POST AND LINTEL English II Carlos D. Bosque

DEFINITION Post and lintel is one of the most basic and simple construction technique. It consist in an horizontal member, commonly known as lintel, supported by two vertical post on each end. LINTEL POSTS

This technique has been used since the early begining of construction. Its simplicity allowed the early man to create basic structures, mostly used as houses and temples.

In the remains of ancient cities we can se how the post and lintel was used a lot in entrances and openings.

The technique grew allong with the early civilizations and made possible some more complex buildings.

In succession the post and lintel is capable of holding even greater weights, this means that even larger structures could have been built.

HOW DOES IT WORKS? In this type of construction are two main forces acting. The posts are under compression caused by the weight of the lintel and this one is under tension induced by its self- weight, commonly causing some deformation.

POST AND LINTEL TODAY This technique is still used in construction, mostly of houses and small buildings. The idea is the same as it was thousands of years ago.

Regarding the materials, we can see that this technique can be used in a whole wide number of materials, only changing the ammount of weight it is able to carry. At the beginning it was stone and wood, but today we can find structures made of steel, aluminum and even plastic.

DISADVANTAGES The mayor disadvantage of this type of construction is the ammount of weight it can carry, It is quite apropriate for roofs and non-changing weights, but as floors it can be dangerous. For example, buildings of more than two floors can represent too much weight for the structure, resulting in the collapse of the building. Do you know which technique replaced the post and lintel??

The roman arch allowed much larger structures to be constructed, this regarding to its better weight resistance. It is the succesful evolution of the post and lintel.

IMPORTANCE Well the post and lintel offered a solution for constructive problems in the early days, it allowed bigger and stronger buildings to be constructed. Thanks to its simplicity it is still used in modern architecture and the construction systems developed form it, helped us shape the world we live in.