HO TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

PROJECT BY GROUP One

 Superstructure
• Superstructure is the part of structure above ground level
which is visible easily. 

•  In bridges piers and deck form superstructure. 

• The visible part of dams and water tank are superstructures of

dam and water tank respectively.
• The superstructure covers everything above the substructure,
from walls to floors to roof.

• The purpose of the superstructure is to enclose and divide

space, as well as spread loads safely into the substructure.

• With the superstructure, you will find the primary, secondary

and finishing elements, as well as the services.
 Primary Elements
The primary elements are the supporting, enclose and protecting
elements of the superstructure. They divide space and provide
floor-to-floor access.

The main primary elements are:

• Walls
• Floors
• Roofs
• Stairs.
 Types Of Loads On Superstructure
To get safe structures at the same time without ignoring economy
of the structure, it is necessary to estimate the various loads
acting suitably.
They have grouped various loads as under:
• Dead loads
• Imposed loads
• Wind loads
• Snow loads
• Earthquake loads
• Special loads
 Functions Of Superstructure
• Transfer vertical dead and live loads

• Transfer lateral loading on exterior surfaces of building

• Provide rigidity and limit deflection

• Provide armature for the suspension and support of secondary

structure and other building systems such as the exterior
envelope, mechanical systems, interior partitions etc.
 Functional Requirement of
Superstructure
Workmanship

• All work to be carried out by a technically competent person

in a workmanlike manner.

• Certification is required for any work completed by an

approved installer.
Materials
• All materials should be stored correctly in a manner which
will not cause damage or deterioration of the product. Timber
frame elements should be appropriately covered to keep
components dry.

• All materials, products and building systems shall be

appropriate and suitable for their intended purpose.
Design
• Design and specifications shall provide a clear indication of
the design intent and demonstrate a satisfactory level of
performance, and supported by structural calculations
provided by a suitably qualified expert.

• The materials, design and construction must meet the relevant

Building Regulations and other statutory requirements, British
Standards and Euro-Codes.
 Structural Wall / Load-bearing Wall
A load-bearing wall or bearing wall is a wall that is an
active structural element of a building, which holds the weight of
the elements above it, by conducting its weight to
a foundation structure below it.

OR

A wall which is constructed to support the above slab or other

building elements in a structure is called a load-bearing wall.
 Main Features
Followings are the main features of load-bearing walls:
• It is a structural element.

• It carries the weight of a house from the roof and upper floors.

• Load bearing walls transfer loads all the way to

the foundation or other suitable frame members. 

• It can support structural members like beams (sturdy pieces of

wood or metal), slab and walls on above floors above. 
• A wall directly above the beam is called a load bearing wall if
it is designed to carry the vertical load. 

• Load bearing walls also carry their own weight.

• This wall is typically over one another on each floor. 

• Load bearing walls can be used as an interior or exterior wall. 

• This kind of wall will often be perpendicular to floor joists or

ridge. 

• Concrete is an ideal material to support these loads.

 Types of Load Bearing Walls
• Precast Concrete Wall:
This wall is aesthetically
pleasing. The precast wall
has superior strength and
known for its durability. It
provides excellent
protection and is easy to
install.
• Retaining Wall:
It provides lateral support. Installing a retaining wall has many
environmental benefits like reducing erosion and protecting
areas from being saturated. It is also known as revetment or
breast wall. 
• Masonry Wall:
Masonry is the most
durable part of any
structure. It allows for
unlimited architectural
expressions. They provide
strength durability. Masonry
wall also helps to control
the temperature in indoor
and out. Also, it increases
the fire resistance. Lateral
stiffness of the masonry
wall is very low.
• Engineering Brick
Wall:
It uses double open-
ended bond beam
blocks. It is built using a
mold. Block wall is
replaced horizontally. 
• Stone Wall:
It is treated as a stone structure. It is kind of masonry
construction. This wall provides structure to a building and
encloses an area.
 Non-Structural Wall
Non structural walls or Non-load bearing walls only carry their
own weight and does not support any structural members such as
beams and slabs. These walls are just used as partition walls or to
separate rooms from outside. It is known as interior wall (doesn't
carry other load than its own load.
OR

A wall which doesn’t help the structure to stand up and holds up

only itself is known as a non-load bearing wall. This wall is also
referred to as “curtain wall”.
 Main Features
Followings are the main features of non-load bearing walls:

• A non-load bearing wall doesn’t support floor roof loads

above.

• It is not a part of the structural frame system. 

• Most of the time, they are interior walls whose purpose is to

divide the floor into rooms. 

• They are built lighter to reduce the dead load of the structure. 
• One can remove any non-load bearing walls without
endangering the safety of the building. 

• Non-load bearing walls can be identified by the joists and

rafters. 

• They are not responsible for gravitational support for the

property. It is cost effective.
Types of Non-Load Bearing Walls
• Hollow Concrete Block
The walls of the concrete building are made hollow. It has the
advantage of great strength. It gives stability without any waste
of material.
• Facade Bricks
It is solid, durable and practically maintenance free. Colors do
not lose their radiance in this brick. Facade bricks are ecological
and sustainable. 
• Hollow Bricks
They are green living. They can reduce the use of heating and
cooling devices. They are strong and better used. Hollow bricks
are cost effective. 
• Brick Walls
It is an immovable block or wall made of brick. Brick walls are
easy to install.
 Factors Affecting the Stability &
Instability of Wall
• Foundation
The primary factor that affects the stability of wall is foundation
settlement.
Improper drainage or foundational errors during construction
might not provide appropriate support to the structure, causing
the wall above to tilt or shrink. This will eventually result in
structural failure of the wall.

Such problems can be solved by excavating or pushing the wall

to stand upright, provided the wall has little or no cracks.
• Cracks
Cracks are probably the most common concern among
homeowners regarding stability of a wall’s structure.
Other than improper drainage and foundational errors, premature
evaporation of water trapped inside the wall can cause the
concrete to dry up and crack.

While hairline cracks can be filled using expandable masonry

caulk, one should hire contractors in case the cracks are large
enough to cause the wall to collapse.
• Improper Reinforcement
An essential aspect of constructing a concrete wall is proper
reinforcement by installing rebar (or reinforcement bars) inside
the walls.
These bars provide strength as improper reinforcement will cause
the structure to separate at the corners.

This can be prevented by hiring contractors who will ensure

proper execution of every step of the construction process, from
initial design to installation