1. What are structural plans?
Structural plans describe all the elements necessary to make a building stand up.
2. What are loads?
Loads are any force applied to a structural system (example: the weight of people or furniture in a building. The weight of block walls, snow, water tanks, even the self weight of the structural system).
3. What do structural plans describe?
Structural plans describe the basic design and layout of a system as well as the method for constructing each element in that system.
4. What does the layout of a structural plan look like?
The layout looks like a plan; the instructions are actually sections of each element that show the make-up and arrangement of materials inside the element.
5. What is meant by "efficiency"?
Efficiency is safely supporting expected loads for as little cost as possible. Efficiency is designing things to be "just strong enough".
6. What is the job of a structural system?
A structural system has the basic job of transferring loads into the ground.
7. What are columns?
Columns are axially loaded vertical members.
8. What are axial loads?
Axial loads are loads carried along the longest dimension of the support. The load is carried among the length of the support.
9. What is a beam?
A beam is a horizontal member that transfers loads to columns
10. What is a foundation?
A foundation is a footing intended to distribute loads over a large area.
11. What are tie beams?
Tie beams are horizontal members that help hold foundations in place.
12. What happens when foundations move?
When foundations move, columns begin to tilt.
13. What is tension or tensile force?
Tension or tensile force refers to an internal force that stretches a material.
14. What is compression or compressive force?
A compression or compressive force is an internal force that squeezes a material.
15. What is a load-bearing wall?
A load-bearing wall is any wall that actually carries a vertical load from the slab above it. It does not have columns and it's typically found in old home construction.
16. What are partition walls?
Partition walls are walls that do not carry loads in the home. They are usually called "moveable" because they can be re-arranged without affecting the structural system.
17. What are the "un-moveable" structural elements?
The "un-moveable" structural elements are anything that is designed specifically to carry loads; like columns, slabs, beams, load-bearing walls and foundations.
18. What are slabs?
Slabs are horizontal members designed to support two dimensional loads, transferring these loads to columns. Whereas a beam supports the loads primarily along its length, a slab supports loads in two directions on its entire surface.
19. What is "deformation"?
Deformation is a change in shape due to a load on a member (like bending).
20. What is displacement?
Displacement is the resultant movement of a point on an object as a result of deformation. Most typically, this is regarding to the vertical displacement of a point.
21. When does deformation occur?
Deformation occurs whenever a force is applied to anything. Structurally, the goal is to make deformation as close to zero as possible.
22. What is "failure"?
Failure is the point at which a structural member can no longer support the loads it was designed to carry. Deformation is a sign that a structural element is being stressed. Eventually, deformations reach the point where they cause a member to break.
23. What do materials do when they are forced to carry loads?
Materials can do two things when they are forced to carry loads:
A) Elongate (stretch), when under a tensile force
B) Compress (shrink), when under a compressive force
24. What are shear and moments?
Shear and moments are internal forces which cause deformation in beams. They are the reactions of a beam to an external force.
25. What is a "distributed load"?
A distributed load is a load spread over the length of a beam.
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