CE OR - MODULE 3: STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING Flashcards
Human Need: Breath
Specific Nature of Need: Clean Air
Environmental Engineering
Human Need: Drink
Specific Nature of Need: Safe Water
Environmental Engineering
Human Need: Sleep
Specific Nature of Need: Livable Shelter
Structural and Construction Engineering
Human Need: Move Around
Specific Nature of Need: Ways to Travel
Transportation and Construction Engineering
Human Need: Safe from Disaster
Specific Nature of Need: Earthquake Mitigation
Structural and Geotechnical Engineering
Human Need: Safe from Disaster
Specific Nature of Need: Flood Mitigation
Water Resources and Environmental Engineering
Human Need: Safe from Disaster
Specific Nature of Need: Wind Mitigation
Structural Engineering
Human Need: Safe from Disaster
Specific Nature of Need: Fire Mitigation
Structural Engineering
True or False: Civil engineering includes several very different technical specialty areas.
True
True or False: A student is expected to be exposed to all the technical areas.
False (A student is not expected to be exposed to all the technical areas)
A student is not expected to be exposed to all the technical areas but at least _____ are included in the curriculum of any civil engineering degree program.
Four
It is the technical specialty that deals with the analysis and design of constructed structures.
Structural Engineering
A structure is always subjected to the many “____” the environment forces upon it.
Loads
Loads include the omnipresent gravitational load of its own weight
Dead load
Loads include the omnipresent gravitational load of its own weight
Dead load
The weight of things moving about in or upon the structure
Live load
It aims at providing a structure with sufficient level of resistance against these loads with minimum cost.
Structural Design
It is the collection of element within a construction that are assumed, and designed, to support the loads applied to the structure and transmit them safely to the foundations.
Structure
True or False: The frame acts as the ‘skeleton’ of the building and, like the skeleton of a human being, when the building is complete and clad in brick, glass or stone, the skeleton will still be visible.
False (the skeleton will not be visible)
It is the one that supports the entire load: the outside cladding, the floors, services and so-forth being hung from or otherwise supported on the from.
Skeleton
For example, the load bearing elements in a normal domestic house are commonly the ____.
Exterior Walls
True or False: Almost all that you see of a bridge is “structure” and is not essential to supporting the loads that the bridge is designed to carry.
False (structure is essential to supporting the loads that the bridge is designed to carry)
Parts or Members that make up a typical structure.
Slabs
Beam
Columns
Foundation
True or False: The primary elements in a frame are those that most immediately support the applied loads. These are generally the floor slabs.
True
It’s function is to transmit the loading from where it is applied to those members that supports itself.
Slabs
This requires the slabs to transfer the loads in a direction ________ to the direction of the loading.
perpendicular
True or False: Normally, the applied loading acts horizontally, because this is the way gravity acts; the slabs have to transfer the load vertically to supporting beams, walls or columns.
False (Normally, the applied loading acts vertically, because this is the way gravity acts; the slabs have to transfer the load horizontally to supporting beams, walls or columns.)
The second form of member is a?
Beam
It collects the load from one or more slabs and transmit it to the members supporting the beam.
Beam
True or False: Beams behave in the same way as slabs but, because they concentrate the load from slabs, they tend to carry much higher load intensities.
True
What is the particular form of beam?
Truss
This is a beam made up of small individual units usually arranged to form a triangulated structure.
Truss
What are the different types of truss?
Burr Arch
Arch
Long
Paddle-Ford
Howe (Usual)
Howe (Single)
Howe (Western)
Haupt
Warren
Pratt (Revised)
Childs
Brown
It collect the loads from beams and slabs and transmit them downward to the foundations.
Columns
Foundation behave in a fundamentally different way from the beams and slabs in that they mainly transmit loads in a direction parallel to the axis of the member.
Columns
True or False: The column is generally vertical and the load is being transferred downwards.
True
They carry out the same function as columns, that is, they transmit loads downwards.
Structural Walls
In tall building _______ also serve an important function in stiffening a building against lateral loads (i.e. wind).
Structural Walls
True or False: Architecturally structural walls serve to divide up a building into compartments and to provide an inner skin.
False (outer skin)
They are fairy lighted loaded.
Walls
True or False: It should be noted that there are case where walls function more like slabs than columns.
True
A wall that support soil
Retaining wall
True or False: A wall that supports soil is similarly behaving structurally more as a slab than a wall.
True
It take the loads from the columns and walls and transfer them to the underlying soil or rock.
Foundation
True or False: Because the soil is normally much stronger than the material forming the structure, the foundation generally has to spread the load over a sufficient area of the soil for the stresses in the soil to be limited to levels that will not cause excessive settlements.
False (weaker)
Members that carry only compression are frequently called _____, particularly if they are elements in a truss.
Struts
It carries a load by tension.
Tie
Particular types of structure tend to be described in more _______ ____.
specialized jargon
True or False: A column supporting a bridge is generally described as a abutment and a wall supporting the end of a bridge as an prier.
False (a column supporting a bridge is generally described as a pier and a wall supporting the end of a bridge as an abutment)
The many loads a structure must withstand during its life span are mostly of a “_____” nature, meaning it cannot be defined precisely with respect to its magnitude and time of occurrence.
random
Design in the face of uncertainty requires the application of what?
probability and statistics
The methodology applying these mathematical tools to the load-resistance analysis in structural design.
Structural Reliability
True or False: Structural walls used in the development of design codes and specifications that are followed by designers to provide acceptable levels of safety against all loads.
False (Structural Reliability)
True or False: The principle aim of structural design is the assurance of satisfactory performance within the constraints of environment.
False (economy not environment)
What are the primary complication toward achieving the aim of structural design in practice?
imperfect execution and the lack of complete information
Using probability theory as a tool, provides a rational and consistent basis for determining the appropriate safety margins (Ang and Tang, 1984).
Reliability analysis
True or False: Over the last 40 years, research studies have been carried out to provide similar reliability provisions at the structural systems level, and perhaps they will have a more direct and substantial influence in design specifications over the next decade.
False (20 years)
This chapter aims to provide the basic knowledge for structural engineers who have little exposure in this field and to serve as a platform for understanding the basic philosophy behind reliability-based design.
Structural Reliability
It can be defined as the probabilistic measure of assurance of performance with respect to some prescribed condition(s). A condition can refer to an ultimate limit state (such as collapse) or serviceability limit state (such as excessive deflection and/or vibration).
Reliability
True or False: Performance against failure is ensured if R > S.
True
Disaster means occurrence of uncontrolled, painful and serious conditions. There are various natural disasters like:
Earthquakes
Landslides
Volcanic eruptions
Tsunami
Cyclones
Flood
Fire
They needs special considerations in building design and construction since they are more frequent, widespread and more disastrous.
Earthquakes
Cyclones
Fires
It is a sudden, rapid shaking of the earth surface caused by the breaking and shifting of rocks beneath.
Earthquake
During earthquake, ground motion occurs in a random fashion in all directions radiating from a point within earth crust, called ______.
Epicenter
It causes vibrations of structures and induce inertia forces on them.
Earthquakes
True or False: Vulnerable building do not kill people, earthquakes buildings do so.
False (Earthquakes do not kill people, vulnerable buildings do so)
What is the fundamental approach in earthquake engineering?
not to design a structure to withstand any earthquake at all costs but to design a structure that will not inflict injury to human lives at a reasonable cost
Depending upon the possible causes, the earthquakes may be classified as:
- Natural earthquake
- Earthquakes due to induced activities
Natural earthquakes may be due to:
a. active faults
b. movement of tectonic plates or
c. due to volcanic eruptions
These are caused by vibrations induced by atomic explosions and collapse of ground due to faulty mining.
Earthquakes due to induced activities
True or False: The displacement of rocks along faults cause tsunami.
False (Earthquake)
It means large scale process affecting the structure of the earth’s crust.
Tectonic
It is a mountain or hill having a crater through which lava, rock fragments, hot vapor and gas are or have been erupted from the earth’s crust.
Volcano
True or False: A survey of engineering literature for the past 150years reveals many references to structural failures caused by fire.
False (wind)
The most infamous of structural failures caused by wind have been bridge failures such as:
The Tay Bridge in Scotland in 1879 (which caused the deaths of 75 persons) and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma, Washington) in 1940.
A disastrous building failures from wind.
Union Carbide Building in Toronto in 1958
True or False: Strong wind caused by a hurricane, a tornado, or a storm creates effects on structures that are also time-varying and multi-directional.
True
True or False: Strong fire around a structure may push against a surface while creating a partial vacuum behind another structural surface.
False (strong wind)
Design against such wind-related effects is the realm of?
Wind Engineering
A storm accompanied by high speed whistling and howling winds. It brings torrential rains.
Cyclone
True or False: A cyclone storm develops over tropical ocean and blows at speed as high as 200-300 km/hour.
False (200-240 km/hr)
It is usually accompanied by lightning, thunder and continuous downpour of rain.
Cyclone
Care should be taken in designing buildings in cyclone prone areas:
- Foundations should be deeper
- Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) framed structures are to be preferred over load bearing structures
- Sloping roofs should be avoided.
- Cantilever projections should be avoided.
- Roof and parapet wall should be properly anchored to the columns and walls.
- Height of the buildings should be restricted
- Suitable wind load should be considered in the building design.
- Openings in the wall should be less.
- Structure should not rest on loose soil.
True or False: In the event of a fire in a building, the high temperature created by the fire may cause the building material to lose its strength and eventually fail under the weight of the building.
True
In the context of structural engineering, it deals with the effective application of protective materials to the structural components such as steel beams and columns such that sufficient time is provided for the occupants to escape and the firefighters to arrive.
Fire Engineering
True or False: The research in structural engineering provides data to be incorporated into design and construction codes and specifications.
False (Fire Engineering)
True or False: The fire load in a building should be kept to the maximum possible.
False (minimum)
True or False: The fire load in a building should be kept to the maximum possible.
False (minimum)
A building may be made more fire resistant by:
- Using suitable materials
- Taking precautions in building construction
- By providing fire alarm systems and fire extinguishers
They are important to everyone but they are not seen or understood in the same way, which is what makes their study so fascinating.
Bridges
They see the bridge as a link between neighborhoods, a way to provide fire and police protection, and access to hospitals.
Civic leaders
A bridge is a key element in a transportation system for three reasons:
It likely controls the capacity.
It is the highest cost per mile.
If the bridge fails, the system fails.
It controls both the volume and weight of the traffic carried.
Bridge
True or False: Because a bridge is a key element in a transportation system, balance must be achieved between handling future traffic volume and loads and the cost of a heavier and wider bridge structure.
True
They can specialize in bridge design and construction.
Structural Engineering
It can be categorized according to material and bridge type.
Bridge design
It can be categorized according to material and bridge type.
Bridge design
What is the one unique feature of bridge design?
it is closely integrated with construction
Some of the typical bridges are:
a. Stone Arch Bridge
b. Wooden Bridges
c. Metal Truss Bridges
d. Suspension Bridges
e. Metal Arch Bridges
f. Reinforced Concrete Bridges
g. Girder Bridges
Every family needs it to reside. Apart from residential purposes they are required for educational, institutional, business, assembly and for industrial purposes. They are required for the storage of materials also.
Buildings
It is more frequently in demand than bridge or dam designs, especially in urban centers.
Building design
What are the basic elements of a building?
- Foundation
- Plinth
- Walls and columns
- Sills, lintels and chejjas
- Doors and windows
- Floors
- Roofs
- Steps, stairs and lifts
- Finishing work
- Building services.
It is the most important part of the building.
Foundation
The portion of the wall between the ground level and the ground floor level.
Plinth
Building activity starts with digging the ground for foundation and then building it. It is the lower most part of the building.
Foundation
It transfers the load of the building to the ground.
Foundation
It is usually of stone masonry.
Plinth
It is usually 75 mm thick plain concrete course.
Plinth
The function of the _____ is to keep the ground floor above ground level, free of dampness.
Plinth
Its height is not less than 450 mm. It is required that plinth level is at least 150 mm above the road level, so that connections to underground drainage system can be made.
Plinth
The function of ______ is to transfer the load of the structure vertically downwards to transfer it to foundation.
walls and columns
A window frame should not be directly placed over masonry. It is placed over 50 mm to 75 mm thick plain concrete course provided over the masonry.
Sills
These are the R.C.C. or stone beams provided over the door and window openings to transfer the load transversely so as to see that door or window frame is not stressed unduly.
Lintels
It is the projection given outside the wall to protect doors and windows from the rain.
Cheja
True or False: The function of a window is to give access to different rooms in the building and to deny the access whenever necessary.
False (door)
True or False: Doors are provided to get light and ventilation in the building.
False (windows)
They are important component of a building.
Floors
They give working/useful area for the occupants.
Floors
It is prepared by filling brick bats, waste stones, gravel and well compacted with not less than 100 mm sand layer on its top.
ground floor
It is the top most portion of the building which provide top cover to the building. It should be leak proof.
Roof
They give convenient access from ground level to ground floor level.
Steps
They give convenient access from ground level to ground floor level.
Steps
They give access from floor to floor.
Stairs
It is to be located near the entrance.
Lift
Bottom portion of slab (ceiling), walls and top of floor need smooth finishing with plaster. Then they are provided with white wash, distemper or paints or tiles.
Finishing
Water supply, sanitation and drainage works, electric supply work and construction of cupboards and show cases constitute major building services.
Building services
For storing water from municipal supply or from tanker a sump is built in the house property near street.
Building services
From the sump water is pumped to overhead tanks placed on or above roof level so as to get water all the 24 hours.
Building services
is made so as to get water in kitchen, bathrooms, water closets, sinks and garden taps.
Plumbing work
An essential part of building services
Electric supply
The planning and construction of a building should be aimed at fulfilling the following requirements:
Strength and stability
Protection against termite attack
Dimensional stability
Durability
Resistance to dampness
Security against burglary
Resistance to fire
Lighting and ventilation
Heat insulation
Comforts and convenience
Sound insulation
Economy
Building should be capable of transferring the expected loads in its life period safely to the ground. Design of various structural components like slabs, beams, walls, columns and footing should ensure safety. None of the structural components should buckle, overturn and collapse.
Strength and stability
Excessive deformation of structural components give a sense of instability and result into crack in walls, flooring etc. All structural components, should be so designed that deflections do not exceed the permissible values specified in the codes.
Dimensional stability
Dampness in a building is a great nuisance and it may reduce the life of the building. Great care should be taken in planning and in the construction of the building to avoid dampness.
Resistance to dampness
A building should be so oriented and designed that it insulates interior from heat.
Heat insulation
Buildings should be planned against outdoor and indoor noises.
Sound insulation
Buildings should be protected from termites.
Protection from termite
Each and every component of the building should be durable.
Durability
This is the basic need the owner of the building expects.
Security against burglary
For healthy and happy living natural light and ventilations are required. Diffused light and good cross ventilation should be available inside the building.
Lighting and Ventilation
Various units in the building should be properly grouped and integrated keeping in mind the comfort and convenience of the user.
Comforts and Conveniences
Economy without sacrificing comfort, convenience and durability is another basic requirement of the building.
Economy
Refers to the study of causes of an engineering event, usually a disaster or failure of some kind.
Forensic Engineering
In the context of structural engineering, it refers to the investigation of a structural failure.
Forensic Engineering
Activities associated with ________ _________ include determination if the physical or technical causes of accidents or failures, preparation of reports, and presentation of testimony or advisory opinions that assist in resolution of related disputes.
Forensic engineering
The collapse of the building was caused by the bombing that destroyed ground-level columns in the front of the building.
1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City
They are commonly are concerned with the engineering aspects of legal problems
Forensic Engineers
To develop and implement means for disseminating accurate and complete information regarding the nature and causes of structural failures in civil engineered projects. CDFI will also act as a vehicle for coordinating and assisting in the dissemination of forensic engineering information generated by other organizations, both within and from outside ASCE.
Committee on Dissemination of Failure Information (CDFI
To develop objectives for change in the design and construction industry specifically targeted to reducing the incidence and severity of failures in civil-engineered projects. To pursue implementation of these changes and to act as a liaison between ASCE and other professional societies and organizations to pursue the prevention of failures.
Committee on Practices to Reduce Failures
To enhance the competent and ethical practice of forensic engineering. The committee develops practice guidelines, seminars and conference sessions aimed at elevating the understanding of professionals engaged in the investigative and judicial arenas.
Forensic Practices Committee
To improve the practice of Civil Engineering by promoting the study of failure case histories in educational activities.
Committee on Education
To identify research needs related to the investigation of constructed facilities that do not perform in accordance with the established standards; define the research problems and assign priorities to them; develop effective means of implementing the results of research.
Committee on Technology Implementation
To review manuscripts, technical notes and discussions submitted to the council for publication in the Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities and to be responsible for the publication of papers sponsored by the Council
Publications Committee
To develop guidelines that engineers can follow so as to avoid failures cause by misuse of hardware, operating system software, and civil engineering software in the planning, modeling, analysis, design, and operation of civil engineering facilities.
Task Committee on Avoiding Failures Caused by Computer Misuse
To produce a document to be titled “Guidelines for Lift-Slab Construction, “ which will provide the design professional with information on aspects of the planning, design, and administration of a lift-slab project.
Task Committee on Lift-Slab Construction.
