Structural performance of elements

Structural Performance of Elements

Load Types

• Dead loads: These are static, or “permanent”, loads that are almost always present, such as the weight of the material from which a structure is made.

• Live loads: These are variable or moving loads. For instance, the weight of furniture and occupants in a building, wind pressure, and traffic on a bridge.

• Environmental loads: These are due to natural events, such as earthquakes, floods or wind.

Structural Elements

• Beams: Horizontal elements that predominantly carry loads in bending.

• Columns: Vertical elements that mainly carry compressive loads.

• Walls: These can be load-bearing walls, which support other elements of the structure, and non-load-bearing walls, which only carry their weight.

• Slabs: Horizontal elements, like floors or roofs, typically supported by beams or walls that mainly carry loads in compression and, to a lesser extent, in bending.

• Foundations: The lowest part of a structure, transferring the weight of the structure into the ground.

Behaviour of Structural Elements under Load

• Compression: This occurs when a force attempts to shorten, or compress, a structural element. Columns, for example, most commonly experience compressive forces.

• Tension: This occurs when a force attempts to stretch, or lengthen, a structural element. Cables in a suspension bridge, for instance, most often suffer tensile forces.

• Shear: This happens when unaligned forces push one part of a structure in one direction, and another part the structure in the opposite direction. Shear stress often occurs in beams.

• Bending: This happens when a part of a structural element is compressed, and another part is stretched due to an applied load. Beams mostly experience bending.

• Torsion: This occurs when a structural element is twisted.

Safety and Serviceability

• Safety: Structural safety ensures that a structure can maintain its integrity and stability.

• Serviceability: This refers to a structure’s functionality. A structurally sound building that does not leak, has appropriate acoustics, and maintains an acceptable level of comfort aligns with the principles of serviceability.

Always focus on the design. It influences a structure’s ability to resist loads. A well-designed structure should efficiently distribute applied loads through the entire structure.

Lastly, think about the material used. Its strength, weight, durability, and how it responds to different loads should always be considered when designing structural elements.