Basic Structures for Engineers and Architects

294 Pages·2005·3.01 MB·English

by  Philip Garrison

Basic Structures
for Engineers
and Architects
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Basic Structures
for Engineers and
Architects
Philip Garrison
BSc, MBA, CEng, MICE, MIStructE, MIHT, ILTM
School of the Built Environment
Leeds Metropolitan University
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© 2005 Philip Garrison
Blackwell Publishing Ltd
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Designs and Patents Act 1988, without the prior permission of the publisher.
First published 2005 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Garrison, Philip, CEng.
Basic structures for engineers and architects / Philip Garrison.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-4051-2053-3 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Structural engineering. I. Title.
TA637.G37 2005
624.1--dc22
2004023324
ISBN-10 1-4051-2053-3
ISBN-13 978-14051-2053-1
A catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library
Set in 9.5/12 pt Palatino
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To Jenny B
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Contents
Introduction ix
Acknowledgements xv
1 What is structural engineering? 1
2 Learn the language: a simple explanation of terms used by
structural engineers 10
3 How do structures (and parts of structures) behave? 13
4 Force, mass and weight 29
5 Loading – dead or alive 36
6 Equilibrium – a balanced approach 43
7 More about forces: resultants and components 49
8 Moments 60
9 Reactions 70
10 Different types of support – and what’s a pin? 77
11 A few words about stability 86
12 Introduction to the analysis of pin-jointed frames 100
13 Method of resolution at joints 105
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viii Contents
14 Method of sections 126
15 Graphical method 134
16 Shear force and bending moments 145
17 This thing called stress 175
18 Direct (and shear) stress 181
19 Bending stress 191
20 Combined bending and axial stress 214
21 Structural materials: concrete, steel, timber and masonry 229
22 More on materials 242
23 How far can I span? 249
24 Calculating those loads 258
Appendices 269
Index 277
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Introduction
When I was 16 I had a Saturday job as a shelf-stacker at a local supermar-
ket. One day, during a tea break, a co-worker asked me what I did the rest
of the week. I explained that I had just done O Levels and was going on to
do A Levels. I told him how many and in which subjects. He then asked
me about my career aspirations (not his exact words). I explained that I
wanted to become an engineer. His aghast response was: ‘What! With all
those qualifi cations?’
Engineers suffer from a lack of public perception of what their profes-
sion entails – many people think we spend our days in the suburbs, mend-
ing washing machines and televisions. Architects are more fortunate in
this respect – the public have a better grasp of their profession: ‘They de-
sign buildings, don’t they?’
Public perceptions aside, careers in both civil engineering and archi-
tecture can be extremely rewarding. There are few other careers where
individuals can be truly creative, often on a massive scale. The civil engi-
neering profession offers a variety of working environments and a large
number of specialisms within civil engineering. Civil engineers have op-
portunities to work all over the world, on projects large and small, and
could come into contact with a wide variety of people, from the lowest
worker on a construction site to government offi cials and heads of state.
At the start of the 21st century there is a huge demand for civil engi-
neers and many young people (and some not so young!) are realising that
this is a profession well worth entering.
Traditionally, students embarking on university courses in civil engi-
neering would have A Levels in subjects such as mathematics, physics and
chemistry. However, for a variety of reasons, many of today’s potential
students have A Levels (or similar) in non-numerate and non-scientifi c
subjects. Moreover, a sizeable number of ‘mature’ people are entering the
profession following a fi rst career in something completely different. As
a university admissions tutor, I speak to such people every day. It is pos-
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x Introduction
sible, depending on the specialism eventually chosen, to enjoy a successful
career in civil engineering without an in-depth mathematical knowledge.
However, it is extremely diffi cult to obtain a degree or HND in civil engi-
neering without some mathematical profi ciency.
Turning to architects – these are creative people! Every building they
design has a structure, without which the building would not stand up.
Architects, like civil engineers, have to understand the mechanisms which
lead to successful structures.
This book is about Structures. Structures is a subject studied as part of
all civil engineering degree, HND and OND courses, as well as architec-
ture degree courses, and also on some degree courses in related subjects
(e.g. quantity surveying, building surveying, construction management
and architecture).
The purpose of this book
I have taught Structures to undergraduate civil engineers and architects
for the past 12 years. During that time I have noticed that many students
fi nd the basic concept of structures diffi cult to grasp and apply.
This book aims to do the following:
• to explain structural concepts clearly, using analogies and examples to
illustrate the points;
• to express the mathematical aspects of the subject in a straightforward
manner that can be understood by mathematically weak students and
placed in context with the concepts involved;
• to maintain reader interest by incorporating into the text real-life ex-
amples and case histories to underline the relevance of the material
that the student is learning.
This book presumes no previous knowledge of structures on the part of
the reader. It does, however, presume that the reader has a good general
education and a mathematical ability up to at least GCSE standard.
The intended readership
This book is aimed at:
• National Certifi cate (ONC), National Diploma (OND), Higher Na-
tional Certifi cate (HNC), Higher National Diploma (HND) or fi rst-
year degree (BSc, BEng or MEng) students on a civil engineering (or
similar) course, who will study a module called Structures, Structural
Mechanics, Mechanics or Structural Analysis;
• students on a BA degree course in Architecture.
The following will also fi nd this book useful:
• students on courses in subjects related to civil engineering and archi-
tecture – e.g. Quantity Surveying, Building Surveying, Construction
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