when sites are excavated to create basements. These walls withstand pressure load of Earth behind walls.

Pad Footing – (Isolated Footings). Helps spread point load over wider area of ground.

Strip footing – Used when loads form a wall, and a series of columns spreads load in a linear manner.

Slab on ground – Wide horizontal element designed to carry vertical load, supported by beams. Used as Slooring.

Substructure – Structure found underneath the main superstructure. Usually refers to basements.

ENVS10003 Constructing Environments