building construction project 1 report

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONS) IN ARCHITECTURE

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION II – PROJECT 1

SKELETAL CONSTRUCTION (TEMPORARY BUS SHELTER)

CLEMENT CHEN KIT SEONG 0319574

CHONG YI QI 0304898

FOONG LIH WEY 0322687

JAMES TAY JIA CHUEN 0322210

JANICE LEE JUEN YUNG 0318695

LEONG YU SHI 0322586

CONTENT

■ INTRODUCTION 2

■ DESIGN PROCESS 3 – 5

■ CONSTRUCTION PROCESS 6 – 11

■ MATERIALS 12 – 13

■ JOINTS AND CONNECTIONS 15

■ LOAD DISTRIBUTION 16

■ CONCLUSION 17

■ REFERENCES 18

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this project is to create an understanding the

components of basic skeletal structure and the process as well as

sequence of construction. Skeletal structures are a vital

component in providing support for a structure to stand firm and

yield the dead load and external forces that are exerted on it.

Skeletal structure of a temporary bus shelter is to be built using

recycled materials in cylinder and cuboid/triangular prism shape.

Bamboo is being chosen as our temporary bus shelter materials

based on the strength to withstand the load and forces as well as

the flexibility of the materials. Various design problems are solved

through understanding how skeletal structures work.

2

DESIGN PROCESS

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

FINAL DESIGN DRAWINGS

FINAL DESIGN PHOTOS

DESIGN PROCESS

3

By using triangular prism and hexagonal prism

shape, we have created a slanted cantilever roof

with a small base. The joints were just simple

Japanese square knots. We find the stability of

the structure is low due to small base and the

stress point will be taking much load that the roof

might slip off when external force is exerted on it.

After deep research on the strength and flexibility

relationship, we have found out that curve

bamboo actually can withstand more tensile

stress than a straight bamboo. Hence, the roofing

has been changed to curve roof and the structure

is stabilized using an X-bracing at the back.

Subsequently, the seats are added as well as 2

columns supporting the load with external load is

added.

FINAL DESIGN

DRAWINGS

4

PLAN

SIDE ELEVATION

BACK ELEVATION

FRONT ELEVATION

FINAL DESIGN

PHOTOS

5

CONSTRUCTION PROCESS

CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCES

CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS

CONSTRUCTION PROCESS

CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCES

6

Floor beam is connected to the

columns. Later, floor joist is slotted into

the floor beam to transfer load to floor

beam.

Roof truss is connected to both of the

columns by using “positive fitting

connection”.

Curved columns are prefabricated.

Columns are then placed into the pad

foundation.

1 3

2

X - bracing is added to improve the

stability of the structure and to prevent

the structure being out of shape.

4

CONSTRUCTION PROCESS

CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCES

7

Columns are added which connect to

the floor joists to bear with the living

load and transfer the load to the floor

beam.

Subflooring – plywood is nailed onto

the floor beams and floor joists.

More bracings are added at the side to

withstand the load of the roof and to

keep the curve in shape.

5 7

6

Bamboos were tied together using

“Japanese Square Knot” then it is

connected between the column and

bracing.

8

CONSTRUCTION PROCESS

CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS

8

CONSTRUCTION PROCESS

CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS

9

CONSTRUCTION PROCESS

CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS

10

CONSTRUCTION PROCESS

CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS

11

MATERIALS

PRIMARY MATERIAL

SECONDARY MATERIALS

MATERIALSPRIMARY MATERIAL

12

Columns, Floor Beams, Floor Joists, Bracings, Seats

We were encouraged to use recycled materials for this bus

shelter and we ventured into the use of bamboo. Bamboo

is readily available and does not threaten the environment

thus considered recyclable. As for aesthetical purposes,

bamboo is naturally aesthetically pleasing to the eye

without the need of any finishing. Furthermore, as for the

strength of the shelter, bamboo has high strength-to-

weight ratio due to nodes throughout the length of

bamboo. Consequently, we planned to design the ends of

bamboo with nodes which will enhance the structural

support of the shelter. Besides that, bamboo has a higher

compressive strength than wood, brick or concrete as well

as a tensile strength which rivals steel.

BAMBOO

MATERIALSSECONDARY MATERIALS

13

PLYWOOD Subflooring

Plywood is a laminate, with multiple layers of wood chips and shavings laid on top of

each other and glued together. Plywood is also about twice as resistant to sheering as

regular wood. It is cheaper compared to real wood. Plywood is sometimes less prone to

absorb moisture thus making it more stable.

NIPA PALM THATCHING

Roofing

Nipa palm is a trunkless plant that

grows in coastal areas, brackish

swamps in the Philippines. Nipa

leaves can be harvested for roof

shingle production. Nipa palm

thatching is a good thermal

insulation for hot humid climates

like Malaysia. Also, advantages are

it is lightweight, long lasting if

properly harvested and good wind

resistance as it is permeable thus

doesn’t attract suction forces as

high as corrugated galvanised iron

(CGI) roofing.

NYLON ROPE

Joints

Nylon rope is strong, durable, light weight and

resistant to abrasion, insects, fungi, and many

chemicals. It is also UV resistant and has a

melting point of 254°C hence suitable for

outdoor use. Nylon rope was chosen because it

is less slippery than polyethylene ropes and

has a higher tensile strength among all

synthetic polymers for example polypropylene

and polyester. It also offers greater stretching

ability and shrink resistant for easier tying of

ropes on joints.

STRUCTURE

JOINTS AND CONNECTIONS

STRUCTURE

JOINTS AND CONNECTIONS

14

NAILING (Subflooring)

Used in rough framing and light work in

frame construction. Casing nail used in

finishing carpentry work to fasten the

floor planks.

INTERLOCKING NOTCH

JOINTS (X Bracing)

By relying on the tensile strength of nodes,

cut the top half of the bamboo off according

to the diameter of the joining bamboo. The

notch meets with one another formed flat

notch joints. This square joints are used to

avoid slippage and remain firmed.

POSITIVE FITTING

CONECTION (Floor Joists to Floor Beams and Roof Truss to

Column)

Cut a hole on the bamboo and make it

connect the another vertical bamboo

rods. Use the lashing technique to make

it more secure and stable.

STRUCTURE

JOINTS AND CONNECTIONS

15

JAPANESE SQUARE LASHING(Seats)

Used to align and secure the bamboo for the shelter bench.

Tied by looping the center of the rope around the vertical spar

and carrying the stands parallel to each other while taking the

wrapping turns. It is an aesthetically pleasing lashing technique

and simplest and easiest form of Japanese lashing.

DIAGONAL BRACING(X Bracing)

Added to bind two poles together that cross

each other to resist sideway forces. Used for

secure diagonal crossing pole and hold the

structure rigid overcome the structure from

shifting and moving

SHEAR LASHING(Nipa Palm Thatching To Roof Truss)

Used to lash the two poles together.

Wrap the lashing with two tight frapping

turns. Tie off the end with a clove hitch.

STRUCTURE

LOAD DISTRIBUTION

FORCES AND STRESS DIAGRAM

STRUCTURE

LOAD DISTRIBUTION

16

FORCE AND STRESS DIAGRAMS

The design of this bus stop is curved, the load is transferred around the curved bamboo down to the ground. By doing this, the load

can be distributed by the material, and curved structure tend to be stronger and adds more stress to the joints, this is why the

bracings are added to support the structure and reduce the stress.

The diagrams above shows the stress forces along the structure. High stress joints are often neutralized with bracings.

CONCLUSION

Through this project, we have gained a lot of experiences in

problem solving during the construction process as well as

making the joints and connections between each components.

We have also understand the bamboo’s properties due to its

flexibility and strength relationship. Besides that, we have also

understand the reaction of skeletal structure towards loads and

forces in certain situations. Strength, stiffness and stability are

taken into considerations. We are able to apply some basic

construction knowledge such as Japanese square knot to

strengthen the stability of the structure.

17

REFERENCES■ Bamboo Joints and Joinery Techniques. (n.d.). Retrieved May 09, 2016, from

http://www.guaduabamboo.com/working-with-bamboo/joining-bamboo

■ Bamboo-2. (2015). Retrieved May 09, 2016, from https://artaiafvg.wordpress.com/agricolture-and-

vineyards/bamboo-moso/bamboo-2-2/

■ Natural Building Colloquium. (n.d.). Retrieved May 09, 2016, from

http://www.networkearth.org/naturalbuilding/bamboo.html

■ Sustainable thatching materials production from nipa (nypa fruticans) in Bohol, Philippines. (n.d.). Retrieved

May 09, 2016, from

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/21580103.2008.9656343#.VzCp0fl96hc

■ Nylon Rope - Strength. (n.d.). Retrieved May 09, 2016, from http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/nylon-rope-

strength-d_1513.html

■ Difference Between Polypropylene and Nylon. (2012). Retrieved May 09, 2016, from

http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-polypropylene-and-vs-nylon/

■ Polypropylene, Polyester, and Nylon: More Than You Ever Wanted to Know. (2012). Retrieved May 09, 2016,

from https://www.qualitylogoproducts.com/blog/polypropylene-polyester-nylon-guide-to-materials/

■ Characteristics of Plywood. (n.d.). Retrieved May 09, 2016, from

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/characteristics-plywood-99494.html

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