Columns-Beams, Joists, and Girders

COLUMNS

are rigid, relatively slender structural member that supports axial, and compressive loads.

STONE COLUMNS

used prior to steel and was used by locking together sections one on top of another through the use of mortise and tenon.

Drum

1 section of stone column

Entasis

distortion in Architecture

Golden

mean proportion

Buckling

breaking of columns

REINFORCED CONCRETE COLUMNS

concrete in which steel reinforcement is embedded that the 2 materials act together in resisting forces.

Tiered Columns

columns with longitudinal bars and lateral ties.

Spiral Columns

columns with longitudinal bars and closely spaced continuous spiral hooping. It requires a minimum of 6 vertical bars.

Composite Columns

structural steel column is embedded into the concrete core.

Combined Columns

structural steel is encased in concrete.

Lally Columns

fabricated steel pipes filled with grout or concrete to prevent corrosion.

STEEL COLUMNS

are pre-fabricated off-site and then assembled on site. It is fast and precise. It has a high strength to weight ratio but can lose strength rapidly in fire.

Intumescent Coating

fire protection coating.

Struts of 1 or 2 angles

used for compression members in roof trusses, light towers, and lattice girders.

Starred Angles 2 or 4

connected by batten plate spaced at intervals of 3-4 ft. used to support the light loads.

Laticed Columns

used where light loads are to be supported on long columns.

Rolled H-Columns

standard factory made section.

Built-up Columns

used in heavy building frames.

Top Chord Columns

made of 2 rolled/built-up channel sections and a cover plate.

Columns for Bents

4 angles and a web-plate.

Battened Columns

2 component parts of the column are connected by batten plates

CONCRETE

a mixture of cement, aggregate, and water. A plastic mass that can be casted, molded, or formed into predetermined shape or size. Also provides fireproof construction.

MORTAR/STUCCO/PLASTER

concrete mixed with water and a fine aggregate.

CEMENT

calcined mixture of clay and limestone, finely pulverized and used in concrete and mortar.

Lime

used by Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. Made by calcination of limestone.

Gypsum

also used by Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. Source of the word plaster.

Pozzolan Cement

first developed by the Romans.

Portland Cement

patented by John Aspdin in 1824.

Type 1: Normal

for structural works, bridges, pavements, and concrete masonry units.

Type II: Modified Portland Cement

generates less & slower heat. Provides moderate resistance to sulfate attack. Used in large piers & heavy abutments to minimize detrimental effects of heat/hydration. Also used in structures in contact w/ ground water.

Type III: High early strength cement

used where high strength is desired at early periods. Used in cold weather construction to reduce time required for protection from low temperature.

Type IV: Low heat cement

generates less heat of hydration than normal Portland cement. Used in massive structures like large gravity dams.

Type V: Sulfate resistant cement

used when high sulfate resistant attack is required.

White Portland Cement

manufactures using selected raw materials so that the finished product will be white rather than gray. Used for decorative architectural concrete, stucco, white or pigmented grout.

Air-entraining Portland cement

minute air bubbles in the concrete mix to increase freeze resistance. Makes the concrete more durable and lighter in color.

AGGREGATES

are inert granular material such as sand and gravel which when mixed with cement and water results in concrete.

ADMIXTURES

substances added to a concrete mix to alter or enhance a specific property.

Air-entraining agents

minute air bubbles to increase its resistance to freezing.

Accelerators

used to speed up setting time and reduces the length of time for curing and protection.

Retarders

slows down setting time to allow more time for placing and working the mix.

Reducers/Plasticizers

reduces water requirements of concrete for a given consistency.

Integral

waterproofing compound reduces the capillary attraction of the voids in the concrete and decreases water absorption of concrete or mortar. It does not render the concrete completely water proof.

Colored Pigments

gives color to concrete floors.

BEAMS

rigid, structural member designed to carry and transfer transverse loads across space to supporting elements.

Simple beams

single span with a support at each end.

Continuous Beams

beams resting on more than 2 supports.

Cantilever beams

beams that are supported at one end only.

Deflection

bending of beam

JOISTS

any series of small, parallel beams for supporting floors, ceiling, or flat roofs.

GIRDER

principal beam that supports concentrated loads at isolated points along its length.

REINFORCED CONCRETE BEAMS AND GIRDERS

the reinforcements of a beam is placed near the bottom of the section. The upper surface of the beam becomes covered downward. Additional reinforcing bars are placed on top of the beam in order to resist tensile forces.

T Beams

a reinforced concrete floor slab and its supporting beam/girder are built at the same time & thoroughly tied together.

Beam with Compression Reinforcement

doubly reinforced beams. Requires no bent up bars.

Cantilever Beams

beams that are supported at one end only.

Hollow Block Girders

double reinforced beams used for long spans. These are hollowed in the center to reduce dead load.

Beam Brackets/Corbels

short beam extensions from columns used to support rafters or trusses.

Steel Beams & Girders

may be rolled in the shape of I (I-beam), channel beams, or angles.

Plate Girders

beam composed of wide plate at the top & bottom of which are riveted angles & plates. It does not give sufficient flange area and cover plates may be added.

STIFFENER ANGLES

are used against buckling

Box Girders

built up beam in which more than one web plate is used.

Open Web Steel Joints

trussed web used for passage of mechanical services such as pipes and ducts.

Light gauge steel joints

metal furring. Manufactured from cold formed sheet or strip steel

REINFORCED BARS

changes the basic strength properties of concrete and its behavior as a structural material.

WATER-CEMENT RATIO

strength of a concrete mix is highly affected by how much water is added into the mixture.