Unit 29 – Construction in Civil Engineering Structural Forms Paul Jones

Aims and Objectives Aim:- To understand how loads are transferred through structures. Objectives:- Identify low rise domestic structures, cavity wall and timber frame. Recognise multi storey frame construction. Understand the different requirements.

Traditional Masonry Construction

Timber Frame

Forces and loads A LOAD is a FORCE acting on a building structure. Loads are called ACTIONS in Eurospeak.  DEAD LOADS: weight of the structure itself and fixed parts of the building such as cladding, finishes, partitions etc. IMPOSED LOADS: people, furniture and materials stored in the building DYNAMIC LOADS: commonest dynamic load on a building is that caused by wind, which can produce horizontal and vertical pressures, and also suction. Other horizontal dynamic loads are produced by earthquakes, and by moving machinery such as overhead cranes in large workshops. The fourth type of action is one that is not produced by an outside force, but by internal factors such as thermal expansion.

Load Paths

Skeletal Frame