Applied Studies 240: Introduction to Structures

Part III: Beams

Project 9: Bending Resistance in Beams of Any Shape

Learning Plan

  1. Review the Learning Outcomes.
  2. Read the Introduction.
  3. Complete the Required Reading and explore the online resources.
  4. Answer the Focus Questions.
  5. Add materials as appropriate to your Personal Archive.
  6. Complete Project 9. (Revisit the marking matrix.)
  7. Submit Project 9 as part of Collection 3 when you have completed Projects 7, 8, and 9.

Learning Outcomes

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

  1. Ability to select the sizes of the beams and girders to apply to a preliminary structural frame design;
  2. Ability to design the placement of columns in structural bays to manage the bending resistance of beams;
  3. Ability to apply sizing methodologies for beams with complex cross-sectional areas;
  4. Understanding of the moment of inertia in structural sections;
  5. Ability to explain the benefits of composite action in structural sections; and
  6. Ability to apply the principles associated with developing conceptual steel frame designs.

Introduction

This project explores how to design beams in various materials. You will learn how shape affects the performance of a beam and apply this understanding to one of your own designs.

Required Reading

  • Chapter 18: Bending Resistance in Beams of Any Shape in Form and Forces: Designing Efficient, Expressive Structures

Supplemental Reading

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

Focus Questions

  1. What is the approximate carbon content of steel? What benefits does this create?
  2. Why are the wide flanges and vertical webs in steel sections designed in these proportions?
  3. Explain five methods for how steel is protected against damage in fires.
  4. Explain three methods for providing lateral stability to a steel frame.
  5. How much does the moment of inertia change when two beams are used in parallel in both joined and unjoined conditions?

It would be useful for you to recall from the eText how the moment of inertia can vary depending upon cross-sectional shape of structural members with identical cross-sectional areas. Furthermore, when you are planning your structural grid layout for beams and columns, it will be helpful to remember the most economic size of a steel frame structural bay as this will play an important part of establishing the architectural design direction that follows. You should be clear in your role as prime consultant and architect who is responsible for the structural design solution within the project team.

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 series of projects, you will design different-shaped beams made from different materials and note how the beams react to bending. Your work here will consist of two small projects:

  1. Designing beams in different materials
  2. Providing a design for your project for beams to support the roof using two different material types of your choice

Project 9a: Beam Design

In Chapter 18, you learned about different shapes of beams and how the material affects their performance. Complete Exercises 2 and 3 and Worksheet 18A.

Project 9b: Design Beams for Your Structure

Using the design you identified earlier (see Identifying a Suitable Project), use what you learned in Chapter 18 to calculate sizes to the roof members of your structure. For this project, you are requested to draw a roof plan and find the required sizes of the members of the frame using two different materials (steel and wood).

When you have completed your design and its calculations, visit the Fast+Epp Concept Lab. Use the Calculator app to check your design. You may see that your calculations are different from theirs, but you are not necessarily wrong. What might explain the difference? Note that you can use the app online or download it to a smartphone if you want to carry it with you. Also, check out their Material Gallery. Include this work with your collection.

Review Terms

You should be familiar with and able to define the following terms and concepts:

angles
bars
beams
box beam
castellated
channels
component shapes
composite construction
composite shape
coped connection
corrugated steel decking
erector
extreme fibres
fabricator
fireproofing
flanges
I-joist
intumescent paint
inverted V-bracing
ironworker
joist girders
light-gauge steel framing
moment of inertia
open-web steel joist
pipes
plate girder
plates
plumbed-up
sandwich panel
section modulus
shapes
shear studs
shop drawings
steel
stressed-skin panel
tees
transfer formula
tubes
web
web crippling
web stiffener
wide-flange shapes
wind trusses

Submission Requirements

For Collection 3, include the following items from Project 9:

  • Project 9a – Exercises 2 and 3 from Chapter 18 of Form and Forces
  • Project 9a – Worksheet 18A
  • Project 9b – roof design and visit to the Concept Lab

Note: Now that you have completed Projects 7 to 9, save them together as Collection 3 and submit the PDF to your academic expert for assessment. Scan your study images and materials and add them to your Personal Archive.

TOP