Forces in Structures

 How do forces affect structures?

 There are external stresses that act on a
structure from outside the structure.
 Then external forces produce internal stresses in
the materials that make up the structure.

 How do we know there are stresses?

 The forces change the shape or size of a
structure
 This is called deformation.
 It will have to be repaired, or the structure will fail.
External Force
 Dead load
 a permanent force, acting on a structure.
 includes the weight of the structure itself.

 Live load
 is a changing, or non-permanent force acting on a
structure.
 the force of the wind
 the weight of things that are in or on a structure.
Forces acting on the foot

                                                                              

Forces acting on a bridge keystone

                                                                                                   
External Force Continued
 Impact forces
 things that collide with the structure
 Is a type of live load.
Internal Forces
 Tension forces
 stretch a material by pulling its ends apart

 Tensile strength
 The amount of tension force a material can
withstand before stretching apart.
Internal Forces Continued
 Compression forces
 crush a material by squeezing it together.

 Compressive strength
 The amount of force a material can stand before
being crushed.
Internal Forces Continued
 Shear forces
 bend or tear a material by pressing different parts
in opposite directions at the same time.

 Shear strength
 The amount of shear force a material can stand
before it tears apart.
Internal Forces Continued
 Torsion forces
 twist a material by turning the ends in opposite
directions.

 Torsion strength
 The amount of torsion force a material can stand
before it twists apart.
Internal Forces – NOTE!

 Bending force
 is a combination of tension and compression

 Shear and torsion forces

 are also a combination of tension and
compression
Quiz!