DAAE2008 Innovative Building Structures

Semester 2, 2024

1.   Introduction

The aim of the unit is to engage students in studying innovative and advanced building structures, addressing topology, materials, and construction.  Topics include :

•    Architectural form. and structural function : review of basic structural systems (beam, truss, portal, arch, cable) and basic structural actions (compression, tension, bending, shear).

•    Introduction to advanced systems including grids, space frames, gridshells, cable nets and their surface structure equivalents including folded plates, shells, fabrics.

•    Innovative structural engineering in support of architecture, including examples from the work of well-known architects.

•    Structures in nature; biomimetics.

•    Structural materials both traditional and innovative.  Sustainability aspects of material choice, including embodied energy and carbon.

3.  Assessment Tasks

The following are requirements of the course.  Penalties may apply for non-compliance.

- Attending the lectures

- Attending the tutorials

- Viewing the 5 Lessons in Canvas / Modules.    The Lessons work like an e-textbook.  They contain information necessary for addressing the two Assignments, so are required viewing.

Assignment 1 :   Report on 1-way structures.    Due Week 6     (10AM Thur 5 Sep)

Produce a report on 1-way spanning structures, covering items 1a,b,c,d below.  The items have

equal weighting.   For 1b,c,d you will be allocated a study building from the list of ‘Buildings with 1- way structures’ below.    While the ‘ Notes and Technical Articles’ in Canvas / Modules are a

primary source, you are encouraged to look for other sources too.    Present ideas in your own

words.   If you do use text directly from any of your sources, be sure to use quotation marks (“…”), and give the reference.

Submission:

An electronic report in pdf A4 landscape format with max file size 30MB, uploaded to Canvas / Assignments.   The intention is for the report to be easily readable on a typical laptop/desktop

screen without the need for magnifying or cross-page scrolling, and of a size easily handled for

downloading and opening.    If you prefer working in PowerPoint, use 4:3 slides converted to pdf.   Check your file size before uploading, and compress your images if you are over 30MB.   Average

report length will probably be around 20 pages (ie approx. 5 pages per item) including text, diagrams, photos, but will vary depending on your graphic style.

1a   Structural actions T,C,M in everyday structures

View Lesson 1 (Canvas / Modules).   Attend Lecture 1.   Review ‘Everyday Examples’ (Canvas / Modules / Week 1).   Then :

In or near your home, find five examples of simple everyday structures.   For each example provide a photo and a simple diagram showing :

- the underlying structure of the example you’ve chosen

- an external force that acts on the structure, and the corresponding reaction forces on the structure where it is supported

- the (exaggerated) deflected shape of the structure under these forces

- the resulting internal forces (T,C or M) in the members of the structure.

At least one of your examples should feature tension as an internal force.   See Everyday Examples.pdf in Canvas / Modules / Week 1 for sample solutions.

1b   Structural actions in a building structure

View Lessons 2 and 3 (Canvas / Modules).  Attend Lectures 2 and 3.   Read the Notes and Technical Article for your study building (Canvas / Modules / ‘Notes and Technical Articles’). Then using the suggestions in the Notes, provide answers to :

- Type.  What type is the roof structure of your study building - or if it is a hybrid, what types ?

Include a photo that shows something of the structure, and photos of two other buildings that share this structural roof type, with names, refs, and comments on why you think they share this type.

- Structural actions – under vertical loads like gravity.   How does the structure respond to a

downward point load near midspan of the roof ?   On a simple line diagram of the structure, show reactions needed from the ground, show the (exaggerated) deflected shape of the structure, and  structural elements that will experience T or C or M.

- Structural actions – under sideways loads like wind.   How does the structure respond to a

horizontal point load ?   Which elements of the structure will be mobilised in resisting the load (ie   what is the building’s ‘stability system’ , Lesson 3) ?    Show the (exaggerated) deflected shape of  the structure, and structural elements that will experience T or C or M (or S).   Consider both east- west and north-south directions.  If publications don’t mention the building’s stability system,

propose one yourself.

For complex structures your diagrams can be very simplified.    If the structure is repetitive, you only need to show a representative part, at least for downward load.

1c   Structural narrative

Provide answers to :

- Architectural intent and use of structure.  What do you think were the main architectural intentions behind the building’s design ?  (ie what was the architect hoping to achieve ?)    Try listing three.

Do you think the choice of structure supports these intentions ?      Why or why not?    If it is not

addressed in publications, make your own assessment of ‘architectural intention’ .    For this item, view Lesson 5 (Canvas / Modules), which discusses different types of architectural intent,

regarding both overall vision, and specific architectural functions.

- Jointing.  Choose a structural joint.  How do you think it was fabricated / constructed / assembled ?  (eg using what kind of fasteners or fixings, or what jointing processes ?).     Show on a diagram   the internal forces (T,C,M) arriving at the joint, that the joint will need to resist.   Your diagrams in   1b may offer a clue.

- Construction.  How was the structure constructed ?  (Briefly, using very simplified diagrams !).    If nothing is published, how would you construct it yourself ?  (eg  how much off-site prefabrication,   erected in parts of what size, in what sequence, with what kind of equipment, with any temporary    propping ?)

1d   2D structural model

View Lesson 4 (Canvas / Modules).   Attend Lectures 4, 5. Then :

Using materials like balsa, cardboard, string, glue, drawing pins, make a simple 2D model of the structure.  Your model can be upright, or flat on a table or board.   Provide :

- a photo of the model (no videos),

- a diagram (or a markup of a photo) showing which parts of the model experience T, C or M when you apply a downward point load near the midspan of the model.    Does this correspond to your

prediction in 1b ?

- repeat the experiment for a sideways point load to demonstrate how the structure is stabilised.