Mechanics of Structures
Buildings are the most important structures built over a piece of land, for a habitable use. There has been an immense transformation in the methods and materials used in the construction of a building structure. The increasing population has led to the construction methods to shift from simpler (mud, brick, stick etc.) to permanent (RCC, steel etc.) The newer methods include stronger materials, which can counter various kinds of issues (earthquakes, etc.) The skeletal structures of buildings incorporate a system of beams and columns connecting to each other, supporting the slabs and walls, which carry all the loads to the foundations under the ground level, leading to a stronger and a supported building.
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Transfer of Forces in a Structural System
Overall Building Photo
Identifying Beams & Columns
Learnings from the module :
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The course was very informative and helped me learn a lot about the structures and their mechanics. A few learnings that felt really important are stated below:
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1) Identifying and understanding the forces that act on the structure and how they get transferred from a structural element to the other.
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2) Understandings about the Live & the Dead load, which is very important, as it helps in designing the skeleton of the whole structure.
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3) Choosing the proper material for the construction of a structure is the key to a successful builtform.