structural engineering

Question 1

The four factors that determine bending in supported beam?

Answer 1

material used, the cross sectional characteristics of the beam , the span of the beam and the load that the beam is subjected too.

Question 2

What directions are two opposing forces of tension force shown for a stationary suspended object on a string?

Answer 2

They point towards each other to denote equilibrium for tension on the string.

Question 3

What direction arrow would denote equilibrium in compression force in a column.

Answer 3

Arrows would be pointing away from each other in a column

Question 4

What is reaction in structural engineering?

Answer 4

It is force that responds to the presence of an opposing force.

Question 5

what is stress?

Answer 5

It is presence of internal pressure at a given point within a material.

Question 6

What is moment?

Answer 6

Force resulting in a turning effect, such as turning of nut on its thread.

Question 7

How can one calculate the amount of bending taken place on a structural beam material.

Answer 7

One can use deflection to calculate vertical distance through which a given point on beam has moved from its original position.

Question 8

Explain the process of shearing in beam in construction?

Answer 8

Shearing is the failure identified either as cutting or slicing which results from the pulling apart in opposite directions of beam structure that may be horizontally overlapping materials or breaking of a joist connected to column due to applied force being too strong for the connecting part.

Question 9

What is dead loads?

Answer 9

Forces that arise through the mass of the structure itself. Also known as static load.

Question 10

What is live load?

Answer 10

Forces which are external that move or change , also known as dynamic loads.

Question 11

Lateral loads?

Answer 11

Resistance to loads occurring vertically particularly when it shifts. It should remain rigid.

Question 12

How are structures made to resist lateral loads

Answer 12

structure is designed using equalizing of vertical and horizontal forces via diagonals or through use of triangulation

Question 13

Explain bracing

Answer 13

Bracing is a method of preventing shear by adding diagonal support across corner of both ends. The support acts as compressive element and it is in tension.

Question 14

Torsion

Answer 14

Use of bracing to prevent twisting. Stop opposing forces acting in rotational fashion.

Question 15

Give two examples of beam deformations caused by bending moments.

Answer 15

Hogging and Sagging. Hogging is upward deformation, Sagging is downward.

Question 16

Describe columns and the column types?

Answer 16

Columns also known as pillars or posts are vertical and support axial loads, thus experience compression. The concrete or masonry column cross -section can be square rectangle, circular or cruciform. Steel columns maybe H or Hollow section.

Question 17

List foundation types

Answer 17

Strip foundation, Pad foundation, Raft foundation, piled foundation.

Question 18

What is strip foundation properties?

Answer 18

it provides continuous support to load-bearing external walls.

Question 19

What is raft foundation?

Answer 19

It is used in scenarios where the alternative would be large number of strip and or pad foundations in small area. Raft foundation takes up the whole plan area under a building.

Question 20

What are piled foundations

Answer 20

Used for areas where ground has low strength and building is very heavy(skyscraper) They use columns pilled into the ground which help transmit the building loads safely to stronger stratum. The piles are topped by large concrete block called pile cap.

Question 21

Padded foundation

Answer 21

provides a loading-spreading support for a column

Question 22

What are types of beams in construction?

Answer 22

Cantilevered, Continuous and simply supported beams. Continuous beam has two or more spans in one unbroken unit. Cantilever is supported at one end only, to avoid collapse beam must be continuous over , or rigidly fixed at this support. Simply supported beam rests on supports usually located at each end of the beam.

Question 23

Types of slab

Answer 23

Ribbed slab, Waffle slab, Two way spanning slab , one way spanning slab.

Question 24

What is one way spanning slab?

Answer 24

This means they are supported by walls on opposite sides of the slab.

Question 25

What is two way spanning slab

Answer 25

Slabs supported by all four walls

Question 26

Weight?

Answer 26

Weight is force calculated by Mass multiplied by acceleration due to gravity. It is measured in Newtons.

Question 27

Density

Answer 27

Mass over volume

Question 28

Mass

Answer 28

Amount of matter measured in grams or kilograms

Question 29

What is point load?

Answer 29

Load concentrated at a single point. Also known as concentrated load. example would contact area where column is supported by beam.

Question 30

What is a pin and how is it signified ?

Answer 30

Is support allowing rotational movement without transmitting effects or moment on attached structure. It is analogous to hinge and is symbolized as unfilled cycle.

Question 31

What are main form of supports?

Answer 31

Pined, roller and fixed

Question 32

What is Roller support?

Answer 32

part of structure analogous to roller skates, allowing free horizontal movement. Roller symbol normally consists of two or more cycles with triangle on top .

Question 33

What is fixed support?

Answer 33

It is support which doesn’t support movement rotation. examples are balcony. Analogy is two fingers holding a ruler at one end. or ruler supported by two fists.