Types of structure
|
Within the context of the built environment, the term ‘structure’ refers to anything that is constructed or built from interrelated parts with a fixed location on the ground. This includes buildings, but can refer to any body that is designed to bear loads, even if it is not intended to be occupied by people (engineers sometimes refer to these as 'non-building' structures – such as bridges, tunnels, and so on).
Structures can be classified in a number of ways:
Type:
- Solid.
- Frame.
- Shell.
- Membrane.
- Composite.
Structural system:
- Tensile.
- Compressive.
- Shear.
- Bending.
- Composite.
Application:
- Building.
- Aqueducts and viaducts.
- Bridges.
- Canals.
- Cooling towers and chimneys.
- Dams.
- Railways.
- Roads.
- Retaining walls.
- Tunnels.
- Coastal defences.
Form:
- One-dimensional: Ropes, cables, struts, columns, beams, arches.
- Two-dimensional: Membranes, plates, slab, shells, vaults.
- Three-dimensional: Solid masses.
- Composite.
Material:
Element:
- Substructure.
- Superstructure.
- Foundation.
- Roof.
- Shell and core.
- Structural frame.
- Floor.
- Wall: loadbearing walls, compartment walls, external walls, retaining walls.
See Elements of structure in buildings for more information.
Overall building form:
- Low-rise.
- Multi-storey.
- Mid-rise.
- High rise.
- Groundscraper.
- Skyscraper.
- Supertall.
- Megatall.
- Super-slender
- Megastructure.
- Anticlastic.
- Synclastic.
- Hyperbolic paraboloid.
- Conoid.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Civil engineer.
- Elements of structure in buildings
- Engineer.
- Institution of Civil Engineers.
- Institution of Structural Engineers IStructE.
- Structure.
- Structural engineer.
- Structural principles.
- Substructure.
- Superstructure.
- The development of structural membranes.
- Types of beam.
- Types of building.
- Types of column.
- Types of wall.
- Types of structural load.
Featured articles and news
This CIOB article explores the concept of value in building design and construction.
BREEAM and Measurabl announce integration to improve the financial performance of commercial real estate.
Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners' release new images of soon-to-open 3WTC tower in New York.
A document can be called a bond or a guarantee. Does the name matter and what is the difference between them?
New briefing note is launched focusing on increasing knowledge of housing that promotes health and wellbeing.
Arbitration is a private, contractual form of dispute resolution used in the construction industry.
The European Parliament has approved a revised Energy Performance of Buildings directive.
One in six MPs supports the ring-fencing of retentions as proposed in the 'Aldous Bill'.
A stakeholder is anyone who has an interest in the process or outcome of a construction project.
BRE launches online self-assessment tool for ethical labour sourcing.
Tower refurbishment failed to meet safety standards on several counts, according to leaked report.