STRUCTURE By Simonnett Rosenberg Gabriela Di Lorenzo
A structure usually refers to any large, man-made object permanently fixed to Earth's surface, as a result of construction. These are divided into buildings and non-buildings, structures (bridges, electricity pylons, towers), and make up the infrastructure of a human society. The structural elements of a building (the walls, the frame, the foundation) are the parts that hold it together and cannot be removed without damaging the strength and shape of the building.
A column is a vertical structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. Columns
Beam A beam is an element that carries load. Beams generally carry vertical forces, but can also be used to carry horizontal loads (Those loads can result from wind or an earthquake). The loads that a beam carries are led to columns or walls, which lead the force to the next element. Cantilever A cantilever is a beam supported on only one end. The beam carries the load to the support where it is resisted by moment. Cantilever construction allows for overhanging structures without external bracing.
A wall is a usually solid structure that defines and sometimes protects an area, separates space in buildings into rooms, or protects or delineates a space in the open air. Wall Frame A frame is a rigid structure formed of relatively slender pieces, joined so as to surround sizable empty spaces or nonstructural panels. Arch An arch is a curved masonry construction for spanning an opening which is also used as a decorative element.
A foundation is a structure that transfers loads to the earth A foundation is a structure that transfers loads to the earth. Foundations are generally broken into two categories: shallow foundations and deep foundations. Shallow foundations are usually embedded a meter or so into soil and deep foundations are used to transfer a load from a structure through an upper weak layer of soil to a stronger deeper layer of soil. Foundation Vault An arched structure of stone, brick, or reinforced concrete, forming a supporting structure of a ceiling or roof. A dome is a structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. Domes do not have to be perfectly spherical in cross-section, however; a section through a dome may be an ellipse. Dome
A truss is a structure comprising one or more triangular units constructed with straight slender members whose ends are connected at joints referred to as nodes. External forces and reactions to those forces are considered to act only at the nodes. Truss Space Frame A space frame is a lightweight rigid structure constructed from interlocking struts in a geometric pattern. Space frames usually utilize a multidirectional span, and are often used to accomplish long spans with few supports.
Buttress Tensile structures A tensile structure is a construction of elements carrying only tension and no compression or bending. Most tensile structures are supported by some form of compression or bending elements, such as masts, compression rings or beams. A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall. Buttresses are fairly common on more ancient european buildings, especially in germany. Buttress
Gable A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Flying buttress A flying buttress is a free-standing buttress attached to the main structure by an arch or a half-arch. A great example of this is the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris.
There are many different structural components and systems in Architecture. All the structural elements mentioned before are not used in every building, but in some cases they are absolutely necessary for the building to stay on feet. “It is not the elements use in structure what makes it particular, but the structure itself”