CEng 3092 – Building Construction
Chapter 6: Building Structural Systems
Building Systems
Definition:
1. Foundation/Subgrade (SITE)
2. Superstructure (STRUCTURE)
3. Exterior Envelope (SKIN)
4. Interior Partitions (SPACE PLAN)
5. Mechanical Systems (SERVICES)
6. Furnishings (STUFF)
Rush specifies only four systems
1. Structure
2. Envelope
3. Interior
4. Mechanical
Source: Rush Richard, The Building
System Integration Handbook
Prepared by: Engr. Lucia V. Ortega
CEng 3092 – Building Construction
Building Structural Systems – greatly depend on materials and the expected force systems
Based on force systems structural elements can be classified into:
o Foundation - Footing, Pile
o Column,
o Beam,
o Trusses,
o Domes, Shells,
o Plate,
o Arch
o Membrane
Structural Element
Internal Forces 1 Dimension 2 Dimension 3 Dimension
1. Compression Column Buttress Ribbed Vault
Strut Flying Buttress Fan Vault
Wall Arch Dome
Barrel Vault Thin Shells
Grid Shells
2. Tension Tie Catenary Shear-free assembles
Cable Suspension Bridge (bubbles, cable nets,
Hanger shear resistant
fabrics, membranes)
3. Bending Beams Egg-crate two-way Frames
One-way Slabs slabs (flat, ribbed,
Portal Frames coffered, etc.)
4. Shear Plate action Plate action Folded plates
Shear wall Shear wall Torsion
5. Torsion n/a n/a Cross bracing
6. Bearing pin Bearing plate Moment connection
Prepared by: Engr. Lucia V. Ortega
CEng 3092 – Building Construction
Prepared by: Engr. Lucia V. Ortega
CEng 3092 – Building Construction
Structural load transformation has become more and more complex
Prepared by: Engr. Lucia V. Ortega
CEng 3092 – Building Construction
Prepared by: Engr. Lucia V. Ortega
CEng 3092 – Building Construction
Prepared by: Engr. Lucia V. Ortega
CEng 3092 – Building Construction
Prepared by: Engr. Lucia V. Ortega
CEng 3092 – Building Construction
Structure: Guiding Principles of Analysis and Design
o Lightness: Maximum Lightness achieved by minimum use of materials
o Maximum Diversity/Minimum Inventory: Element design.
o Construction Logic: Awareness and optimization of the construction sequence.
o Economy: Constraints are good
Prepared by: Engr. Lucia V. Ortega
CEng 3092 – Building Construction
Common Structural Materials:
o Concrete (Plain and RC),
o Steel,
o Wood,
o Masonry
New Possibilities:
o Materials – Composites
Glass
Carbon Fiber
Cellulose
Panels: e.g. stress skin
o Processes
Concrete
Tilt-Up slab
Rapid curing
Prepared by: Engr. Lucia V. Ortega
CEng 3092 – Building Construction
Reinforced Concrete: Ethiopia
Concrete Issues
o Strength in Tension
o Strength in Compression
o Ductility
o CO2 generation
o Durability
o Quality control
Concrete’s Advantages
o Form requirements
o Availability of materials
o Construction expertise
requirement
o Developments of Self
Compacting Concrete, Ductile
Concrete, Composite Concrete
Steel Framed Structures
o Metals are commonly used in building o Class of Elements Distinguished from
structures other materials by:
o Primary Architectural Metals Ductility
Steel Malleability
Stainless steel Hardness
Aluminum Conductivity
Copper Ability to form alloys
Zinc Qualities of appearance
Lead composites
Steel Structures
o Material Properties and Applications of various steels
o Three types of steels
1. Carbon steels
2. High-strength low-alloy steels
3. Alloy steels
Prepared by: Engr. Lucia V. Ortega
CEng 3092 – Building Construction
Prepared by: Engr. Lucia V. Ortega
CEng 3092 – Building Construction
Prepared by: Engr. Lucia V. Ortega
CEng 3092 – Building Construction
Wood Structures
o The use of wood extends back in time longer than any other material.
o In fact, wood represents both the original material of building as well as the earliest source
of energy.
o Once abundant it is now, for the most part a managed resource.
o But is mostly underused
o Structural Morphology
1. Solid Load Bearing Wall
2. Timber Frame
3. Balloon and Platform Framing
4. Stress-Skin Systems Structural Types
Prepared by: Engr. Lucia V. Ortega
CEng 3092 – Building Construction
Masonry Structures
o Must act in compression (no
resistance to tension)
o Very high compressive strength
Design is a problem of form
Stability and not strength limits
masonry
Thrust line: line of forces acting
within a masonry structure to
ensure that compression is
maintained
Prefabricated building system
Prefabrication has been used extensively and widely for many years around world. Pre-
assembly, prefabrication, modularization, system building and industrialized buildings are
the terms which have been frequently used to describe that the manufacture of building
components are constructed either on-site or off- site in a factory covering manufactured,
modular and pre-cut or pre-engineered systems. Although the terms, are often
interchangeably used, their precise definitions depend heavily on the users experience
and understanding, which vary from countries to countries. In this paper, prefabrication is
preferred with special emphasis on the building components are made off-site in a factory.
Off-site fabrication is a topic of international interest and provides an effective construction
technique in terms of quality, time, cost, function, productivity and safety. It is adopted
worldwide as the ideal means of producing an immense array of elements from structural
members, cladding units, and bathrooms to fully-finished modular buildings.
As many prefabrication technologies deliver a better product because building is done in a
quality controlled, sheltered environment, the move to more prefabrication in construction
industry is inevitable.
Whether the building materials are concrete, steel or timber based system, the advantages of
prefabricated building systems are clear. It is an industrialized way of construction, with the
inherent advantages of:
o High capacity - enabling the realization of important projects
o Factory made products
o Shorter construction time - less than half of conventional cast in-situ construction
o Independent of adverse weather conditions during construction
o Continuing erection in winter time until -20 °C
o Quality surveillance system
Prepared by: Engr. Lucia V. Ortega
CEng 3092 – Building Construction
At the same time, prefabrication offers clients better performance to fulfil all requirements,
such as:
o Opportunities for good architecture
o Fire resistant material
o Healthy buildings
o Reduced energy consumption through the ability to store heat in the concrete mass
o Environmentally friendly way of building with optimum use of materials, recycling of
waste products, less noise and dust etc.
o Cost effective solutions
All above mentioned advantages comparing with traditional on-site building erection method, can be
summarized in the following table
Table 1: A number of significant benefits provided by prefabricated elements comparing with on-
site building erection process
Factor Prefabrication On-site
In a climate-controlled Uncertain weather can result in less than
Quality
environment expected construction
Speedy process (up to 70%
Speed Time consuming.
less)
Greater control over Uncontrollable variables such as weather
Cost
manufacturing cost and scheduling can increase the cost
Versatility Less More
Panels arrive on a flat-bed
Bigger space is needed. In addition costly
Site Space trailer and are installed with
scaffolding is necessary
sufficient listing
A significant amount of waste
Less waste is generated at the
Site Refuse produced and removed from the site,
site which often adds to cost.
Prepared by: Engr. Lucia V. Ortega
CEng 3092 – Building Construction
Prepared by: Engr. Lucia V. Ortega
CEng 3092 – Building Construction
Prepared by: Engr. Lucia V. Ortega
