Week 1 When building a structure, one must consider many

factors when choosing materials:

Performance requirements

` -The weight it will bear, earthquakes,

wind,

Behaviours:

-Under compression and tension

Stiffness:

-Stiff, flexible, stretchy, floppy

Shape:

-Linear, planar, volumetric

Economy:

-Cost of material and labour, efficiency,

availability

Sustainability:

Load path diagrams help us to see how a

structure distributes a load to the

ground. The arrows do not represent

forces acting on the structure.

“Wood-framed house” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wood-framed_house.jpg

Timber is a very appropriate material for the con-

struction of houses In Australia: It is widely avail-

able, strong and efficient. If it’s sourced from sus-

tainable logging, it stores carbon from the atmos-

phere within itself, lessening harmful impacts on

the environment (Especially when compared with

steel, which produces a lot of carbon dioxide when

made).

Week 2 There are 3 main types of joints:

Fixed, allowing no movement whatsoever and

allowing one to consider joined parts as one

(e.g. Welds)

Roller, allowing horizontal movement (Used

often in bridges)

Pin, allowing rotational movement (e.g.

Hinges)

There are four main structural systems:

Solid (e.g. masonry walls and columns, Roman

arches, foundations)

Surface or shell, where the surface of the struc-

ture gives it its strength (e.g. Sydney Opera

House, gothic arches)

Skeletal, where each member of the structure

experiences tension or compression and little

bending (e.g. Trusses , Eifel Tower, the vast

majority of modern buildings)

Membrane, where the whole surface is under

tension (e.g. Tents and sails) they cover large

areas very efficiently

There are also hybrid structures which combine two or

more of these systems.

This pin joint allows the door to swing

around this axis.

These two bolts prevent

this joint from moving

in any significant way.

Photographer: Gavin May

Photographer: Gavin May

Environmentally sustainable design (ESD) strategies:

Local Materials

-Don’t need to be transported very far,

reducing CO2 emissions from transport vehicles.

Material Efficiency

-You may need less of one material to do

the same job as another material.

Thermal Mass

-Buildings with high thermal mass take

longer to warm up and cool down, reducing the need

for air conditioning.

Night Air Purging

-A warm building can replace the inside

air with cooler outside air at night.

Solar Energy

-Can be used to heat a building

Wind Energy

-Can be used for cross ventilation

Cross Ventilation

-Allows air flow through a building, re-

ducing the need for air conditioning

Smart Sun Design

- Using the sun to heat up the building

when its cold, but protecting the interior of the build-

ing when its hot.

Insulation

-Keeps the internal temperature of a

building stable and independent of the temperature

outside, reducing the need for air conditioning.

Water Harvesting

-For example, collecting rain water for

toilet use.

“Council House 2” http://www.yourbuilding.org/Article/NewsDetail.aspx?p=83&id=1573

The “Green Building Council of

Australia awarded CH2 [Council

House 2, 218-240 Little Collins

Street, Melbourne] six Green

Stars, which represents world

leadership in office building de-

sign.

“The CH2 project is the first in

Australia to achieve the six Green

Star certified rating, where the

minimum rating is one star and

maximum is six.” (Maltezos,

2013)

Maltezos, (2013)

Week 3 There are five kinds of structural element:

Struts

Compressions elements, mostly col-

umns or in trusses

Ties

Tension elements, found in suspen-

sion bridges and trusses

Beams

Horizontal elements that resist bend-

ing forces

Slabs/Plates

Horizontal elements that transfer

loads to columns and beams

Panels

Walls

Can be load bearing

Can prevent lateral motion

(shear diaphragms)

Photographer: Gavin May

Photographer: Gavin May

Beam

Tie

Strut

Mass materials can be either:

Modular:

Made up of uniform

units e.g. Clay and

mud brick, concrete

block, ashlar stone and

all masonry

Non-modular:

Made in one piece or

as few pieces as possi-

ble e.g. Concrete,

rammed earth and

monolithic stone

Photographer: Gavin May

Sandstone: A type of ashlar stone and a

modular mass material.

Sandstone is relatively soft and therefore

easily carved and good for fine detail. How-

ever this makes it prone to weathering.

Concrete (in this

form) is non-

modular, this

strut has been

poured to do a

very specific job.

Week 4 There are three main types of floor system:

Concrete

Can have one-way or two-way slabs

Thickness of a slab is generally

(length of span)/30

More fire-resistant than steel or timber

Steel

Can be heavy or light gauge framing

Open-web joists, a type of light gauge

framing, can have pipes or wires run

through it

Can combine with concrete where shal-

low floor slabs are desired

Timber

Common in Australia and USA

Combination of bearers (primary

beams) holding up joists (secondary

beams)

Joists are typically spaced 450mm-

600mm apart Concrete:

Ingredients:

1 part cement

2 parts fine aggre-

gate

4 parts coarse ag-

gregate

.4-.5 parts water

Formwork holds wet

concrete in place until it

sets

http://www.builderbill-diy-help.com/formwork-stairs.html

Wooden formwork holding up wet

concrete steps.

Concrete can have steel reinforcement in the form of mesh or bars to

improve its performance under tension and bending. Steel reinforce-

ment bars protruding from concrete can be used make fixed joints

between members.

Steel reinforcement bars.

http://www.cyprus-property-buyers.com/photographs/ceiling_steel_reinforcing.jpg

Concrete can have and

blasted, exposed aggre-

gate, raked, bush ham-

mered, board-marked or

board & batten finishes

http://www.dungan-nequette.com/blog/general/materials/attachment/board-formed-concrete-2/

Board-marked finish

Concrete can be classified into two main types, each with its own ad-

vantages and disadvantages:

In situ (on site):

Cast on site

Labour intensive

Widely used in footings, bespoke (non-standard) structural

elements

Includes shotcrete (which is sprayed into place)

Used in joints

Precast:

Any concrete fabricated in a controlled environment then

transported to site

Advantages:

More standardised

Better quality control

Much faster to build with

Uses

Rare in footings

Common on walls and columns

Drawbacks:

Limited size

On-site changes are difficult to incorporate

http://constructionconsultantservices.com/dictionary/images/in-situ-concrete.jpg

http://www.almokhtaar.com/wp-content/gallery/works/precast-web_1.jpg

Week 5 Walls:

Load bearing

Common around lift and stair

wells

Can be solid or reinforced masonry

Stud framing

Very common in Australia

Studs are close enough together to

be spanned by plasterboard

Consists of top & bottom plates,

vertical studs, noggings, cross

bracing and ply bracing

Brick veneer is very common in

Australia and looks like all brick

from outside and can be identified

by weep holes.

http://www.timberimagineering.com/images/portfolio/stud.jpg

Stud

nogging

Weep holes at the bot-

tom of masonry veneer

and cavity walls allow

moisture in a wall to

flow outside rather than

being retained or seep-

ing inside. What is

shown here is an exag-

geration.

http://www.boral.com.au/bricks/brickInsights/images/brick_terms/_Brick_Veneer.jpg

Stud frame

Brick facing

Interior wall facing

Structural frames:

Concrete and masonry bearing walls:

non-combustible construction

Require reinforcing to cope with tensile forces

May leave wall exposed

Considerations

Height to width ratio

Lateral stability

Expansion & control joints

Metal and wood stud walls:

Studs carry vertical loads

Sheathing or diagonal bracing stiffens the plane

of the wall

Stud framing can support a variety of interior

and exterior wall finishes

Stud walls can be made on or off site

(Ching, 2008. p5.03)

Timber:

Strong and stiff parallel to grain

Weak perpendicular to grain

Seasoning:

For strength

Reduces moisture content

for intended use

Types:

Air

Kiln

Solar kiln

Considered seasoned when

it has < 15% of its original

moisture

Types (and examples:)

Softwood:

Radiata pine, Cypress

pine, Hoop pine,

Douglas fir

Hardwood:

Victorian Ash, Brown

Box, Spotted Gum,

Jarrah, Tasmanian

Oak, Balsa Wood

Considerations:

Knots are points of weak-

ness and cause slope of

grain. (Knots do better un-

der compression than under

tension)

Needs protection from wa-

ter

Insects, sunlight, heat, fire

& chemicals

Knot

Sloping of the grain causes

places where the timber is

weaker along the edge.

The timber has

come apart

along its grain

Timber holds up better where there is less sloping

and the grain doesn’t run off the edge.

Sawing:

Quarter Sawn:

Advantages:

Best grain shows on face

Good wearing surface of

floors and furniture

Lower width shrinkage when

dry

Less cupping and warping

Drawbacks:

Slower seasoning

Prone to splitting when

nailed;’

Back-Sawn:

Advantages:

Seasons faster

Less prone to splitting when

nailed

Disadvantages:

More likely to warp and cup

Radial sawn:

Advantages:

Less wastage in milling

Disadvantages:

Stacking

http://alleghenymountainhardwoodflooring.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g262/BHguitars/Radialschnitt.jpg http://www.indeco.net.au/images/quarter%20log.jpg

Radial Sawn Timber Quarter Sawn Timber

Back Sawn Timber

Properties of timber:

Medium-low hardness

Medium-low fragility

Low ductility

High flexibility

Medium plasticity

High porosity & permeability

Extremely varied density

Poor conductor of heat and electricity

Can be very durable

Very high reusability

Very low embodied energy

Potentially fully renewable

Generally cost effective

Engineered Timber:

LVL - Laminated Veneer Lumber:

Thin layers of timber glued together

with the grain of each layer running

in the same direction

Very deep and long sections are pos-

sible

High strength

Structural uses

Glulam - Glue Laminated Timber:

Made from back sawn timber

Structural uses

Very deep members

CLT - Cross Laminated Timber:

Thick layers of wood laminated to-

gether with the grain of each layer

alternating directions

Provides strength in two directions

Structural purposes

Plywood:

Thin layers of wood glued together

with the grain of each layer alternat-

ing directions

Uses: Structural bracing, structural

flooring, formworks, joinery

LVL is desired for its strength because a knot

on one layer won’t compromise the strength of

any of the other layers

L

V

L

The grain of plywood and CLT rotates 90 de-

grees each layer.

You can see from the ends of these

glulam members that the timber has

been back sawn.

http://d2gzmlqnkfjqmm.cloudfront.net/data/product/content/agg/

boisecascadellc/Boise-Cascade-LLC/Boise08/

FC9988B25A8BA39280DEE707533B1B42_boise_glulam.detail.png

You can see below that CLT is made

from thick layers of timber, makes very

thick members and the grain rotates 90

degrees at every layer.

Engineered Timber:

MDF - Medium

Density Fibre-

board:

Denser

than ply-

wood

Made by

breaking

down tim-

ber into

wood fi-

bres, com-

bining

them with

wax and a

resin

binder

Non-

structural

uses

Chipboard and

Strandboard:

Uses:

Structural,

cladding

Layered

wood

chips or

strands

with wax

and a

resin

binder

Week 6 Roofing:

Flat roofs:

Pitch less than 3 degrees

Examples:

Concrete slab

Flat truss

Beams and decking (heavy

weight)

Joists and decking (light

weight)

Waterproof membrane is required

Pitched roofs

Pitch greater than 3 degrees

Examples:

Rafters

Roof beams and purlins

Trusses

Tiles need a slope greater than

15 degrees

Sheet metal roofs need a slope

greater than 5 degrees

Roofing:

Concrete:

Useful if the roof is wanted for gar-

dens or car parking

Better fire rating

Layers (from top to bottom):

Wear course

Roofing membrane

Rigid foam or lightweight con-

crete insulation

Vapour retarder

Smooth trowelled finish

Reinforced concrete roof slab

http://www.pinewoodgroup.com/sites/default/files/teddington_multi_storey_car_park_roof.jpg.crop_display.jpg

Roofs can be useful spaces for parking; Flat

concrete roofs can provide parking.

Rafters http://www.crodog.org/garage/collarties.jpg

Truss roof

http://www.constructioninvivo.com/wp-content/

uploads/2012/09/Designing-roof-trusses.jpg

Roofing:

Structural steel framed roofs:

Flat:

Primary and secondary roof

beams for heavier roof finishes

Roof beams and purlins for

lighter roof finishes

Sloping:

Roof beams and purlins

Lighter roof finishes

Trussed roofs:

Can be timber or steel

Can be flat or sloped

Space frames:

Applies the principal of a truss to a

planar shape

Span long distances in two direc-

tions

Light framed roofs:

Gable roofs:

Vertical triangular sections of

wall at either end

Consists of: common rafters,

ridge beams & ceiling joists

Hip roofs:

All sides of roof are sloped

Consists of: common rafters,

hip rafters, valley rafters, jack

rafters, ridge beams and ceil-

ing joists

This square grid space frame spans very long dis-

tances in two directions

http://roofframer.com/images/steep-gable-roof-no-fascia.jpg

http://www.amiyaco.com/images/dom_dkuni_wct.jpg

Gable roofs have vertical triangular faces at each

end.

Trussed Roof.

Trussed Roof.

This trussed roof allows more interior space.

This trussed roof incorporates a flat ceiling.

Metals:

Linked to technological revolutions: cop-

per age, bronze age, iron age

Can be found pure in nature but it is more

common to find them in minerals

Malleable and ductile, not brittle

Properties:

Hardness: varies depending on type

Fragility: low

Ductility: high

Flexibility and plasticity: medium -

high when hot

Permeability: Impermeable to water

and light

Density: high (aluminium is 3 times

the density of water & gold is 19

times the density of water

Conductivity: High for both heat and

electricity

Durability: Depends on type, treat-

ment, finishing & fixing

High reusability and recyclability

Sustainability and carbon footprint:

Very high embodied energy, recy-

clable and renewable if correctly

managed

Generally cost effective

Considerations:

Corrosion

Metals:

Ferrous:

Contains iron - the 4th most com-

mon element on earth

Properties:

Magnetic

Very reactive

Good compressive strength

Wrought iron:

Formed when iron is heated

and hammered into the desired

shape

Cast iron:

Formed when iron is melted

and poured into a mould to

cool

http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/wrought-iron-

fence-close-up-look-front-modern-building-

31165541.jpg

Wrought iron is more commonly found in

decorative gates and fences such as these.

Corrosion is particularly a problem for

iron because as it corrodes, rust flakes

off and exposes fresh iron beneath it,

which then rusts - weakening it.

http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs17/f/2007/181/5/e/

Metal_Rust_Texture_05_by_FantasyStock.jpg

Steel:

Mostly iron with carbon being the primary

additional element

Very strong

Conductor of heat and electricity

Can be formed into many different shapes

Long lasting of properly protected

Structural:

Hot rolled: Shaped while hot, gener-

ally used as primary structural ele-

ments

Cold formed: Elements are folded

from sheets that have been previ-

ously produced and cooled down,

generally used as secondary struc-

tural elements

Reinforcing bars: Used in concrete

due to its high tensile strength

Corrugated iron is actually steel

Stainless steel:

Equal to or more than 12% chromium

Resistant to corrosion

Used in harsh environments

Used in kitchen benches and utensils be-

cause it’s easy to keep clean

Usually too brittle for structural purposes

http://catalog.wlimg.com/2/1473279/full-images/

hot-rolled-steel-beams-01-803559.jpg

These steel beams have been hot rolled.

Hot rolled steel tends to be thicker than

cold formed steel.

http://www.ruukki.com/~/media/Images/Steel-

products/Cold-rolled-steels/cold-formed-steel-

sections.ashx

These steel sections were folded into their

current shapes from cold sheets of steel

Non-ferrous metals:

Aluminium:

Properties:

Light compared with other

metals

Excellent strength to weight

ratio

Non-magnetic

Non-sparking

Easily formed, machined and

cast

Soft in its pure form

Resists corrosion because when

it reacts with air, it forms an

oxide layer that prevents fur-

ther corrosion

Uses:

Window frames

Cast door handles

Aeroplanes

http://

www.specialtyst

ainless.com/

images/samples/

S_1_a.jpg

http://www.hdwallpapers.in/walls/aeroplane-HD.jpg

Non-ferrous metals:

Copper:

Uses: Roofing, pipework, electrical

cabling

Properties: Very electrically conduc-

tive, very malleable and ductile

Zinc:

Properties: Brittle at ambient tem-

peratures, malleable at 100-150 de-

grees C, corrosion resistant

Uses: Galvanisation, cladding

Lead:

Properties: Toxic, very soft and mal-

leable, ductile, resistant to corrosion

Uses: Very little today because of its

toxicity

Tin:

Properties: Malleable, somewhat

ductile, highly crystalline structure,

Resistant to corrosion

Uses: Decorative

Non-ferrous metals:

Titanium:

Properties: Expensive, high strength

to weight ration, easily fabricated,

excellent corrosion resistance

Uses: Strong and lightweight alloys,

cladding

Bronze

Properties: Corrosion resistant, hard

Uses: Bearings, clips, electrical con-

nectors, springs

Brass:

Properties: Malleable, relatively low

melting point, easy to cast

Uses:

Where friction is present:

locks, gears, screws, valves

Fittings: knobs, lamps, taps

http://

cfnewsads.thomasnet.com

/images/

large/824/824983.jpg

Copper electrical wire

http://www.cagroup.com.au/files/

_0006990_large.JPG

Lead pipes are now mostly used

for corrosive fluids or protection

of electrical cabling

http://

adesignersdi-

ary.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/

stock-photo-decorative-tin-tile-ceiling

-of-wall-covering-586515852.jpg

Tin is now

used

mostly for

decorative

surfaces.

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/48627454.jpg

Titanium cladding tends

to balloon due to its thin-

ness; its thinness is due to

its prohibitive cost.

Bronze parts are of-

ten used where mois-

ture is expected to be

present.

http://www.snhobbies.com/images/ascc6893.jpg

http://

www.phoenixmodeldeve

lopments.com/acatalog/

section-brass-hinges.jpg

Brass id often used where

friction is expected such as

hinges.

Week 7 Detailing for moisture:

Three conditions need to be fulfilled for water to

enter a building:

1. An opening

2. Presence of water at opening

3. A force to move water through the opening

Neutralising any of these conditions will keep

water from entering a building but it is ideal to

neutralise as many as possible.

Openings:

Can be planned: Windows, doors, skylights

Or unplanned:

Cracks, weathering, deterioration of

materials

Due to neglect or poor construction

Connections:

Could possibly become openings

Two types: Gaskets and sealants

Generally deteriorate faster than the

rest of the building

Keeping water from openings:

Sloping roofs so water is collected in gut-

ters which discharge water to downpipes

then stormwater systems

Overlapping of elements:

Roof tiles

Weatherboard

Sloping window and door sills

Flashings

Sloping the ground surface away from

walls to prevent water from pooling

http://4seasonsroofingmi.com/roofingcontractor/wp-content/

uploads/2011/03/sl-skylight.jpg

http://media.katu.com/

images/070928_big_crack.jpg

http

://dcd

ynam

is.com

/imag

es/jo

int_

sealer.jpg

Neutralising the forces:

Surface tension & capillary action

Drips (grooves running along the

underside of horizontal wall ele-

ments

Capping (water runs off the ends of

cappings instead of down a wall’s

surface)

Gravity

Flashings (sloping panels within

walls that take any moisture that

gets into a wall cavity outside

through a weep hole)

Sloping window and door sills to-

wards the outside of a building

Sloping of roofs (including “flat”

roofs)

Momentum: Wind can give water enough

momentum to push through simple gaps

in a wall so openings are given complex

labyrinthian shapes

Air pressure differential (Higher air pres-

sure outside can push water inside

through gaps):

Essentially pumps water through

gaps

Air barriers on internal side of a

wall allows the air pressure inside a

gap equalise with that of the air

pressure outside http://

yourhoustonhomeinspec-

tor.com/wp-content/

uploads/2010/11/

brick_window_sill.jpg

This brick window sill

gently slopes downwards

towards the outside of the

building. This prevents

water from pooling at the

base of the window and

seeping into the building.

Detailing for heat:

Conduction:

Thermal insulation

Thermal breaks reduce transfer of

heat from outside to inside

Double/triple glazing: Air spaces

between glass panels reduce flow of

heat

Radiation:

Reflective surfaces reflect or scatter

light rather than absorbing it

Low-e glass

White-painted roofs

Shading systems prevent radiation

from striking the building envelope:

Verandas, eaves, solar

shelves, blinds, screens and

vegetation

Air leakage:

Similar to watertight detailing

Eliminate conditions: Open-

ings, presence & forces

Wrapping building in polyethylene

or reflective foil sarking to provide

an air barrier

Weather stripping around doors,

windows & other openings

Thermal mass:

Inappropriate for tropical climates

with hot nights

Useful where there’s a significant

difference between day & night

temperatures

http://www.almayasuae.com/home5/almayasu/public_html/

uploads/image/products/Thermal%20Insulation.jpg

This thermal

wall insulation

slows the con-

duction of heat

through it

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Iz9-J2P8-bw/

RqsrcVAKrgI/AAAAAAAAATU/LqeVd9p_EvU/

s400/_sarking1.jpg

http://www.rmindustries.com.au/images/metal-roof-

sarking.pnge

Sarking is blue on one side and silvery on the other. It is wrapped around

the envelope of a building to make it water/airtight.

Rubber:

Properties:

Hardness (varies):

Harder rubbers resist abra-

sions

Softer rubbers make better

seals

Low fragility

High ductility when hot (varies

when cold)

High plasticity, flexibility and elas-

ticity

Waterproof

1.5 times the density of water

Very good insulator of heat and

electricity

Can be very durable

High reusability and recyclability

Embodied energy:

Low for natural

Medium for synthetic

Renewable if correctly managed

Generally cost effective

Uses:

Natural:

Seals

Gaskets and control joints

Flooring

Insulation

Hosing and piping

Synthetics:

EPDM: Gaskets & control

joints

Neoprene: Control joints

Silicone: Seals

http://1.imimg.com/data/H/0/MY-1478337/

Rubber_Flooring_250x250.jpg

Rubber flooring

http://www.readersdigest.co.nz/userfiles/seal-bath-hero.gif

Silicone is a synthetic rubber that is good for

making seals. It is commonly applied from a

gun such as this one.

Plastics:

Types:

Thermoplastics - Mouldable when

heated & become solid again when

cooled:

Include: Polyethylene

(polyethene), polymethyl

methacrylate (Perspex,

acrylic), Polyvinyl chloride

(PVC, vinyl), polycarbonate

Thermosetting plastics - Can only

be shaped/moulded once:

Include: Melamine formalde-

hyde (laminex) - widely used

for finishing surfaces, polysty-

rene (styrene) - most com-

monly used in insulation pan-

els

Elastomers (synthetic rubbers):

Include: EPDM, Neoprene,

Silicon

Properties: medium-low hardness,

low-medium fragility, high ductility

in heated state but varies in cold

state, high flexibility and plasticity,

many are waterproof, low density,

good insulators of heat and electric-

ity, can be very durable, varying

recyclability, non-renewable, gener-

ally cost effective, varying embod-

ied energy

Considerations:

Photodegredation

Some have high expansion/

contraction coefficients

http://www.jpsigns.net.au/products/product_images/materials_images/

perspex_gallery/perspex2.jpg

http://www.bidgeepumps.com.au/store/images/PVC%20Pipe.jpg

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is com-

monly used for water pipes.

Paints:

Components:

Binder: Film-forming component of

the paint

Diluent - Dissolves the paint & ad-

justs its viscosity

Pigment: Gives the paint its colour

& opacity

Oil based:

Used prior to water based plastic

paints

Very good high-gloss finishes can

be achieved

Not water-soluble

Water based:

Most common today

Durable and flexible

Tools and brushes can be cleaned

with water.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--9OcDTdpEfs/UHs0ixM-vyI/

AAAAAAAAChU/nKDSjhASRQM/s320/Photo1+

(47).JPG

This cabinet is painted with a high-

gloss oil-based paint.

Week 8 Doors and Windows:

Components: rough opening, head, jamb,

stop, architrave, sill/threshold, door

swing, handle, latch, lock, door leaf, lintel

Aluminium:

Very common in commercial/office

buildings

Can have aluminium or timber

frames

Steel:

Uses:

Impact protection

Security purposes

Jail doors

Curtain walls: supported by structure be-

hind, not self

Glass:

Components:

Formers - Basic ingredient: Silica ~

73%

Fluxes - Help formers melt at lower

temperatures: Soda ash, potash, lith-

ium carbonate ~ 14%

Stabilisers - Keep finished glass

from dissolving or crumbling: lime-

stone, alumina, magnesia ~ 9%

Properties: waterproof, medium-high den-

sity, transmits heat but not electricity,

high hardness, high fragility, very low

ductility, low flexibility/plasticity when

cool but high when molten, very durable,

high recyclability, high embodied energy,

expensive

http://www.ambps.com.au/images/products/

security-products/prison-doors/prison-doors-

court-house-police-station.jpg

Jail doors

are made of

steel to

maximise

strength and

security.

http://www.championmetalglass.com/wp-content/

uploads/2013/06/Glass4.jpg

History:

1st Century BC: Blown glass

11th-13th Centuries: Sheet glass cut from

blown glass

17th Century: Lead crystal - lead oxide

added to make glass easier to

cut

Plate glass - improved optical

qualities

1910: Lamination - celluloid layer

inserted between two sheets of glass

1959: Float glass - molten glass is poured

over a bath of molten tin

Float glass:

1. Clear float glass: breaks into sharp and danger-

ous shards

2. Laminated glass: a tough plastic interlayer

(PVB) is bonded between two glass panes

3. Tempered glass: made by quenching annealed

glass at 650 degrees C

4 to 5 times more bending strength

Shatters into less dangers tiny pieces

Tinted glass: reduces visible light transfer

Wired glass: A steel wire mesh sandwiched between

two panes of glass

Photovoltaic glass: Has integrated solar cells

Glass fibres (optic fibre): used in telecommunication

Double & triple glazing: Resists the conduction of

heat through a window

http://www.sabceducation.co.za/ispani/images/stories/

episodes/glassblower.jpg

Glass was originally made (blown) by hand. It

was expensive, had poor optic quality and lim-

ited size

Tempered glass breaks into

tiny pieces like this it is safer

than the large, sharp shards of

non-tempered glass

Non-tempered glass breaks

into large shards like this.

http://

www.carriermanagement.com/

assets/Broken-glass.jpg

http://www.arlingtonglassrepair.com/files/

uploads/2012/08/broken_glass-11.jpg

Week 9 Construction Detailing:

Movement joints:

Types:

Expansion joints; allow thermal

or moisture expansion:

Long surface area; maxi-

mum length without expan-

sion joints:

Steel or concrete:

60m

Masonry: 38m

Surfaces with more sun-

exposure require more ex-

pansion joints

Control joints: Regulate the loca-

tion and amount of cracking in

concrete due to drying shrinkage

(Ching, 2008)

Deterioration:

Water damage:

Especially in seaside locations

Pollution:

Especially in industrial areas

Glossy surfaces (except for glazed tiles

and enamel surfaces):

Lose lustre very quickly

Easily show scratches

Choose materials to suit environment

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/

Varnish.jpg

Glossy surfaces loose their lustre over time. The

surface of the table below may once have been as

shiny as the stairs above.

http://img.ehowcdn.com/article-new-thumbnail/ehow/

images/a07/s1/um/refinish-lacquer-table-800x800.jpg

Health and Safety:

Fire:

Fire-resistant coatings on

structural members

Using concrete structural

members instead of other ma-

terials

Stairs

Balustrades

Tread width and height

Disabled access:

Ramps

Protection from damage:

Corners:

Are more likely to be knocked

or dinged

Corner bead

Metal edge trim

Skirting board:

The bottoms of walls are most

likely to get scuffed by shoes

or brooms

Easily replaced/repainted

Also covers gaps

Toe recess:

Used mostly in kitchens

Hides scuff marks

Graceful ageing:

Copper: Develops a green patina

Timber (sometimes if it greys

evenly)

Reparability:

Plaster:

Cheap

Can be patched and painted

http://www.hanlonpainters.com.au/userfiles/images/BSL%

20Coating%20Basement%20001.jpg

These pipes have a fire-resistant coating

http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/8351/dsc02243.jpg

Something has banged into this wall and the cor-

ner bead can be seen; it has prevented a dent in

the wall

Composite materials:

Monolithic members are made up of one

kind of material or multiple kinds of mate-

rials mixed together in a way so that they

are indistinguishable such as alloys.

Composite members are made up of differ-

ent kinds of materials in such a way that

they use their different properties to com-

plement each other and the different mate-

rials can be distinguished from each other.

Types:

Fibrous:

Fibreglass

Fibre-reinforced cement

Fibre-reinforced polymers

Laminar:

Aluminium sheet composites

Wired glass

Laminated glass

Hybrid:

Combine different composite

types

Particulate:

Gravel

Resins

http://www.njgravelsand.com/catalog/ProdImages/

delawareriver3-8.JPG

http://www.relinea.com/_assets/images/home-applications/cladding-solutions.jpg

Fibreglass can

be used to make

fake brick clad-

ding.

Week 10 Collapses & Failures:

Beach house:

Fascia: Painted only on one side and too

long & thin - exposure to hot sun led to

warping and cracking of the wood.

External cladding (plywood glued to

studs, steel glued to plywood):

The seaside heat and humidity

caused the glue to unstick allowing

wind and water to get in making it

worse

Wind blows the semi-unstuck pan-

els off the wall

Edges of cut steel panels were not

protected from corrosion

Consider:

Suitability of material for the applica-

tion:

Exposure, compatibility, strength

and deflection

Long-term performance

Maintenance

Construction & detailing

Heroes & Culprits:

Health:

Reduce Volatile Organic Com-

pounds (VOCs)

Reduce particles and dust

Green cleaning practices

Source & Waste:

Choose renewable and recyclable

materials

Waste less in manufacture process

Energy:

Climate change

Minimise embodied energy, maxi-

mise efficiency, source locally

Pollution:

Smog, acid rain

Lifecycle:

Longevity, recyclability

http://thelovelylifestyle.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/dusty-shelves.jpg

Dust is a culprit

that aggravates

allergies, mini-

mising the pres-

ence of horizon-

tal shelves

minimises dust.

Lateral Supports:

There are two main types of lateral forces

that a building can be subjected to:

1. Wind: Affects lighter structures with

lower centres of mass more

2. Earthquakes: Affect heavier struc-

tures with high centres of mass

There are three main strategies used to re-

sist lateral forces:

1. Diaphragms: Stiff, horizontal planar

elements that can be incorporated

into floors and ceilings

2. Bracing & shear walls: Vertical ele-

ments that can be incorporated into

walls

3. Moment joints: Stiffening joints as

well as the whole structure to keep

the structure from bending

There are also seismic base isolators

that separate the structure from the

ground in such a way that when there

is an earthquake, the ground moves

under the building

http://www.mrkscience.com/planbook/Physical%20Sci.%

202010-11/Nov42010/water_tower_snyder_texas_1.jpg

Water towers are susceptible

to earthquakes due to their

high centre of mass

http://www.theprintblog.com/wp-content/

uploads/2012/09/The-21st-Century-Billboard.jpg

Billboards

are suscepti-

ble to high

winds due to

their high

surface area

and low

mass.

Aspects of structures that make them weak to

wind are:

Being tall and thin

Large awnings: flutter in the wind

Large flat roofs: Act like wings and are

pulled up

Aspects of structures that make them weak to

seismic forces are:

Being built on a hill: makes the supports at

the upper end of a building move more.

Can be solved by stiffening the

longer supports with bracing

Asymmetric stiffness: makes the building

twist and move more at the less stiff end

Can be solved by stiffening the less

stiff end to match the other end

Split height: makes different parts of a

building wobble with different frequencies

Can be solved by separating the two

heights with a small gap which will

reduce the chance of them knocking

together and pulling on each other

Being U-shaped: Makes the ends of the

building less stiff than the middle

Can be solved by stiffening the ends

with bracing in between them

http://www.sanandreasfault.org/Quake_7.jpg

This building has fallen over due to an earth-

quake, possibly partially due to a soft storey at

the bottom

http://specialtyfabricsreview.com/repository/1/796/

large_0509_mk_2.jpg

This large awning may be a liability in high

winds

1:1 Drawing

Glossary: A-N Alloy: A metal made up of a combi-

nation of two or more different elements

Axial load: A load an element bears

when its far ends are being compressed

together—the load path goes straight

through the member

Beam: A linear horizontal element

designed to resist bending forces.

Bending: Occurs when a structural

member bears a transverse load

Buckling: A type of structural fail-

ure in struts where the element bends to the

point of breaking.

Cantilever: A part of a structure that

juts out of the side of the structure with no

support beneath it

Composite Beam: A beam made up

of different types of materials to optimise

its size, weight and/or performance

Compression: Members under com-

pression are experiencing a squishing force.

Corrosion: A structural material’s

susceptibility to structurally degrade by

oxidation

Defect: An issue with a material that

causes it to degrade structurally or aestheti-

cally

Deflection: A member’s tendency to

bend under transverse loads, high heat or

moisture absorption

Downpipe: A pipe that gutters run

water into that connects to a stormwater

system

Drip: A groove that runs along the

underside of an overhanging horizontal

member that prevents water from using

surface tension and capillary action to seep

into a building

Eave: The part of a roof that over-

hangs a wall.

ESD: Environmentally Sustainable

Design

Fascia: A panel that runs along the

side of the end of a roof

Flashing: Sloped panels within the

envelope of a structure that ensure any wa-

ter that gets into the wall flows out of a

weep hole and doesn’t seep into the build-

ing

Girder: A primary beam in a steel

floor system.

Gutter: A horizontal member that

takes water from a roof to a downpipe

IEQ (Indoor Environment Quality):

Refers to how healthy an indoor space is

for people to occupy

Insulation: A material that resists the

transfer of heat and/or electricity

Joist: A type of beam that holds up

flooring.

Lifecycle: A structural material’s

journey from extraction to disposal; needs

to be considered in ESD

Lintel: A horizontal element that

spans a doorway or window.

Load path: The path a structure uses

to distribute loads to the ground.

Masonry: Structures made from

uniform units , usually with the use of mor-

tar as a bonding agent. Made from modular

mass materials.

Moment force: A force trying to

rotate a member around an axis.

Moment of Inertia: An objects ten-

dency to resist spinning or turning, or a

change in its spinning or turning

Nogging: Holds individual studs

apart in a stud frame wall.

Pad footing: A footing that distrib-

utes a load to a small area of ground.

Panels: Vertical planar structural

elements that can bear vertical loads or

resist lateral loads

Parapet: The part of a wall that ex-

tends beyond a roof.

Portal frame: A type of rigid frame

used for maximising interior space

Purlins: Horizontal linear members

held up by rafters and supporting a roof

Rafter: A linear member that runs

up and down a sloped roof, supporting it or

purlins.

.

Retaining wall: A below-ground

wall that holds back earth from spilling into

the substructure of a building.

Sandwich Panel: A composite mem-

ber layered with different materials

Seasoning: The process of dying

wood to strengthen it and adjust it for its

intended use.

Shadow Line Joint: A joint designed

with a small gap in case, during construc-

tion, it turns out that members were slightly

too long

Shear force: A lateral force

Shear wall: A wall built to resist a

shear force along its plane

Skirting: Panels placed in front of

the bottom of the wall to protect it is from

scuffs & scratches and cover nay gaps be-

tween a wall and floor

Slab plate: A horizontal planar

structural element (floors).

Soft Storey: A floor of a building

that is less stiff and strong than the rest of

the building. It’s often a foyer at the ground

floor

Spacing: The length between two

joists.

Span: The length between two bear-

ers or girders, the length a joist spans.

Stress: Occurs in the parts of a struc-

ture that are subject to the greatest forces

Strip footing: A footing that distrib-

utes a load across a long area of ground.

Strut: A compression element,

mostly columns.

Stud: vertical member of a stud

frame wall

Stud framing: A very common type

of wall in Australia, studs are individual

vertical elements that are spaced very close

together so it can be spanned by plaster-

board, usually made from timber.

Substructure: The portion of a struc-

ture that is underground.

Tension: Members under tension are

being pulled apart.

Tie: A linear tension element.

Top Chords: The upper members of

a truss

Sealant: A substance used to seal

connections to ensure water or air doesn’t

move through them

Vapour barrier: A sheath enclosing a

building that prevents moisture from enter-

ing

Window sash: Portions of windows

that slide

Glossary: O-Z

Appendix 1: Construction Workshop Our challenge was to construct as

strong a bridge as possible with our

given materials to span a 1m gap.

Our initial idea (based on the best bridge

constructed so far which was just three

planks of timber on top of each other in

this fashion) was scrapped due to its high

height to width ratio which would make

our bridge too susceptible to shear forces.

This is the final design we went with.

These are the other teams’ designs.

Our design

has the top

two members

joined to-

gether by

nailing a

small quadri-

lateral of ply-

wood to

them.

This team’s bridge is based on the best

bridge design so far and is held together by

a mess of nails.

This team’s bridge has two beams with five

vertical struts between them and two small

plywood sheets nailed around the centre

strut where the point load was applied.

As pressure was applied to our

bridge, the plywood began to

come off the timber and slide up

the nail.

As more pressure was applied

the effect became more pro-

nounced and the beams began

sliding across one another.

Eventually the beams slid off

each other; this is the point

where the structure failed.

Our structure de-

flected 3cm and bore

a maximum load of

94 kg before failing.

As pressure was ap-

plied to this bridge,

shear forces soon

became apparent.

The lateral struts came apart form the

beams to which they weren’t fixed, they

experienced tension but its team expected

compression.

The structure eventually failed in the mid-

dle, where the centre strut was nailed to

the beams. Before failing, this bridge bore a maximum

weight of 158kg and deflected 8cm

As pressure was applied to this bridge, it began to bend and experience shear

forces.

The bridge failed

when it was over-

come by shear

forces and failed at

its fixings; when it

did so, the members

sprung out all over

the place (intact)

with a loud bang.

This moment is cap-

tured in the image

below. The structure

bore a maximum

weight of 313kg and

deflected 6cm.

Reference List: Ching, Francis D.K. (2008). Building Construction Illustrated.

Maltezos, Peter (2013). CH2 (Council House 2) Urban Melbourne Retrieved from

https://urbanmelbourne.info/forum/ch2-council-house-2