Building Technology Systems: Structures and Envelopes

3-2-4 units · Graduate

Addresses advanced structures, exterior envelopes, and contemporary production technologies. Continues the exploration of structural elements and systems, expanding to include more complex determinate, indeterminate, long-span, and high-rise systems. Topics include reinforced concrete, steel and engineered-wood design, and an introduction to tensile systems. The contemporary exterior envelope is discussed with an emphasis on the classification of systems, performance attributes, and analysis techniques, material specifications and novel construction technologies.

Fall 2004 · Building Technology III: Building Structural Systems

Topics

Phase 1: Skin and Bones: Evolution and Innovation
Phase 1: Skin and Bones: Evolution and Innovation (cont.)
Phase 2: Metals
Phase 2: Metals (cont.)
Phase 3: Ceramics
Phase 3: Ceramics (cont.)
Phase 4: Polymers
Phase 4: Polymers (cont.)
Phase 4 :Polymers (cont.)
Phase 5: Composites
Final Lecture

Readings

MacGregor, J. G. Reinforced Concrete, Mechanics and Design . Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 1997. ISBN: 0132339749.
Recommended
Salmon, C. G., and J. E. Johnson. Steel Structures . New York: Harper Collins College Publishers, 1997. ISBN: 0673997863.
Recommended
Faherty, K. F., and T. G. Williamson. Wood Engineering and Construction Handbook . New York: McGraw-Hill, 1998. ISBN: 0070220700.
Recommended
Allen, E. Fundamentals of Building Construction: Materials and Methods . Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2004. ISBN: 0471219037.
Recommended
WEEK #: 1 · TOPICS: Skin and Bones: Evolution and Innovation · Readings: Bradshaw, Richard, David Campbell, Mousa Gargari, Amir Mirmiran, and Patrick Tripeny. “Special Structures: Past, Present, and Future.” Journal of Structural Engineering (June 2002): 691-709. Roe, Jose M., and James T. P. Yao. “State of the Art of Structural Engineering.” Journal of Structural Engineering . (August 2002): 965-975. Edwards, K. L. “Technology Transfer in Engineering Design: A Materials Joining Consideration.” Materials & Design 18, no. 3 (1997): 21-126. Lstiburek, Joseph. “Air Pressure and Building Envelopes.” Building Science Corporation, Westford, MA. ( PDF ) ↗
Reading assignment
WEEK #: 2 · TOPICS: Skin and Bones: Evolution and Innovation (cont.) · Readings: Ruth, Matthias, and Paolo Dell’ Anno. “An Industrial Ecology of the US Glass Industry.” Resources Policy 23 (1997): 109-124. Fisher-Cripps, Anthony C., and Richard E. Collins. “Architectural Glazings: Design Standards and Failure Models.” Building and Environment 30, no. 1 (1995): 29-40. Walker, John R. “A Cladding Designers Perspective on the Use of Safety Glass in Curtainwall.” Glass Processing Days (2003): 205-206. Pilkington - First in Glass (Click on “Pilkington and the Flat Glass Industry 2004” under “Downloads”.) ↗
Reading assignment
WEEK #: 3 · TOPICS: Metals · Readings: Degischer, H. P. “Innovative Light Metals: Metal Matrix Composites And Foamed Aluminium.” Materials and Design 18, nos. 4-6 (1997): 221-226. BASF Group - Strong Sandwich at Sea
Reading assignment
WEEK #: 4 · TOPICS: Metals (cont.) · Readings: Kawai, Jun. “Development of Environmentally-Conscious Steel Products at the Nippon Steel Corporation.” Materials and Design 22 (2001): 111-122. Innovations Forum. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering . (November 1998): 203-207.
Reading assignment

Fall 2002 · Building Technologies III: Building Structural Systems II

Topics

Introduction: Structure and Form
Structural Forms in Masonry: Structures HW #1 Assigned
Structural Forms in Timber
Lab: Statics
Structural Forms in Concrete
Structural Forms in Steel: Structures HW #2 Assigned (Structures HW #1 Due)
Graphic Statics I
Graphic Statics II
Envelopes I
Envelopes II: Envelope HW Assigned
Panel Discussion: Advances in Building Technology (Structures HW #2 Due)
Lab: Envelopes
Envelopes III
Envelopes IV
Structural systems: Structures HW #3 Assigned (Envelope HW Due)
Lab
Indeterminate Structures I
Indeterminate Structures II
Studio Visits: Final proposals
Connections (Structures HW #3 Due)
Construction Processes I
Construction Processes II: Processes HW Assigned
Monday schedule: Construction Processes III
Construction Processes IV
Integration
Integration (Processes HW Due)
Final Project Presentations

Readings

Daniels, K. Low Tech, Light Tech, High Tech: Building in the Information Age. Birkhauser, 2000.
Required
Schodek, D.L. Structures. 4th ed. Prentice-Hall, 2000.
Required
“Allowable Stress Design.” AISC Manual of Steel Construction.
Recommended

Prerequisites & course information

Prereq: 4.440[J] , 4.462 , or permission of instructor G (Fall) 3-2-4 units

Sources

Course catalogue ↗2026–2027
MIT OpenCourseWare ↗Fall 2004
MIT OCW calendar ↗
MIT OCW readings ↗
MIT OCW syllabus ↗
MIT OpenCourseWare ↗Fall 2002
MIT OCW calendar ↗
MIT OCW syllabus ↗
MIT OCW readings ↗
Historical MIT OpenCourseWare offering. Named reading entries and schedule topics are automatically extracted from the linked source pages.
Historical MIT OpenCourseWare offering. Named reading entries and schedule topics are automatically extracted from the linked source pages.