PPD_PPI_2 Flashcards
dry type fluid cooler
A type of sealed cooling tower unit that uses no supplementary makeup water or chemical treatments. Dry type fluid coolers conserve water and use less energy.
passive solar
The design of structures to take advantage of the sun’s energy for heating or cooling without using mechanical means. Passive solar design takes advantage of the principles of radiation, conduction, natural convection, and evaporation.
A method of providing electrical safety that provides a path directly to the earth, thus dissipating any hazardous electric current with little or no resistance, is known as
(A) circuit breaking.
(B) panel boarding.
(C) fusing.
(D) grounding.
The answer is grounding. Grounding is a basic safety precaution in which a ground wire is fastened to an element that provides a path directly to the earth, thus dissipating any electric current with little or no resistance and averting possible damage or injury.
The answer is (D).
dissipate
disappear or cause to disappear
A device that disconnects a circuit upon detecting a continual current loss to the ground is a
(A) circuit breaker.
(B) ground fault interrupter.
(C) panel board.
(D) fuse.
The answer is ground fault interrupter. A ground fault (circuit) interrupter (GFI or GFCI) detects a continual current lost to ground, even after power is shut off. This current might not be great enough to cause a fire, and thus might not trip the circuit breaker or melt the fuse, but it is undesirable nonetheless. After detecting such a current, the GFI breaks the circuit. Such devices are required on any circuit of 15 or 20 amps that serves a bathroom, garage, or outdoor area, as well as temporary circuits on construction sites.
The answer is (B).
A step-down transformer in a building is used to
(A) decrease the current.
(B) decrease the voltage.
(C) decrease the power.
(D) convert alternating current to direct current.
The answer is decrease the voltage. A step-down transformer is used to transform high voltage, such as that at a power line, to a lower voltage appropriate for building use.
The answer is (B).
What is a demand surcharge?
(A) A method by which utilities attempt to reduce the need for new power plants
(B) A negative charge that builds up in a circuit when the current is too great
(C) The copper side of a capacitor
(D) The factor that triggers a circuit breaker
The answer is a method by which utilities attempt to reduce the need for new power plants. A demand surcharge is based on the peak usage, or demand, and encourages the customer to reduce those peaks. Reduced peaks reduce the need for new power generating plants.
The answer is (A).
Demand surcharge
A demand surcharge is an additional fee that is charged by a utility company to customers who use a large amount of electricity during peak hours
A day that is colder than 98% of the days experienced in a given climate is called
(A) a degree day.
(B) U-factor.
(C) a design day.
(D) ambient.
A design day is a day that is colder than 98% of the days experienced in a given climate. If heating equipment and plant are sized to keep a building warm on that day, they will be sufficient for the other 98% as well.
The answer is (C).
Heat always flows
(A) from hot to cold.
(B) upward.
(C) horizontally.
(D) from cold to hot.
The basic law of thermodynamics is that heat always flows from hot to cold. A heated gas, such as air, flows upward by convection. Heat will conduct and radiate in any direction, but always from hot to cold.
The answer is (A).
Which of the following systems always has both heated air and chilled air running through it?
(A) Multizone system
(B) Double duct system
(C) Fan coil system
(D) Variable air volume system
The answer is double duct system. A double duct system consists of two ducts, one carrying heated air and one carrying cooled air. The amount of air drawn from each duct at each room is controlled by dampers and mixed in a mixing box. A multizone system is similar, except that the mixing boxes are in the mechanical equipment room, and pre-mixed air at the desired temperature is sent out to each zone.
The answer is (B).
tap to flip
What is the thermal process that takes place in a fluid medium?
(A) Convection
(B) Radiation
(C) Conduction
(D) Transmission
The answer is convection. Convection occurs in a fluid medium, often air or water.
The answer is (A).
What type of system removes heat from the air exhausted from a building and transfers it to the incoming fresh air?
(A) Fan coil system
(B) Heat pump system
(C) Variable air volume system
(D) Air-to-air heat exchanger
An air-to-air heat exchanger removes heat from the exhaust air and warms the incoming fresh air, often at a very high efficiency.
The answer is (D).
Where does return air go?
(A) To the plant
(B) To the outside of the building
(C) To the room that requires air at that temperature
(D) To the exhaust flue
Return air is the air that is returned from a building to the plant.
The answer is (A).
What is a sling psychrometer?
(A) A chart of the human comfort zone
(B) A chart of air temperatures and humidities
(C) A method of measuring wet bulb temperatures with a manual device
(D) A method of measuring the psychological effect of diurnal temperature variation
A sling psychrometer is an instrument designed to measure the wet bulb temperature. This is compared with the dry bulb temperature to determine the relative humidity.
The answer is (C).
Which of the following is dependent on orientation?
(A) Convection
(B) Radiation
(C) Conduction
(D) Latent heat transfer
The answer is convection. Convection is the only heat transfer process in which direction (up, down, or sideways) makes a difference, and is therefore the only process in which relative height makes a difference.
The answer is (A).
Insolation is an example of
(A) conduction.
(B) convection.
(C) latent heat transfer.
(D) radiation.
The answer is radiation. Insolation (solar gain) is a form of radiation. It does not require contact (the earth does not touch the sun), it is transmitted through clear objects such as glass, and it can be blocked by opaque objects.
The answer is (D).
Which of the following piping materials are joined with a solvent or cement?
(A) Steel
(B) Iron
(C) Copper
(D) Plastic
Plastic piping, which includes PVC and ABS, is joined with a solvent that is applied cold.
Copper piping is soldered, which uses heat to melt the flux and solder to join pipe segments. Iron and steel are threaded.
The answer is (D).
Solder
Solder is a metal alloy usually made of tin and lead which is melted using a hot iron
Threaded
What is the function of a catch basin?
(A) It collects surface runoff and admits it to a storm drainage line.
(B) It holds overflow until it can be drained away later.
(C) It collects the water under a fixture (it is often called a sink).
(D) It intercepts grease and solid objects before they clog a main sewer line.
A catch basin collects surface runoff from a swale and admits it to a storm drainage line.
The answer is (A).
What is the purpose of the trap in a sewage system?
(A) To catch small valuables and other materials before they pass down the drain
(B) To catch grease before it clogs the drain
(C) To keep sewer gas from passing up into the building
(D) To provide a cleanout when drains become clogged
The purpose of the trap in a sewage system is to keep methane gas generated by decomposition from entering the building.
While the trap may catch small objects before they pass down the drain, this is not the purpose of the trap. The trap also catches grease, but this must be removed or dissolved to prevent the trap from clogging. The trap can be removed when the drain is clogged, but this is a messy process, and the trap does not usually have a cleanout plug.
The answer is (C).
The ratio of the actual amount of water vapor in the air to the maximum amount that the air could contain at the same temperature is called the
(A) humidity ratio.
(B) effective humidity.
(C) relative humidity.
(D) enthalpy.
Relative humidity is the ratio of the actual amount of water vapor in the air to the maximum amount that the air could contain at the same temperature. It is usually expressed as a percentage.
The answer is (C).
Insolation is
(A) a material having high resistance to heat flow.
(B) heat gain from the sun.
(C) heat energy transmitted by radiation.
(D) thermal resistance.
Insolation refers to heat gain from the sun. Heat energy transmitted by radiation could be from the sun or from some other source, such as a fireplace. Options (A) and (D) refer to insulation, not insolation.
The answer is (B).
Design seismic forces are generally considered to act
(A) horizontally in any direction
(B) upward or downward
(C) parallel to the earthquake fault
(D) horizontally parallel to the building’s longitudinal axis
Design seismic forces are considered to act horizontally in any direction. In most cases, these forces are evaluated in the two horizontal directions parallel to the axes of the building. Vertical components of seismic forces are usually neglected in design.
The answer is (A).
Which of the following methods is likely to be most economical when designing a very tall building to resist wind forces?
(A) Moment-resisting frames
(B) Tubular system
(C) Shear walls
(D) Base isolation
Tubular systems are used to resist lateral loads from either earthquake or wind. For very tall buildings, this system is often economical.
The answer is (B).
The pressure exerted by retained earth against a retaining wall is called
(A) active pressure.
(B) fluid pressure.
(C) passive pressure.
(D) surcharge pressure.
The answer is active pressure. Fluid pressure refers to the lateral pressure exerted by a fluid, not earth. Passive pressure is the resistance to the movement of a retaining wall provided by the earth in front of the wall and footing, and surcharge pressure is the increased lateral earth pressure against a retaining wall caused by a vertical load behind the wall or a sloping ground surface.
The answer is (A).
If the cables in a suspension-type roof structure support vertical loads that are distributed evenly along the length of the cables, what shape does each cable assume?
(A) Catenary
(B) Parabola
(C) Triangle
(D) Hyperbolic paraboloid.
If a cable supports vertical loads that are distributed evenly along the length of the cable, it assumes the shape of a catenary. If the loads were evenly distributed horizontally, then its shape would be a parabola.
The answer is (A).
Catenary vs parabola
A catenary curve is the shape that a cable or chain takes when it is suspended at both ends and is acted upon by a uniform gravitational force. The force is uniform on the length of the rope, while in a parabola, the force is uniform when you consider the horizontal length. This is why the catenary is more common in self-suspending structures, while you can find the parabolic shape when the cable supports something else (think of the Golden Gate Bridge)1.
The ability of a material to deform non-elastically in tension without rupture is termed
(A) plasticity.
(B) elasticity.
(C) ductility.
(D) rigidity.
The answer is ductility. Structural steel is an example of a ductile material.
Plasticity refers to the capacity of a material to be molded or worked into shape. The ability of a material to return to its original shape after being deformed is called elasticity, and rigidity refers to a material’s resistance to deformation.
The answer is (C).
Ductility
In materials science, ductility is defined by the degree to which a material can sustain plastic deformation under tensile stress before failure.
The stadium at the site of the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich is covered by a huge cable-supported tent. Who designed it?
(A) Frei Otto
(B) Pier Luigi Nervi
(C) David Geiger
(D) Buckminster Fuller
The German architect Frei Otto pioneered the design of cable-supported roofs. For the Olympic Stadium in Munich in 1972, he designed a huge tent covering 80,000 square feet and supported by nine tall masts and boundary prestressing cables.
The answer is (A).
The property of a material that causes it to return to its original length when load is removed is termed
(A) plasticity.
(B) stiffness.
(C) toughness.
(D) elasticity.
The answer is elasticity. When a member is loaded in tension, it lengthens, and when loaded in compression, it shortens. If this change of length, or deformation, disappears when the load is removed, the material is said to be elastic, and this property is termed elasticity.
The answer is (D).
The engineer best known for the tubular design of high-rise buildings such as the Willis Tower and John Hancock Center in Chicago was
(A) Pier Luigi Nervi.
(B) Fazlur Khan.
(C) Felix Candela.
(D) Eugene Freyssinet.
The answer is Fazlur Khan. All four architects in this question were distinguished structural engineers: Nervi created soaring concrete shell roofs, Candela is famous for his thin-shell concrete structures, and Freyssinet pioneered the development of prestressed concrete. But it was Fazlur Khan, one of the greatest engineers of his time, who developed the structural concept of the Willis and Hancock Buildings in Chicago, among others. These buildings behave essentially as hollow steel tubes that cantilever from the foundation when subject to wind load.
The answer is (B).
What is the name of the immense prefabricated glass and cast iron structure that was built for the Great Exhibition of 1851, in London?
(A) Machinery Hall
(B) Market Hall
(C) Crystal Palace
(D) Exhibition Hall
The Great Exhibition of 1851 was housed in the Crystal Palace, an immense prefabricated glass and cast iron structure. Because of its lightness and transparency, it strongly influenced subsequent steel and glass buildings.
The answer is (C).
Which of the following engineers was known for roof structures that utilized diagonal precast concrete ribs?
(A) Eugene Freyssinet
(B) Pier Luigi Nervi
(C) Robert Maillart
(D) Fazlur Khan
The answer is Pier Luigi Nervi. Nervi was an Italian engineer who successfully merged mathematics and aesthetics. His concrete domes and barrel shells, which typically used diagonal precast ribs, were structures of exceptional lightness, economy, and beauty.
The answer is (B).
What Roman structure has a dome that was the longest-spanning unreinforced concrete dome until the 20th century?
(A) Pantheon
(B) Palazzetto dello Sport
(C) Parthenon
(D) Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral
help_outline
The answer is the Pantheon. The Romans regularly used concrete in their structures. The concrete was of course unreinforced, and therefore limited to compression structures such as domes. The Pantheon remains today one of the greatest achievements of Roman architecture. Its dome, spanning 142 feet, remained the longest-spanning unreinforced concrete dome until its size was surpassed in 1913.
The answer is (A)
What laboratory compaction test is used to determine a soil’s optimum moisture content and density?
(A) Impact hammer test
(B) Proctor test
(C) Cylinder test
(D) Kelly ball test
The answer is Proctor test. Properly compacted fill is sometimes used for the support of buildings. Where this is anticipated, typical soil samples are subjected to a laboratory compaction test called the Proctor test to determine the soil’s optimum moisture content and density.
The answer is (B).
What test is used to measure the workability of concrete?
(A) Slump test
(B) Air content test
(C) Mortar bar test
(D) Core test
The answer is slump test. Theworkabilityof concrete—the ease with which it can be placed and consolidated—is an important quality that is usually measured in the field by theslump test(and occasionally theKelly ball test).
The answer is (A).
The ratio of unit stress to unit strain for a material is a measure of its
(A) strength.
(B) ductility.
(C) stiffness.
(D) toughness.
The answer is stiffness. Candidates should know and understand the definitions of unit stress, unit strain, modulus of elasticity, and stiffness. Unit stress is the stress per unit of area and is measured in pounds per square inch. Unit strain is the total stretching or shortening of the member divided by its original length. The ratio of unit stress to unit strain is called the modulus of elasticity, E. The higher the E value of a material, the greater its stiffness, or resistance to deformation.
The answer is (C).
What building has a facade that clearly expresses its catenary suspension structure?
(A) CBS Building
(B) Dulles International Airport
(C) Johnson Wax Building
(D) Federal Reserve Bank, Minneapolis
The facade of the Federal Reserve Bank in Minneapolis expresses its structure dramatically by using glass on the inside face of the mullions above the catenary and on the outside face below.
The answer is (D).
Which of the following buildings best exemplifies the bundled tube concept?
(A) First National Bank, Chicago
(B) John Hancock Center, Chicago
(C) Willis Tower
(D) World Trade Center
Completed in 1976, the Willis Tower in Chicago is a bundle of nine tubes, each 75 feet square, placed next to each other to form a pattern of three squares in each direction.
The answer is (C).
planting strip
A landscaped strip of ground between a pedestrian walk and a street.
freeway
A high-speed, multiple-lane highway designed to move traffic smoothly and without interruption. Also called an expressway.
cloverleaf
A type of grade-separated interchange used in highway design; named for its shape.
row house
One of a continuous row of houses having a uniform plan and appearance and often sharing party walls.
encroachment
The extension of a building into the property of another.
Organizational concepts
- Organizational concepts begin to address the physical organization of the space. Beyond program, other factors such as the site, symbolism, hierarchy, and client goals can influence the organization pattern.
- The six basic organizational concepts are linear, axial, grid, central, radial, and clustered
- Each pattern provides unique opportunities and challenges for developing a building configuration.
Circulation pattems
- Circulation pattems organize spaces, buildings, sites, and campuses. Paths of circulation apply to the movement of people, vehicles, products, and services- While a circulation pattern must respond to an organizational pattern, they are not necessarily similar
- The five main circulation patterns are dumbbell, doughnut grid radial, and field
- Circulation patterns typically create a hierarchy of paths, with major paths connecting major spaces. Paths can be connectors only, or they may become spaces themselves. They can stand alone, or they may branch off into secondary paths. They can help organize and separate public and private spaces or help maintain security and access control.
Social and Cultural Influences
Building configuration may also be affected by social and cultural influences. A building’s form communicates sentiments of hierarchy, status, affiliation, and culture. The following are examples of social and cultural influences on design:
-
political conditions : Prevailing political attitudes and policies that affect design thinking, such as sustainability practices,
are political conditions. - economic conditions : The state of the economy is often reflected in architecture through economic conditions,
- cultural conditions: The prevailing cultural views Of the family—shared values, religion, fashion, leisure pursuits, sports, and the like—may influence a design response through cultural conditions.
-
symbolism : The physical environment holds a great deal of meaning for people, which is observed through the
concepts of symbolism - Regionalism reflects the local geographic area. Most architects and users of architecture believe that each geographic area is unique and that design should reflect that fact
Design Theory
The complex subject of design theory is the fundamental beginning of design. While an individual’s design theory is unique, the general framework that forms these theories is fairly universal, The following are a few factors that influence design theory:
- the designer’s personal worldview
- historic precedent
- environmental design research
- functional needs
- human perception of the environment
- particulars of the design process
An architect is designing a four-story hotel. The architect wishes to expose the structural system while maintaining a high fire-resistance rating and needs to minimize construction time. Which type of framing system should the architect choose?
- wood platform frame
- light-gauge steel framing
- steel frame with rigid connections
- one-way solid slab concrete frame
Cast-in-place concrete one-way solid slab systems allow the designer to expose the structural system while maintaining a high fire-resistance rating. Construction time can be minimized with this system by designing repetitive elements so formwork can be reused- The system can be used with either bearing walls (less expensive, good for multiple repetitive elements) or beams and girders (more expensive, but more flexible for longer spans or greater loads).
Neither wood platform framing nor either type of steel framing permits the structure to be exposed and maintains required fire ratings. While the steel frame with rigid connections may help to reduce construction timec neither the light-gauge steel framing system nor the wood platform frame helps to speed up construction of a four-story building T
he answer is (D), one-way solid slab concrete frame.
Which system should an architect choose if avoiding a chimney is required?
- forced air
- active solar heating
- a hydronic system
- heating stoves
An active solar heating system does not require a chimney because it is a one-way system without waste that needs to be ventilated. The others all require a chimney.
The answer is (B), active solar heating.
active solar heating
Active solar heating systems use solar energy to heat a fluid – either liquid or air – and then transfer the solar heat directly to the interior space or to a storage system for later use. If the solar system cannot provide adequate space heating, an auxiliary or back-up system provides the additional heat.
hydronic system
A hydronic system uses water or steam, heated by a boiler, to heat your home. Water enters the boiler’s combustion chamber via a circulator; once heated, the water is distributed through pipes to heat baseboards or radiators throughout your home.
heating stoves
Cold water that flows to the central heating stove is heated via a heat exchanger by the heat produced by the stove. The hot water then flows to a buffer tank or to the heating installation. In the latter scenario, it flows directly to the radiators or floor heating if the temperature is high enough.
Structural Systems
Items to Consider
- What are you designing?
- What is your program?
- What are your spans?
- What role do you want structure to play in the project?
Mechanical Systems
Items to Consider
- What are you designing?
- What is your program?
- What is your floor to floor height?
- What are your cost goals?
- What are your sustainability goals?
shallow wood truss
glulam
glued laminated beam
plywood girder
A client wants a museum to be built with two identically sized stories. The museum must have 74,800 ft2 net assignable area, with a minimum of 15% of the space dedicated to circulation. The architect estimates the planned efficiency ratio to be 85%. What is most nearly the size of building footprint the architect should plan during initial site planning?
32,000 ft2
37,000 ft2
44,000 ft2
62,000 ft2
energy conservation through mechanical systems
displacement ventilation
- is an air distribution system in which supply air is dispensed at floor level and rises to return air grilles in the ceiling as it warms
- because the supply air is delivered at floor level, close to users, it does not have to be cooled as much, resulting in energy savings
- displacement ventilation is a good system for removing heat generated by ceiling-level lights and for improving indoor air quality, because this kind of system typically uses a high percentage of outdoor air
- it can be used with personal temperature control and flexible underfloor wiring
- most displacement ventilation systems need access flooring system to provide space for underfloor ducting and to allow rearrangement of supply air outlets as the space layout changes, this makes displacement ventilation appropriate only for new construction, where additional floor-to floor height can be set to accommodate the 12in or more needed for ductwork, and where the elevations of stairway landings and elevator stops can be coordinated to match the elevation of the access floor,
- variation of this system uses air outlets located low on exterior walls, but this system only works for spaces next to the exterior wall to a depth of about 16f
tructural steel wide-flange beams cost $225 per pound. How much does a 12 ft 6 in long beam of W12x106 cost?
It is important to understand how member sizes for structural components are designated. According to the Steel Construction Manual, the numbers designating a steel wide-flange beam define the depth of the beam and the weight per linear foot. The cost is
A developer wishes to construct an office building consisting of five stories of square 10,000 feet each. Half of he ground floor will consist of public areas, and the remainder will be rentable as retail space at $3.00 per square foot per month. If the four office floors are to have efficiency of 75%, how much must the developer charge per square foot per month to generate a gross annual income of $1,000,000?
The breakdown of wall finishes shown in the table is being compiled for use in a budgeting exercise.
What method of budget refinement is being used?
- parameter
- value engineering
- unit cost
- matrix costing
- The table demonstrates the use of the parameter method for budget refinement. This method is used to break out larger categories into more specific elements.
- For example, instead of allowing an overall budget of $8000 for wall finishes, the budget is refined to assign costs to individual finishes.
- Value engineering is not a method of budget refinement.
- The unit cost method is used as contractors prepare bids with itemized costs per item for all products, materials, and labor.
- The matrix costing method employs a chart of options and alternatives for elements of an assembly to assist in determining
the best selections for the assembly in consideration of the budget.
board foot
wellpoint
soldier beam
wood boards (lagging)
sheet piling
- Wellpoints are used to dewater an excavation, not to retain its sides.
- Soldier beams are wide-flange steel sections driven vertically into the earth at 5 to 10 ft intervals to a depth lower than that of the proposed excavation.
- Wood boards, known as lagging, are placed horizontally between the soldier beams as the earth is removed.
- Sheet piling consists of vertical planks that fit tightly together and are driven into the earth to form a barrier before starting excavation.
