Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering, Unit Catalogue 2009/10 |
AR40283: Lightweight structures |
 Credits:
| 3 |
| Level:
| Masters |
| Period: | Semester 2 |
| Assessment:
| CW 40%, EX 60% |
| Supplementary Assessment: | Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations) |
| Requisites:
| Before taking this unit you must take AR30084 |
| Description: | Aims: To develop an understanding of the theory and practical design of lightweight wide-span structures, particularly tensile membranes, cable networks, grid shells, air-supported and pneumatic structures. To develop an enthusiastic and creative approach to the solution of design problems in lightweight structures. Learning Outcomes: The successful student will be able to demonstrate: * an understanding of the theory and practical design of lightweight wide-span structures, particularly tensile membranes, cable networks, grid shells, air-supported and pneumatic structures; * an enthusiastic and creative approach to the solution of design problems in lightweight structures. The student will also be able to demonstrate: * a systematic understanding of this knowledge, and a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights, much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of this area of professional practice; * conceptual understanding that enables the student to evaluate critically current practice and new developments, and propose new solutions; * an ability to deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate their conclusions clearly. Skills: Ability to apply CAD methods to the conceptual design of lightweight structures, and to understand the theoretical basis for these methods. An ability to develop practical design details for lightweight structures. Content: Characteristics, behaviour and analytical methods for funicular cable structures subject to uniform and non-uniform loadings. Effects of elastic extension, temperature effects, support settlements and cable slip. Matrix methods for geometric and material non-linear cable and membrane structures. Incremental, Newton-Raphson and modified N-R methods. Zero stiffness controls in the iteration process. Dynamic Relaxation applied to space and tension structures. Form-finding controls. Kinetic and viscous damping. Behaviour and modelling of prestressed fabric membranes. Crimp interchange and on-off non-linear material properties modelling. Computer Aided Design packages for form-finding and analysis of membrane, cable network, grid shell and pneumatic structures. Practical design aspects for steelwork, membrane and foundation design. Membrane fabrication patterning. A ssembly and on-site construction procedures. The unit will entail design project studies embracing conceptual and structural engineering design. |