Featured articles
3 ways the world’s fastest growing economies can close the infrastructure gap.
What is phenomenology and how does it relate to the built environment?
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Clean indoor air for healthy living
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Have a look at some of the most impressive concert stage designs of all time, including Pink Floyd, U2, Rolling Stones, and more...
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IHBC book review: Charles Barry’s monumental struggle to rebuild the Houses of Parliament.
Read our introductory article to building a house extension.
Infrastructure and the historic environment
IHBC article considers how heritage is dealt with when infrastructure schemes are authorised.
It was the tallest structure in the world for 3,800 years, but to this day the exact construction techniques are a mystery.
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In 1900, 15% of global population lived in cities. Now it’s over 50%. Which is why we need ‘hydroinformatics’ to consume smarter.
An introductory article to the techniques and methods of basement excavation.
IHBC book review. Garden city influences on the development of Scottish working class housing.
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An introductory article to the practice and techniques involved in manual drafting.
Our review of three new architecture maps of Paris, Sydney and Belgrade.
The Secret Life of the Georgian Garden
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Have a read of this article exploring the future of the built environment in a revolutionary age.
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The risk of asbestos on brownfield sites.
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Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)
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News
Two new lettings completed at 12 Hammersmith Grove.
The sooner early warning notices can be appreciated as of mutual benefit rather than one-sided advantage, the better.
BSRIA responds to government green storage announcement.
Last chance to submit for IHBC Student Award 2018: Up to £5000 to be won!
Sydney's Sirius building saved from demolition described as 'triumph for brutalism'.
World Architecture News, 26 July
Google moves into housing in Silicon Valley.
Construction Enquirer, 26 July
Specialist contractors warn construction is 'heading for disaster'.
Smart building market could exceed $22bn by 2026.
Government announces leaseholds on new-build houses will be banned.
Transport Secretary announces public consultation into London's funding of Crossrail 2.
Report finds that better workplace design could add £20bn to GDP.
Demolition contractors launch construction's first virtual smart cards.
Business Secretary launches £246m Faraday Challenge to establish UK as world leader in battery technology.
Government announces new plans for regulations to improve safety and security awareness of drone users.
UK's best contemporary architecture celebrated in new stamp series.
Leading businesses and investors urge UK to show leadership towards zero carbon economy.
Growth slows for construction SMEs.
Global coalition launches new system to reduce construction risk by improving cost comparison.
Read about RSHP's British Museum extension which has been shortlisted for the 2017 Stirling Prize.
Architectural Technology Student Awards 2017 shortlist announced.
More updates from DCMS about the large-scale testing of cladding systems and the number of buildings affected.
UandI secure resolution to grant planning consent for major new regeneration project.
The real cost of regeneration.
MP pushes for more land to be made available to help people commission their own homes.
MIT create device that can inspect gas pipes from the inside.
Shortlist for the industry's most coveted award announced.
Government responds to Mark Farmer's review of industry, rejecting the call for a levy on clients.
BSRIA supports creation of Industry Response Group in response to Grenfell.
Workloads have slowed across all sectors of construction as Brexit delays investment.
New Digital Built Britain proposals for £250m sector deal with government.
Free calculator helps SMEs assess cyber risks.
Only 2 weeks left to enter 2017 Gus Astley Student Award for a chance to win £500.
Peter Hansford to examine what wider lessons can be learned from the fire.
MAD Architects reveal their designs for a futuristic campus for electric car manufacturer.
Homebuyers could borrow more with better forecasting of energy bills, according to industry consortium's new report.
Mid-year forecast points to overall activity continuing to expand despite slower economic growth.
Major project delivery improving, says government.
BDP and CH2M to lead Palace of Westminster repairs.
BRE publish new Loss Prevention Standard seeking to minimise fire risk from ducting.
CIAT announce the establishment of a Working Group in light of Grenfell and call for contributions.
Humber Bridge awarded Grade I listed status.
India launches world's first solar train.
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In depth
[edit] Types of structural load
[edit] Introduction
Structural analysis is a very important part of a design of buildings and other built assets such as bridges and tunnels, as structural loads can cause stress, deformation and displacement that may result in structural problems or even failure.
The building regulations require that structures must be designed and built to be able to withstand all load types that they are likely to face during their lifecycle.
There are a number of different types of load than can act upon a structure, the nature of which will vary according to the design, use, location and materials being used.
Design requirements are generally specified in terms of the maximum loads that a structure must be able to withstand.
Loads are generally classified as either dead loads (DL) or live loads (LL):
- Dead loads refer to the structure's self weight and generally remain constant during the structure's life.
- Live loads, such as traffic loads may vary.
Loads may also be categorised as:
- Concentrated loads (or point loads): Single loads that act over a relatively small area, such as column loads.
- Line loads: Loads exert a load along a line, such as a partition's weight on the floor.
- Distributed (or surface) loads: These exert a load over a surface area, such as the weight of floors and roofing materials.
[edit] Dead loads (DL)
Dead loads, also known as permanent or static loads, are those predominantly associated with the weight of the structure itself, and as such remain stationary and relatively constant over time.
Dead loads may include the weight of any structural elements, permanent non-structural partitions, immovable fixtures such as plasterboard, built-in cupboards, and so on.
Dead loads can be calculated by assessing the weights of materials specified and their volume as shown on drawings. This means that in theory, it should be possible to calculate dead loads with a good degree of accuracy.