Explore the intricacies of structural engineering, focusing on the symbolic representation and practical requirements in constructing reinforced concrete structures and cutting walls. Dive into details such as the diameter of the reinforcement bars, the bending process, the use of a scale in plans, and the unique nailing programs for cutting walls.
Key Insights
- The diameter of the reinforcement bar in concrete constructions is crucial - a bar number 3 represents three-eighths of an inch in diameter, and a number 4 half an inch, and accurate bending is vital for the structure's stability.
- Structural engineering plans differ from other disciplines, as they are usually not mapped to scale, but are representative, with specific dimensions specified where necessary.
- Cutting wall symbols and the associated nailing programs play a pivotal role in the stability of a structure, particularly in earthquake-prone areas, and the same goes for the markings necessary to support door frames and windows.
Note: These materials offer prospective students a preview of how our classes are structured. Students enrolled in this course will receive access to the full set of materials, including video lectures, project-based assignments, and instructor feedback.
On our third page, we are showing details of the foundation and also the programming of the reinforcement bar bending. When you place reinforcement materials inside the concrete, there are certain requirements on how that metal should work together. And these tables speak of different sizes of bar, and the sizes of the bars are typically the diameter of the reinforcement bar.
A bar number 3 would be three-eighths of an inch in diameter. A number 4 would be four-eighths or half an inch in diameter. And this is information that talks about how to handle the bending of the reinforcement bar inside the concrete.
One thing you will notice about the structural details is that these details are actually being drawn on a scale. It is not the norm that the structural details are on a scale. They are usually representative.
In general, structural details are not drawn on a scale. Again, they are representative. Their notes indicate what needs to be done where the dimensions are needed.
Those dimensions are specified. Structural engineering is one of the few disciplines whose plans are not usually on a scale. If I zoom in on this area, you can see the note here, NTS.
Learn Blueprint Reading
- Nationally accredited
- Create your own portfolio
- Free student software
- Learn at your convenience
- Authorized Autodesk training center
So again, the plans are not on a scale. But looking at the dimensions, you see in this particular example that the steel continues. And they are superimposed on other conditions of steel due to the structural requirements that are happening.
Right there, for example, at that intersection. So, these are some details of the cementation. I continue with some details of the structure.
The way structural engineering tends to present its information is from the bottom up because that is how we build a building, from scratch. So, the previous page was more about cement and base information. Now we are seeing the connections between the cements and the buildings themselves.
You can see that we are showing the cutting walls program right here, and again. Cutting walls are what helps the building to withstand earthquakes very well. We have a cutting wall mark or a cutting wall symbol.
And then there is information here regarding the types of plywood and the nailing program that needs to happen on those cutting walls to make them work properly. So, in the plans we will see these cutting wall marks. You can see that we have observations, which are essentially details that we will find elsewhere within the set.
Again, we are working from the ground level up. I have some more details. These are details of the structure of the wall.
For example, if you think of this area here as a window or this area in here as a door. This simply shows the types of marking that are needed to properly support the door head. And then I have the frame or the side of the door here.
You can see, for example, that if my opening is here, I have my members, my vertical members here. I have my connection of support right here, which again, keeps the building in place in case of earthquakes. So, again, that's a support.
Again, this sheet is showing the frame of the wall. You can see that I am showing particular connections that are happening right here. This is the frame that simply shows where you have two corners joining, where this wall crosses with this wall.
That this information shows how they want the beams to be placed so that they support each other properly. What is also happening is that once we finish the frame, we will end up placing some plasterboard. Plasterboard on the walls of this corner.
And we will also take advantage of this corner condition to nail our plasterboards into the appropriate frame.
