Assignment 02.

1) Select a two storey building and identify different structural elements, their layout
and connection with each other. Provide clear sketches to illustrate.

Selected building : Littlemore house

Location : Woollahra, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Architect : Glenn Murcutt
Building typology : 2 storey residential house
Completed : 1986

Structures Rochelle Fernando Part 1 year 2 2022

 The structural elements identified are as follows;

Roof elements
Structural steel beams
Masonry walls
Concrete slabs
Steel frame
Steel columns
Foundation

Structures Rochelle Fernando Part 1 year 2 2022

 Concrete - Masonry Foundation

walls (center) come under
shallow foundations. Since the
wall is placed centrally atop the
concrete base the load is
distributed evenly

Concrete - brick masonry

Foundation walls (eccentric)
comes under shallow
foundations. Eccentric footings
are places at the site
boundaries.

Flat concrete slabs have no

beams. The steel column has
been connected to the at
slab by welding it to a base
plate and anchoring. the base
plate to the concrete slab
through anchor bolts.

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 Ribbed concrete slab area
usually for long spans in one
direction. The formwork
required is dif cult to
construct but materially it is
ef cient as unwanted
concrete has been removed.

Load bearing brick masonry

cavity walls with ties is a wall
type that consists of 2 leaves
with an air gap in between.
The two leaves can be
connected together using
ties. This results in a stiffer
walls

‘H’ section structural steel

columns are considered
universal columns. Hot rolled
sectioned have been used for
this project.

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 Structural Steel frame bears
the load of the glass and
louvred facade in the
northern elevation of the
building.

Structural ‘I’ section steel

beams are considered
universal beams. The shape
of the UB makes it ideal for
beams or supporting weight
laterally.

Custom red orb corrugated

roo ng sheet. Roo ng sheets
are generally much thinner
and lighter than other types
of roo ng structures.
Therefore the dead load of
the roof is minimised. But
insulation is required.

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2) Discuss the following in relation to the selected building.
i. How structural stability of the building is ensured.

A structure is subjected to primary loads which it is intended to carry and the sequence of loading to the
various supporting members is calculated top down from the roof to the foundations. Thus, a building’s
roof would be designed first, followed by the supporting beams, columns and then the foundations.

To ensure the structural stability of the building the strength of the structural elements must be greater
than the dead, live and lateral loads acting on it. This is to ensure a sufficient margin of error that
accounts for any uncertainty in the calculations or construction phase.

Partial safety factors are brought in to account for any uncertainty and the factors vary depending n the
type of load and material. For example dead loads (1.4) are given a lower partial factor of safety when
compared to live loads (1.6) as the uncertainty is much higher in imposed loads since its variable. When
it comes to materials steel (1.15) has a lower factor of safety in comparison to concrete (1.5) as it is more
quality controlled and is not subject to human error unlike concrete which is usually mixed on site.

Serviceability factors must also be accounted for such as minimising vibration, deflections and cracking.
Even though some elements might be capable of withstanding the loads (ULS - ultimate limit state) they
might still seem unsafe and therefore unappealing for occupants if there are excessive vibration,
deflection or cracking. Therefore a serviceability limit state has also been introduced.

Structures Rochelle Fernando Part 1 year 2 2022

 ii. Different types of loads acting on the building.

Dead load - permanent load

Live load - imposed by occupancy
Wind load - kinetic energy of wind
Snow load - weight of snow on roof

Structures Rochelle Fernando Part 1 year 2 2022

 iii. Load effects on different structural elements. Concrete - Masonry Foundation

walls (center). The load acting
on the foundation walls result in
compressive forces formulating
on the top of the concrete base
while tensile forces formulate at
the bottom thus steel
reinforcements have been
added. While both bending
and line shear are present there
is no punching shear. It
transfers loads of a structure to
the ground.

Flat concrete slab that is 1 way

spanning as supported only on
two edges. The load acting on
the beam results in
compressive stresses forming
on the top and tensile stresses
forming on the bottom. Steel
reinforcements have been
introduced to carry the tensile
load. It is likely to experience
punching shear unless
necessary precautions have
been taken.

Ribbed concrete slabs are

also one way spanning
parallel to ribs. Usually these
forms are used for long spans
in one direction its
structurally more ef cient. For
slabs the bending moments
and shear forces are in both
directions.

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 Load bearing brick masonry

cavity walls with ties.
Structurally it acts as one wall.
It is slender and therefore
liable to buckling before it
reaches its full compressive
strength. Walls are vertical
structural elements that
transfer loads from beams
and slabs to the foundation.
External walls must also resist
lateral wind loads.

‘H’ section structural steel

columns are materially
ef cient. Columns are vertical
structural elements that
transfer loads from beams
and slabs to the foundation.
Transfer of Column Loads can
be Axial, Mono Axial Bending
or Bi- Axial Bending.
Columns are subjected t both
compressive loaded and
bending moments.

Structural ‘I’ section steel

beams. Beams are horizontal
structural members that
transfer loads from horizontal
planes such as slabs, to
vertical structural elements
such as columns or load
bearing walls. It is also
subject to lateral torsional
buckling and therefore could
potentially fail before
reaching its maximum
bending strength.

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iv. Suitability of different materials used for the structural elements.

Reinforced Concrete - brick masonry foundation walls

Both brick and concrete are good in compression and are ideal for foundations. Additionally concrete is
a non combustible and weather resistant. It can be further strengthened by adding steel reinforcements
that bear the tensile load. The maintenance cost is also very low.

Brick masonry cavity walls with ties

Cavity walls are more thermally an acoustically insulating than single leaf walls out of the same material.
This is sure to the air gap present between the walls. Nevertheless the cavity wall acts as a single wall
structurally. To further increase its insulating properties the air cavity can be filled with an insulating
material. Moreover reinforcements can be placed inside and then concreted this results in a reinforced
masonry wall.

Steel frames, columns and beams

Steel is anisotropic material thus its strength properties remain the same no matter the direction. Steel is
also factory manufactured and therefore has less defects and variations unlike materials like timber and
even concrete that is mixed on site and has a higher chance of variation due to human error. Steel is also
recyclable. It is good in both tension and compression.

Custom red orb corrugated roofing sheet.

Metal Roofing sheets are generally much thinner and lighter than other types of roofing structures.
Therefore the dead load of the roof is minimised. But insulation is required. The roof angle is also less
when roofing sheets are being utilised.

Timber staircase and flooring

Timber is a Naturally available Renewable material. Structurally it has a high strength to weight ratio. It is
Environmentally favourable and has inherent Fire resistant. It is attractive and easy to work with. Since it
is a natural material it also comes with certain growth defects that can potentially compromise its
strength properties.

Structures Rochelle Fernando Part 1 year 2 2022

 v. Load path/paths through the structure. Dead loads

Live loads
Wind loads
Snow loads
Reaction from ground
Transmission of loads

Structures Rochelle Fernando Part 1 year 2 2022