Course description

Construction IV is an expansion of the principle contents of all the previous construction courses, thereby also examining issues of material behavior, constructional assembly, and structural analysis and design but with an increased complexity and scope.

A primary objective of the course to provide the design student with the ability for reasonable preliminary sizing and assessment of a total system and to assist the student in determining the appropriateness and applicability of a selected system and its attendant components to any particular design solution at hand.

Design and analyses of structural systems and components are universally understood within a conceptual dichotomy whereby a material's internal stress capacity --as described by mechanics of materials--must be able to balance the external system of applied forces along with its resulting reactions --as represented within the realm of statics (and/or dynamics).

Although the primary analyses are accomplished through static methods, this course emphasizes the dynamic realities of buildings as 3-dimensional objects which are in constant motion due to a variety of loadings from all directions--beyond just those due to gravity. The course will also emphasize the necessity of visualization of exaggerated structural deformations and deflections, as well as, the graphic representations of shear and moment diagrams as the fundamental tools for the architect to understand both building system and component behaviors.

Attendance

Punctual and regular attendance for the entire class time is essential and mandatory. Students with 3 unexcused absences during the term, will lose one letter grade and 1/'2 letter grade for each additional unexcused absence or may be dropped from the course without further notice. Excused absences are only for a significant illness or a family emergency and require that the student arrange to contact the instructor as soon as reasonably possible.

Format

• Lectures will cover the significant material introduced in the required reading assignments
• Homework assignments will be issued most weeks and will be due the following week after the student has had the opportunity to attend the lab sessions which will review example problems similar in nature to those assignments. Late homework will be reviewed but not credited.
• In addition to the weekly assignments, constructed projects will constitute the fundamental coursework.
• Homework problems will be accomplished in groups of 3 or less. Any individual not performing a commensurate share of the work may be eliminated from the group but is still responsible to satisfy all homework requirements.
• Projects, on the other hand, will be completed by each individual student.
• Quizzes will be given without notice and may cover reading assignments and/or any material presented in any prior and/or current lectures. The format of the quizzes, either open or closed book, will be determined by the instructor at the time of the quiz.
• Exams will be closed book and may exact any information from all lectures, labs, and reading assignments within a given period determined by the instructor.

Texts

Structures by Daniel Schodek, 5th edition
ISBN 0-13-048879-8

Reserved Texts

Building Structures, Ambrose, Fundamentals of Building Construction, Allen, The Architect's Studio Companion, Allen, Why Buildings Fall Down, Salvadori, Building Construction Illustrated, Ching, Structures, Gordon

Grading

The categories listed below constitute the following percentage of final course grades:

Homework/Quizzes 15%
Exam 1 20%
Exam 2 20%
Final Exam 25%
Projects 20%

Each item above will have its own grading criteria that will be issued with each assignment or task that will be numerically graded and scaled with the final course grades established by the following ranges:

A 92-100
B 82-92
C 72-82
D 65-72
F below 65

Note: graduate students grades may include plus(+) or minus(-). Numerical values located at the 1/3 and 2/3 points between whole grade values except for the letter grade A where A- ranges from 92-94.

Other

As a courtesy to the other students, no food consumption is allowed in the classroom.

NO INCOMPLETES WILL BE ALLOWED

As a matter of equity and fairness among all the students in the course, the only remedy for any performance deficiencies that result in a final course grade below that required for passing will to repeat the course at its next offering, without exception. (Con IV is currently only offered yearly)

Students with Disabilities

Any student with a documented disability (physical or cognitive) who requires academic accommodations should contact the Services for Students with Disabilities area of the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259 as soon as possible to request an official letter outlining authorized accommodations.