English: Architecture & Civil Engineers -Structural Elements- Lecturer: A.

Kada

I.1 Structural elements

Vertical members
wall a vertical panel
pillar another word for column; usually applied for square or rectangular columns,
which are integrated in walls
column vertical member supporting a roof or beam; in Greek temples, there is a
differentiation between e.g. Doric and Corinthian ones
post a slender light column, sometimes a member in framing
stanchion a vertical supporting member made of steel

Horizontal members
slab a horizontal panel
beam a horizontal bar
truss a structure comprising several members in triangular units to span great
distances; top and bottom boom are not parallel
girder a structure comprising several members in triangular units to span great
distances; top and bottom boom are parallel
joist a horizontal supporting member that runs from wall to wall, or beam to
beam; typically it is smaller than a beam and usually made of steel
lintel a horizontal beam usually supporting the masonry above a window or door
cantilever a beam only supported on one end; it allows for overhanging structures
without external bracing

I-2 Connections
All structural members forming a rigid construction have to be connected in one way or
another. Depending on the method used, it is either referred to as a bond for glued connections,
a junction or joint for either metal or timber or sometimes even a link.
In steel construction, there are 3 main connection methods, namely riveting, bolting and
welding. For riveting, which is the least common nowadays, a rivet is hammered into aligned
holes. When bolting two members, a bolt is pushed through the aligned holes and a nut is
threaded on and tightened with a spanner.
Many joints, especially those made in shop, are welded. Welding joins metals by melting and
fusing. There are two basic types, the butt weld, which is employed to join parallel members,
such as pipes, and the fillet weld, which is used to connect a vertical to a horizontal member.
Splice and gusset plates are used to connect timber as well as steel. More traditionally
carpentry connections are applied in timber construction. The most frequently used are the
tongue and groove connection for fitting boards in one plane, especially in flooring and
panelling. Mortise and tenon is a method used to connect two timber members at an angle
close to 90°. The mortise is the cavity cut into a timber to receive the tenon.