Strengthening frame structures - Grade 8 technology Structures 2

Frame structures made of rectangles, squares and other parallelograms are not very rigid or stable.

Explain what is happening

Frame structures can be strengthened using triangulation. Triangulation is the addition of members to the
structures to make a network of triangle shapes.

Adding a brace to make the frame structure consist of triangles or a triangular-

shaped member called a gusset makes the frame more stable.

The more triangles that are added, the greater the triangulation the stronger the
structure.

But the more pieces that are added the heavier the structure and the more
costly it will be so there will be an optimum amount of triangulation to meet the
needs of the structure.

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Strengthening frame structures - Grade 8 technology Structures 2
Cross bracing:
When two braces are added across the diagonals of a rectangle or square frame - this is called cross
bracing.

Draw a picture to illustrate this

Label the cross bracing

Pylons: These are tall structures used to support electrical

cables for transport of electricity over distances

Specifications:

● Must be higher than people/animals/vehicles passing

below it.
● Should not be clime-able.
● Should allow the wind to pass through

Designs:

Tubular steel:
● Poles are hollow
● The structure is light and strong and doesn’t take up
much space

Lattice Steel:
● Design can be very tall because of the use of cross-bracing and triangulation to provide
reinforcement

Wood:
● Wood was commonly used in the past but is seldom used now. This is because the pylons were
limited in height and durability. Steel out-lasts wood.

Concrete:
● Good for areas with extreme weather as concrete is very strong

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Strengthening frame structures - Grade 8 technology Structures 2

NAME:________________________________ CLASS:_____ MARK: ______/ 25

Activity: Complete the pylons case study.
Here are some keywords that might help you.
bending, brace, cross brace, electricity, force, foundation, rigid, safe, stable, strong, stretch, tension,
transport, triangulation

1. Look at the image below:

a. What is the name of these structures? ________________ (1)

b. What material are these structures made from? ______________________ (1)
c. What is the main purpose of these structures?
_________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ (2)

2. Look at the figures below

Figure 1 Figure 2
a. The design in Figure 1 has a feature which make it more stable than the design in Figure 2.
Name the feature and explain how this make the structure stable?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________(2)

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Strengthening frame structures - Grade 8 technology Structures 2
3. Look at the diagrams of pylons below

Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6

a. What material do you think the pylons in Figures 4 and 6 are made from?
______________________________ (1)
b. What are the shaded blocks on the pylons below ground level called?
______________________________ (1)
c. Explain the purpose of these blocks.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________ (2)

4. When forces act on a rectangular frame they can make it skew. The force is indicated by red
arrows.

a. What type of force is acting on the frame in the picture? ______________ (1)
b. Measure the length of the diagonals (AC and BD) in both pictures. Describe the effect of the
force on the length of the diagonals.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________ (2)
5. To prevent a from from skewing a support can be inserted to triangulate it.
a. Define triangulation.
_________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ (2)
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Strengthening frame structures - Grade 8 technology Structures 2

A support inserted to triangulate a frame is called a brace.

6. Look at the pictures below showing a brace. Look at the forces applied and what happens to the
brace.

A shearing force is applied to the frame in each case.

a. In Case A what type of force does the brace experience why does the frame stay intact?
_________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ (2)
b. In Case B what type of force does the brace experience why does the frame skew?
_________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ (2)

7. Look at the pictures below.

a. Name the type of triangulation strengthening used.

______________________________________________________________________ (1)
b. Explain why the frame remains rigid in both Case A and in Case B?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ (2)
c. Explain why steel cables or steel bars could be used for the bracing in the design above.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ (3)

[25 Marks]