REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPPINES

PALAWAN STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

STRUCTURAL CONCEPT
SUBJECT: DESIGN 7

By: Carl James Taneo

Submitted to:
Ar. Arnel G. Timbancaya

Date Submitted:
Sep. 27, 2020
 DEFINITON
The understanding of structural concepts is a key objective in the teaching and learning of
civil and structural engineering. Today many hand calculations are replaced by the use of
computers, but the understanding of structural concepts, which often come with hand
calculations, cannot be replaced by computers. Structural concepts are abstract as they cannot
be seen and touched directly and many students experience difficulties in understanding such
concepts. If structural concepts could be made more observable and touchable, students
would be better able to understand them and would be more attentive in class learning
situations.
Concept design is the first design stage. Feasibility studies and options appraisals that
the consultant team or independent client advisers may have previously carried out do not
involve 'design' as such. They are preliminary studies whose purpose is to establish whether
the project is viable, to assist in the development of the project brief and to aid the
identification of feasible options.
 The preferred option is then be developed into a concept design which is a response to
the project brief. The project brief will continue to develop as the concept design is prepared,
but is then frozen at the end of the concept design stage and change control procedures are
introduced.

Concept design proposals from the structural engineer might include:

 Preferred foundation design.
 Frame system.
 Structural grid with column sizes.
 Primary and secondary beam sizes and spans.
 Schedules of floor loadings catering for dead and live loads.
 Special loads.
 Horizontal and vertical expansion joints.
 Major openings in floors and structural walls.
 Wind bracing elements.
 Typical edge details.
 Fire protection to the structure.

Concept design is followed by 'detailed structural design' (sometimes called 'design

development' or 'developed design') during which the design develops to describe all the
main components of the building and how they fit together.
 OBJECTIVE

The objective of architectural design is to create en effective environmental whole, a total

system of interacting environmental subsystem. Since the architectural challenge is to deal in
a coherent way, with organizational, symbolic, and constructive complexity, fragmentation of
technical knowledge does not contribute to a creative response by designers. This leads to an
educational conclusion that the learner must never be allowed to forget that his ability to
conceptualize overall space-form interactions will allow him to control the need for details,
and not vice versa. It also suggests that a common educational strategy for students of both
engineering and architecture would be to move deductively; from an. introduction to
structures that consider. the schematic implications of buildings viewed as space-form

PROCESS

The process of structural design is simple in concept but complex in detail. It involves the
analysis of a proposed structure to show that its resistance or strength will meet or exceed a
reasonable expectation. This expectation is usually expressed by a specified load or demand
and an acceptable margin of safety that constitutes a performance goal for a structure. The
performance goals of structural design are multifaceted. Foremost, a structure must perform
its intended function safely over its useful life. Safety is discussed later in this chapter. The
concept of useful life implies considerations of durability and establishes the basis for
considering the cumulative exposure to time-varying risks (i.e., corrosive environments,
occupant loads, snow loads, wind loads, and seismic loads). Given, however, that
performance is inextricably linked to cost, owners, builders, and designers must consider
economic limits to the primary goals of safety and durability.

3 PHASES
A structural design project may be divided into three phases, i.e. planning, design and
construction.

PLANNING
Planning: This phase involves consideration of the various requirements and factors
affecting the general layout and dimensions of the structure and results in the choice of one or
perhaps several alternative types of structure, which offer the best general solution. The
primary consideration is the function of the structure. Secondary considerations such as
aesthetics, sociology, law, economics and the environment may also be taken into account. In
addition there are structural and constructional requirements and limitations, which may
affect the type of structure to be designed.

DESIGN
 Design: This phase involves a detailed consideration of the alternative solutions
defined in the planning phase and results in the determination of the most suitable
proportions, dimensions and details of the structural elements and connections for
constructing each alternative structural arrangement being considered.

Image from Fakultat fur Architektur

Asymptomatic Gridshell by Eike Schling

CONSTRUCTION
Constru ction: This phase involves mobilization of personnel; procurement of
materials and equipment, including their transportation to the site, and actual on-site erection.
During this phase, some redesign may be required if unforeseen difficulties occur, such as
unavailability of specified materials or foundation problems.

STRUCTURE AND OTHER SUBSYTEMS

There are other important reasons for suggesting that structural thinking should be
introduced at the very earliest stages of the design process. These derive from the need to
provide buildings with mechanical and other environmental service subsystems that support
horizontal and vertical movement of men and materials as well as provide for heating,
ventilation, air-conditioning, power, water, and waste disposal in addition, provision for
acoustical and lighting needs is often influenced by structural design

Vertical movement of objects through a building requires rather large shafts, and overall
thinking can result in the use of these service components as major structural .

The requirements for provisions of heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, power, water, and
waste services can be visualized In the form of a Tree diagram. These services usually origin
lite at a centralized location and must trace their way horizontally and vertically throughout
the structure in order to serve the activity spaces. Large trunk chase spaces must be. required,
and their structural implications should be considered early in the design process.

SAMPLE
 Rough Study Model and Final Project of a “Twisted Ladder” structural concept.

ARTIFICIAL LIGHT AND STRUCTURE INTERACT AT SUBSYSTEM LEVEL

SUMMARY
In summary, the goals of structural design are generally defined by law and reflect
the collective interpretation of general public welfare by those involved in the development
and local adoption of building codes. The designer's role is to meet the goals of structural
design as efficiently as possible and to satisfy a client’s objectives within the intent of the
building code. Designers must bring to bear the fullest extent of their abilities, including
creativity, knowledge, experience, judgment, ethics, and communication–aspects of design
that are within the control of the individual designer and integral to a comprehensive
approach to design. Structural design is much, much more than simply crunching numbers.
 REFERENCES
Concept structural design of buildings. (2020). Designing Buildings Wiki.

https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concept_structural_design_of_buildings

Structural Design Concepts | Dante Engineering. (2020). Dante Structural Engineering.

https://www.danteengineering.com/blog/structural-design-concepts

Architectural Structural Topics. (1996). George Salva, Jose Buhangin. PDF