Study with the several resources on Docsity
Earn points by helping other students or get them with a premium plan
Prepare for your exams
Study with the several resources on Docsity
Earn points to download
Earn points by helping other students or get them with a premium plan
Community
Ask the community for help and clear up your study doubts
Discover the best universities in your country according to Docsity users
Free resources
Download our free guides on studying techniques, anxiety management strategies, and thesis advice from Docsity tutors
Joseph Brunon's master's thesis from MIT, 1965, explores the development of a linear structural system for buildings that can grow in two directions while maintaining integrity and self-sufficiency. The system uses a linear arrangement of T-beams and girders, with mechanical services integrated into the columns. The simplicity and potential for growth of the system are discussed, along with the advantages of prefabrication and the importance of systems thinking in architecture.
What you will learn
Typology: Study notes
1 / 36
This page cannot be seen from the preview
Don't miss anything!
/C
by
at the MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF^ TECHNOLOGY JUNE, (^1965)
Author.. 0.....
Certified by.....
Accepted by
Josep Brunon
Eduardo F. Catalano Thesis Supervisor
Lawrence B. Anderson Head of Department of Architecture
Cambridge, Massachusetts June, (^) 1965
Dean Pietro Belluschi School of Architecture^ and^ Planning Massachusetts Institute^ of^ Technology Cambridge, Massachusetts
Dear Dean Belluschi: In partial fulfillment^ for^ the^ degree^ of^ Master^ in^ Archi- tecture I^ submit^ this^ thesis^ entitled,^ "The^ Development^ of a Linear Structural^ System^ for^ Two^ Directional^ Growth". Yours respectfully,
Joseph Brunon
iv TABLE (^) OF CONTENTS
Letter of Submission Acknowledgements (^111) Table of (^) Contents iv Introduction 1 A. The Need for Analytical (^) Methods in Architecture 2
C. The Need for Creative Engineering (^) 4
Abstract 6 The Development (^) of the Structural System (^) 7 The Fabrication (^) of the Self-Sufficient (^) Building Unit (^) 9 The Advantages (^) of Prefabrication 11 Erection (^12) Mechanical Services (^) 15 Cores (^) 17 Conclusion (^) 18 References (^20) Drawings and^ Photographs^.
For centuries man has sought an apprehension of the universe both through his intellect and through his senses in an effort to establish order around him. Systems of order are readily recognizable, being a set of things whereby each member of the set is bound to other members in some clear relationship. Each member is a complete entity, yet functions as a part of a system forming a pattern which at every stage of its growth exhibits an orderliness. A simple example of a system studied and explained in the earliest days of modern science is our own solar system and the planetary systems of the universe. The planets move within their own orbits in relation to their sun and each solar system moves as part of a greater system forming organized galaxies in the universe. The introduction of the microscope revealed a whole new world of systems in nature hitherto unknown. Minute cell structures, independent (^) unicellular systems, and crystals all became seen as growing forms obeying laws to produce complete systems.
With the development of mathematics, the system approach became a basis for scientific study whereby laws were dis- covered, such as a mathematical formula describing a para- bola. Solid geometry^ introduced^ further^ systems^ such^ as
the real work has to be done by less gifted engineers, because the designers hide (^) their gift in irresponsible pretension of genius."^2
In order that the architect may play his role on a respon- sible level he must turn to the logic (^) and clarity of con- struction as the tool in fashioning architectural form. The greatest defense the architect has is to base his point of departure on construction. Specifically, the clarity which is necessary in today's construction (^) is obtained with systems. It is in this way that architecture (^) is the link between art and science. Because of this (^) link, the architect must approach his design task analytically. (^) Systems are the path to the analytical (^) approach, "a way of reducing the gap (^) between the designer's small capacity and the great size of his task". 3
B. THE APPLICABILITY (^) OF SYSTEMS To bring a building into existence, (^) the architect must establish (^) a discipline which governs the structure, (^) services, and spatial requirements. Each discipline (^) imposed con- stitutes a system. The system has flexibility (^) according to pre-determined laws, such as restrictions (^) of structure. The amount of freedom the (^) designer has, to achieve varying spaces and flexibility within (^) the system, signifies the success or (^) lack of success of a system. Furthermore, (^) the
amount of freedom available when all the systems are super- imposed into the building gives a further (^) measure of success of the system. It is essential that all systems employed be orderly, flexible, easily combined one with the other and economical.
The frame of reference that systems provide is instantly recognizable (^) and forms a science in itself. The successful system should allow design freedom for the form of the building while preserving many similar conditions, thus providing economy and speed of erection, factors which (^) will always be influential in building.
"But the most necessary and indispensable condition (^) for the
complete freedom (^) of mind with respect to solutions that have already been studied for similar problems, or to fashions and stylistic trends^ of^ the^ moment."
C. THE NEED (^) FOR CREATIVE ENGINEERING While the engineer is predominantly occupied with analysis, the architect is occupied with design. The structural system and mechanical systems although prepared in detail by the engineer must be proposed (^) in comprehensive outline by the architect. This means that the architect must have a good technological (^) competence to put forth creative
This thesis serves to illustrate how^ a^ structural^ system^ is derived from clear techniques of construction to form a self-sufficient building unit with its own integrated mech- anical services. The system is designed to grow in two directions while the integrity of the building to which it is applied is preserved at any stage of^ growth.
Here it is applied^ to^ a^ building^ for^ Research^ and^ Develop- ment, of approximately 600,000 sq.ft. (^) in the initial stage, for the National Aeronautics and^ Space^ Administration. This type of building changes its needs extremely quickly and the system of construction must provide flexibility and potential for growth to^ prevent^ the^ obsolescence^ that arises when expansion or alteration is^ virtually^ impossible even though the structural shell^ of^ the^ building^ is^ still intact.
tir___Ii'ItII If
-L~ L 1 -±~-~
D. -e. - - I
-- 1
--
The unit measures 45' x 90' and is composed of six basic precast concrete elements. 10'15 10'^ 40'^ 10'^15 10'
(f) 40' T-beams
(e) 10' T-sections ELEVATION (d) stub separators
Each unit is composed of:
(a) Four columns which are H-shaped and cast with the web in a horizontal position, the concrete being placed in each flange.
(b) Four 45' (^) girders which are cast from the top with
appropriate openings for the passage of mechanical services and indentations to receive the infill slabs and stub separators.
the girders and serve to separate them.^ These^ are^ cast in a conventional horizontal position.
(d) Eighteen stub separators, 4'4" long, which hold apart the bottoms^ of^ the^ girders.^ Their^ reinforcing^ pierces the girders and is attach ed to the seats^ as^ part^ of the assembly to support additional elements.
(e) Thirty-six 10' T-sections which.^ are^ cast^ from^ the^ top and are provided with a channel and perforations through which run the post-tensioning cables.
(f) Nine 40' T-beams cast similarly to the 10' T-beams. These are the flexible portions of the system.
The structural depth of 4' is needed for openings to be made in the structure for the passage of mechanical services. Also it allows drain pipes to have sufficient slope in their distance to be housed within^ the^ structural^ depth.^ Because
temporary restraining (^) cables 5' 10' infill^ slab ~ - girder
path of post- tensioning cab stub separator seat for 10' T-beam. SECTION THROUGH GIRDERS
---- 40' T-beam --tension reinforcing weld at seat 10' T-beam Lchannel for post-tensioning (^) cable
Two girders are joined at the bottom by the (^) stub separators and (^) their reinforcing is welded together. The seats which hold the 10' T-beams are applied and the exposed reinforcing is grouted over. The infill slabs are then placed in position on (^) top of the girders.
This assembly is hoisted by cranes on to the erected pair of columns. The 10' T-beams are positioned, two at a time, on the seats provided for them at (^) the bottoms of the girders. The ends of their slabs rest (^) on the tops of the girders and they (^) are restrained temporarily by cables running lengthwise on top (^) of the slabs until such time as the permanent
post-tensioning cable is threaded (^) and tightened.
When (^) all of the eighteen 10' T-beams (^) are tensioned and a similar assembly is placed (^) on a corresponding pair of columns (^) then the infill 40' (^) T-beams are positioned. The webs (^) of the 40' T-beams rest (^) on seats which are at the (^) ends of the (^) cables that post-tension (^) the 10' T-beams to the girders. (^) The reinforcing of (^) the 40' T-beams is welded (^) to the seats giving continuity (^) to the whole structure.
The girders (^) which are supported in (^) their center sections cantilever 17'6" past their (^) columns. Where the girders meet in a (^) continuous situation the reinforcing (^) in them is welded together (^) so that there is a continuity (^) in the struc- ture. (^) When this not the case, as (^) in an end condition, then post-tensioning (^) cables are (^) introduced to the tops of (^) the girders to give adequate (^) support.
An (^) alternative method of prefabrication (^) and erection of this unit would simplify (^) and speed erection. By using (^) more complex molds, it (^) would be possible to manufacture (^) the entire girder (^) assembly consisting of 2 girders, (^) 9 infill slabs and (^) 9 stub separators as one element (^) in the factory and transport this entire (^) element to the site. (^) Also the post-tensioning (^) operation including attaching (^) the 10' T-beams
rrr7-
AP
rT-7\ - IL-A^1 T^ X^ I^ t^ X X X
16
The air handling system is (^) low velocity calculated as 1 sq.ft. of supply duct for (^) every 1000 sq.ft. of floor area served and similarly (^) for the return duct. So that the column clusters do (^) not become overly large with services, the building (^) is confined to a height of four floors.
Supply and return air utilize the same diffuser. (^) The return duct is placed over the (^) supply duct. Each half column cluster has the supply (^) and return ducts for one quarter of a self-sufficient (^) building unit. The runs between twin girders are kept constant as are the runs within (^) the 10' T-sections. Branches from these are free to (^) be shortened or lengthened as dictated by (^) the partition arrangement. The exterior zone has pipes running within (^) the spandrel which come from the columns either between (^) the twin girders or in the direction of the T-beams.
