BUILDING CONSTRUCTION PROJECT 1

Skeletal Construction (Temporary Bus Shelter)

KHOR HAO XIANG

LEE YIH
LOH WEI SHUEN
LOVIE TEY
SCHANI BHARAT

CONTENT

INTRODUCTION
DESIGN PROCESS
IDEAS DEVELOPMENT
ANALYSIS ON SUCCESS/ FAILURE 1
MODIFICATIONS
FINAL DESIGN

MATERIAL SELECTION
CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS
CONSTRUCTION DETAIL
FRAME COMPONENTS
JOINTS
ASSEMBLING PROCESS

FORCES AND STRENGTH OF STRUCTURE

FORCES DISTRIBUTION DIAGRAM

REFERENCE

INTRODUCTION

In a group of 5 members, we are supposed to propose a design of a temporary bus shelter by

using skeleton structure system. Objective of this project is to let us students have an
understanding of skeletal structure and its relevant structural component by knowing how the
structure reacts under loading, demonstrating a convincing understanding on how the construction
work as well as solving construction problems with an oblique design.
First of all, we have to choose a form for the bus shelter out of the basic forms that are
given such as cube, cuboid, pentagonal prism, sphere and so on. During discussion among
ourselves, we took the challenge on designing a bus shelter that is bizarre in form, yet being
able to withstands all kind of loads and forces because we want to explore more construction
methods that are special to our oblique form while not sacrificing the aesthetics values and
strength of the structure. Therefore, we have developed our design from a typical rectangular form
into an octagonal prism because according to our research, octagon is the most efficient shape for
several good reasons such as comparing with a square; an octagon encloses approximately 20%
additional space with the same perimeter while in the meantime the shape encloses space
efficiently, minimizing external surface area and consequently heat loss / heat gain, as well as
the surface of the prism is easily oriented to receive natural sunlight.
Other than in design wise, we also aimed to reduce the construction cost of the bus shelter.
In order to do so, our approaches on choice of materials are cheap but not sacrificing the
strength of structure. Therefore, we use materials such as canvas tarpaulins for the roof, plywood
for most of the structure as well as using several ways of joints such as slotting, mortise and
tendon etc that are from timber as they are low in cost on the market comparing to typical roof
tiles, steel structures and steel plate connectors.

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

EASY/ QUICK ACCESS

TO MAINTAIN AN ORDERED
CIRCULATION, ESPECIALLY
DURING PEAK HOURS.

RAINPOUR PREVENTION
PREVENT RAIN POURING ONTO
USERS HEAD WHILE
ACCESSING (PROBLEM
OCCURRED IN A
CONVENTIONAL DESIGN).

WEATHER RESISTANT
TO PROVIDE SUN SHADING
AND TO WITHSTAND RAINY
DAYS AND STRONG WINDS.

VISIBILITY
ALLOW USERS TO BE AWARED
OF THE OUTSIDE
ENVIRONMENT WHILE
PROVIDING SECURITY.

CONCEPTUAL IDEAS
BASIC GEOMETRY:
OCTAGONAL SHAPE, WHY?

1. EQUAL FORCE
DISTRIBUTION
ON 8 SIDES

2. EASY ACCESS FROM 3

DIRECTIONS)

3. AERODYNAMIC
(DIVERT STRONG WIND TO
REDUCE LATERAL FORCE)

IDEAS DEVELOPMENT
DESIGN 2

DESIGN 1

DESIGN 3

ROOF
BEAM
COLUMN

RAINWATER

DETAIL STRUCTURE: BRACING

BASIC OCTAGONAL STRUCTURE FORMED BY TIMBER

COLUMNS AND BEAMS, FACING ALL SIDES DUE TO
CONCENTRIC CONFIGURATION.

PROS: MAXIMUM VISIBILITY, QUICK

ACCESS FROM ALL SIDES
CONS: COMPLICATED BRACING DESIGN,
IMPRACTICAL ROOF DESIGN

DETAIL
STRUCTURE:
BRACING

ROOF DESIGN: FLOW OF

RAINWATER

3 MAIN ENTRANCE ARE DETERMINED. IMPROVED ROOF

DESIGN THAT COLLECTS RAINWATER AND ALLOW THEM
TO FLOW OUT THROUGH HOLES DESIGNED AT THE
BACK.

PROS: PREVENT RAINPOUR ON USER AS

THEY ACCESS, MAXIMUM VISIBILITY,
QUICK AND ORDERED ACCESS, SIMPLIFIED
BRACING
CONS: UNITERESTING DESIGN, UNSTABLE
ROOF STRUCTURE

IMPROVED ROOF
DESIGN

FRONT VIEW

MODIFIED THE ROOF DESIGN THAT HAS THE SAME

FUNCTION AS PREVIOUS. CLADDINGS ARE ADDED
TO PROVIDED BETTER SUN SHADING AND SENSE
OF SECURITY

PROS: VISUALLY AESTHETIC, MAXIMUM

VISIBILIY, QUICK AND ORDERED
ACCESS, EASY TO ASSEMBLE/
DISMANTLE, BETTER SUNSHADING,
SECURITY, PREVENT RAIN SPLASHING

LOAD TESTING
1

MINIMUM AMOUNT OF WEIGHT

SUPPORTED BY (1:5) STRUCTURE:

7.5 KG

FORCES ASSERTED IN REAL LIFE:

F = M X A
= (7.5 X 5) X 9.8 m/s^2
= 367.5 N

ROOF STRUCTURE WAS BENDING DOWN AND

THE ROOFS FORM STARTED TO GET
DISTORTED ON STAGE 3.
THIS IS DUE TO THE BRACINGS POOR
DESIGN, CAUSING LACK OF STRENGHNESS
TO WITHSTAND MORE LOAD EXERTED FROM
THE TOP, WHICH REPRESENT THE WIND AND
RAIN IN REAL LIFE.

PROBLEM DETECTED:
ROOF STRUCTURE DESIGN AND ITS BRACING

LATERAL FORCES

WITHOUT APPLYING FORCE

FORCE APPLIED IN CLOCKWISE

DIRECTION

WHEN STRUCTURE IS TWISTED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, THE

COLUMNS APPEARED TO BE UNSTABLE, TILTED TO THE
SIDE FOLLOWING THE FORCES DIRECTION.
THIS IS DUE TO THE WEAK STRUCTURE OF THE COLUMNS
AND BRACING AS BOTH OF THEM WERE HAVING THE SAME
THICKNESS. BESIDES, THE K-BRACING WERE ALL
ARRANGED IN THE SAME DIRECTION WHICH WEAKENS THE
OVERALL STRUCTURES STRENGTH

FORCE APPLIED IN ANTICLOCKWISE

DIRECTION

PROBLEM DETECTED:
WEAK K-BRACING STRUCTURE AND COLUMN

TOO MANY HOLES TO BE

MADE ON BEAM TO
CONNECT THE BRACINGS,
WEAKENING THE
STRENGTH OF IT

POOR COLUMNS BRACING

DESIGN CAUSING COLUMN TO
BE TILTED UNDER LATERAL
FORCE

DIFFERENT
WAYS TO CONNECT
BRACINGS IN RIGHT
ANGLE

ROOF - COLUMN

CONNECTING BEAMS
TO COLUMN

COLUMNS X BRACING

SPECIAL DESIGN TO CONNECT

BRACING TO COLUMN DUE TO THE
ANGLE (135)

BEAM - COLUMN - FOUNDATION

POOR DESIGN OF
ALLOCATION FOR FOOTINGS
CAUSING WASTAGE ON COST
AND RESOURCES

JOINT FOR SPECIAL ANGLE

JOINT FOR RIGHT ANGLE

FINAL DESIGN
1150 MM
400 MM

FLOOR PLAN

ROOF PLAN

3000 MM
2500 MM

FRONT VIEW

SIDE VIEW

MATERIAL SELECTION
TIMBER PLYWOOD ACTUAL MATERIAL: TO BE
REPLACED WITH THIN
TIMBER PLYWOOD WITH
WATERPROOF COATING

500GSM VINYL PVC

BANNER - ACTUAL
MATERIAL: TO BE
REPLACED WITH
WATERPROOFING CANVAS
TARPAULINS

VOID - ACTUAL
MATERIAL: TO BE
REPLACED WITH CLEAR
GLASS
TIMBER PLYWOOD ACTUAL MATERIAL: TO BE
REPLACED WITH MERANTI
AS ITS A DURABLE AND
ECONOMICAL HARDWOOD

CONCRETE FOUNDATION:
MIXTURE OF CEMENT AND
WATER POURED INTO A
BOX-LIKE STRUCTURE
MADE OF PLYWOOD

TIMBER PLYWOOD ACTUAL MATERIAL: TO BE

REPLACED WITH TIMBER
PLANK WITH WATERPROOF
COATING

CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS

RECYCABLE MATERIALS
ARE COLLECTED AND ALL
EQUIPMENTS ARE SET UP

MEASURING AND MARKING

FOR CUTTING PURPOSE

G-CLAMP AND ELECTRIC

SAW WERE USED FOR A
CLEAN FINISHING

THE UNEVEN SURFACE IS

SMOOTHEN WITH MILLED
TOOTH FILES

NAILING PIECES TOGETHER

STARTING FROM FLOOR BEAM

COLUMN IS ATTACHED IS
ATTACHED TO FLOOR
BEAMS PROCEDURALLY

MINI DRILL MACHINE IS

USED TO CREATE HOLES

CHISEL METHOD IS USED

FOLLOW BY DRILLING TO
CREATE THE MORTISE

ROOF BEAM ARE

CONNECTED TO COLUMNS

FLOOR BEAMS ARE REINFORCED

WITH STEEL PLATE TO
SUPPORT HEAVIER LOAD (DEAD
LOAD + LIVE LOAD)

TIMBER PLYWOOD
FLOORING IS SLOTTED
INTO FLOOR BEAM

ATTACHING K-BRACING
TO THE CREATED MORTISE

CEMENT ADDED WITH WATER

IS POURED INTO THE BOXLIKE STRUCTURES

ADDED PASSENGER SEATS

MADE OF TIMBER

BANNER IS CONNECTED
TO ROOF BEAM

THIN SHEETS ARE

RIVETED ONTO
COLUMNS, K-BRACING
AND ROOF BEAMS

JOINTS AND DETAILS

1. MORTISE AND TENON

CONNECTING THE K-BRACING
TO COLUMN IN THE MIDDLE

2. REINFORCED WITH
STEEL BRACKETS

ROOF - COLUMN - FLOOR

OCTAGON
135 ON EACH SIDE
3. PEGS AND PUZZLE CONCEPT
CONNECTING THE K-BRACING
TO COLUMN AT THE BOTTOM
AND TOP

4. ROPE TYING
TO TIE THE WATERPROOFING
BANNER ONTO ROOF BEAM

CROSS HALVING JOINTS

BRACING STRUCTURE TO
SECONDARY BEAM

5. CROSS HALVING JOINTS

INTERCONNECTION OF
SECONDARY BEAMS

FLOOR - FOUNDATION

6. MORTISE AND TENON

SECONDARY BEAM TO PRIMARY BEAM
7. PIN SCREWED FOOTING
ALLOCATION OF
FOOTINGS

PHOTOS - JOINTS AND DETAILS

1. MORTISE AND TENON
CONNECTING THE K-BRACING
TO COLUMN IN THE MIDDLE

2. REINFORCED
WITH STEEL
BRACKETS

3. PEGS AND PUZZLE CONCEPT

CONNECTING THE K-BRACING
TO COLUMN AT THE BOTTOM
AND TOP

4. ROPE TYING
TO TIE THE
WATERPROOFING BANNER
ONTO ROOF BEAM

5. CROSS HALVING
JOINTS
INTERCONNECTION OF
SECONDARY BEAMS

6. MORTISE AND TENON

SECONDARY BEAM TO PRIMARY BEAM

7. PIN SCREWED FOOTING

ASSEMBLING PROCESS

5. COLUMN - FLOOR: THIS

FOLLOW BY THE TALLER ONE
IN AN ASCENDING WAY

4. COLUMN - FLOOR: CONNECT

TWO OF THE SHORTEST COLUMN
TO THE SIDE-BY-SIDE TWO
END OF THE LONG BEAMS ON
FLOOR STRUCTURE

3. COLUMN - FLOOR: CONNECT

TWO OF THE SHORTEST COLUMN
TO THE FLOOR STRUCTURE,
FOLLOW BY THE TALLER ONE
IN AN ASCENDING WAY

2. FLOOR: CONNECT THE

REMAINING BEAMS TO FORM AN
OCTAGONAL BASE AROUND THE
(STRUCTURE 1.)

1. FLOOR: CONNECT THE

SHORT BEAMS TO THE TWO
LONG BEAMS

6. COLUMN - COLUMN/ BEAM:

CONNECT THE BRACINGS TO
THE COLUMN AND FLOOR BEAM
TO STABILIZE EVERYTHING

7. ROOF - COLUMN: CONNECT

THE EXTERNAL ROOF BEAMS TO
FORM AN OCTAGONAL SHAPE
AROUND THE COLUMN

8. ROOF : SLOT TWO LONG

BEAMS TO OF SAME LENGTH
INTO ONE LONGEST BEAM

9. ROOF : CONNECT
(STRUCTURE 8.) TO THE
COLUMN AND ROOF BEAMS

FORCES AND STRENGTH

MILD FORCE

SEVERE FORCE
RAINFLOW DIRECTION

FORCE DISTRIBUTIONS
DIRECTION
FORCE DISTRIBUTION ON
FLOOR BEAMS

FORCE DISTRIBUTION ON
OVERALL STRUCTURE

FORCE DISTRIBUTION ON ROOF

BEAMS

REFERENCE

Chudley, R. 2006, Construction Technology. 4thedition. Pearson and

Prentice Hall.

Simmon, H. Leslie, 2001. Construction: Principles, Materials and

Method. 7th Edition. New York. John
Wiley & Sons.

Ching, Francis D.K. 1991. Building Construction Illustrated. New

York. Van Nostrand Reinhold

"How to Build a Gazebo. DIY Timber Frame Wood Back Yard Gazebo.
Simple Woodwork Pergola & Round." Youtube. N.p., 24 July 2014. Web.
1 May 2016.

Peters, Rick. "How to Build a Pergola Right in Your Backyard."

Popular Mechanics. N.p., 1 Oct. 2015. Web. 1 May 2016.

"Shelter Design." Metro Transit. Metro Transit, n.d. Web. 1 May

2016.

Begnal, Tom. "Low-Tech Mortising." Fine Wood Working. N.p., 20-25

Dec. 2013. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.