SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & DESIGN

Modern Architecture Studies in Southeast Asia (MASSA)

Research Unit
Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Architecture)
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 2 [ARC 2513]
Credit hours: 3
Prerequisite: BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 1 (ARC 1223)
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Lecturer: ANANTHAN & SIVA

Abstract

The subject aims to introduce structures as architecture by developing an understanding

of the structural systems in construction technology in a unique way in relation to
historical and innovative buildings. Solid, skeletal and surface construction systems are
discussed and analyzed in terms of load and forces in a general term.
Projects based on topics covered during lectures provide students with the opportunity to
apply knowledge gained as well as to further enhance their understanding of the topics.

Teaching Objectives

• To develop an understanding of the structural systems in construction and its

application in the building industry.
• To identify and apply knowledge of load and forces in analyzing structural
possibilities in the structural systems as part of the construction process

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this module, students will be able to:]

1. Identify basic structural systems in construction.

2. Recognize the implication of construction systems in design.
3. Compare solid, skeletal and surface construction systems.
4. Apply construction systems in design.
5. Differentiate solid, skeletal and surface construction systems in terms of loads and
forces acting on its structural elements.
6. Analyze the issues of strength, stiffness and stability of structures including modes of
structural systems, forces, stress and strain and laws of static.

Modes of Delivery

This is a 3 credit hour subject held over 14 weeks. The mode of delivery will be in the
form of lecture, tutorial and independent research

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Contact Hours

Lecture: 2 hours/week
Tutorial: 2 hours/week
Self Study: 1.7 hour/week
General Rules and Regulations

Late Submission Penalty

The School imposes a late submission penalty for work submitted late without
a valid reason e.g. a medical certificate. Any work submitted after
the deadline (which may have been extended) shall have the
percentage grade assigned to the work on face value reduced by
10% for the first day and 5% for each subsequent day late. A
weekend counts as 1 day.

Individual members of staff shall be permitted to grant extensions for

assessed work that they have set if they are satisfied that a student has
given good reasons.

The Board of Examiners may overrule any penalty imposed and allow the
actual mark achieved to be used if the late submission was for a
good reason.

Absenteeism at intermediate or final presentations will result in zero mark for

that presentation.

Attendance and Participation

Attendance is compulsory. Any student who arrives late after the first half-
hour of class will be considered as absent. A minimum of 80% attendance is
required to pass this subject and/or be eligible for the final examination. You
are expected to attend and participate actively in class. The lectures and
tutorials will assist you in expanding your ideas and your research
progression.

Your work will be graded based on your performance throughout the

semester. Your class participation is as important as the end product.

It is compulsory for the student to attempt and submit all assessment

components including portfolio. Failing to do so will result in failing the
subject irrespective of the marks earned.

It is also compulsory for the student to attend the final examination. Being
absent from the final exam will result in failing the subject even though the
student has achieved more than 50% in the overall assessment.

Plagiarism (TU Student Handbook 2011)

Plagiarism, which is an attempt to present another person’s work as your own

by not acknowledging the source, is a serious case of misconduct which is
deemed unacceptable by the University. "Work" includes written materials
such as books, journals and magazine articles or other papers and also
includes films and computer programs. The two most common types of
plagiarism are from published materials and other students’ works
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a. Published Materials
In general, whenever anything from someone else’s work is used, whether it
is an idea, an opinion or the results of a study or review, a standard system of
referencing should be used. Examples of plagiarism may include a sentence
or two, or a table or a diagram from a book or an article used without
acknowledgement.
Serious cases of plagiarism can be seen in cases where the entire paper
presented by the student is copied from another book, with an addition of
only a sentence or two by the student. While the former can be treated as a
simple failure to cite references, the latter is likely to be viewed as cheating
in an examination. Though most assignments require the need for reference
to other peoples’ works, in order to avoid plagiarism, students should keep a
detailed record of the sources of ideas and findings and ensure that these
sources are clearly quoted in their assignment. Note that plagiarism refers to
materials obtained from the Internet too.

b. Other Students’ Work

Circulating relevant articles and discussing ideas before writing an
assignment is a common practice. However, with the exception of group
assignments, students should write their own papers. Plagiarizing the work of
other students into assignments includes using identical or very similar
sentences, paragraphs or sections. When two students submit papers which
are very similar in tone and content, both are likely to be penalised.

Student Centered Learning Approach

This subject uses the Student-centered Learning (SCL) approach. Utilization

of this method embodies most of the principles known to improve
learning and to encourage student’s participation. SCL requires
students to be active, RESPONSIBLE participants in their own learning
and the teachers are to facilitate the students learning process.
Various teaching and learning strategies such as experiential learning,
problem-based learning, site visits, group discussions, presentations,
working in group and etc. will be employed to facilitate the learning
process for this module.

In SCL students are to be:

active in their own learning
self-directed to be responsible to enhance their learning abilities
able to cultivate skills that are useful in today’s workplace
active knowledge seekers
active players in a teamwork

Blackboard 7 (BB7)

Blackboard 7 (BB7) will be used as a communication tool and information

portal for students to access subject materials, project briefs, assignments
and announcements.

Contact
Lecturer: Ananthan v_ananthan5@yahoo.com

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Office Hours

Students are encouraged to visit the instructor/lecturer/tutor concerned for

assistance during office hours. If the office hours do not meet the student's
schedule, it is suggested that the student notify the instructor, and set
appointment times as needed.

Types of Assessment and Feedback

Each student will be graded in the form of formative and summative

assessments. Formative assessments will provide information to guide the
student in the research process. This form of assessment will be conducted
through Interim Critique/Review sessions. Summative assessment will inform
the student about the level of understanding and performance capabilities
achieved at the end of each project with form of a final examination.
Assessment Plan

Assessment Type Learning Marks Presentatio (Submis

s outcomes n sion
Group/ 1,2, 3 25%
Project 1 Week 6
Individual 10%
4,5,6 25%
Group/
Project 2 10% Week 13
Individual
1-6 Pass/Fai
Portfolio Individual Week 14
l
2-9 Refer to
Final
Final
Individual 30% Examinati
Examination
on
Timetable
Total 100%
Coursework

This module will be graded in the form of coursework and final examination.
It consists of 2 projects , final examination and a portfolio submission.

Project 1: Skeletal Structure

Students will be required to produce a study model of a skeletal structure made out of
specific materials that reflects the materials used in actual construction. The study
models will be tested to determine its strength and students will be required to analyze
the success or failure of their model. Analysis should indicate the students
understanding of loads and forces experienced in a skeletal structure.

Project 2: Solid and Surface Construction

The project will be based on the concept of solid masonry construction and surface
construction methods. It will involve a relevant case study of a building of the student’s
choice. Students will be required to dissect a building of their choice and come up with
an analysis of the construction methods used in the building. The students’ analysis
should comprise structural system, material, function and load distribution in the building.

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Final Examination
This final examination is designed to assess the ability of the students in solving design,
construction and technical issues related building materials. The format of the
assessment will be informed later.

Portfolio
The portfolio is an edited document to include all the work produced in this
module. Visual diary and process of work (packaged) are to be included as
part of the portfolio submission. The portfolio should be an A3 fold-out which
is beautifully mounted onto boards and well-crafted. It should have a title
page, and should not exceed 5 x A3 panels (excluding title page). Images,
drawings, text and so on must be well edited, legible and composed. Text
should be kept minimal.

Student Input

Student participation is encouraged through various means. In this module,

students have the opportunity to participate in the following ways:

 Students’ ideas and questions are welcomed, valued and encouraged.

 Student input is sought to understand their perspectives, ideas and
needs in planning subject revision.
 Students are offered opportunities to give feedback with the assurance
that issues will be addressed in response to that feedback.
 Students reflect on their performance in personal portfolios.
 Student evaluation allows their views and experiences about the
sessions are actively sought and used as an integral part of improvement
in teaching and continuous improvement.

Marks and Grading Table (Revised as per 2011 programme guide)

Assessments and grades will be returned within 2 weeks of your submission.

You will be given the grades and necessary feedback for each submission.
The grading system is shown below:
Grad
Grad e Definitio
Marks Description
e Point n
s
Evidence of original thinking; demonstrated
outstanding capacity to analyze and
80 – Excellen
A 4.00 synthesize; outstanding grasp of module
100 t
matter; evidence of extensive knowledge
base
Evidence of good grasp of module matter;
Very critical capacity and analytical ability;
A- 75 – 79 3.67
Good understanding of relevant issues; evidence
of familiarity with the literature
B+ 70 – 74 3.33 Evidence of grasp of module module;
critical capacity and analytical ability,
Good reasonable understanding of relevant
B 65 – 69 3.00 issues; evidence of familiarity with the
literature
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 B- 60 – 64 2.67 Evidence of some understanding of the
module matter; ability to develop solutions
C+ 55 – 59 2.33 Pass
to simple problems; benefitting from his/her
C 50 – 54 2.00 university experience

D+ 47 – 49 1.67
Evidence of minimally acceptable
D 44 – 46 1.33 Marginal
familiarity with module matter, critical and
Pass
analytical skills
D- 40 – 43 1.00

Insufficient evidence of understanding of

the module matter; weakness in critical and
F 0 – 39 0.00 Fail
analytical skills; limited or irrelevant use of
the literature
Withdra Withdrawn from a module before census
WD - -
wn date, typically mid semester
Withdrawn after census date, typically mid
F(W) 0 0.00 Fail
semester
An interim notation given for a module
where a student has not completed certain
Incompl
IN - - requirements with valid reason or it is not
ete
possible to finalise the grade by the
published deadline
Given for satisfactory completion of
P - - Pass
practicum
Given for a module where attendance is for
AU - - Audit information only without earning academic
credit

Recommended Reading

Main 1. Charleson, Andre W., 2006, Structure as Architecture.

References : Architectural Press, UK
2. Ching, Francis D.K. 1991. Building Construction
illustrated. New York. Van Nostrand Reinhold.
3. Orton, Andrew. 2001, The Way We Build Now: Form Scale
and Technique. Spon Press, London. Spon Press
.
Additional 1.Lyall, Sutherland, 2002. Remarkable Structures:
References : Engineering Today’s Innovative Buildings. Princeton
Architectural Press, New York.
2. Simmon, H. Leslie. 2001. Construction: Principles,
Materials and Method. 7th Edition. New York. John Wiley &
Sons.
3. Wihide, Elizabeth. 2001. Materials: A Directory for Home
Design. Quadrille Publishing Ltd, London.

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Module Schedule

Week/Da Description
te

Week 1 Introduction to Module Outline

(2 Mar
2011) Assignment Brief
Grouping

Week 2 Lecture 1
( 9 Mar Project 1 – Project Brief Introductions
2011) Understanding of Loads and Forces:
• Dead and live load.
• Compression, tension, shear, torque,
bending, forces.
• Moment.
• Stress
• Internal resisting force
Tutorial
Week 3 Lecture 2Introduction to skeletal construction
(16 Mar • Three identifying elements: column,
2011) beam and struts
• Design approaches.
• Precedents.
• Metal, iron, wrought iron, cast iron, steel,
trusses
• Timber, traditional construction, trusses, details
• Prefabrication.
• Hierarchy.
• Primary, secondary and tertiary
elements.
• The frame and skin.
• Skin – Inside, outside and within a frame.
Class tutorial
Week 4 Class tutorial
(23 Mar Class
2011) Discussion

Week 5
(30 Mar Class tutorial Class
2011) Discussion

Week 6 Class tutorial

(6 April
2011) Modal Testing

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 Week 7 Class Tutorial
(13 April Project1
2011) Submission and
Review (30%)

Week 8 Activity Week

Week 9 Lecture 3: Solid Construction

(26 April • Basic assumptions.
2011) • Basic loading analysis.
• Well distributed loads.
• Well and moderately well distributed
loads.
• Focus loads.

•
Pilaster, buttressing.
•
Lintel and corbelling.
•
Type of arches.
•
Stability – Tumbled in, battered, flying
buttress.
• Modular system
• Masonry brickwork, block work, stone
Class tutorial
Week 10 Lecture 4:Introduction to surface construction
(4 May • Elements and components
2011) • Design approaches
• Basic assumptions
• Precedents
• Cellular and curved structures.
• Limitations
• Folded plates, shells, domes.
• Membrane structures, air-inflated
structures
• Steel, concrete, plastics
• Distribution of loads.
Class tutorial
Week 11 Class tutorial
(11 May
2011)

Week 12 Class tutorial

(18 May
2011)
Week 13 Class tutorial Project No. 2:
(25 May Submission and
2011) review (30%)

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 Week 14 Portfolio preparation Submission of
(1 June Final Examination Revision Portfolio
2011)

Note: This subject outline is module to change with short notice.

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