TECH 1: Notes from Lecture

ENGINEERING & ARCHITECTURE (the two ends of the scale)

Stuart Harrison

 

The Engineer

 

The Engineer, a heroic figure in history. Brunel to Ove Arup to Cecil Balmond

 

Cecil Balmond key engineer of our time, works for ARUP.

Ove Arup was a famous engineer – did the structural engineering for the Sydney Opera House – worked out the structure with Jorn Utzon, a collaboration.

 

The relationship between the engineer and architect is an interested and varying one, but many great projects have this relationship working very well, especially in modernism and again now.

 

Toyo Ito excellent architect currently pushing engineering boundaries.

 

Both Ito and Herzog de Meuron have began to merge decoration, screen and structure into one. This can be seen in their current projects.

 

Engineering embodied into the work enables the architectural expression to be fixed and unmovable. Opposite approach to the ‘decorated shed’ (refer Robert Venturi).

 

By Engineering we are referring to Structural Engineering. There are other disciplines – mechanical, electrical, hydronic, civil, etc

 

Architects use engineers on almost all projects (except simple stand alone timber frame projects that can be sized from the Timber Framing Manual)

An Engineer develops a structural system in conjunction with the Architect, and designs the system. This involves drawings, computations and certification.

 

A Structural Engineer should be involved early in a project, to obtain advice on the structural systems to use and design and cost efficiencies. Key dimensions can be established then, such as maximum span and thickness of roof/ceiling zones that will feed back into the architectural design.

 

 

Tension/Compression

These are the two key forces – Compression and Tension, pushing and pulling.

Different materials are better in one or the other, but steel tends to be good in both.

Tension is more efficient.

 

 

Lego/Meccano

This two different toy systems represent two different structure approaches, one more traditional and masonry based (Lego); whilst the others I more element and linear based (framing); and more use of tension.

 

 

Reading Drawings

Engineering drawings can be hand drawn, drafted and/or overlaid on architectural drawings. Engineers plans are typically diagrammatic rather than acknowledging thickness of members. Engineering Details work out junctions of structural members and are often scaled.

 

A series of Engineering drawings in plan work from the ground up, typically:

 

Footing/Stump locations

Floor Framing

Roof Framing

 

This information can also just be scheduled, which the builder would then follow. A member schedule is a vital guide to what noted members are, specify sizes and hardness. i.e. 2/290 x 45 F17 KDHW – two 290mm deep (the height of the beam), 45mm wide Kiln Dried Hardwood beams of F17 hardness.

 

In the ground: transfer loads into the ground, Strip vs Pad Footings

Bracing – speed bracing (steel strips, angles), Plywood bracing. Stops lateral movement of frame, is working in tension.

 

Beams transfer loads down to columns or walls. Different beam types:

 

1. Hardwood (solid) timber beams.

2. Laminated Timber Beam – can have greater span and be curved. Can be cut on site

3. Steel beam, UBs or PFCs. Can not be cut on site.

4. Posistruts – combination timber and steel – timber chords/flanges (top and bottom rails) and open steel truss in between. Can run services through truss space, and are lightweight.

 

 

Abbreviations used in Engineering Drawings:

 

KDHW – Kiln Dried HardWood

KDRP – Kiln Dried Radiata Pine. Studs are typically made from Pine.

MGP – Machine Grade Pine

C1,2,… – Column 1,2

RB1 – Roof Beam 1, etc

FJ – Floor Joist

DS – Double Stud (acts as column) (sometimes noted a P for Post)

UC – universal column “I” section

PFC - Parallel Flange Channel

UB- Universal Beam

F17, F7, section – the hardness of the timber member

PF – Pad Footing

L – Lintel

R – Rafter

 

 

 

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