STRUCTURESYear 1 – Term 2

Week 2

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Shear Diagram

Moment Diagram

Deflection

Simply Supported beam

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Beams

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Shear Diagram

Moment Diagram

Deflection

Cantilever

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Structural system and deflected shape

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Trusses

Simple trusses with loads and

reactions showing type of force in

members

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Trusses

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Column

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Column

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Column Optimisation

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Frames

Frames can be either:

- Braced with tension

or compression

members

- Portalised with stiff

corner and/or base

connections

- Infilled with stiff panel

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Frames

Simple bracing systems

- Frames need to be

stable against lateral

(horizontal) forces in

both directions

- A minimum of 3 sides

are required to be

braced to achieve

overall stability

- The flat/horizontal

planes also need to

be braced to provide

a diaphragm to

distribute the lateral

forces to the stability

system

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Frames

Some examples of

bracing alternatives for

multi-bay systems

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Structural design – Load path diagrams

1. Loads : which loads are acting on our structure and in which form/ direction?

2. Which goals do we have to fulfill? – Strength + Stability: to avoid collapse

- Stiffness: to avoid excessive deflections

3. Sketch a load path or alternative load paths on our structure in order to identify the best structural

system or systems:

a) Begin by drawing the load vectors

b) “Walk” along the structure with your pen following the path of the load from their point of

application towards the ground / supports

c) Sketch structural elements/ combined elements for transferring the loads

d) Make sure we have a structural system for transferring the loads from their point of application

to the ground

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Action

Re-Action Re-Action

Load Path

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Load Path

Examples of Load Path

diagrams for simple

systems.

Minimum of 3 members

to be linked together to

achieve stability for a

pinned stability system

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Load Path

Tension Tension

Compression

CompressionCompression

Federal Reserve Bank, Minneapolis

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Load Path

Tension

CompressionCompression

Olympic Velodrome, London

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Load Path

Olympic Velodrome, London

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Load Path

Compression

TensionTension

Tension

Exchange House, London

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Load Path

Wind loadDead load

Dead load

Arching effect

Compression

Eiffel Tower

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Load Path

Serpentine Pavilion 2009,SANAA

Wind load

Dead load/ Wind load

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