• Michelle Perticarari 10-10556
•Rebeca Peña 10-10560
A structure is a group of
elements somehow united to
support a load with stability.
Examples
of
structures
are
bridges, electricity pylons or
dams. All structures must be
capable of withstanding the loads
and forces for which they are
designed.
A framed structure is one supported mainly by a
skeleton, or frame, of wood, steel, or reinforced concrete
rather than by load-bearing walls. Rigid frames have fixed
joints that enable the frames to resist lateral forces; other
frames require diagonal bracing or shear walls and
diaphragms for lateral stability.
Framing, in construction known as light-frame
construction, is a building technique based around
structural members, usually called studs, which provide a
stable frame to which interior and exterior wall coverings
are attached, and covered by a roof comprising horizontal
ceiling joists and sloping rafters (together forming a truss
structure) or manufactured pre-fabricated roof trusses—all
of which are covered by various sheathing materials to give
weather resistance.
Steel's strength, when used in steel framing, made
possible buildings with longer spans. Concrete frames
impart
greater
rigidity
and
continuity;
various
advancements, such as the introduction of the shear wall
and slip-forming, have made concrete a serious
competitor with steel in high-rise structures.
Timber framing is the method of creating framed
structures of heavy timber jointed together with various
joints, but most commonly originally with lap jointing,
and then later pegged mortise and tenon joints. Diagonal
bracing is used to prevent "racking", or movement of
structural vertical beams or posts.
Heavy timber frame was supplanted by American
light wood frame, also known as balloon frame, which
uses long continuous framing members (studs) that run
from the sill plate to the top plate, with intermediate floor
structures let into and nailed to them. Here the heights of
window sills, headers and next floor height would be
marked out on the studs with a storey pole. Once popular
when long lumber was plentiful, balloon framing has been
largely replaced by platform framing.