Activity: COMPRESSION Week 1 This week’s focus was on a type of force, ‘compression’. The aim behaviour of mass construction materials is compression. Examples of mass construction materials: -‐ bricks -‐ concrete -‐ stone
The task we were given was to construct a tower using fibreboard blocks. The aim of this activity was to build a tower as high as possible, also accommodating a figurine animal. One opening was required for the figurine to enter and exit through and no roof was required.
Before we commenced building the tower, we measured the amount of blocks required to surround and accommodate the figurine that was provided in our tutorial. It was discovered that making a horseshoe shape would be the most effective for the base, as it required the least amount of blocks.
We found that having four blocks placed horizontally alongside the figurine with five slightly curved at an angle, created the best-‐ sized horseshoe shape for the base. To conceal the roof of the opening, we decided on a beam that would comprise of five blocks.
The beam to seal the opening of the tower was made using five blocks that were put together using an elastic band. This was slightly difficult, as the blocks did not always stay in place as depicted in the image above. Instead of placing the blocks directly on top of one another, we decided to have an overlapping pattern after every layer, where each block would be placed on top of a visible gap. This enhanced the tower’s stability because overlapping the blocks helped strengthen the weak points at the gaps.
Although the curved back produced small gaps in between each block, this method of overlapping was much more stable. We used the same method that can be observed in brick laying.
The tower was built 15 blocks high before the beam was placed on top. We decided to have two beams in order to have a well-‐ balanced rooftop. The image above depicts a layer of bocks facing the opposite direction so as to keep the two beams together.
Due to time constraints, we decided on forming a circular shape and continued this form as we built it taller and taller. However, as the tower became higher, the circle also became smaller. This was based upon the aim of having the tallest tower. We considered forming a smaller circle would require fewer blocks, therefore becoming more time efficient with producing a taller tower.
One constant problem that occurred was that the over layering pattern formed smaller or larger gaps in between due to our hurry to make the opening smaller. Therefore some blocks were rotated in order to fill the gap.
Unfortunately, we did not compose the tallest tower, however we were lucky enough to have ours tested based on its ability to hold excess weight on top. We Lastly, we were told to disassemble our tower, but unfortunately because we tested found that our structure the tower’s strength and stability, it collapsed before we were able to disassemble it could withstand quite a bit ourselves. of weight on top. This was quite easily done in another group’s tower because they were able to pull As seen in the image on or push out a group of blocks without it falling apart. We realized it was easier to the left, the tower remove blocks from areas that had blocks sticking out already. After a very large gradually became thinner amount of the tower was removed, the structure lost its balance and collapsed. as it got higher. This was to ensure the criteria of height in the time that we Stability -‐ The resistance of a structure or element were given. thereof to withstand sliding, overturning, buckling, or
collapsing
Harris, C. 2006. Dictionary of Architecture and Construction. 4th ed. McGraw-‐Hill, p. 929.