The Art of Structures


Book Description

This book describes the complete panorama of supporting structures and their function by describing how loads are sustained and transmitted to the ground. With a minimum of mathematics, the reader is guided through the analysis of some of the world's most famous designs and structures from a civil-engineering perspective. An intuitive approach is taken - the basics of equilibrium analysis are explained by visualizing the internal forces of specific structures with the aid of simple graphical tools. Ideal for anyone who needs an intuitive and practical approach to the design and appropriate sizing of load-bearing structures.




Structure As Architecture


Book Description

Structure As Architecture provides readers with an accessible insight into the relationship between structure and architecture, focusing on the design principles that relate to both fields. Over one hundred case studies of contemporary buildings from countries across the globe including the UK, the US, France, Germany, Spain, Hong Kong and Australia are interspersed throughout the book. The author has visited and photographed each of these examples and analyzed them to show how structure plays a significant architectural role, as well as bearing loads. This is a highly illustrated sourcebook, providing a new insight into the role of structure, and discussing the point where the technical and the aesthetic meet to create the discipline of ‘architecture’.




Shell Structures for Architecture


Book Description

*** Featuring a foreword by Pritzker Prize Winner Shigeru Ban *** Bringing together experts from research and practice, Shell Structures for Architecture: Form Finding and Optimization presents contemporary design methods for shell and gridshell structures, covering form-finding and structural optimization techniques. It introduces architecture and engineering practitioners and students to structural shells and provides computational techniques to develop complex curved structural surfaces, in the form of mathematics, computer algorithms, and design case studies. • Part I introduces the topic of shells, tracing the ancient relationship between structural form and forces, the basics of shell behaviour, and the evolution of form-finding and structural optimization techniques. • Part II familiarizes the reader with form-finding techniques to explore expressive structural geometries, covering the force density method, thrust network analysis, dynamic relaxation and particle-spring systems. • Part III focuses on shell shape and topology optimization, and provides a deeper understanding of gradient-based methods and meta-heuristic techniques. • Part IV contains precedent studies of realised shells and gridshells describing their innovative design and construction methods.




Exercises and Solutions in Statistical Theory


Book Description

Exercises and Solutions in Statistical Theory helps students and scientists obtain an in-depth understanding of statistical theory by working on and reviewing solutions to interesting and challenging exercises of practical importance. Unlike similar books, this text incorporates many exercises that apply to real-world settings and provides much more thorough solutions. The exercises and selected detailed solutions cover from basic probability theory through to the theory of statistical inference. Many of the exercises deal with important, real-life scenarios in areas such as medicine, epidemiology, actuarial science, social science, engineering, physics, chemistry, biology, environmental health, and sports. Several exercises illustrate the utility of study design strategies, sampling from finite populations, maximum likelihood, asymptotic theory, latent class analysis, conditional inference, regression analysis, generalized linear models, Bayesian analysis, and other statistical topics. The book also contains references to published books and articles that offer more information about the statistical concepts. Designed as a supplement for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses, this text is a valuable source of classroom examples, homework problems, and examination questions. It is also useful for scientists interested in enhancing or refreshing their theoretical statistical skills. The book improves readers’ comprehension of the principles of statistical theory and helps them see how the principles can be used in practice. By mastering the theoretical statistical strategies necessary to solve the exercises, readers will be prepared to successfully study even higher-level statistical theory.




Constructing Architecture


Book Description

Now in its second edition: the trailblazing introduction and textbook on construction includes a new section on translucent materials and an article on the use of glass.




Structures for Architects


Book Description

Demand from building control officials for structural calculations - even for very simple projects - means that today's architects must have a thorough understanding of everyday structural concepts. Structures for Architects satisfies the need for a basic introduction to the structural problems encountered by the architect, surveyor and builder. This third edition reflects advances in recent techniques and refers to current Building Regulations and Codes of Practice. Students of architecture, building and surveying at degree, diploma or professional (RIBA, RICS, CIOB) examination level will find this book a valuable course text. Professionals in these fields who must perform structural calculations to satisfy building control authorities will also find it a useful handbook.




Writing About Architecture


Book Description

Extraordinary architecture addresses so much more than mere practical considerations. It inspires and provokes while creating a seamless experience of the physical world for its users. It is the rare writer that can frame the discussion of a building in a way that allows the reader to see it with new eyes. Writing About Architecture is a handbook on writing effectively and critically about buildings and cities. Each chapter opens with a reprint of a significant essay written by a renowned architecture critic, followed by a close reading and discussion of the writer's strategies. Lange offers her own analysis using contemporary examples as well as a checklist of questions at the end of each chapter to help guide the writer. This important addition to the Architecture Briefs series is based on the author's design writing courses at New York University and the School of Visual Arts. Lange also writes a popular online column for Design Observer and has written for Dwell, Metropolis, New York magazine, and The New York Times. Writing About Architecture includes analysis of critical writings by Ada Louise Huxtable, Lewis Mumford, Herbert Muschamp, Michael Sorkin, Charles Moore, Frederick Law Olmsted, and Jane Jacobs. Architects covered include Marcel Breuer, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Field Operations, Norman Foster, Frank Gehry, Frederick Law Olmsted, SOM, Louis Sullivan, and Frank Lloyd Wright.




Masted Structures in Architecture


Book Description

This is the first fully comprehensive survey and analysis of masted structures and covers examples that have evolved during the past three decades. Masted Structures are one of the most interesting developments in post-war architecture resulting from a combination of technology, structural engineering theory and a collaboration between architects and engineers. This is an essential guide for architects to the structural and constructional implications of masted forms in relation to space enclosure, patterns of loading and use of differing materials and techniques. This useful volume will enable architects and engineers to understand the origins, development and nature of masted structures and will provide a stimulating basis for future design.




On Span and Space


Book Description

In this richly illustrated book with many practical examples, Bjorn Sandaker provides readers with a better understanding of the relationship between technology and architecture. As an experienced teacher and writer, Sandaker offers a well-founded aesthetic theory to support the understanding and evaluation of a structure's form and design, examining concepts and viewpoints from both the professions of engineering and architecture. Comprehensively covering structure and aesthetics, this book is ideal for students, professionals and academics in the areas of architecture and building.




Fabric Structures in Architecture


Book Description

Fabric Structures in Architecture covers the varying ways textiles and their properties are used in building construction, with particular focus given to tensile structures. The text begins with the fundamental principles of textiles, including the origins of fabric architecture, then progressing to a discussion of the modern textiles of today. It covers relevant textile materials and their properties, including coatings and membranes. In addition, a range of design considerations are discussed, with detailed information on installation and failure modes. A series of case studies from around the world accompany the discussion, illustrating the applications of textiles in architecture. - Offers key coverage of the fundamental principles, from the origins of fabric architecture to modern textile - Provides analysis of relevant textile materials and their properties, including coatings and membranes - Contains expert insights in to the applications of textiles in architecture, presenting a series of relevant case-studies from around the world