Structures Structures
Forces in Frame Structures
A 'successful' structure must be able to withstand all the forces it will experience without toppling over or collapsing. An understanding of the kinds of forces which can act on or within a structure is therefore important to a designer. We have described five different kinds of forces.
Tension Forces
Forces which case a member to 'stretch' are called tension forces.
Compression Forces
Forces which can cause a member to be 'squashed' or buckled are called compression forces.
Shear Forces
Shear forces act 'across' a material in such a way that one part of the structure can be forced to slide over another.
Torsional Forces
When a turning forces (or torgue is applied to a member, the member may twist.
Bending Forces
Forces which act at an angle to a member, tend to make it bend. These are called bending forces.
Assignment
Bridge Building You will find your assignment here.
| Notes and Assignments | Project Requirements
Project Overview | Design Process | Design Report | Design Portfolio |
Getting Started |