Course Details

1. Explain and understand the role of the structural system of building structures and for various materials (Reinforcement concrete, Masonry structures, Timber structures and Metallic structures).
2. Distinguish and understand the role of each structural element (plate, beam, truss, joint, column, foundation) and the type of loads supported by each of them.
3. Understand the way transferring the external loads from the superstructure to the foundation.
4. Analyze the different boundary and support conditions of structural elements (fixed, pin, rolling) and the reaction loads developed at each support.
5. Use the equations of equilibrium in order to estimate the support loads.
6. Identify the stress – strain scheme of a material and to estimate the modulus of elasticity (E) and the tension and compression strength from this scheme.
7. Define the different stressing developed on a beam section by axial force, shear force and bending moment.
8. Identify the different role of the cross area, the moment of inertia and the length of a beam to the deflection of a beam under external loading.

Recognition of the structural system: Main emphasis is given to recognize and understand the role of the structural system especially for the buildings. Basic principles for the design of structural systems are presented through the human and architecture history.

Transferring of the external loading to the foundation: The transferring of the external loading to the foundation through the plates, the beam, the joints and the columns or shear walls is explained

Characteristics of structural elements: This issue deals with the types and the main characteristics of the structural elements such as plate, beam,truss, joint, column and foundation. Distinguish between plate and beam and between beam and truss related to the dimensions of such elements, the type and the direction of the applied loads and the supporting conditions.

Supporting conditions: The loads and the stressing developed at the supporting conditions of structural elements or structural systems and the corresponding constrains of each type of support(fix, pin, rolling) are explained and examined through examples.    

Parameters related to the stress and the strength of the structural elements: The meaning of the stress – strain scheme of a material, the modulus of elasticity (E), the tension and compression strength from this scheme is presented in order to understand the different stressing developed on a beam section by axial force,shear force and bending moment. Parallel to that the role of the area of a beam section, the moment of inertia and the length to the deflection of a beam under external loading is explained and examined through a project.

• Beton Kalender 1984, Vol. 1
• Beton Kalender 1984, Vol. 2
• Beton Kalender 1984, Vol. 3
• Beton Kalender 1984, Vol. 4

• M. Demosthenous “Static and Architecture I”

The taught part of the course is delivered to the students by means of lectures and computer-aided presentations. Lecture notes and presentations are available through the class for students to use in combination with the relevant textbooks and other notes.

Lectures are supplemented with two project works (assignments) carried out on an individual basis. In the first project, students are requested to describe various building structural systems, with different materials and to gives imple structural solutions for specific problems. At the second project the students have to do many calculations to estimate and correlate the deflection of various beams with different boundary conditions (supports).