UNIVERSITY OF BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY

COLLEGE of ENGINEERING
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

ARCH 251:

ARCHITECTURAL
STRUCTURE
SYSTEMS 2
Lecture 2:
Post and Beam
Structure Systems

Dr. Ahmed Waseef

Ahmad.waseef@ubt.edu.sa
ADM 222 – C3

Lecture 3 Architectural Structure Systems 2 ARCH 252

Lecture 3: Post and Beam Structures

Content of the lecture:

1) Load paths and distribution.

2) Column and Beam Structures.

3) Beams depth Simple Calculations.

4) Columns cross sections simple calculations.

Lecture 3 Architectural Structure Systems 2 ARCH 252

Lecture 3: Post and Beam Structures

For Roofs:

For Floors and Roofs:

For Roofs:

Lecture 3 Architectural Structure Systems 2 ARCH 252

Lecture 3: Post and Beam Structures

Post and Beam structures

 Most architectural structures are the post-and-beam type.

 P&B buildings carry the weight of the structure by bearing one another

 The weight of the floor/roof and beams is carried by the posts down to the foundations
and then into the ground

 Horizontal beams are subjected to bending loads, therefore the structural material
should be able of resisting both tension and compression

 We can subdivide the P&B structures

into :

Lecture 3 Architectural Structure Systems 2 ARCH 252

Lecture 3: Post and Beam Structures

Post and Beam structures: Skeleton Frame

Lecture 3 Architectural Structure Systems 2 ARCH 252

Lecture 3: Post and Beam Structures

5) Load distribution in floor systems (Slabs & Beams)

Lecture 3 Architectural Structure Systems 2 ARCH 252

Lecture 3: Post and Beam Structures

5) Load distribution in floor systems (Slabs & Beams)

Slab

Slab
Slab One-way Slab
Slab
One-way Slab
L
   2
Beam / Joist

Beam / Joist

Beam / Joist

Beam / Joist
L S

Girder

Lecture 3 Architectural Structure Systems 2 ARCH 252

Lecture 3: Post and Beam Structures

5) Load distribution in floor systems (Slabs & Beams)

Slab

Slab
One-way Slab
L
L    2
S

Girder

Lecture 3 Architectural Structure Systems 2 ARCH 252

Lecture 3: Post and Beam Structures

5) Load distribution in floor systems (Slabs & Beams)

One-way Slab
L
L    2
S

Lecture 3 Architectural Structure Systems 2 ARCH 252

Lecture 3: Post and Beam Structures

5) Load distribution in floor systems (Slabs & Beams)

Slab Beam

Slab
Slab
Two-way Slab
L  2
   2
Beam

Beam
L S

Beam

Lecture 3 Architectural Structure Systems 2 ARCH 253

Lecture 3: Post and Beam Structures

5) Load distribution in floor systems (Slabs & Beams)

Two-way Slab
L
L    2
S

Lecture 3 Architectural Structure Systems 2 ARCH 252

Lecture 3: Post and Beam Structures

5) Load distribution in floor systems (Slabs & Beams)

Two-way Slab
L
L    2
S

Lecture 3 Architectural Structure Systems 2 ARCH 252

Lecture 3: Post and Beam Structures

Column and Beam Structures (solid Slab)

 Span of a beam in residential buildings is

typically less than 6.0 m.
 Height/depth of a beam’s cross-section is
approximately span/12.
 Thickness of a one-way RC slab is
approximately span/(16 → 20).
30 cm
 Thickness of a cantilever RC slab is
approximately span/(8 → 10). 3:6m

 Thickness of a two-way RC slab is 10:12 cm

approximately (long span/36).

 Column cross-sectional area is not less
than 30 cm.
Lecture 3 Architectural Structure Systems 2 ARCH 252
Lecture 3: Post and Beam Structures

Load Bearing Versus Post and Beam

 Determine which is Load Bearing structure and which is Post and Beam.

Lecture 3 Architectural Structure Systems 2 ARCH 252

Lecture 3: Post and Beam Structures

Load Bearing Versus Post and Beam

 Determine which is Load Bearing structure and which is Post and Beam.

Lecture 3 Architectural Structure Systems 2 ARCH 252

Lecture 3: Post and Beam Structures

6) Guideline for Selection of a Framing Plan

 Span of a beam in residential buildings is typically less than 6.0 m.

 Height/depth of a beam’s cross-section is approximately span/12
 Thickness of a one-way RC slab is approximately span/(16 → 20)
 Thickness of a cantilever RC slab is approximately span/(8 → 10)
 Thickness of a two-way RC slab is approximately (long span/36)
 Columns are typically hidden (or partially hidden) in the intersection/corner of a group of
walls.
 Column cross-sectional area is approximated by 0.003*(sum of floor areas carried by the
column) with minimum dimension not less that 300-mm or (free height/15) where free
height is the clear height between slabs supported by the column.
 Brick walls are typically carried on underlying beams (not on slabs)

Lecture 3 Architectural Structure Systems 2 ARCH 252

Lecture 3: Post and Beam Structures

Guideline for Selection of a Framing Plan

 Top of slabs for bathrooms (and sometimes the kitchens) are 10 cm lower in level than
the top of the floor slab. This is to allow for the installation of the floor drains and their
associated pipes.

Lecture 3 Architectural Structure Systems 2 ARCH 252

UNIVERSITY OF BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY
COLLEGE of ENGINEERING
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURE
SYSTEMS 2

Thank You

Lecture 3 Architectural Structure Systems 2 ARCH 252