78300 - Construction Techniques

Learning outcomes

The course is aimed at giving to the student the fondamentale notions for the design of structural suystems capable of guaranteeing the safety and stability of building construction.

Direct and indirect loads, boundary conditions, models, identification of probability of collapse. 

Criteria for design and construction, norms, codes. 

Tools to develop  final design for steel and concrete buildings.

Course contents

 1. Introduction to the course

Structures and buildings.

2 Probabilistic approach to structural design

Design of safe structures: goals and limits of the available tools

Basic concepts or probability applied to engineering (axioms, conditional probability, total probability theorem, random variables, gaussian and normal distribution, examples).

Notion of structural reliability.

Loads on structures: types, characteristics, intrinsic uncertainties.

Common construction materials (concrete, steel, wood, aluminum ..): characteristics, peculiarities and resistance.

Norms and codes.

3 Structural behavior (theory of structures)

Classical resolution of hyperstatic structures: method of forces and method of displacement (review of the principle of virtual work).

Structures with nodes that move horizontally.

Structures with nodes that rotate.

Structures with node that rotate and move horizontally.

The inessentiality of selected internal actions.

4. Reinforced concrete structures

Properties of the material and of the structures

behavior under axial load (both linear elastic and ultimate)

behavior under bending (both linear elastic and ultimate)

behavior under shear (both linear elastic and ultimate)

behavior under multiple actions (both linear elastic and ultimate).

Moment curvature curve.

5. Structural Elements

conceptual design

frame and wall load bearing systems

foundations

beam on elastic foundation

 

6. Basic notions of a-seismic engineering.

Vertical and horizontal actions

behavior of structures under horizontal loads

estimation of seismic actions (code like formulas)

Readings/Bibliography

Pozzati Ceccoli: Teoria e Tecnica delle Strutture, UTET. Vol I, II, III.

D.M. 14.01.2008

DM. 17.01.2018

Shodek: Strutture.

Teaching methods

Oral classes (both in presence and on line)

Completion and presentation of the design project

Assessment methods

The final grade will be given at the end of the course based upon an oral exam aimed at assessing the overall comprehension of the student of the course topic in Design of Structures.

The pass of the exam is guaranteed to the students that will show a sufficient capabilty of mastering the information given in class and in particular in using formulas, concepts and quantities necessary to complete a structural design of a building structure.

A higher grade will be given to the studdents that will show to use with confidence the concepts given in class solving complex problems and showing a good operative capability.

the exam typically will encompass:

1) the solution of an exercise

2) open questions regarding the behavior of structure in reinforced concrete and or steel (also discussed in the preparation of the project)

3) open questions regarding theoretical aspects (such as probabilistic approach to structural engineering, seismic design approach, beam on elastic foundation, instability of compressed elements, moment curvature diagrams...)

Fail can be related to insufficient knowledge of key concepts, lack of technical language and / or insufficient operative capabilities.

Teaching tools

Oral classes.

Studio with supervised control of the work.

power point presentations.

Office hours

See the website of Tomaso Trombetti

See the website of Giada Gasparini