Structural Engineering 3A SUS3A11 Lecturer: Prof. M Dundu1 TYPES OF STRUCTURES AND LOADS 1.1 Introduction Structure — a system of connected members used to support loads. Examples of Structures ~ buildings, bridges, towers, ship, aircraft frames, tanks, pressure vessels, mechanical systems and electrical supporting structures. Structural Elements: 1) Tie Rods ~ members subjected to tensile forces (Figure! 1). 2) Beams - horizontal members used primarily to carry lateral loads (Figure 1.2 (a)) 3) Columns - vertical members used to carry axial loads. When columns are subjected to both an axial load and a bending moment the member is referred as a beam-column (Figure 1.2(b)) channel typical cross sections ue rod Figure 1.1 Tie rodSimply supported beam \ cantilevered beam | Tixed-supported beam ae a a continuous beam colume beam column (a) Beams (b) Coulmns Figure 1.2 Types of Structures: 1) Trusses ~ A truss is used where the span of the structure is large and its depth is not an important criterion for design (Figure 1.3(a)). 2) Cables and Arches ~ Cables are usually flexible and carry their loads in tension, Arches achieve their strength in compression, since it has a reverse curvature to that of the cable (Figure 1.3(b). 3) Frames ~ Frames are composed of beams and columns that are either pinned or fixed connected (Figure 1 3(c)) 4) Surface structures ~ made from a material with a very small thickness in comparison to other dimensions e.g tent structure, plate and shell structures.