WEEK 2 Learning Loop Studio Bridge Construction
Glossary Appendix
Learning Loop Building Systems The many aspects and parts of a building can be divided based to its functions • Structural Systems • Enclosure Systems • Mechanical Systems Structural Systems Designed to support and transmit applied gravity and lateral loads • Foundation (the underlying structure) • Columns, beams, and loadbearing walls Enclosure Systems Envelops the building, the exterior part • Roof and exterior walls (protects from
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harsh weather conditions) Exterior walls and roofs (reduces noises, provide security and privacy) Doors (physical access) Windows (provides access to light, air, and view) Interior walls and partitions (sections the interior)
Mechanical Systems Essential services and functions to the building • Water supply system • Sewage disposal system • Heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning system • Electrical system
• Fire-fighting system • Vertical transportation system • Waste disposal and recycling system
Studio Bridge Construction
Building Process 1.
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Week 2 studio activity was to make a stable structure that can bridge across 1500mm. Goal : The bridge to be able to span in the 1500mm distance and to be able to hold and withstand stress and pressure of variation of loads. Materials : • 600mm x 100mm x 2mm balsa wood • UHU glue • Sellotape • Matches • Pin
Vertical Rectangular Columns
Joints
Our group’s bridge structure was to make small overlapping columns to distribute the weight of the load.
The joints are the most vital points of the bridge. The joint connects 3 whole parts of the bridge itself, this is because of the original length of the balsa wood resulting in the bridge cannot be made as a whole structure.
In the middle part the joints are connected by with 2 matches for each joints. Under the joints, leftover balsa woods are glued to the joints to minimize the risk of the joints falling apart.
The upper and lower layer of the bridge is placed differently. The main reason for not letting the joint parts on both the upper and lower layer aligned to each other.
Endpoint (Bridge to Table) 2 endpoints of the bridge is placed horizontally on a table, flat surface.
structure. The main reason for this being to redirect the load paths from putting too much pressure on the joints.
How the Bridge Holds The bridge bended on the very middle. This happened because the mass of the bridge itself is heavy. Only by holding on the endpoint, there is no support on the middle. Even without having placed loads on the bridge, it was already bent to start with.
Additional Supports Leftover balsa woods are used as additional support. it was ordinary stick shapes. It was placed near the end of the bridge to the leg of the table, creating a triangular
With the additional triangular support of the triangular structure, there are both advantages and disadvantages. Advantage being redirecting the load so it puts less pressure on the joints. Disadvantage being that it creates an insufficient ‘mount’ on the meeting point of the triangular structure and the bridge. This is on both sides (near both endpoints).
This unfortunately creates in an imbalanced support to the structure. The triangular structure acts as a support but not to all parts of the bridge. Mostly only the parts near the endpoint, not affecting the middle.
Load Path
Efficiency of Materials Used • Construction process takes a lot of time, time consuming • Placing of the internal columns are not always in a precise position
Comparing to Other Groups
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Amount of Materials Used All the groups are limited to only using 1 piece of balsa wood as the main materials.
This group’s bridge was proven to be the strongest out of the other groups. The bridge was made also with the idea of using columns to distribute the load. The load was mostly distributed on an equal amount to both sides. Its width is relatively narrow with only creating space to place load on the top center of the bridge.
This group’s bridge was made similar in shape to ours. The bridge was place on the side of each table with a triangular support on each end part. Like ours, the extra triangular support did not support the whole bridge, the middle part was unsupported. The middle part was then supported with a lower layer
with columns. Likewise, this column was placed for the load distribution. This middle part however was somehow ‘hanging’ as it is not supported like the more-outer part near the end. This bridge was more sturdy and stabile than ours. One of the main reasons being in the extra triangular support. There are also both vertical columns to distribute the load more evenly. There are also horizontal columns to attach to the side of the table. 3.
This group constructed a bridge that was slightly different with other groups. The bridge was made in two layer of every part. The bridge was also made dependent to the connecting joints and the support and the attachment to the table on both sides. This group connected the materials mostly using pins, which creates a hole to the balsa wood and then sellotape it. They also used a triangular support structure on both ends of the bridge. The used this triangular support quite effectively as it connects directly to the joints or connecting points of the bridge. This does not only support the far-end part of the bridge but also the middle part
as the load distributes to the connecting points first then up to the far-end.
Glossary Appendix 1
Structural Joint : A junction where building elements meet without applying a static load from one element to another
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Bracing : Ties & rods used for supporting and strengthening various part of a building used for lateral stability for columns and beams
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Frame : A structural system that supports other components of a physical construction
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Span : The entire horizontal distance between structural supports or the width of a house
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Column : The vertical support which is free from all sides taking the load of beam slab etc. and transfers the load to the earth independently 4
Tension : The pulling force exerted by each end of a string, cable, chain, or similar one-dimensional continuous object, or by each end of a rod, truss member, or similar three dimensional object
1 Joint (Building). 1 May 2014. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_(building) 2 Frame. 12 May 2014. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frame 3 Column. Retrieved from http://www.gharexpert.com/articles/Cement-Concrete1644/Column-Frame-Structure-Building_0.aspx 4 Tension. 28 July 2014. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tension_(physics) n/highmass-construction.html 5 Bracing. Retrieved from http://www.engineeringdictionary.org/NCRS-ConstructionDictionary/BRACING 6 Span. Retrieved from http://www.engineeringdictionary.org/NCRS-Construction-Dictionary/span