CONTENTS Preface x 1 Structuring Space 1 1.1 Structure as Spatial Generator and Mechanical Object 2 1.2 Spatial Aspects 3 1.3 Mechanical Aspects 12 2 Statics 19 2.1 Polonceau - Past and Present 20 2.2 Basic Structural Actions 23 2.3 Isaac Newton and the Mechanical Basis of Structures 25 2.4 Weight vs. Lightness 27 2.5 Forces and Moments: Concepts to Explain Movement and Deformation 32 2.6 Equilibrium: A Fundamental Structural Requisite 36 2.7 Intermezzo Italiano 38 2.8 Support Reactions: Connecting Elements 39 2.9 Nordic Expression of Forces 42 3 Loads 47 3.1 CaixaForum 48 3.2 Loads on Buildings-Dead or (a)Live? 50 3.3 Lessons from History and Nature 52 3.4 Dead Loads; The Weights of Immovable Things 56 3.5 Occupancy Live Loads: Animate Objects, but Inanimate Too 59 3.6 Loading Diagrams: Abstractions of Reality 63 3.7 The Natural Elements: Earth, Wind, and More 67 4 Materials 79 4.1 Casa da Musica 80 4.2 The Mechanical and Physical Properties of Materials 84 4.3 Concrete, Earth, and Bricks 91 4.4 Steel, Iron, and Aluminum 95 4.5 Wood and Cardboard 98 4.6 Glass 101 4.7 Fibers and Fabrics 103 4.8 Plastics and Composites 105 4.9 Exploring Material Properties: The Case of Chairs 107 5 The Hanger and the Tie 111 5.1 Jazz on Central Park 112 5.2 Floating Space 115 5.3 The Vertical Hanger 117 5.4 Inclining the Hanger: The Stayed System 120 5.5 Ties and Guys 125 5.6 Tension Connections 130 6 The Beam and the Slab 133 6.1 Straight versus Skewed Geometry 134 6.2 Beam Origins 136 6.3 Equilibrium from Internal Actions 139 6.4 Visualizing Actions: Shear and Moment Diagrams 145 6.5 Form Follows Diagram - Or Not.. 147 6.6 Deformations and Internal Stresses 150 6.7 The Trouble with Beams, and Shape or Material Responses 156 6.8 The Virtues of Continuity 163 6.9 Two-Way Action and Beam Grids 167 6.10 The Slab: Beams Stretched Thin 171 7 The Column and the Wall 179 7.1 Maison Carree and Carre d'Art 180 7.2 On the Threshold of the Acropolis 181 7.3 Compression Elements: How They Work 182 7.4 The Capital 184 7.5 Leonard Euler and the Slender Column 187 7.6 Mikado: A Multitude of Columns 192 7.7 The Shape of Compressive Elements 194 7.8 The Wall 201 8 The Truss and the Space Frame 209 8.1 Wachsmann and Himmelb(!)au 210 8.2 Spanning Trusses'History 212 8.3 Triangulation and Internal Stability 213 8.4 Roof Systems From East and West 218 8.5 Truss Forces, or How It Works 220 8.6 Truss Forms, or How It Looks 227 8.7 Joint Adventure 234 8.8 3-D Action: Space Frames 235 8.9 Tensegrity: When a Column Flies 240 9 The Frame and Lateral Stability ;243 9.1 Framing Light and Space 244 9.2 French Frames 246 9.3 Stabilizing Subsystems 248 9.4 Overall Stability: Taking a Bird's Eye View 261 9.5 Frame Form and Behavior 264 9.6 Finnish Form 273 9.7 Degrees of Attachment: Fixed and Hinged Connections 274 9.8 Framing Vierendeel 277 10 The Cable and the Membrane 281 10.1 Wood in Suspension 282 10.2 Hanging by a Rope 283 10.3 Portuguese Tension 285 10.4 Cable Shapes and Cable Forces 287 10.5 Stabilizing and Supporting Suspension Cables 294 10.6 Cable Nets and Fabric Membranes 298 10.7 Frei Otto 308 10.8 Pneumatic Membranes 310 11 The Arch and the Vault 317 11.1 The Stone Arch Revisited 318 11.2 Arch Form as Historical Indicator 320 11.3 Understanding Arch Behavior 325 11.4 To Hinge or Not To Hinge? 329 11.5 Compression Forces and Bending Moments in Arches 331 11.6 The Foundations of the Arch 335 11.7 The Vault and Light 340 12 The Dome and the Shell 347 12.1 Domes in the Landscape 348 12.2 Traditional Dome: Arch Action Revisited 350 12.3 Shell Dome: Revolution in Structural Behavior 357 12.4 Due Duomi a Roma 361 12.5 Folded Plates and Cylindrical Shells: Beam Action Revisited 364 12.6 The Hypar Shell 371 12.7 Beyond Surface and Geometric Purity 375 Appendix 389 Sources for Project Details 389 Illustration Credits 391 Notes 395 Bibliography 403 Index (by project name) 404 Index (by subject) 408