Learning objectives
The aim of the course is to provide the
fundamentals for the design of structures. An overall overview of the design strategies for structural and non-structural components and their interaction will be provided.
In order to develop a proper skill concerning structural fundamentals, by the end of the course the student should be able:
- to know the fundamentals concerning structural materials mechanical behaviour, actions on structures and environment influences, conceptual design and dimensioning criteria for buildings (Knowledge and understanding skill)
- to conceive architectural projects based on realistic structural configurations; while detecting structural elements and performing a proper dimensioning (Applying knowledge and understanding)
- to govern the procedure adopted in the current design practice. A constant link between the teaching of theoretical fundamentals and the practical applications will be perceived during the course. This constant link will serve to guide the student to realise architectonic designs based on the background knowledge of material behaviour, conceptual design and dimensioning criteria (Making judgements)
- to show enhanced communication skills thanks to the confidence gained by the student through a constant connection between theoretical knowledge and applications to a real case study. Public speaking capabilities will be checked during the course to improve the use of the technical terminology currently used in the daily practice (Communication skills)
- to govern the fundamental steps of the design of the structure. The reviews of the assigned project, realised by students during lessons, will provide the measure to quantify and to check the ability of student learning (Learning skills)
Prerequisites
The preparatory exams of Structural Analysis or Structural Engineering is strongly recommended.
Course unit content
The course treats the fundamentals for the design of structures: conceptual design and dimensioning criteria will be described to provide the foundation for an overall understanding of the design of the main structural elements. To this aim, the theoretical background and the code rules for the modern safety assessment for structure, will be summarized and recalled. Static and dynamic actions will be explained. For the materials most used in the building industry for structural members, such as reinforced concrete, masonry, steel, and timber, the basic aspects of the mechanical behaviour will be described. Referring to the different building configurations, usually adopted in practice, the corresponding structural typologies will be explained. For each structural typology, the role played by structural and non-structural members will be shown, and the general design criteria will be indicated, so that the student will be able to evaluate the best protection of buildings against vertical and horizontal actions.
Full programme
- Principles of limit state design. Actions on structures. General criteria and code requirements for the design and the safety assessment of structures.
-Response of buildings subjected to imposed actions. The basic structural systems: vertical and horizontal resisting System. Optimization of the structural/architectural configuration.
Structural systems for buildings: frame systems, wall systems, core systems and braced systems.
Regular and irregular configurations.
- Design of structures:
material properties,
structural response,
structural elements, secondary elements and non-structural elements and their interaction,
dimensioning rules,
detailing rules.
Bibliography
- FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), “Designing for Earthquakes: A Manual for Architects”, FEMA 454, 2006, free download at the link: https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/20130726-1556-20490-5679/fema454_complete.pdf.
- Levy, M., Salvadori, M., “Why buildings fall down: how structures fail”, W.W: Norton Eds., 2002.
- Torroja, E., “La concezione strutturale. Logica ed intuito nella ideazione delle forme”, CittàStudi Edizioni, 1995.
- Salvadori, M., Heller, R., “Le strutture in Architettura”, Etas Libri, 1992.
The teaching material, notes, slides and additional documentation will be available via the portal “Elly DIA” (https://elly.dia.unipr.it).
Teaching methods
The course timetable alternates lessons (where the theoretical fundamentals are explained) and practice exercises (where the assigned structure is designed).
During practice exercises, the students should apply the theoretical contents of the course. The connection between the topics treated by the other teachers of the LP4 Architectural and Urban Design Studio for the Sustainable City + Workshop will be continuously monitored (please refer also to the sheet of LP4 Architectural and Urban Design Studio for the Sustainable City + Workshop).
Lessons will be organized in attendance.
All the adopted slides will be weekly uploaded to Elly platform. For the slide download, the student needs to register to the online course. The slides must be considered part of the teaching material.
The teacher is available for further explanations by appointment via mail.
Assessment methods and criteria
More information about the adopted methodology to check the learning skill acquired by students can be found in the sheet of LP4 Architectural and Urban Design Studio for the Sustainable City + Workshop.
The examination of the course module of “Design of structures” consists in a discussion on the project developed and the students should demonstrate to be able of affording a structural design problem, by identifying the best application of the acquired knowledge.
The student will have to demonstrate the knowledge of the basics of structural design, as well as the ability to apply the acquired knowledge correctly for the development of the assigned project, by also describing the structural peculiarities of the project and using the appropriate technical terminology.
Other information
The attendance to lessons and to exercises is requested for this course.
2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
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