Structures

Natural vs Manufactured
solid, frame and shell

solid

• can be "a pile"
• can be hollowed
• weighty

frame

• skeleton
• inside is hollow
• load bearing areas
• non-load bearing areas

shell

• supports load without solid material or frame
• shell spreads forces out evenly
• little materials but difficult to make
• looks great

Function Drives Design

AESTHETICS

Forces

internal

• compression
• tension
• torsion
• shearing

external

• friction
• gravity
• symmetry - balanced arrangement
• live and dead loads

Joints

Stress
Fatigue
Failure

Can evaluate through

• Cost
• Benefit (function)
• Safety
• Environmental impact