COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
Graduate School of Architecture, Planning
and Preservation
A4125 - Building Systems I
Instructors: Tony
Webster, Jay Hibbs
TA:
Heather Waters
Tuesdays, 2-6pm, 113 Avery Hall
SYLLABUS
Introduction
Building Systems I begins by completing
the discussion of basic structural systems begun in Structures II. Next, structural systems designed to
ensure satisfactory performance of an entire building in the face of gravity and
horizontal (wind and earthquake) loads are presented. Both framed or walled systems and
non-framed systems are covered. The
term ends with a building analysis project, in which groups of students document
the materials, construction methods and performance of a post WWII American
project.
Qualitative understanding and basic
quantitative skills are stressed throughout the course. Structural systems studied are compared
in wood, steel, concrete and masonry construction.
Topics
Part I
Structural Systems in Framed and Walled Buildings
Skeleton Framing Systems
History, principles and materials.
Gravity Systems: Plates and Grids
3-dimensional generalization of beams and one-way beam and slab
systems.
Examples: Maillart's factory buildings, Hirshorn Museum, Beinecke
Library
Bending and shear stresses, deformations
Design examples
Resisting the Wind: Diaphragms, Shear Walls, Wind Trusses and Moment
Frames
(Wind Trusses)
Examples: Grace building, John Hancock, Le Messurier, Water
tanks.
Reinforced Concrete drops out;
Wood and Steel.
Overturning and uplift.
Location and architectural program.
(Shearwalls)
Examples: Monadnok, Seagram, Inland Steel.
Steel drops out; wood, masonry, and RC.
Gravity and wind resistance.
Buckling, uplift, design examples.
(Moment Frames)
Examples: Chicago School buildings; portal frames, stacked portal frames:
Itakura house: open K trusses.
Materials: steel and reinforced concrete, Wood(?)
Deflections: cladding problems, secondary forces (P-Delta
effect)
Code requirements.
Quiz I
Part II
Non-Framed or Walled Structural Systems
Cable Supported Structural Systems
Examples: PAT Center, Manhattan Bridge, Alamillo
Bridge
How Cables Work: Cable stayed and suspension
systems.
Connections.
Design examples.
Arches
Examples: Roman aqueducts, Gaudi, Menn, Ingalls
Rink
Arch theory, arch cable analogy
Funicular action, live load moments (beam-column action),
abutments.
Design examples.
Gothic Compressive Structures
Examples: Chartres, Beauvais
Thrust lines, assumed block strength in tension and
compression
Code requirements and design examples
Torsion Systems
Examples: Manhattan Bridge, La Devesa Bridge
Examples of torsional loading, structural response.
Supports and connections
Codes requirements and design examples
Shells I - Deep
Beams
Examples: Kimbal; Gaudi; Maillart's viaducts, factory roofs, Fressinet's
and Torroja's Roofs.
Structural beam action, enclosure, materials and construction
techniques.
Shells II - Vaults, Domes and Etc
3-dimensional generalizations of arches
Examples: Pantheon, Duomo, TWA
The synergistic effect of the third dimension
Supports and connections, design examples
Space Trusses and Frames
3-dimensional generalizations of trusses and 2-dimensional trusses and
frames.
Examples: Crystal Palace, Javits Center
Plate - Space Truss analogy
Pneumatic Structures
Examples: 1972 Osaka Pavilion, Tennis Halls
History, principles and design.
Tensegrity Structures
Examples: Fuller, Snelson, Geiger, Levy
History, principles and design.
Quiz II
Part III - Building Analysis
Project (6 weeks)
Four-student groups will work with visiting critics. The emphasis is on the relationships
between perceived space, servicing and supporting systems, and tectonic
resolution. Relationships are
documented by building plans, sections, detailed drawings of connections, and
detail models.
Project Final Review
GRADES
A passing grade is obtained by earning an
average of 70% or better on the course assignments (listed below), with an
overall average as follows: LP 70-75%, P 76-95%, HP
96-100%.
Course Assignments:
Parts I and II: Quizes and Homeworks
(50%). All homeworks are averaged
together to be equivalent to a quiz grade (check plus = 100, check = 85, check
minus = 50).
Part III: Building Analysis Problem
(50%).
TEXTBOOKS AND ELECTRONIC
RESOURCES
Required Text:
A4125 Readers and
Reference
Tony
Webster
At cost, cash or checks to
Columbia University.
Please pay at the
4th floor Architecture Office.
Recommended:
Elementary Structures for Architects
On reserve -- Avery
Shaeffer.
Structural Design in Architecture
Salvadori and Levy
Calatrava: Bridges
Frampton, Webster and Tischhouser
Basic Steel Design, Johnston
Design of Concrete Structures, Nilson
Structural Design in Wood, Stalnaker
Manual of Steel Construction, AISC
Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete,
ACI
Building Code Requirements for Concrete-Masonry
Structures, ACI.
Timber Construction Manual, ATC.
Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and
Other Structures,
ANSI.