Early Architectural Systems Answers

The load-bearing element of an construction is the location where the weight and force rests. A typical load-bearing construction would have thick walls and a wide base, made of materials such as stones or bricks, which are stacked. The potential problem with load-bearing is that the stacked materials have a limit on the amount of weight they can hold, and therefore that puts limitations on the height a structure can be.

A dome is essentially a half sphere that improves the load bearing capacity of a ceiling piece. It is an arch that has been spun around on its verticle axis.

The image shows a medieval castle tower using masonry construction with battlements. This crenellated design was common in Medieval castles because it provided defensive positions for archers while protecting the walls from invaders.

This is an example of a vault, specifically a barrel vault. This type of construction is very stable because of its weight bearing capacity. Therefore the structure is likely to be long-lasting.

The shell is the exterior of the structure. The skeleton is the main interior support and is made of a sturdier material than the exterior.

A post-and-lintel system uses vertical posts which are separated to support a horizontal beam. The main problem that can occur with a post-and-lintel system is cause by the weight is unevenly distributed and the center is unsupported, which can cause sagging over time. Stonehenge is an example of an ancient structure that used a post-and-lintel system.

The Doric Order was the oldest and most stable because of its wider style that was not fluted or adorned. Its capital consisted of an abacus and a curved, trapezoidal echinus. The Ionic Order was much more slim and elegant than the Doric Order and had a more decorative capital with spiraled volutes atop the echinus. Finally, the Corinthian Order was the most slender with the most decorative capital, featuring smaller volutes and acanthus leaves.

A truss is a structure made up of one or more triangular units that are connected at the joints by long beams. The triangles of a truss structure keep the structure from sheering and collapsing. A suspension is a type of bridge where the main load-bearing elements are hung from suspension cables. The load is distributed to the cables, which continue beyond the structure. Both types of construction are most commonly used in bridge building.

Architecture is the art of building or constructing. An architect is a person who designs pieces of architecture. An architect must understand the technical skills of design and construction, as well as what is required to make a piece of architecture functional and/or aesthetically pleasing.