STRUCTURE DESIGN

STUDENT INFORMATION

Area of Study: Construction

Objectives: The student will design and construct a structure to support as much weight as
possible, yet be within the design specifications. Students will examine building materials.

Related Occupations:

Architects
design buildings and other related structures.
The architect must plan and coordinate the
project by incorporating good design,
engineering, managing skills, supervision,
and communicating with clients & builders.
Architects have to earn a license to be able
to be called architects and begin practice.

Building Inspectors
examine buildings, dams, bridges, highways
and streets, sewer and water systems, and
other structures to ensure that their
construction or repair complies with
building codes and zoning regulations.

Carpenters
construct and repair structures made from
wood and other materials. They can be
involved in building bridges, highways,
skyscrapers, or houses. Carpenters task will A Carpenter checks his work during the
vary with the type of structure being built & building of an addition to a residential structure.
many carpenters specialize within the trade. Mike Breen Photo

Key Words and Definitions:

1. Compression strength: Resistance to being compressed or crushed.

2. Constraint: A limiting factor.

3. Construction: The act of building a structure.

4. Construction Technology: All the technology used in designing and building structures.

5. Kilogram: A metric system weight that is equivalent to 1,000 grams

6. Material: The substance used to make things.

7. Pillar: A vertical upright support to a structure i.e.: post [square] or column [round].
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 STRUCTURE DESIGN
Occupational Choices
Focus: Carpenter

Classes to take in After High School:

School:
3 Avenues for employment:
English Hire on and learn by on-the-job training
Math Go through a formal apprenticeship
Drafting Vocational School such as an ATC
Technology To become a skilled carpenter schooling will
Construction be required. Most places that employ will
Welding require on the job training too. A carpenter is
usually considered fully qualified after 3 or 4
years of on the job training.

The Work:
Earnings: Carpentry work can be strenuous. Standing,
climbing, bending and kneeling for long
In 2010, people employed as periods and repetition of motion are often
Carpenters nationally had an median necessary. Carpenters often risk injury
salary of $39,500. working with power equipment or rough
materials. Carpenters may be exposed
In 2010, the median wage of to the heat and cold if working outdoors.
carpenters in Utah was lower coming Some carpenters change employers each
in at $37,000. time they finish a construction job and
others work for one employer. One third
In 2010, yearly earnings ranged of all carpenters are self-employed in the
nationally from $24,600 to $71,700. United States. Many specialize in an area
Earnings vary by experience and of construction. Those that learn many
location. different aspects of the job have a better
chance for advancement.

Personal Characteristics
Employment Opportunities Manual dexterity
Eye-hand coordination
Self Employment Physical fitness
State and Local Governments Good sense of Balance
Manufacturing Firms Excellent Math Skills
Retail establishments Good Communications skills
Excellent Math Skills
Good work history

Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook 2010-2011 Edition & Career One Stop Structure Design 2
8. Specification: Description of work to be done and materials to be used in making something.

9. Structure: Something built or erected that is held or put together in a particular way.

10. Tolerance: An allowance made for something to deviate in size from a standard.

Materials Needed:

One sheet 8 1/2 x 11 paper White Glue Scissors Ruler

Construction Technology

C onstruction Technology is all the

technology used in designing and building
structures. A structure is something that is built.
There are natural structures ( i.e. wasp nest,
beehive) and there are man-made structures
( i.e. road or dam ). The design of the structure
depends on its purpose.

Construction System

The technology used to build the structure

will also vary with the type of structure being
built. For example, a road is going to require
a different set of building tools than a house.
No matter what type of structure is being built, A house plan is part of the input process.
Figure 1
completing a structure is just one part of a
system. A system is an organized procedure for
doing something which will include four parts. These parts are the input (activities and ideas that go
into a system ), processes ( actions to make the structure), output ( completion of the structure ), and
feedback (comments on the outputs ).

Types of Construction

Construction is the process of building

a structure. All construction can be divided
up into four main types: Civil ( i.e. roads or
bridges ), Commercial ( i.e. mall or business ),
Industrial ( i.e. factory ), and Residential ( i.e.
home ). Each area will have its own building
codes or rules to build by that will need to
be followed. For instance, building codes
stipulate that public buildings are required
to have doors that open-out from a room to
allow large numbers of people to exit rooms
quickly. Residential homes have doors that
open-in to a room because opening a door out, Scaffolding is set in place to lay cinder block during
in this instance, would block off the smaller this commercial construction project in Riverdale, Utah.
width hallways which would not allow the Mike Breen Photo

Structure Design 3
residents to exit. These particular
codes have been established for
fire safety reasons. It is the job of
a building inspector to make sure
these requirements are met. Each
construction area has its own
unique building codes.

Materials

Every type of structure

constructed requires its own set of
building materials. Materials that
are used to make a structure are
under different amounts of pressure
and force. The materials help
determine the structures strength,
cost, and appearance. It is important This deck uses concrete, wood, aluminum, steel, and plastic to give it a
unique look. The picture is of the same house as shown on page 1. On
to choose the right type of material
page 1 it is under construction; and in this picture, the addition is finished.
for each part of the structure. Mike Breen Photo

Modern technology has provided us with a variety of materials and processes to use in
the design and construction of projects. Some of the most commonly used structural materials
include, aluminum, brick, concrete, plastic, steel, and wood.

Wood:
Many residential homes will have structural wood like 2 x 4s for the walls. Wood is used
in many forms other than boards and posts. The use of glue has greatly increased the versatility
of wood products. Wood products are glued together in various ways to form various engineered
wood products. Engineered wood products include materials such as medium density fiberboard
( MDF ), oriented strand board ( OSB ), plywood, laminated beams, glued laminated timber
( gluelam ), particle board, masonite, laminated veneer lumber ( LVL ) and I-joist. Wood products
can also be pressure treated with chemicals and used underground in place of concrete.

Metal :
Building technology has been greatly improved by the use of metals. Copper, steel, zinc and
aluminum are all used in construction today. Several alloys are also used in building projects. An
alloy is made by melting at least two metals together to form a new type of material. The new metal
or alloy has the good qualities of both ingredients. Examples of alloys are steel (iron and carbon) and
brass (copper and zinc).

Plastic:
One of the newest materials in construction is plastic. Unlike wood and metal, plastics
are made of synthetic ( man-made ) materials. The source of material to make plastic usually
comes from oil or coal. One example used in building a structure is Tyvek, which is made from
polyethylene fibers and is used as a house wrap to keep water vapor out of buildings. Another
example of a plastic used in construction is Polyvinyl chloride or PVC. It is used for sewer and
water pipes, and it is the material in what is called vinyl siding. Many new plastics are being
developed to meet the needs of high technology. They are lightweight, heat-resistant and tougher
than many metals.
Structure Design 4
Composites:
Many times two or more materials may be combined. These are called composites. A
good example is concrete. It is a mixture of cement, sand, gravel, and water. Plywood also is a
composite. It is made by alternating layers of glue and wood. A wood-plastic composite known as
Trex is used for deck surfaces or park benches. Composites are found in our bathtubs and showers
in the form of fiberglass. They are also in our kitchens in the form of plastic laminate, and imitation
granite counter tops. Many new plastic composites have been developed that are 20 to 30 times
stronger than the plastic alone would be.

Masonry:
The building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar is
known as masonry. Mortar is applied to these individual units to join them together. When mortar
is applied, it looks similar to wet concrete which is used like a thick glue to bond pieces together.
It also dries hard like concrete. Common materials that mortar is used to bond together are brick,
cinder block, stone, and tile. Other materials that a mason could fasten in place without mortar are
wall tile, granite, and marble.

The challenge of the design engineer or architect is to bring all of these materials together in
a way that meets the specifications of the project. It must be strong enough to withstand the forces
that may be put on it; and it must be as inexpensive as possible.

Impacts on Society & the Environment:

Structures have benefited people in many ways. A dam is a structure that has allowed
cities to grow by capturing water for drinking; other structures like the interstate, have allowed
great numbers of people to travel in automobiles more efficiently and safely over longer distances.
Composite and engineered materials are being used more today in place of traditional wood
products which takes stress off of forests as these new products do not require old growth trees.

Many structures provide shelter from the elements. The creation of structures also
provides employment for many different people. Today, construction workers are the largest
group of skilled workers in the United States1

\
Construction of structures can also
have negative impacts as there is dirt,
debris, and noise that can be problematic
during the actual building process. Road
closures and detours can affect traffic
flow during road construction. The loss
of open space affects many communities
and plans to make sure that there is
recreational as well as wildlife areas in
a community must be weighed against
development of the areas. Such concerns
are often why cities develop plans
for building within the city. The city
planners will zone areas of construction
to hopefully meet the needs of the
Civil construction involves road closures and
population.
detours which affect traffic flow.
1 Harms, H. R., & Swernosky, N. R. Mike Breen Photo
Structure Design 5
Design Brief:

Your job is to design and construct a paper pillar

or pillars that will hold as much weight as possible, yet be
lightweight.

Your teacher will check your paper structure before

testing to see if it meets the specifications. If your paper
pillar does not meet the specifications, be prepared to modify
the structure with paper off of the structure or to start over.
Follow your teachers directions as to where to put it to dry.
Study the constraints & specifications listed below.
A multi-step process used in the development
Constraints: and construction of a product.
Figure 2
It must be made from 1 sheet of paper.
It must be completed in 1 class period. 1 1

The pillar or pillars must dry overnight. 1

The top and bottom of the paper structure must be flat.
This will help the structure stand alone.
3
Do not fill full of glue.
Extra amounts of glue slow the drying time, and it will be soft and weak if wet.

Specifications: Pillar Examples

Figure 3
Height: 3 inches tall Tolerance = 3 inches high + or - 1/16
If it is taller than this, it may not fit into the testing device.
Width/Diameter: A minimum of 1 inch
wide in width and depth in at least one
place when viewing the height of
the paper structure. (consult figure 3)

A building in a flood plain is built on pillars.

Camp Ashland, Nebraska
Testing apparatus Mike Breen Photo
Figure 4
Structure Design 6
 STRUCTURE DESIGN
Student Work Sheet

Name:________________________________________ Period: ____ Date: __________

Directions: In the blank on the left, write the correct answer to the statement or question.

1. _______kilos_______lbs. Your structure collapsed on how much weight?

(answer both parts)

2. _____________________ How many sheets of paper did you use to construct your
paper pillar?

3. _____________________ Construction is the act of building a _____________ .

4. _____________________ A __________ is a description of the work to be done and the

materials to be used.

5. _____________________ There are four main categories of construction and these are:
__________, commercial, industrial, and residential.

6. _____________________ Some of the most commonly used structural materials include,

___________, brick, concrete, plastic, steel, and wood.

7. ______________________ An engineered wood product uses glue to form the material.

An example of an engineered wood product is ___________.

8. ______________________ An alloy is formed by combining at least two ______ together..

9. ______________________ A negative impact of construction is _____ ____ ____ _____.

______________________

______________________

10. _______________________ After testing your paper structure, what could have been done
to make it stronger and still have been with the specifications?
_________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Structure Design 7