constech

• When analysing markets, a range of assumptions are made about the rationality of economic agents involved in the transactions
• The Wealth of Nations was written

  1776
• Rational


  (in classical economic theory) economic agents are able to consider the outcome of their choices and recognise the net benefits of each one
• Rational agents will select the choice which presents the highest benefits
• Consumers act rationally by


  Maximising their utility
• Producers act rationally by


  Selling goods/services in a way that maximises their profits
• Workers act rationally by


  Balancing welfare at work with consideration of both pay and benefits
• Governments act rationally by


  Placing the interests of the people they serve first in order to maximise their welfare
• Rationality in classical economic theory is a flawed assumption as people usually don't act rationally
• Marginal utility


  The additional utility (satisfaction) gained from the consumption of an additional product
• If you add up marginal utility for each unit you get total utility
• COURSE EXAMINER: Dr. Titus Ebenezer KWOFIE, AGIA
• DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE- KNUST KUMASI -GHANA
• DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE KNUST, KUMASI
• Assessment Requirement


  • Class Attendance – 5%
  • Site Field Trip/Mid-Semester – 10% + 15% =25%
  • End of semester examinations - 70%
• Site Visit Report* (Group or Individual)
• Assignments must be done on an individual basis unless otherwise specified by the examiner
• Cheating during class quizzes/Mid-Semester and assignment must be avoided
• T. E. KWOFIE
• UNIT 1: STRUCTURAL CONCEPTS/SYSTEMS

  • Three basic concepts of structure of buildings
  • Skeletal, Solid and Surface structures
• UNIT 2: CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY

  • Composition and types of Concrete
  • Properties of Concrete
  • Quality Control in Concrete
• UNIT 3: SUBSTRUCTURE (FOUNDATIONS)


  • Types and choice of foundations
  • Functional requirements of foundations
• UNIT 4: ROOFING SYSTEMS


  • Types and Functional Requirements of Roofs
  • Roof systems, members & components of Roof
• Further Reading list


  • Foster, J. S. (2008) Structure and Fabric; Part 2: Mitchell Building Series
  • Merrit, F. S. and Ricketts, J. T. (2009) Building Design and Construction Handbook, Sixth Edition, McGraw-Hill Professional
  • Neville, A. M. and Brooks, J. J. (2010) Concrete Technology, 2nd Edition. Long Man Group, UK
  • Chudley, R and Greeno, R. (2004) Building Construction Handbook. 5th Edition. Elsevier Butterworth-Heinermann. UK.
  • Setareh, M. (2017) Structural System, 2nd Edition, Create Space Independent Publishing Platform
  • Day, R. W. (2010) Foundation Engineering Handbook: Design and Construction with the 2009 International Building Code, Second Edition, The McGraw-Hill
  • Harrison, W. H., Trotman, T. M., and Saunders, G. K. (2012) Roofs and roofing 3rd edition, Bre press.
  • Seeley, I. H. (2009) Building Technology 4th Edition, Springer Switzerland
• The course shares the primary objective of: Introducing students to systems of construction and structural concepts applicable in the design and construction of building structures, especially concrete, substructure (foundation), walls and roofs
• The course shares the primary objective of: Deepen student's knowledge and understanding of the various structural components of the building fabric and how they are designed and used in building design
• The course shares the primary objective of: Integrating the knowledge gained into their studio design schemes by making informed design decisions regarding substructure, structural and roofing systems
• To equip students to be able to: Make an optimized choice and fit of Structural concepts & structural systems for their building design
• To equip students to be able to: Choose and Design the various structural components of the building fabric
• To equip students to be able to: Integrate the knowledge gained into their studio design schemes by making informed design decisions regarding substructure, structural and roofing systems
• Within the context of the built environment, the term 'structure' refers to anything that is constructed or built from interrelated parts (system) with a fixed location on the ground
• Buildings and non-building structures can be classified in a number of ways

  • Solid
  • Frame
  • Shell
  • Membrane
  • Composite
• Generally a building system will be composed of various structural elements that must be designed to carry or resist loads to ensure structural stability
• Structures may experience


  • Live
  • Dead
  • Wind
  • Hydrostatic
  • Tectonic loads/forces
• A Building Structure must be designed to resist the likely forces/loads it will encounter and not fail or deflect too much
• Its components must be designed to be stable, structurally sound and ensure overall strength and stability
• Components that make the building perform its function structurally (carry loads)


  • Foundation (substructure)
  • Load-bearing walls
  • Beams
  • Columns
  • Slabs (floor system)
  • Roof system
  • Connections between these elements
• Buildings must carry its own weight ("dead load"), live loads, wind loads, snow loads, hydrostatic pressure and earthquake (tectonic) forces
• All forces/loads that are likely to impact on the building must be resolved for Structural Stability and withstand movements
• Buildings are primarily designed to resist vertical forces from gravity, lateral forces from wind and underground water etc.