ZFA Structural Engineers’ Post

TYPES OF SLABS USED IN CONSTRUCTION A slab is a flat, horizontal structure used to create floors, ceilings, and roofs in buildings. It is an essential component of building... https://lnkd.in/gbwpPi_p #architecture #architecturelovers #design #building #construction #structuralengineering #interiordesign #cityscape #skyscraper #architecturephotography #architecturedesign #landscapearchitecture #modernarchitecture #sustainablearchitecture #architecturestudent #architecturemodel #architectureporn #architecturehunters #urbanplanning #arquitectura #archilovers #architecture_hunter #architecture_greatshots #architecture_view

TYPES OF SLABS USED IN CONSTRUCTION A slab is a flat, horizontal structure used to create floors, ceilings, and roofs in buildings. It is an essential component of building... https://lnkd.in/gE9hss-N #architecture #architecturelovers #design #building #construction #structuralengineering #interiordesign #cityscape #skyscraper #architecturephotography #architecturedesign #landscapearchitecture #modernarchitecture #sustainablearchitecture #architecturestudent #architecturemodel #architectureporn #architecturehunters #urbanplanning #arquitectura #archilovers #architecture_hunter #architecture_greatshots #architecture_view

TYPES OF SLABS USED IN CONSTRUCTION A slab is a flat, horizontal structure used to create floors, ceilings, and roofs in buildings. It is an essential component of building... https://lnkd.in/dmSiSem4 #architecture #architecturelovers #design #building #construction #structuralengineering #interiordesign #cityscape #skyscraper #architecturephotography #architecturedesign #landscapearchitecture #modernarchitecture #sustainablearchitecture #architecturestudent #architecturemodel #architectureporn #architecturehunters #urbanplanning #arquitectura #archilovers #architecture_hunter #architecture_greatshots #architecture_view

TYPES OF SLABS USED IN CONSTRUCTION A slab is a flat, horizontal structure used to create floors, ceilings, and roofs in buildings. It is an essential component of building... https://lnkd.in/gNMFvMiQ #architecture #architecturelovers #design #building #construction #structuralengineering #interiordesign #cityscape #skyscraper #architecturephotography #architecturedesign #landscapearchitecture #modernarchitecture #sustainablearchitecture #architecturestudent #architecturemodel #architectureporn #architecturehunters #urbanplanning #arquitectura #archilovers #architecture_hunter #architecture_greatshots #architecture_view

TYPES OF SLABS USED IN CONSTRUCTION A slab is a flat, horizontal structure used to create floors, ceilings, and roofs in buildings. It is an essential component of building... https://lnkd.in/gKmmBs-A #architecture #architecturelovers #design #building #construction #structuralengineering #interiordesign #cityscape #skyscraper #architecturephotography #architecturedesign #landscapearchitecture #modernarchitecture #sustainablearchitecture #architecturestudent #architecturemodel #architectureporn #architecturehunters #urbanplanning #arquitectura #archilovers #architecture_hunter #architecture_greatshots #architecture_view

“The 190 metres tall structure turns at an angle of 90° as it climbs upwards over nine cubes – each cube consists of five floors.” Location: Malmö, Sweden Architect: Santiago Calatrava LLC Years of construction: 1999-2005 Program: Offices & Residential Keep reading to learn about the structural part of Turning Torso: In the Turning Torso, the building's form is composed of nine box units, shaped like cubes with triangular tips. Each unit houses five floors of about 2,000 square meters and are in fact the 'sub-buildings' of the tower. The units communicate through the three internal elevators and staircase located inside the core as a secondary structural element. The main load-bearing structure is a circular reinforced concrete core, whose center corresponds exactly to the rotation center of the floors. The core's inner diameter is consistently at 10.6 meters. The thickness of the concrete is 2.5 meters at the bottom and gradually tapers to 0.4 meter at the top. Strengthening and stiffening the core is a steel column exterior truss standing apart from the main body of the building like an external spine. This spine is attached to each unit by large diagonal and horizontal steel struts. These elements connect the spine to a structural wall at the top of the unit, transferring shearing forces to the concrete core. The spine itself is stabilized by pairs of smaller struts, which connect it to each floor of the unit. Floor slabs are made of cast-in-place reinforced concrete, built into the structural core and are elastically supported by inclined unit with five flat 27-centimeter-thick slabs. In addition, each unit has one cantilever conical slab with a maximum thickness of 90 centimeters that transfers the loads of the floor columns to the structural core. 📷 by Chinara Guliyeva

Traditional construction methods have been used for centuries, shaping much of the built environment seen today. These techniques are generally characterized by their reliance on locally available materials, manual labor, and time-tested practices passed down through generations. Some of the most common traditional methods include masonry, timber framing, adobe construction, and stone stacking. Masonry Involves building structures using individual units of brick, stone, or concrete blocks, bound together by mortar. It is a highly durable method, often seen in ancient and modern buildings alike. Timber framing Prevalent in areas with abundant forests, uses wood as the primary structural component. It offers flexibility in design and was especially popular in medieval Europe and early American settlements. In regions with dry climates, adobe construction Using sun-dried bricks made from a mixture of mud, straw, and water has been an effective method due to its thermal mass, providing insulation from extreme temperatures. Stone stacking, One of the oldest construction methods, involves placing stones without mortar, relying on the weight and skillful arrangement of the stones for stability. This method has been used in building walls, homes, and even grand monuments like the pyramids. While traditional methods are often labor-intensive and slower compared to modern construction techniques, they offer several benefits. They are typically more sustainable as they use locally sourced materials and require less energy-intensive manufacturing processes. Furthermore, many traditional methods are designed to suit the local climate and environment, providing natural ventilation, thermal insulation, and durability in specific regions. However, these methods also face limitations in terms of scalability, resistance to modern environmental stresses, and compatibility with contemporary building codes. Today, there's a growing interest in blending traditional techniques with modern technology to achieve more sustainable and resilient construction solutions.

If #architects, #engineers, #buildingowners and #localgovernments want to address #climatechange and #housingaffordability, measures like #deepenergyretrofits and #renovation of #existing buildings will have to be a big part of the solution. #newconstruction can't do it alone. Why? According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), there are over 120 million buildings in the USA, but most of them are not new. For example, in 2022 the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory pointed out that 70% of all existing residential housing stock was built before 1992. With this in mind, the EIFS Industry Members Association (EIMA) issued the post below about an article written by Albert Aronov. It is entitled "Additional practical insights on overcladding masonry facades", and it appeared in the Construction Specifications Institute's magazine. The article is very timely and readable, and it also recommends that people refer to one of EIMA’s technical publications. There has never been a better time to consider EIFS for a new construction or retrofit project.

Late last summer, Albert Aronov, principal at RKTB Architects, P.C. in New York City, wrote a thoughtful and informative article in The Construction Specifier entitled, "Additional practical insights on overcladding masonry facades." The media outlet is the official magazine of the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI), a national not-for-profit association of more than 6,000 members that has been in existence since 1948. The institute is known for its rigorous certification programs, MasterFormat(R), UniFormat(R) and OmniClass(R) standards, education and more. This article is a follow-up to an earlier one that described overcladding as a solution for commercial, institutional, and government buildings owners that are structurally composed of masonry and beginning to show the impacts of age, weather, neglect, moisture intrusion and deferred maintenance. In short, it is frequently much more feasible, economical and potentially sustainable to over-clad an existing structure and incorporate the modern benefits of continuous insulation rather than build a brand new one from scratch. The author devotes a section to the article on EIFS as an overcladding solution. He describes the systems as a "once novel system that has evolved quickly with greatly improved efficacy in more recent iterations." Mr. Aronov also recommends a technical publication from the EIFS Industry Members Association (EIMA) for guidance. Here is what he writes: "Teams considering using EIFS for a masonry overcladding application should refer to ANSI/EIMA-99-A-2017, Standard for Exterior Insulation and Finish System (EIFS) and EIFS with Drainage. According to EIMA, the standard outlines "the generic materials, details, and design considerations for EIFS and EIFS with drainage," noting that building professionals should consult product literature for specifications, application instructions and specific details. Thorough attention to the above will help avoid moisture penetrating through failed sealants or through cracks or flaws within the applied system and becoming trapped, creating deleterious conditions." Given the extensive experience RKTB Architects has in #adaptivereuse, the CSI article is well worth reading. Since EIMA's technical publications are best practices written by association members, they are worth reading too. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eZTfHRhN #eima #eifs #csi #overclad #retrofit #csi #constructionspecifier #rktbarchitects

The article discusses the critical considerations in selecting a floor system for Multi-Storey steel buildings at the concept design stage. It explores seven floor systems, detailing their advantages and disadvantages, including factors like cost, simplicity, speed of construction, buildability, and aesthetics. The systems covered range from short-span composite beams to Slim Flor beams with precast concrete slabs, providing insights into their applications and design considerations. #structuralsteel #structuralengineer #civilconstruction #civil #designstructure #floordesign #structurescentre