Trident Learning

Conceptual Structures I and II provide an understanding of structural concepts. Without attempting to produce structural engineers, these courses give students the opportunity to appreciate how structure may be integrated into the architectural design rather than be applied afterwards. Conceptual structures II explores the theory of structure as it relates to simple beams and columns. The course analyses causes of beam failure, loading methods, laws of bending and introduces simple shear force, bending moments and defection diagrams. Column properties and causes of failure are treated in an examination of slenderness ratio, stress and strain, effective length and radius of gyration.  For the final evaluation of the Conceptual Structures segment of the Architectural Programme, students will integrate into the programme’s Comprehensive Design Project a component of structure. This will be evaluated against the main criteria of appropriateness of material, stability, form and size.