Duration
24h Th, 24h Pr
Number of credits
| Bachelor in architecture | 4 crédits |
Lecturer
Coordinator
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
The Structure course is directly oriented towards architectural training in general. It takes place over two terms.
It consists of an introduction
- to the principles of elementary equilibria between force and stress and their evaluation through analytical and graphic resolution
- to the knowledge of fundamental structural elements, their names, as well as their mechanical, geometric and architectural properties
- to intuitive knowledge of the main structural systems and their respective capacity in terms of construction and expression of an architectural project
The course is split between theory classes and the resolution of exercises.
Group work on the intuitive approach to structures is required of students during class.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
Students should be able to identify surface, linear and point loads based on volumetric weight of materials in a simple structure such as a floor, wall, column, beam or foundation slab.
They should also be able to scale a strip or pile footing both in terms of depth and width based on the load upon it and the admissible stress on the foundation slab;
Students should be able to identify the supporting reactions through the graphic or analytical balance of current isostatic systems, to calculate standard internal stress in articulated bar networks and to deduce the behaviour of the whole from this.
They should also be able to express the structural properties of simple frameworks and their contribution to the relations between materiality, construction and architecture.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Basics mathematics from secondary school.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Lectures in the lecture hall with slide shows or videos and the use of an interactive learning tool on how bar and lattice beam structures behave.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)
In class
Recommended or required readings
Reference book: Introduction à l'Analyse des Structures
F. Frey - M-A. Studer Presses polytechniques fédérales Lausanne
Slides used in course will be distributed to students
Assessment methods and criteria
Written exam at the end of the 2nd term: Theory (multiple choice and true/false) for half the points and exercises for the other half.
Work placement(s)
No work placements are planned