Foundations Flashcards
what are the four entities involved in a building?
-client, designers/archtiects, consultants (E), contractors
site selection
building’s structural integrity depends on the soil type and its strength under loading
the measure of a soil’s strength is its bearing capacity in kg per centimeter square.
site preparation
- excavation
- very important before designing to divide the area by the weight = soil strength
wind pressures - a structural system
the stress of the wind on buildings
annual prevailing wind conditions
impact loads - structural system
vertical and horizontal analysis
vibration and earthquakes - structural system
- three modes in motion : first, second and thrid modes
- fixed-base vs. base-isolated structure: preventing modes to occur
5 main criteria when selecting a structural system
- stability - most stable based on location
- function - does it fix its function structure
- economy - can i afford it?
- image - aesthetic
- environmental design attributes - efficient + sustainable
difference between bearing wall system vs post and beam system
bearing wall system = untilizes rigid vertical planes to support building loads and transmit them down to its foundation
- secondary axes penetrate through the wall perpendicular to the primary axes
- looks heavy in form
post and beam system = transmits forces laterally along its length to its supports. beam carries load experience bending stresses
-looks light in form
3 foundation requirements
- failure: safe against collapsing
- settlement: must not damage the structure or impair its function
- feasibility: both technically and economically
Foundation settlement
uniform settlement vs. differential settlement
-differential settlement = parts of the foundation of a building may suffer different magnitudes of settlements due to variation in load on the foundation or soil conditions
weak link
weak link is implemented to connect low and high ruse buildings to prevent any cracking
structural joints
expansion joints and construction joints
- built-type construction joint
- built-type construction joint with dowels
- built type construction joint with tie bars
settlement joints
two separate joints because of the high and low rise buildings
stability of soil
soils abiliting to retain its structual propterties under varying conditions
- most stable - rock, gravel, and sand tend to be most stable soils
- least stable - clays the least stable soil
site selection steps
- renovating an existing building
- building in an urban area with existing infrastructure
- building on a damaged or polluted site
- avoiding construction on prime agriculture land
- avoiding construction on undeveloped land that is environmentally sensitive protects the wildlife and natural habitats
- avoiding construction on public parkland or land adjacent to bodies of water that support recreational use
- selecting a building that is well connected to existing networks of public transportation, and to pedestrian and bicycle paths