STRUCTURES FOR ARCHITECTS

PART 1a:
INTRODUCTION
Structures not only support gravity and other loads,
but are essential to define form and space. To design
structures in synergy with form and space requires
creativity and an informed intuition of structural
principles (Schierle,2006)
 INTRODUCTION
A. Introduction
To
Architectural
Structural
Design
B. Loads
C. Basic Concepts

One way to make structural systems part of the "intuitive" design

vocabulary of architecture students is to remove structures from the
abstract realm of mathematics and bring it into the context of building
design.
Instructor Slides

2
 INTRODUCTION TO ARCHITECTURAL
STRUCTURAL DESIGN
Why Structures for Architects?

a. Solving Structural Problems

b. Communicating with consultants
c. Designing Rational/Beautiful
Buildings

Instructor Slides 3
 Learning Objectives
 You should be able to understand:
1. Introduction to architectural Structural Design
2. Characteristics of a Structure
3. Structural System
4. Structural Member Forces
5. Structural Design Process

1-4
Structure of a Building
The primary function of a
building structure is to
support and transmit the
building loads and forces to
the ground.

Photos courtesy Tilt-up Concrete

Association
What is a structure?
The structure of a building (or other object) is the part which
is responsible for maintaining the shape of the building under
the influence of the forces, loads and other environmental
factors to which it is subjected. It is important that the
structure as a whole (or any part of it) does not fall down,
break or deform to an unacceptable degree when subjected to
such forces or loads.
The study of structures involves the analysis of the forces and
stresses occurring within a structure and the design of
suitable components to cater for such forces and stresses.

Examples of structural components (or ‘members’, as

structural engineers call them) include:
 steel beams, columns, roof trusses and space frames;
 reinforced concrete beams, columns, slabs, retaining walls
and foundations;
 timber joists, columns, glulam beams and roof trusses;
 masonry walls and columns.

Instructor Slides 6
 Definition of
Structure
• A building structure is an assemblage of
elements used to channel and direct loads
present in a building to the foundation.
• To Structure means to build - to make use of
solid materials (steel, concrete, timber) in such
a way as to assemble an interconnected whole.
• Primarily, structures must resist against the
pull of gravity and to withstand the pressures
of wind and the inertial forces resulting from
earthquakes.
• Statics is the analysis of forces on an
individual structural element or an entire
structural assembly that is in a state of balance
or equilibrium.
• Strength of materials constitutes the basis for
structural design.
• Strength of materials relates the external
forces applied to the structural assembly or
element with the internal forces (stresses)
within the element(s) themselves.
Characteristics of a Structure

 Strength

 Stability

 Economic Value
Structural System
Made up of many smaller structural sub-
systems that work together to provide a
strong, stable, and cost-effective
structure.
Examples of these smaller structural sub-
systems include:
o Roof o Framing
o Walls o Foundations
o Floors

Structural engineers design these structural systems.

 Structural Sub-System
Made up of many structural elements
that work together to provide a strong,
stable, and cost-effective system.
Basic structural elements include:

o Arch o Truss
o Beam o Vault
o Column o Dome
Structural engineers design these structural systems.
Forces and Loads
A force is any action that causes a
change in the shape or motion of an
object.
A load is a force that is supported by a
structural element.
The terms force and load are often used
interchangeably.
SNOW/Rain
WIND
Structural Member Forces
Tension – A force that
stretches or pulls apart a
member, resulting in the
member elongating.
Compression – A force
that squeezes or presses a
member together,
resulting in the member
shortening.
Shear – A force that acts
perpendicular to the axis
of the member, causing
the internal particles of
the member to slide
against each other.
 Beam
A structural element that carries a
load that is applied transverse
(perpendicular) to its length.
Usually a horizontal member that
carries a vertical applied load.
The top fibers of a beam are in
compression; the bottom fibers are in
tension.
Cantilever Beam
A special type of beam that is supported
only at one end
The top fibers of the cantilever are in
tension; the bottom fibers are in
compression
Column
A vertical structural element that carries
an axial force in compression

COLUMN
Truss
• A structural element that is composed
of smaller structural members
typically configured in triangular
arrangements
• Some truss members carry a tension
force; others carry a compression
force
Arch
A curved structural
element that spans over
an open space
In stone arches, the last
stone to be placed at the
top is called the keystone

KEYSTONE
Vault

A continuous
arch that forms a
ceiling or roof
Dome
A structural element that is made up of
arches that radiate around a center point
to create a half sphere
Hybrid Forms
An infinite number of combinations of
these forms exist
 Structural Design
• Structural design involves a process of
balancing between applied forces and the
materials that resist the forces.
• A building must never collapse under the
action of design loads nor from large
forces due to wind or earthquake.
• A general procedure of designing a
structural system (called structural
planning) consists of the following
phases:
o conceiving of the basic structural
form.
o devising the gravity and lateral force Seattle Public Library – Architect, Rem Koolhaas
resisting system.
o roughly proportioning the component
parts.
o developing a foundation scheme.
o determining the structural materials
to be used
o detailed proportioning of the
component parts
o devising a construction methodology

China’s Olympic stadium under construction

Design Process

The same design

process used by
engineers and
designers in other
disciplines can be
used to design
structural
systems.
Architectural Program
Establishes overall concept and design
philosophy
Includes
 Location of building on site
 Architectural style
 Interior space planning
 Design elements
 Construction materials
 Building systems
Encompasses the first four steps of the
design process
Structural Design Process
An architectural program establishes
preliminary structural systems.
The structural engineer must analyze
the structural systems and provide a
strong, stable, and cost-effective
design.
Structural Design Process
Identify Criteria and
Constraints
 Additional criteria needed:
Types and magnitudes of
applied loads
Load path that each load
will follow to the ground
Structural Design Process
Explore Possibilities
 Consider alternate
structural configurations,
materials, and spacing to
improve the design or
reduce costs
Structural Design Process
Select an Approach
 Based on structural
performance, compatibility
with the architectural
program, and cost
 Based on the possibilities
explored, select the optimal
design
Structural Design Process
Develop a Design
Proposal
 Create a preliminary
structural design
incorporating the
selections for all structural
elements
Structural Design Process
Model or Prototype
 Create a model to
represent your structural
design
Sketches
Structural analysis software
3D architectural software
Structural Design Process
Test and Evaluate
 Reanalyze structure based
on element selections
 Structural analysis
software
 3D architectural software
Structural Design Process
Refine
 Revise the design as
necessary to correct
problems with strength,
stability, and compatibility
with other systems
Structural Design Process
Create or Make
 Based on the final design
after revisions
 Create working drawings of
the structural design
Structural Design Process
Communicate Results
 Distribute the drawings
 Include in bid package
 Include in construction
drawings
 Q&A
Dr. –Ing. Alexander Boakye Marful
[email protected]

34