Constructing Environments ENVS10003 A01- Logbook Semester 2 2014 Week 2- Structural Load and Forces 01 Studio Report For the second week, we did weekly quiz as the beginning. After doing the quiz, we discussed the structural system such as skeletal, membrane and the hybrid systems ( like the combination of skeletal and planar system). Since the structural system is designed to ensure the load is safe and will not exceed the limit stresses that applied by gravity, the load bearing, columns and beams are all classified as Structural system. But in the quiz, it asked about the Enclosure system (envelope of the building) with roof, windows and doors.
Then we discussed about the forces applied on load using the example of this week’s quiz. The collinear force is the one we talked about. It occurs along a straight line. When considering a structural load, the collinear forces applied to that load as shown below.
For the structural form, it consists with the dead loads, dynamic loads and static loads. The dead loads acts downwards and are static. (e.g. settlement loads and ground pressures etc). In the contrary, the dynamic loads are changing. (e.g., wind loads and earthquake loads). For the static loads, it rapids changes slowly.
Also, we talked about ESD (Environmental Sustainable Design) materials and strategies such as Thermal Mass and Night Air Purging. As for the structural joints, there are two different types of joints, the roller joints and the pin joints as shown below.
This week’s studio activity is “ Frame”. In order to build a 1500 mm long “bridge” by using a 600mm*200mm*2mmm balsa and glue provided.
The photo shown above is the balsa that provided for us in order to fit the 1500mm gap. We cut it into small and identical pieces and connected them using glue in order
to stick them together as shown below.
After finishing all the connecting process, we decided to build it more stable and stronger to ensure it will not that easy to break.
As shown above, after cutting into small pieces, the balsa becomes fragile and more likely to break, so we decided to reinforce the edges of the bridge by putting the pieces into to traingle. That is the design and idea of our own bridge for this week’s activities.
02 Learning Loop
From this week’s learning, I gained an understanding of structural systems, loads, forces, the ESD and Selecting Materials. For the structural system, it consists with Solid, Surface, Skeletal and Membrane. After considering the Structural system, I learned the Construction Systems. They consists with Enclosure system, the Structural system and the Service system. Then I learnt the ESD( Environmental Sustainable Design) and its strategies. For instance, Thermal Mass, Solar Energy, Water Harvesting and Night Air Purging etc.