Building Construction Chapter 3

Accommodating the type and magnitude of forces.

Gravity from the weight of components and occupancy activity.

The direction of forces from loads acting on the interior of structural members.

Tension is the force that causes material to pull apart.

Temperature changes external to the building cause peripheral members to expand and contract differently.

Compression is the type of force that squeezes or shortens materials.

Rain and snow are considered live loads.

The formula for kinetic energy is $E = \frac{1}{2}mv^2$.

A load that involves motion and can deliver energy greatly in excess of the weight of the object involved.

Water at a depth of 3 inches adds 21 pounds per square foot of static load.

Seismic forces are the most complicated type of load that structural design must accommodate.

Communications Centers must be designed for greater seismic loads due to their essential role after an earthquake.

Lateral motion creates the most significant force generated by an earthquake.

Damping mechanisms absorb resonant energy as the structure begins to move.

Base isolation protects a building from horizontal movement by isolating it from earth surface movement.

Sliding systems in base isolation help isolate the building from horizontal shear force.

Pressure exerted by the soil against the foundation.

Passive soil pressure represents the force of the foundation against the soil.

A restrained beam is rigidly supported at each end.

The top flange of a beam carries compressive stresses.

A cantilever beam is supported at one end, able to support vertical loads and resist bending stresses.

Columns primarily experience compressive stresses.

Steel is commonly used as a structural member for columns.

Columns primarily support axial load in a structure.

Arches primarily experience compressive stresses.

Space frames are 3-D truss structures.

Load-bearing walls carry compressive loads and provide lateral support.

Post and beam framing supports horizontal elements carrying transverse loads.

Vertical steel studs in steel stud wall construction are typically placed 12 - 16 inches apart.

In a frame structure, walls act as the 'skin' to enclose the frame.

Membrane structures are similar to fabric tents.

Membrane structures can be built in less time than rigid structural systems.

Shell structures are most commonly constructed from concrete.