Constructing Environments Logbook Week 1

Constructing Environments Logbook Week 1 Summary

Construction Challenge: Tower The challenge introduced to us had a number of elements. To construct a tower as tall as possible with the materials provided (small timber blocks of uniform size; 3 units X 2 units X 1 unit).

Three Basic forms of construction levels were used as shown below.

The tower must include an opening to accommodate an item; the tower will then be tested for its weight bearing ability.

Laying a base for the tower was decided to be important in order to transfer the overall load to the ground in a stable manner. Immediately a call for height was issued, without considering how we were to bridge the gap of the opening.

We ran into issues soon as we could not find any efficient ways to transfer the load from above the opening to the supporting blocks along its side.

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1: Base of the structure.

Constructed to spread as much load as possible to the foundation.

2: Used to stabilise the structure whilst reaching for the height requirement.

3. Strive for height once structure was sound and able to distribute load.

This was eventually overcome by concentrating load bearing blocks around the outside of the opening, creating a lightweight yet stable lintel over the opening, which in turn transferred its structural load to the base of the tower via the side components. As can be seen by the photo adjacent.

Samuel Hill

Constructing Environments: Week 1 Logbook

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3 Student Number: 722052

Essential to the success of this structure is the uniform distribution of load from the top to the bottom. A repeating pattern was chosen in order to maximise this concept. This is demonstrated in the pictures to the right.

Stages one, two and three are combined to give the structure overall integrity whilst still attempting to satisfy the maximum height requirement.

As mentioned earlier this did prove difficult when faced with providing enough support for the blocks around and above the opening, in the end these challenged proved to be the structures downfall. Shortcuts needed to be made which unfortunately compromised the rigidity of the overall structure.

Stages one and two

Stages two and three

Load Path As indicated in the drawing to the left a load path is represented as possessing both magnitude and direction.

Dead Load The challenge was an exercise in compression and the way in which it is exploited to not only construct a building but also to ensure its structural integrity under stresses and forces applied both laterally and dynamically. A Force is any influence that produces a change in the shape or movement of a body (Ching, Page 2.11) As defined in Ching (2014, p. 2.08) dead loads ‘..are static loads acting vertically downward on a structure, comprising the self weight of a structure and the weight of the building elements, fixtures and equipment permanently attached to it’ As can be seen to the right the structure is able to hold quite a substantial load whilst remaining in compression.

Samuel Hill

Constructing Environments: Week 1 Logbook

Student Number: 722052

Dynamic Load ‘Dynamic loads are applied suddenly to a structure, often with rapid changes in magnitude and point of application. Under a dynamic load, a structure develops inertial forces in relation to its mass.’ (Ching, Page 2.08)

Critical Failure

When a lateral force was applied to the structure we were able to view the impact this had on individual elements as well as the structure as a whole. This lateral loading had the resulting effect of creating a point load on the weakest element within the structure, which inevitably caused it to fail.

Identified as an elements that was not load bearing. The structure was not kept uniform in its construction, as a result an individual member was not placed in a position to support the load coming from above.

Deconstruction A number of interesting findings were made when we started to deconstruct the buildings. I was surprised at just how well the structure was able to carry its own load despite having a large number of individual elements removed. Each piece taken out weakened the structure as a whole however the other building elements surrounding any potential weak point were able to take some of the load and therefore distribute it quite efficiently. This reached critical failure point when cornerstone pieces were removed.

The load became too great and the structure failed.

Samuel Hill

Constructing Environments: Week 1 Logbook

Student Number: 722052

Glossary of terms Load Path: A study of how the static load from a structure is carried through each element to its foundations. Represented on a plan by a series of arrows. These arrows will show direction as well as scale.

Masonry: Consists of brick, stone or concrete block. Entire masonry mass should acts as an entity. These elements are most efficient when acting in compression.

Reaction Force:

‘For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction’. Each load transferred through a structure is met with an equal and opposite reaction, therefore giving the structure stability.

Point Load: Represented on a drawing a load concentrated on a particular point. Crucial to define to ensure a load is adequately supported.

Beam: ‘Rigid structural member designed to and transfer transverse loads across space to supporting elements’ (Ching, Page 2.14). A beam is most efficient supporting stresses when its depth is increased. Doubling the depth of a supporting member reduces the bending stresses by a factor of 4. See picture on right.

(Ching, Page 2.14)

Reference List Ching, F, D, K. (2014). Building Construction Illustrated. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.

Samuel Hill

Constructing Environments: Week 1 Logbook

Student Number: 722052