Week1 Mass construction tower
We chose to build this mass construction
tower in a shape of cylinder because according
to its base, compared with a triangle or a
square or a triangle or a regular or irregular
polygon, the circular base saves the materials
to build the tower. During building this
cylinder tower, we also take another way to
save the wood bricks, which is setting aside a
certain amount of space which is less than the
length of a piece of wood brick between two
pieces of wood bricks.
Materials: wood bricks
Efficiency: -‐strength: strong compression
weak tension
-‐stiffness: stiff
-‐shape: volumetric
-‐economy: economical
-‐material behavior: isotropic
From this load path, we can
clearly see how the loads
transfer down. Each one of the
forces of wood bricks transfer
down to the beam, which is
consist of two wood bricks. In
terms of this, all terms of loads
go down to the ground. They
are supported by the ground.
When time is over, the two mass construction towers are what we done and what my friends’ group done. It can be clearly seen that we built much taller than what they did. Because of different methods, there came two different types of towers. Although our tower seems much taller than the other groups in the class, there are some serious problems existing. Compared with the right-‐hand side tower, the stability of our tower is weaker for its enclosure system is consisting of double layers of wood bricks. However, even though their enclosure system makes the tower more stable than ours, it cost lots of materials. In the consideration of economy, our tower is more welcomed. On the way, to build up a tower, it saves more time if trying to build a tower like ours.
Opening
During building this tower, the procedure of setting up an opening is the most difficult problem though all the procedures. The wood bricks around the opening need to rely on the forces, which are transferred by the wood bricks above them. We need to build up the other sides first, and then we can seal the opening. It is tough to create an opening and we failed many times. It still looks irregular even though we were successful to finish this task.
Deconstruction process
It is interesting to notice that when we are doing the deconstruction
process, the tower would not collapse until we take one particular wood
brick. From the photo, we can see the tower still stands there even if my
partner is taking the bricks from the tower.
Knowledge Map
Glossary
Beams are rigid structural members designed to carry and transfer
transverse loads across space to supporting elements. The
nonconcurrent pattern of forces subjects a beam to bending and
deflection, which must be resisted by internal strength of the material.
Load
Path
Week2 Frame
Material: balsa wood
Efficiency: -‐strength: strong
-‐stiffness: stiff
-‐shape: volumetric
-‐economy: economical
-‐material: behavior: isotropic
-‐sustainability: sustainable
First of all, we decide to build this frame
by using the base like what is shown in
the graph. To make sure this base is
stable, we add four pieces of short balsa
wood which connecting each sides of the
base to the main stanchion in the middle
because when there have those pieces of
short balsa wood, the triangle will exist,
which in order to make the frame stable,
for the triangular things have the best
stability.
We did not have a clear
design of the frame, but
when we were building the
frame, we always try to
make it with triangles, in
order to make the frame
stable. As a result, we come
up an idea to build up like a
diamond shape.
During building this frame,
we try our best to notice
every detail. Like what my
partner is doing in the photo,
to ensure this frame has
enough stability, he adds
more triangles on this
diamond shaped frame.
Actually, it is easy to find how
the forces transfer to the
ground. The force spread out
to the edges of the diamond
and the main stanchion
initially. However, the forces
are going to load the middle
again, and then spread out
again, and finally, they all go
down to the ground.
The frame(left-‐hand side) is built
by another group in the class. We
can see it is completely different
from our group’s. Not only the
appearance, but also the load path
is quite different from ours.
Construction-‐stressing process
When Candy cut the
outside frame, one of
the edges of the
frame, it has a little
deformation, but we
can see the frame
does not fall down
When Candy cut all
the edges of the
first diamond , it has
deformation but the
frame still stands
there.
When the main
stanchion is cut, the
whole frame falls
down. It shows that
this frame relies on
the stanchion.
Knowledge Map
Glossary Structural joints:
Braced Frame: