Structures in Practice

CE101 Engineering Mechanics: Semester 1

Gobithas Tharmarajah

March 2013

1.0 Introduction

The guided tour to the new hospitality management building and new faculty of engineering
building provides students to understand the behaviour of structure in real life. This is a
guided tour and students are expected to follow the guiding lecturer or instructor. Hospitality
Management Building (Figure 1) at SLIIT is a newly built structure ready to be occupied
while Faculty of Engineering building is under construction.

Figure 1: Hospitality management building

2.0 Structural Elements

2.1 Primary Structure
The primary structures are the repeating frames arranged parallel to each other. Two
columns, two beams and a roof are the major components of each primary frame (Figure 2 &
3). The columns and beams are concrete elements. The roof structure is made of steel trusses
and steel purlins. The roof is simply supported (Figure 4) at one end, and fixed at the other
end.
Identify the shape of the columns?
How the beams are connected to the columns?
Why do you think the roof is pin joined at one end?

Roof truss
Fixed joint
12.42 m
Second floor
beam

Pin Joint

10.5m
Back Column
First floor
beam
Front Column
14.4m

Figure 2: Three storey concrete frame

Figure 3: Part of top floor frame

Simply supported
roof

Figure 4: Simply supported roof truss

2.2 Secondary structure
The secondary structures are steel C section purlins (Figure 5). The purlins are fixed
perpendicular to the roof truss and carry the roof structure on them (Figure 6). A plate is used
to bolt the purlins with the truss.

Figure 5: Purlins on roof truss

Bolted purlin to the

roof truss

Figure 6: Purlins are bolted to the steel truss

2.3 Tertiary structure

Zinc aluminium roof is the tertiary structure. The roof is fixed to the C section steel purlins.
Find out how the roof is fixed to the purlins?
2.4 Load Path
At the roof level
The load from roof is transferred to the purlins as uniformly distributed load. The purlins
transfer the loads to roof truss as point loads. Then the roof trusses distribute it to the columns
as point loads. The columns finally transfer the loads to foundations where foundations
disperse it to the ground.

At the first or second floor level

The loads from floors are transferred to the beams as uniformly distributed load. The beams
transfer the loads as point loads on columns where columns disperse the load to the ground
via foundation.

2.5 Overall stability

The frames are the primary structural element of the building. The stability of the structure at
first and second floor level is maintained by the floor which connects every frame of the
building. At roof level, the purlins connect all the steel trusses and ensure the stability of the
roof trusses. Further, fixed joint of the truss on columns enhances the stability of the roof
trusses. In addition, the reinforced concrete walls for lift, staircase and service area provides

the overall stability of the structure against any lateral loads applied on the structure (Figure
7).

Reinforced concrete walls for

Lift and service area

Figure 7: Reinforced concrete walls for lift, staircase and service area

3.0 Health and Safety (extracts from Health and Safety Executive, U.K.)
3.1 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
3.1.1 Head protection
On almost all construction sites there are situations where head injuries could happen. The
work should be organised to minimise this risk, for example: preventing objects falling by
using scaffolds with toe boards and, if necessary, brickguards.
But if even after doing this, risks of head injury will normally still remain and you should:

Ensure all workers are provided with, and wear, suitable head protection.

Head protection should:

Be in good condition. If its damaged, throw it away;

Fit the person wearing it and be worn properly;
Not stop you wearing hearing protectors as well (when needed);

Only be a obtained from a reputable supplier there are fake hard hats on the market

3.1.2 Clothing and footwear

Clothing needs to protect against hazards on site. The main reason for protecting the
lower legs is to help guard against cuts, grazes and splinters etc in an environment
where any skin damage can lead to infection. Some trades need to keep skin covered
for other reasons - eg arc welders are exposed to high levels of ultra violet light that
will cause skin damage.
During summer on very bright days it is important to protect against over exposure to
sunlight which can cause skin cancer. Cases of malignant melanoma have increased
dramatically in recent years.
Construction workers are expected to wear protective footwear whilst on site and
doing heavy work. The bones in the foot are quite delicate and easily damaged and
any muscle or tendon damage can prevent normal movement for several months.
Steel toecaps (or equivalent) protect against dropped objects. Midsole protection
(usually a steel plate) protects against puncture or penetration if you tread on a nail. If
you need to enter or work on a construction site your employer will provide a basic
standard of safety footwear.
If a construction site has a high-vis policy then you must follow it. Your employer
will provide the equipment and you do not have to pay for it (so long as you look after
it and make it last a reasonable time).
Hi-vis clothing should be worn in all construction locations where vehicles or plant
are operating. This includes drivers when they leave their vehicle. For routine site use
it is often sufficient for a tabard (sleeveless top) to be worn.

3.1.3 Eye protection

Goggles or another form of approved eye protection must be worn all the time in construction
area.

3.2 Health and Safety Induction

As part of the health and safety induction, an oral induction should be given prior to any site
visit or active involvement in construction process.
1. Health, safety and environmental policy
a. Contractors commitment and general policies related to health, safety and
environmental issues related to the people work at the site as well as the
neighbours.
2. Emergency evacuations and fire
a. Prevention methods and evacuations measures established at the site

3. Welfare of the site and maintenance

a. Site should provide necessary facilities for staff working there. Also it should
be kept clean in a manner appropriate skips used for different types of wastes.
4. Standard site rules or signs
a. Particular to each project, the site should underline the standard rules. In
general four difference colours are used to display the site rules.
i. Red - Prohibitive (Must not do)
ii. Blue - Mandatory (Must do)
iii. Yellow Caution (Hazard warning)
iv. Green - Safe Condition (The Safe Way)
It is important to comply with safety signs
5. Required PPE
a. Required personal protective equipments must be worn all the time at a site.
6. Hazard reporting and person to address problems and questions
a. Everyone should be provided with necessary information about the point of
contact for hazard reporting, and person to be approached for problems and
questions.
7. Health and safety training
a. Safety training should be given to those who commence working at a site.

3.3 Co-operate
Good standards of safety are achieved when everyone on site works together. The three most
positive actions you can take are to:

Follow site rules site health and safety rules are important. You can help by
following site health and safety rules and any directions given by those who manage
the work.
Report and discuss problems report and discuss any health and safety problems
arising from your work so that significant risks can be controlled;
Consultation On notifiable projects you will be able to take part in arrangements
to consult the workforce on health, safety or welfare matters.

3.4 Take care

As a worker or a visitor to a construction site, you can look after your own health and safety
by:

Being competent only do construction work that you are competent to do safely;
and
Removing hazards do not walk past by obvious hazards that can be dealt with
easily. Remove the hazard or tell someone who can.

4.0 New Engineering Building

Fixed joint
Roof truss

Pin Joint

5.0

Second floor
beam

6th floor beam

Front Column

back Column

Inner colum

First floor
beam

Figure 8: Concrete frame of the new engineering building

Find out the primary, secondary, tertiary structures of engineering building shown in Figure
8. Also demonstrate the load path and overall stability of the structure as they were discussed
for hospitality management building.