Overview
After completion of the coffee shop design as a studio project, the final project for Structural Analysis class looked at construction assemblies and accounting for the weights of them. This project defined the construction and sized members to carry the load.
The Project
Structural design in the coffee shop is extremely important to the narrative of the space itself. Because the space aims to highlight the score of the movie, the structure must reflect the relationship of music to the emotive qualities of film. By following the musically based rhythm and regulation the space follows, the structure will act as an aesthetic compliment to the geometries defined throughout the shop.
Steel and concrete will be the materials of choice to maintain consistency with the established aesthetic of the design. A grid will be employed where possible in an attempt to adhere to the regulation in the concept. However, in true Interstellar fashion, this grid will be broken when necessary to show the innovation and exploration so characteristic to the film.
As an interior project in an existing space, it was important to understand how the mezzanine was going to integrate into the building’s structure. Analysis showed additional columns and footings were necessary to insure safe resolution of loads.
Poly-cut Axon of the Space
Calculated Members
Assembly Definition
Calculations
Short Column Sizing
Long Span Sizing
Tall Column Sizing
Short Span Sizing
Method Explanation
This semester taught me over all else: there is no one way to analyze and compute. From
learning graphic statics, to exploring grasshopper and rhino plug-ins, I learned the importance in
utilizing and critiquing new ways of structural design and analysis. Computation was introduced
into this project by using Google Sheets as a means of calculating structural capacity through the
dynamic process of designing roof and floor assemblies. Below we take a closer look at how this
method helped me quickly and efficiently make decisions during this assignment. These cells show the process defined for sizing the typical span beam.
learning graphic statics, to exploring grasshopper and rhino plug-ins, I learned the importance in
utilizing and critiquing new ways of structural design and analysis. Computation was introduced
into this project by using Google Sheets as a means of calculating structural capacity through the
dynamic process of designing roof and floor assemblies. Below we take a closer look at how this
method helped me quickly and efficiently make decisions during this assignment. These cells show the process defined for sizing the typical span beam.
The main Input cells were the tributary area of the beam and the beam length. After creating a list of psf values for assembly components and multiplying by that input tributary area, total loads on the beam are produced. A safety factor is applied to the summation of these total loads and that product is divided by the beam length to produce the total UDL in plf. Following a conversion into lbs/in, the cells follow the cascade of equations to produce the maximum moment, section modulus, and moment of inertia.
The beauty of this method is the adaptability. Being able to test different assemblies and immediately have an accurate beam size allowed for the intentional design of what exists within the poché. However, a drawback of this method is its limited application. Only UDLs are accounted for in this analysis. In a situation with significant weight in form of point loads, a more detailed analysis would be necessary to validate the beam’s effectiveness.