Structural Systems Flashcards
6 cards from real NCARB practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Structural Systems flashcards as text
In a reinforced concrete beam, where is the primary tension steel typically located?
Answer: At the bottom of the beam in a simply supported span
In a simply supported beam, bending causes tension in the bottom fiber; steel reinforcing bars are placed there because concrete is weak in tension but strong in compression.
What is the purpose of 'shear walls' in a building's lateral force resisting system?
Answer: To resist lateral wind and seismic forces through in-plane shear action
Shear walls resist horizontal forces by acting as vertical cantilevers, transferring lateral loads from the diaphragm down to the foundation through their in-plane stiffness.
A post-tensioned concrete slab differs from conventionally reinforced concrete in what way?
Answer: Steel tendons are stressed after concrete placement to place the slab in compression
In post-tensioning, high-strength steel tendons are stressed by jacking after the concrete cures, compressing the slab and counteracting tensile stresses from applied loads.
What is a 'transfer beam' or 'transfer slab' in structural design?
Answer: A heavy structural element that collects loads from columns above and redistributes them to a different column grid below
Transfer beams redirect column loads when the structural grid changes between floors—common in mixed-use buildings where parking columns don't align with upper floor columns.
Which structural material has equal strength in both tension and compression?
Answer: Steel
Steel's crystalline structure gives it roughly equal yield strength in tension and compression, making it uniquely efficient for members subject to alternating stresses like seismic loading.
What is 'column buckling' and why is it a critical design concern?
Answer: The sudden lateral bending failure of a slender column under compressive load before material strength is reached
Buckling is an instability failure where a slender column suddenly deflects laterally under compression, often at loads well below the material's crushing strength.
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