Building Superstructures Construction Mr. O’Rourke

3 Kinds of Superstructures: Mass Mass Bearing Wall Bearing Wall Framed Framed

Mass Structures Nearly/totally solid Nearly/totally solid Little or no space inside Little or no space inside Use large amounts of material Use large amounts of material

Mass Structures (cont’d) Most materials are in natural state Most materials are in natural state Soil, rock, reinforced concrete, asphalt paving Soil, rock, reinforced concrete, asphalt paving Materials are mixed Materials are mixed Keeps costs low Keeps costs low

Bearing Walls Have usable space, thick walls Have usable space, thick walls Made of brick, Made of brick, block, or rock Not as good for Not as good for buildings with +1 story

Bearing Walls (cont’d) Concrete Block walls- Industrial and commercial Concrete Block walls- Industrial and commercial Tilt-up Bearing walls- Tilt-up Bearing walls- Reinforced concrete Reinforced concrete

Frame Structures Made from wood, reinforced concrete Made from wood, reinforced concrete or steel Have a skeleton usually enclosed Have a skeleton usually enclosed Frames are made of beams, rods, poles and boards Frames are made of beams, rods, poles and boards

Frame Structures (cont’d) Provide more Provide more space inside Use less materials Use less materials Easy to insulate Easy to insulate 1-4 story buildings 1-4 story buildings use wood-> concrete->steel