Applied Studies 240: Introduction to Structures

Part II: The Flow of Forces

Project 6: Designing a Bay of Framing

Learning Plan

  1. Review the Learning Outcomes.
  2. Read the Introduction.
  3. Complete the Required Readings and explore the online resources.
  4. Answer the Focus Questions.
  5. Add materials as appropriate to your Personal Archive.
  6. Complete Project 6. (Revisit the marking matrix.)
  7. Submit Project 6 as part of Collection 2 when you have completed Projects 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Learning Outcomes

After successfully completing this project, you will acquire proficiency in the following areas:

  1. Understanding and comparison of common roof systems, including load transfer in each system;
  2. Ability to compare the floor systems in two- and three-level framing using wood, steel, and precast hollow-core concrete, using structural sketches and free-body diagrams to discuss tributary area and the load paths in each;
  3. Ability to illustrate and compare three types of shallow foundations and their load distributions;
  4. Ability to describe and explain the structural purpose of pile foundations and load distributions using pile caps and grade beams;
  5. Ability to illustrate and analyze the load propagation and transfer that occurs in a roof diaphragm and shearwall resistive system due to lateral loads; and
  6. Ability to assess and analyze wind pressure resistance in two-storey wood frame structures.

Introduction

This project addresses how the various structural components of a building can be organized to work together to transfer loads from the roof through to the foundation. In particular, you will learn how to analyze and design a bay of framing.

Required Reading

Supplemental Reading

If you found this project of interest, you may want to read the following:

Focus Questions

  1. What opportunities exist for the architectural aesthetics to be expressed in a structural system?
  2. Which structural system have you seen used most frequently in nonresidential buildings in your city? Why do you think that is the case?

Evaluation

Your work will be evaluated using the marking matrix outlined in the Evaluation and Grading section of the Course Orientation.

Project Description

In this project, you will gain an understanding of the design of bay framing. Your work here will consist of three small projects:

  1. Designing bay framing (through exercises at the end of Chapter 15)
  2. Creating a framing system for one of your own designs
  3. Exploring the interrelationship of structures and aesthetics

Project 6a: Designing Bay Framing

Complete Exercises 1 to 4 at the end of Chapter 15 in Form and Forces: Designing Efficient, Expressive Structures. Develop an answer to each component of the exercise and present your response as a collection.

Project 6b: Design of a Framing System

Using the design you identified earlier (see Identifying a Suitable Project), investigate it with regard to its framing system.

If the building already has a column layout, proceed to Project 6b(ii); if it does not, proceed to Project 6b(i). For both questions, take into consideration Figure 15.26 in Form and Forces: Designing Efficient, Expressive Structures.

If the building you have identified for APST 240 is not large, it will not lend itself to a six metre (or bigger) column grid. If that is the case, you can combine modules of your design to establish a larger building. This would work well, for example, with your design of an Emergency Shelter. You could put together multiple units to create a grid of shelters and then analyze them as your column grid.

Project 6b(i)

Take the floor plans and establish a proposed column grid of 6–10 m. Where possible, align these columns with walls or other features. Now place shear walls at locations you think would be appropriate. Explain why you consider your shear wall placements to be good.

Project 6b(ii)

On your floor plans, highlight the locations of columns, bracing, shear walls, and stair and elevator shafts. Suggest whether you think the shear wall placement is good or bad. Also suggest an alternate shear wall layout.

Project 6c: Structure and Aesthetics

Structural framing can often be optimized to align with architectural concepts. One example of a structural system that successfully achieves this is the diagrid. This structural system makes use of material and structural efficiencies and allows for flexibility in architectural planning. Research an example of a building that uses a structural system in a unique way.

Figure 6.1

Figure 6.1. The base of the Bow in Calgary. The diagrid structure is expressed prominently on the façade.

Review Terms

Refer to the Key Terms and Concepts at the end of Chapter 15 in Form and Forces: Designing Efficient, Expressive Structures.

Submission Requirements

For Collection 2, include the following items from Project 6:

  • Project 6a – Exercises 1 to 4 from Chapter 15 of Form and Forces
  • Project 6b – a diagram and commentary (around 250 words) that describe the locations of columns, bracing, shear walls, and stair and elevator shafts in your chosen building
  • Project 6b – a diagram and commentary (around 250 words) that describe an alternative layout of shear walls
  • Project 6c – at least three images and a commentary (around 500 words) that analyzes a building that uses a unique structural system

Note: Now that you have completed Projects 3 to 6, save them together as Collection 2 and submit the PDF to your academic expert for assessment. Scan your study images and materials and add them to your Personal Archive.

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