Mr.

Mohamed Rizal

Chan Jia Xin

Chia Cheng Wei
Lee Xiang Loon
Lee Hui Qin
Ng Ee Shiung
Ong Seng Peng

0319565
0322091
0322090
0322991
0314228
0319016

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INTRODUCTION
DESIGN PROCESS
MATERIALS
CONSTRUCTION PROCESS
ANALYSIS
SUMMARY
REFERENCES
APPENDIX

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 Skeletal construction: Temporary bus shelter

Experiencing and understanding skeletal construction is important
as it is one of the most widely used structures for building support.
As a designer we should know how skeletal structure works.
The objectives of this project are as follows:
1. To create an understanding of skeletal structure and its
relevant structural components.
2. To understand how a skeletal structure reacts under
loading.
3. To demonstrate a convincing understanding of how skeletal
construction works.
4. To be able to manipulate skeletal construction to solve an
oblique design problem.

Initial Design
At the start inspiration from tropical bus stops in South East Asia which
mainly utilize wood as their main material of construction.
Our design must resist natural disasters such as thunderstorms, strong
winds, flooding, and earthquakes.
Another consideration is that it must be easily assembled.

Failed Design
Several ways were done on making the structure stand but failed before
finding a solution. Some of the reasons for failure includes:
1. Using bolts and nuts on small planks of wood breaks the wood
when drilling because the wood cannot without the stress.

1
Roof is extended to get
a better shelter

Rain

Wind

Inspired from
parachutes

Bracing for roof is proposed to cope

with wind force

Rain still reachable

to seats
Sandwiched
bracings

Columns slanted to
25 angle
The shapes of
semicircle and
rectangle

Column distance is extended

to enhance stability

Too conventional, experiment with new ideas

Hub connectors attach to

concrete pad footing

Initially, the design idea for the shape of the bus shelter was
to have single columns as the main support for the roof to
create an aesthetically pleasing design.
In order to provide stability for the main columns, a bracing
was added. The horizontal V-brace gives balance to the
other columns that branched out from the main columns.

The other two columns were separated from the main

columns and grounded to improve the compression and
tension forces of the bus shelter by directing the forces
towards the ground.
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3
New concept
Flat surface of roof allows rainwater
to fall off with ease

Angled allows weight to

be directed towards the
specific columns to
improve weight
distribution

Middle section directs forces from both sides

to be transferred to the columns

Flat roof reduces

wind drag and
increases
capacity for a
bus shelter

Large surface area to provide

more shade and shelter from
rain

The roof of the bus shelter was flattened and angled to

provide a bigger opening and is easier to build, which is the
purpose of a temporary bus shelter.

The roof was further developed to provide a flat horizontal

segment behind the pitched roof. The purpose was to
increase the boundary of the bus shelter for users. Another
advantage is that the flat orientation reduces the wind drag
during strong winds.
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Bracing + Design
Incorporates arch pattern with bracing to
further improve force distribution and
robust structure

To further stabilize the structure, an arch design was used

for the center that connects the main columns and roof. The
arch transfers the forces down to the columns from the
center.

Design and Function of Columns

1.

2.

3.

4.

The longer column

Supports the pitched roof
Assists in weight distribution
The use of three columns
Supports both the pitched roof and flat roof, and the middle that
joins them together
Even weight distribution for the weight of both roofs
Pitched roof
Allows rainwater to flow through
Aids in convection of air flow to release hot air easily
Flat roof
Reduces air pressure, streamlines the air flow
Lengthens the back-end of the bus shelter for additional space

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4

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2

Horizontal V-Bracing
1 joint connects the short column while 2 joints connect the longer
column to balance out the weight distribution of the structure.
This is due to more weight from the pitched roof.

Foundation
Utilizing strip foundation because the main load bearing structure is from
the multiple columns that cover the boundary of the structure.
Concrete is used as the main material for foundation stability because of
its:
Weight
Rigidity
Relatively cheap cost
Resistance against compression weight
Flexible installation
Flooring is timber because it is easy to assemble, resistance towards
vibration caused by earthquakes and aesthetically pleasing.

Arch-shaped Pattern Structure

As an aesthetically pleasing replacement from the traditional roof trusses
for pitched roofs
To allow even distribution of tension in the frames
To sustain various stresses: triangulation of cantilevered beams
This position creates arches and crosses which serves as braces for the
plans: lateral longitudinal and roofing, no cross bucks or bracing panels
required because nothing to restrain it

Polycarbonate Roofing

Lightweight
Cheap alternative to glass
Recyclable
Waterproof
Easy to assemble
High impact resistance
Heat resistance equal to glass (up to 147 C)
Diffuses light to reduce heat

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Plywood

Leftover timber materials retrieved from a local factory

Environmentally friendly and recyclable material
Dry construction, faster completion period
Resistant to shock and vibration

Plastic

Recycled from a waste deposal of a local factory

Flexible material with versatile uses
Imperviousness to water.
Good alternative to glass as a transparent material

Concrete
Has relatively high compression strength, good for using as base for
foundation.
As a type of mineral, the compounds of which it is composed are
extremely stable.
Concrete structures are built with an expected lifetime of approximately
100 years
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Bolts and Nuts

Easy method of connecting members on the site

Portable and easy to transport
Relatively high strength for its size
Small size allows for precision joint works at tight areas of the structure
M5 x 30mm size

Nails
Used as a fastener for construction
Easy to use and comes in many sizes
Cost efficient for the strength it provides

Birds Mouth Joint

A right-angled notch cut on the underside of a roof rafter to fit over
beams
Simple, fast and efficient

Steel Corner Brackets

Provide added stability in corners of columns and beams
Strengthens a certain angle of the structure
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Preparing the concrete strip

foundation for the main
columns.

Attaching the columns with timber

flooring. Joining the columns on both
sides together with the horizontal Vbracing with bolts and nuts.

Assembling a bench on the timber

flooring with steel brackets and
screws.

Assembling the arch structure

independently from the main structure
with blocks and nails.

Layering the roof of the arch

structure with polycarbonate panels.
Joining the roof to their joists with
nails.

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Load Test
The load test was conducted by testing the lateral forces. This was done
by moving the structure sideways and putting objects of different weights
on top of the roof for a period of 20 minutes to test the structures
endurance.

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Compression and Tension Forces

In the diagrams, the blue and orange arrows indicate compression and
tension forces respectively.
On the roof, compressive force is acted inwards while the tension force
spreads outwards along the arch-like structure and thus, creating an
equilibrium force.
This arch-like structure forms a dense web to allow even distribution of
the tensions in the frame.
The two frontal columns are angled more to channel the compressive
force from the pitched roof to the ground and also prevents the structure
from being collapsed.
The horizontal V-bracings are used to create tension forces towards the
back columns to allow balanced compressive forces acting to the ground.

Compressive force
Tension force

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Load Distribution
From the load test, objects of different weights were placed on top of the structure to prove the bracings of the arch-shaped
structure will
The bracing exerts a force on the roof to prevent it from collapsing.
The rafters and columns are aligned regularly and the twirling bracings are shifted progressively to sustain the various stresses.

Compressive force
Tension force

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Upon the completion of this Building Construction 2 Project 1, we

are satisfied with the results of our progress as our design for the
bus shelter has been a success. The things we learned are the
building techniques and thought process when picking the right
materials to create a proper structure.
In this module, we found that proper systematic rules to
constructing a structure ensures a proper stable result as we
created a bus shelter that withstood stringent load, weathering and
different stability tests. The task of using recyclable materials forced
us to rethink of logistics and construction towards the environment.
The condition of being a temporary shelter pushed us to rethink the
complexity and construction times of the structure. Overall, it was
an eye opening experience and a glimpse of building construction in
the real world.

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American Institute of Steel Construction. (2015). Structure of the Everyday: Structural Steel Connections. Retrieved May 1, 2016, from Purdue
University: https://engineering.purdue.edu/~jliu/courses/CE470/PPT_PDF/AISC_ConnectionsJL.pdf
Asphalte, M. (2015, May 26). The Advantages and Disadvantages of Polycarbonate Roofing. Retrieved May 1, 2016, from Morgan Asphalte
Co. Ltd: http://www.morganasphalte.co.uk/news/the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-polycarbonate-roofing/
Ching, F., & Adams, C. (2001). Building Construction Illustrated. New York: Wiley.
Chudley, R., & Greeno, R. (2010). Building Construction Handbook (8th ed.). Amsterdam: Butterworth-Heinemann.
Lipford, D. (2016). Advantages of Plastic Roofing for Your Home | Today's Homeowner. Retrieved May 1, 2016, from Today's Homeowner with
Danny Lipford: http://www.todayshomeowner.com/video/advantages-of-plastic-roofing-for-your-home/
Merritt, F., & Ricketts, J. (2000). Building Design and Construction Handbook. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Neufert, E., Neufert, P., & Kister, J. (2012). Architects' Data. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.

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Roof Plan
Scale 1:20

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Plan
Scale 1:20

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Front Elevation
Scale 1:20

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Back Elevation
Scale 1:20

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Left Elevation
Scale 1:20

Section A-A
Scale 1:20

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