Application and Evaluation of Double-Layer Grid Spatial Structures for the Engineering Education of Architects
Publication: Journal of Architectural Engineering
Volume 21, Issue 3
Abstract
Up until the Renaissance, architects had been considered master-builders. However, the complexity of modern construction required more specialization in trades and caused fragmentation of the responsibilities of individuals involved in design and construction. Nowadays, architects are mainly responsible for the issues related to aesthetics, form, and functionality. In addition, they act as integrators and collaborate with a number of professionals involved in the construction process. One important aspect of building design is its structure, which can have significant impacts on the form and functionality of the final design outcome. Therefore, architects must be aware of structural concepts, and particularly, how form and structural behavior are related to each other. This paper presents a collaborative effort by a team of engineers, computer scientists, architects, and educational experts to develop a web-based system called Structure and Form Analysis System (SAFAS) for use by undergraduate architecture students to learn about various structural issues and the interrelationship between form and structure using double-layer grid spatial structures. This paper also introduces a modified slab analogy approach to estimate the member forces in spatial structures. In addition, it discusses the results of the evaluation of SAFAS using assignments, questionnaires, and tests completed by university architecture students. On the basis of these results, it has been concluded that SAFAS is an effective tool for learning about structure and form by architecture students with limited knowledge of structural engineering and computer science.
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Acknowledgments
This study was supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. CCLI/TUES 0817106. This support is gratefully acknowledged. Any opinions, findings, recommendations, and conclusions expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. The authors would like to thank Mr. Nikita Sharakhov for his efforts on developing the SAFAS installer.
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Published In
Journal of Architectural Engineering
Volume 21 • Issue 3 • September 2015
Copyright
© 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 3, 2014
Accepted: Mar 26, 2015
Published online: Jun 30, 2015
Published in print: Sep 1, 2015
Discussion open until: Nov 30, 2015
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