STRUCTURE

TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT
María Dolores García Fernández
I.E.S ALJANADIC

From: http://www.petervaldivia.com/1eso/forces/forces.htm
http://iesalquibla.com/TecnoWeb/estructuras/contenidos/contenidos.htm
http://www.yesmag.ca/focus/structures/structures.html
http://www.chester.ac.uk/~mwillard/sci_ed/structures/structures.htm
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FORCES AND STRUCTURE

A structure is a group of elements that can hold loads and

withstand weights without breaking or bending out of shape.
When a load (external force), such as gravity or a person´s weight,
is applied to a structure, forces are produced within the structure
(internal forces) to resist the load. Provided the internal forces
balance the external forces, the structure will retain its integrity.
When imbalances of internal and external forces occur, a structure
will suffer what is termed a catastrophic failure.
Static loads. These are the loads on a structure which remain
constant.
Dynamic loads. These are the loads which exert constantly
changing forces upon a structure

Dynamic loads

Static loads

TYPES OF STRUCTURES
Static
Natural structures. These are the structures which have been
created by nature.

Tree Shell
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Artificial structures. These are the structures which have been

created by man.
Bridge Building

RESISTENT ELEMENTS
We can find the following elements in a structure that make it
resistant
Pillars, Beams, Braces and Triangles

Pillars: The vertical elements which hold the weight of the elements
that are placed on them

Beams: They are placed in a horizontal position that hold the load of
the whole structure

Braces: They are steel cables which help to make a structure more
resistant

Triangles: It has been proved that triangles are the most stable
geometric figures, because they do not change their shape under
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the influence of other external forces. That is why they are used to
form structures. For example, we can find triangles in cranes, metal
stands, electricity pylons, etc

DIFFERENT KINDS OF FORCES

Tension: A tension force acts against a body, when these forces

tend to stretch it.
Braces are resistant elements which resist this kind of tension
force very well.

Compression: A pushing force that tries to shorten a structural

element.
Pillars and columns are examples of structures designed to
resist the forces of compression.

Bending: An element gets bent when loads act upon it.

The beams in a structure withstand this kind of effort.
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Torsion: An element withstands a torsion force when two forces

tend to twist it.

Shearing: An element withstands shearing forces when forces tend

to cut or tear it.
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Exercise 1

Which type of force is each of the following items suffering? You must only choose one.

A springboard, at its fixed

The wire of a crane:
end:
Tension
Tension
Compression.
Compression.
Bending.
Bending.
Shearing.
Shearing.
Torsion.
Torsion.
The femur, while we are
The sprocket on a bike:
standing up:
Tension
Tension
Compression.
Compression.
Bending.
Bending.
Shearing.
Shearing.
Torsion.
Torsion.
The foundations of a
Beams in a house:
building:
Tension
Tension
Compression.
Compression.
Bending.
Bending.
Shearing.
Shearing.
Torsion.
Torsion.
A key while we are opening a
A hook to hang up a painting:
door with it:
Tension
Tension
Compression.
Compression.
Bending.
Bending.
Shearing.
Shearing.
Torsion.
Torsion.
A column in a church: A screw while we are
screwing something:
Tension
Tension
Compression.
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Compression.
Bending.
Bending.
Shearing.
Shearing.
Torsion.
Torsion.
The radius, when we are
The asymmetric bars, where
standing up with our arms
gymnasts do their exercises:
by our sides:
Tension
Tension
Compression.
Compression.
Bending.
Bending.
Shearing.
Shearing.
Torsion.
Torsion.

Exercise 2

Which of the following structures is rigid?

Match one of these

Exercise 3

State which kind of forces the grey bar is suffering in each of the following
situations.
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Exercise 4

Draw some solutions to make sure the following items don’t lose their shape.

What kind of forces are the following items suffering?