studio journal week 1
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CONSTRUCTING ENVIRONMENTS:
STUDIO JOURNAL WEEK 1
S T U D E N T N O . 6 3 6 6 6 5
S E M E S T E R 2 2 0 1 3
B Y S E G U J J A K A K E M B O
ACTIVITY TASK: TOWER CONSTRUCTION
The tower construction task in this week’s tutorial
provoked us to generate a ‘construction system’ and
design ideas while abiding by the guidelines of the
brief and its requirements.
Wood block tower
(2011)
BREAKDOWN OF OUR GROUP ‘CONSTRUCTION
SYSTEM’ EMPLOYED
First created a solid outer structure, the three walls of the tower, using a brick
laying method of building the blocks.
BREAKDOWN OF OUR GROUP ‘CONSTRUCTION
SYSTEM’ EMPLOYED
The structure of the roof was achieved through ‘trial and error’ until we
settled upon using two rubber bands to hold 6-8 blocks per beam.
The rubber bands were essential in the making of the roof as they allowed
the blocks to be suspended over the walls preventing collapse.
BREAKDOWN OF OUR GROUP ‘CONSTRUCTION
SYSTEM’ EMPLOYED
We continued to extend the
tower over the roof
(continuing the previous
walls) which technically
transformed the roof into a
floor.
Continuation of wall on
top of roof
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TWO WALL STRUCTURE
The roof was now situated between two walls on opposing ends
epitomising the concept of compression.
This was the most fundamental component of our structural design as we
had fulfilled the aim of the task by directly applying compression to the
roof from opposite ends providing reinforcement. This is called uniaxial
compression.
The roof is situated
between the two
directly opposed walls.
Observation: Two
directly opposed walls
apply compression to
the roof stabilising and
allowing it to support
weight (water bottle).
The red arrows display
that this is uniaxial
compression.
ALL GROUPS TOWERS
It is apparent these structures did
not involve uniaxial compression, in
terms of the roof, as the roofs of
each tower are placed upon the
walls with no continuation of mass
on top.
EFFICIENCY OF MATERIAL
The blocks although seemingly unstable worked efficiently in supporting
direct weight when constructed in a stable tower like form.
However distributed weight implied would most probably have led to the
collapse of many of the groups towers.
Without the rubber bands the roofs would not have been able to be
constructed which can be a constriction as it leaves very little room for
design alternatives.
NOTE ON THE ROOF STRUCTURE
Although our roof served quite efficiently under directly applied weight
(due to uniaxial compression from the walls) it could have been
strengthened by the use of more rubber bands forming a raft like
structure, similar to the roof below (of one of the groups towers).
Multiple rubber bands help support
a raft like solid structure.
WHAT IS DEFORMATION?
Defined as “The act or process of deforming” (2013) under the dictionary which does not give us much of an idea of what it is.
However its definition under the label of Physics is “An alteration of shape, as by pressure or stress” (2013).
This second definition can be expanded upon in the field of construction as it mentions and directly labels the structures involved in deformation.
Uniaxial compression tests use the measurement of deformation of the specimens in order to test compressive strength (2013).
Hence compression and deformation are closely related aspects.
REFERENCES
Farlex 2013, The Free Dictionary, Pennsylvania viewed 5 August 2013,
<http://www.thefreedictionary.com/deformation>
O Sokalska, Dreamtime, Ukraine viewed 7 August 2013,
<http://www.dreamstime.com/anele77_info>
SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden 2013, SP Technical Research
Institute of Sweden, Sweden viewed 7 August 2013,
<http://www.lib.unimelb.edu.au/recite/citations/harvard/ref241-
elecSourceWebsite.html?style=2&type=4&detail=1>
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