Surname 1
Name
Professor
Course
Date
Q.1
Timber Design
Structural integrity in buildings is always vital aspect in ensuring a specific structure perform its
intended purpose for intended design life. Structures components must be able to withstand all
loads i.e. live and dead loads so as to avoid associated failures resulting from deformation,
fracture or fatigue. An element in a structure fails when its material is stressed past its
allowable limit. We had a visit to a nearby five multistorey building and observed the following
structural features;
Beams the multistorey building had several concrete beams which could be seen and
distinguished.
Beams are structural elements which are used to carry lateral loads. They achieve this by
resisting load imposed to them via beam axis. Their loading results from reactions from their
supports. They usually carry shear forces and imposed moments as a result of loading. Different
types of beams were distinguished not less than, simply supported beams these were very
prominent and involved beam supported on both sides, continuous beams i.e. buildings with
multiple supports or spans e.g. beam on grid A1-A7. Cantilever beams were also well
pronounced, especially at the end on the balconies.
Concrete columns were also well pronounced which are vertical members used to support
axial loads (compressive loads) from other members primarily slabs and beams. They were of
different sizes like 400 x200 mm and many other sizes dependent on the weight it carries.
Different column sections were also noted, including rectangular, circular and square.
Reinforced concrete slabs were also noted. Slabs refer to elements which carry loads from
occupants, furniture.
Walls
