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Introduction to Materials Characteristics of materials can be described with the following vocabulary: Characteristic Descriptive words Strength Stiffness Shape
Strong/Weak Stiff/Flexible Mono-‐dimensional (linear), bi-‐ dimensional (x,y) or tridimensional (volumetric, x,y,z) Material behaviors can be divided into two different categories: Isotropic: Stay the same no matter the force & Anisotropic: Subject to change when force is applied As well as physical aspects of materials the cost is also a key factor for materials, in particular how readily available it is and how far it’s travelled. These factors are important, as keeping to a budget is vital when acting on behalf of clients. By sourcing local materials it also limits the negative affect on the environment by lowering CO2 emissions from cars as well as choosing sustainably safe materials such as plantation trees. Melbourne’s Bluestone The bluestone seen around in Melbourne laneways and footpaths is a good example of locally sourced material. Bluestone comes from basalt, which in turn comes from the molten lava from surrounding volcanoes. Evidence of this can be seen in the ‘bubbles in the footpaths where the lava has cooled. ‘Landscape is the fundamental background to the constructed city’ Structural Forces Sources:
http://www.stoneconnectionaustralia.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/thumbnail/600x600/9df78ea b33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/l/a/lava_wave_hole_1.jpg http://bluestonemelbourne.com.au/images/bluestone_tiles_melbourne_front_7.jpg
2 [WEEK 1 – STUDIO] Structural Forces Structural forces can be represented as vectors, which means they have magnitude and direction this means that Newton’s three laws of motion apply to them. There are two types of structural forces. Compression forces act simultaneously on either side of the force pushing inwards where as tension pushes out wards (stretches). Compression Tension Timber Wood à Processing à Timber HW -‐ Harwood SW -‐ Soft wood KD -‐ Kiln Dried M.D.F -‐ Medium density fiber board (eg. Chipboard). This is NOT a timber. Oregon (Left) is an example of hardwood, which is stronger often used for doors and windows. Pine (right) is an example of softwood, which is cheaper used for framing. Timber comes in roughly cut 4”X2” beams which are refined in a factory to 45mmX90mm (below). Sources (left to right): http://www.ghsproducts.com/resize/images/GMW/Oregon%20White%20Oak%20Closeup.jpg? lr=t&bw=550&w=550&bh=550&h=550 http://www.woodsolutions.com.au/dotAsset/20cf6219-‐063c-‐4a3a-‐9a29-‐74719c9bfd24.jpg
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Steel Base metals are metals that appear on the periodic table such as; iron, copper, aluminum and nickel. An alloy is a two or more metals combined to make a new material for example brass (copper and zinc) UC – Universal Column UB – Universal Beam PFC – Parallel Flange Channel S= square, r=rectangle, c=circle Cast iron + Carbon = Steel
Cast iron and carbon are combined to make steel, a material strong under both compression and tension. Sources (Left to Right): http://img1.exportersindia.com/product_images/bc-‐full/dir_69/2057228/hot-‐rolled-‐sheet-‐and-‐ plates-‐682451.jpg http://www.e-‐reful.com/UploadFiles/20080826112852203.jpg
Cement FC – Fibre cement AC – Asbestos cement (Illegal) CFC – Compressed fiber cement is also impervious meaning you clad a building with it or use it in a wet area Small Module Construction Examples include clay bricks, mud bricks (adobe) and concrete blocks. Clay bricks can be pressed in a mold or wire cut in a factory. The standard brick size means that the height of a building can be calculated by counting the bricks and adding 10mm for mortar. Brick Veneer
Brick Cavita
4 [WEEK 1 – STUDIO] Large Module Construction Usually pre cast concrete, which is cheaper by reducing on-‐site labor, which can be costly and also take up space on site restricting what can be accomplished on site. By using the pre cast concrete quality is guaranteed because any faulty concrete sheets are rejected at the factory level and quality is ensured. However pre cast concrete has its disadvantages as well. In larger forms than small module construction means that cranes must be used to move each piece, which is a costly process. As well as this due to the way factories produce the concrete it is too expensive to create curves and is not as flexible as small module bricks, which we easily used to create a curved wall in our tower:
This is an example of how small module construction can be used to create pattern and curves that are more difficult to produce in large-‐ scale, precast concrete structures. This gives me more freedom and flexibility to the design.
One of the reasons to our success in the build was using the clay bricks to compress the smaller and lighter wooden bricks that made up the walls of our tower. The force was transferred evenly and then distributed to the floor allowing the tower to hold its shape without risk of collapsing.
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By first planning what we should do we allowed ourselves to focus on strong foundations trialing an oval shape. We intertwined the bricks for stability and continued upwards in the same pattern. Although we didn’t have mortar, we still spaced the bricks evenly so the compressed load could find a distributed path to the ground.
The collapse of the tower was because of two things. The top of the tower was thin and supported allowing it too sway on it’s own accord and secondly we overlooked the negative effect that the elastic bands in the roof would have on the bricks. The two different shapes clashed causing the foundations for the top half of the tower to be uneven (swaying to the left). In looking back it would have been better to spend longer reinforcing the foundations instead of going for height.
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6 [WEEK 1 – STUDIO] GLOSSARY Load Path: The path the force takes to reach the ground, always the most direct route. Masonry: The craft of building with stone or brick bound together with mortar. Compression: A force acting either side of an object with equal force so it is being squeezed. Reaction Force: The force acting opposite to any given force by Newton’s law of motion stating that any force must have an equal and opposite reaction if it is in equilibrium. Point Load: The precise spot that a load or force is directed at. Beam: Horizontal member, usually timber or steel.