The term structural system or structural frame in
structural engineering
Structural engineering is a sub-discipline of civil engineering in which structural engineers are trained to design the 'bones and joints' that create the form and shape of human-made Structure#Load-bearing, structures. Structural engineers also ...
refers to the
load-resisting
sub-system of a building or object. The structural system transfers
loads through interconnected
elements or members.
Commonly used structures can be classified into five major categories, depending on the type of primary
stress that may arise in the members of the structures under major design loads. However any two or more of the basic structural types described in the following may be combined in a single structure, such as a building or a
bridge
A bridge is a structure built to Span (engineering), span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or railway) without blocking the path underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, whi ...
in order to meet the structure's functional requirements.
[Kassimali, A. (1999). ''Structural analysis''. 2nd edition. Pacific Grove, C.A.: PWS Publication.]
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Tensile structures: Members of tensile structures are subject to pure
tension under the action of external loads. Because the tensile stress is uniformly distributed over the
cross-sectional area of members, the material of such a structure is utilized in the most efficient manner.
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Compressive structures: Compression structures develop mainly
compressive stresses under the action of axial loads. Because compressive structures are susceptible to
buckling
In structural engineering, buckling is the sudden change in shape (Deformation (engineering), deformation) of a structural component under Structural load, load, such as the bowing of a column under Compression (physics), compression or the wrin ...
or instability, the possibility of these failures should be considered in their design. If necessary, adequate
bracing must be provided to avoid such failures.
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Truss
A truss is an assembly of ''members'' such as Beam (structure), beams, connected by ''nodes'', that creates a rigid structure.
In engineering, a truss is a structure that "consists of two-force members only, where the members are organized so ...
es: Trusses are composed of straight members connected at their ends by
hinged connections to form a stable configuration. Because of their light weight and high strength, they are among the most commonly used types of structure.
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Shear structures: These are structures such as
reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete, also called ferroconcrete or ferro-concrete, is a composite material in which concrete's relatively low tensile strength and ductility are compensated for by the inclusion of reinforcement having higher tensile strength or ...
or wooden
shear walls, which are used in multistory buildings to reduce lateral movements due to
wind loads and earthquake excitations. Shear structures develop mainly
in-plane shear with relatively small bending stresses under the action of external loads.
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Bending
In applied mechanics, bending (also known as flexure) characterizes the behavior of a slender structural element subjected to an external Structural load, load applied perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the element.
The structural eleme ...
structures: Bending structures develop mainly
bending stresses under the action of external loads. The shear stresses associated with the changes in bending moments may also be significant, and should be considered in their design.
High-rise buildings
The structural system of a
high-rise building is designed to cope with vertical gravity loads as well as
lateral loads caused by wind or seismic activity. The structural system consists only of the members designed to carry the loads, and all other members are referred to as non-structural.
A classification for the structural system of a high-rise was introduced in 1969 by
Fazlur Khan and was extended to incorporate interior and exterior structures. The primary lateral load-resisting system defines if a structural system is an interior or exterior one.
The following interior structures are possible:
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Hinged frame
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Rigid frame
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Braced frame and
Shear-walled frame
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Outrigger
An outrigger is a projecting structure on a boat, with specific meaning depending on types of vessel. Outriggers may also refer to legs on a wheeled vehicle that are folded out when it needs stabilization, for example on a crane that lifts he ...
structures (supporting
overhangs)
The following exterior structures are possible:
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Buttresses
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Diagrid
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Exoskeleton
An exoskeleton () . is a skeleton that is on the exterior of an animal in the form of hardened integument, which both supports the body's shape and protects the internal organs, in contrast to an internal endoskeleton (e.g. human skeleton, that ...
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Space truss
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Superframe
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Tube (structure)
See also
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Base isolation
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Body-on-frame (automotive)
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Buttressed core
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Double wishbone suspension (automotive)
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MacPherson strut
The MacPherson strut is a type of automotive suspension system that uses the top of a telescopic damper as the upper steering pivot. It is widely used in the front suspension of modern vehicles. The name comes from American automotive engineer ...
(automotive)
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Monocoque (automotive)
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Space frame
In architecture and structural engineering, a space frame or space structure (Three-dimensional space, 3D truss) is a rigid, lightweight, truss-like structure constructed from interlocking struts in a geometry, geometric pattern. Space frames can ...
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Staggered truss system
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Superleggera (automotive)
References
External links
List of structural framing systems on Phorio Standards
{{DEFAULTSORT:Structural System