STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING: PUSH & PULL A Presentation to the AdVENTURE students

What is structural engineering?  It is the branch of engineering concerned with design and construction of all types of structures such as bridges, buildings, tunnels, dams, power plants, and space satellites.

Engineers need to know what forces will affect their structure  Force is ____ or ____ on an object.  There are two basic forces:  L  V  What are some examples of each?

More about force…  The main vertical force is gravity.  Weight is the measure of the force of gravity on an object.  The weight of an object depends on mass (amount of substance.)  Dead forces: weight of the permanent parts of the structure.  Live forces: weight of temporary objects in the structure.

In a building, which choice represents a live force?  Floors  Windows  Desk

Let’s give this a try…  Let’s see how many pencils a piece of paper will hold?

Let’s give this a try…  What if we accordion fold the paper?

Let’s give this a try…  What if we reinforce the paper by using two pieces?

You give it a try!  Draw a structural design piece (building, bridge, etc.)  Add lateral and vertical forces and label them. (at least two of each)  Add live and dead forces and label them. (at least two of each.)  Put your name on your paper and turn it in before you leave.  It will be graded 4,3,2,1 and go on next Friday’s progress update.