Structural Engineering - ST Range
Understanding Structural Behaviour
ST10/ST11 - issue 1
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New revolutionary teaching system
A pioneering new approach to the teaching of structural engineering.
A fusion of innovative software, unique hardware and the authoritative
textbook provide a firm foundation on the understanding of structural
behaviour.
Armfield offer a totally new approach to the teaching of structural engineering.
Focusing on the underlying understanding of the structural behaviour, whilst
still offering explanation of the basic principles.
Ordering Specification - ST10/ST11
ST10 Understanding Structural Behavior
ST11 Instrumentation Package
• Educational tool aimed at giving students an understanding of how structures behave
• A variety of different structures can be built up on a widescreen display. The software calculates the simulated performance of the structure i.e. deflection, moment force diagram, shear force diagram, reactions. These diagrams are displayed directly behind the physical model of the structure at the same size of the model and so can be directly related to the responses obtained by applying manual stimuli
• Supplied with a selection of beams of different lengths, fixed and pinned joints, and fixed, pinned and slide supports, allowing a wide range of physical structures to be assembled
• Carbon fibre beams provide an exaggerated bending response to aid visualisation and understanding
• An optional sensor and instrumentation package enables loads to be applied from the software, and the resulting reactions and deflections to be measured and displayed on the screen
• Supplied with the textbook - "Understanding Structural Analysis" by Dr David Brohn
Key Features
Intuitive design providing great 'touch
and feel'
> Carbon fibre beams provide exaggerated response for enhanced visualisation
> Carbon fibre beams also provide negligible plastic deformation for long
life and repeatability
> Fully integrated hardware and software display
> Wide range of structures can be constructed from simple components
> Compare computer simulations with actual responses
> Sensor and Instrumentation package
> Supplied with the textbook 'Understanding Structural
Analysis' by Dr David Brohn
Introduction
Modern structural engineering makes extensive use of computer programs to provide the detailed analysis of structures. Once a structure becomes even slightly complex the calculations involved exceed what can be sensibly implemented using manual or spreadsheet calculations. Similarly modern teaching practice focuses on the use of these structural engineering analysis programs. Although these provide a superb analysis facility, they rely totally on the user having an inherent understanding of the structure to be analysed. This unfortunately is not always the case. The analysis is only as good as the information provided and can do nothing to improve an inherently flawed concept (RIRO).
Conventional structural engineering teaching equipment does little or nothing to provide this understanding, focusing on detailed analysis of simple situations, it makes no attempt to encourage the student to think of what really matters when designing or analysing structures.
Armfield have teamed up with Dr David Brohn (who is also working with the Institution of Structural Engineering on this topic) to develop a range of hardware and software specifically to address this issue of understanding structural behaviour.
The range of equipment enables a wide variety of structural models to be assembled and understood. It deliberately uses a series of beams, which provide an exaggerated response allowing the deflections to be easily and visualised. Even the basic system without actuators or sensors can provide invaluable understanding of the structures just by pressing manually and observing the deflections. When coupled to the display software, the sensors, the actuators and the analysis software, the equipment provides an unsurpassed unique learning experience.
Modes of use
The simplest mode is to use the hardware and backboard to build a structure. Applying loads by hand and seeing how the structure reacts gives instant feedback and a great learning experience.
Using the display and visualisation software takes this learning experience to another dimension. Graphical display of moment forces, shear forces, deflections and reactions in response to a simulated load really bring these concepts to life. Displaying these simulations on the screen, overlaid with the physical model, and comparing the simulations with the hardware provides an unparalleled and totally unique teaching capability. (The software can also be used on its own without the hardware if desired.)
The next stage is to add the optional Instrumentation hardware package. This enables loads to be applied to the structure from the computer, and actual reactions and displacements measured on the sophisticated sensors. Thus quantitive measurements of loads, displacements and reactions can be taken.
The sensors and actuators can also be used in a
freeform mode to apply and measure responses to the users own structure.
Finally it is possible to do a full computer simulation of
the structures. Armfield provide models of the key structures,
which
can be run directly
on a demonstration version of a professional software structural
analysis package.
Description
The overall teaching package is comprised of four different types of components. Different selections of components are available to meet specific teaching requirements.
1. Structural Hardware
This is a set of components enabling a wide variety of 2D structures
to be assembled and understood. It comprises a transparent backboard
on which
the structure is assembled with 32 potential mounting positions configured
as an 80mm x 80mm grid. A variety of different nodes and joints are available.
The fixed nodes attach to the baseboard via a simple peg mounting system.
A number of 'beams' are provided in different lengths. These beams are manufactured of carbon fibre and are designed to flex easily in one dimension to demonstrate the movement of the structure.
Beam Lengths Available: 1U, 2U, 3U, 4U, 4U+
Supports Available:
-
Fixed rigid
-
Fixed pinned
-
Simple slide support
-
End slide
-
Horizontal slide anchor
Joints Available:
- Rigid right angle
-
Pinned right angle
-
Inline pinned
The transparent backboard is mounted on a 32" widescreen display, with the computer running the display and visualisation software as described in section 2.
The beams, joints, etc are supplied in a lockable chest of drawers matching the screen, with specific mounting positions for storage of each component. One empty drawer is available for the ST11 Instrumentation option.
Visualisation software and hardware
2. Display and Visualisation
Software
This software is a fundamental part of the Understanding Structural
Behaviour (USB) concept, and works in conjunction with the USB hardware
to demonstrate
and help understanding.
For a number of predefined structures it is possible
to perform an immediate interactive simulation of the effect of loading
on the structure. Loads can be
simulated using the computer mouse and the Shear force diagrams, Moment diagrams,
Deflections and Reactions are shown graphically and updated continually as
the load is varied.
When combining the hardware and software, the diagrams are displayed immediately
behind the structure and can be directly related to it.
Functions of the Software:
- Display the structure to be evaluated to aid
correct assembly
- Display the structure in both diagrammatic form
and as a typical pictorial implementation of the same structure. This has
been proven
to be a powerful aid to student understanding
- Gives a graphical representation of the moments,
the shear, the deflections and the reactions in response to simulated loads
- Contains presentations to introduce the concepts
of Moment, Shear, Deflections and Reactions and their associated graphical
representation
on the structure diagram
- When used in conjunction with the instrumentation hardware,
the software controls the actuators and displays the outputs from the various
sensors
- In this mode the displayed diagrams relate to the actual
load applied by the actuator, rather than a simulated load
- Provides calibration for the sensors and screen
3. Instrumentation Package
The Instrumentation Package includes a range of sensors and actuators used to stress and measure the performance of the structural hardware.
Components available are:
- Three Component Rigid Support Sensor - ST11-1
This is used instead of a fixed rigid support with the structural hardware.
It measures both the longitudinal reaction at the joint (in the direction
of the beam, equivalent to the tension or compression), the orthogonal reaction
at the joint and the moment reaction.
- Two Component Pinned Support Sensor
- ST11-2
This is used instead of a fixed pinned support with the structural hardware.
It measures both the longitudinal reaction at the joint (in the direction
of the beam, equivalent to the tension or compression) and the orthogonal
reaction at the joint.
- Deflection sensor - ST11-3
Used to measure the deflection of the beam at a grid point.
- Simple Support Sensor - ST11-4
Used instead of a simple slide support, and measures the reaction on the
support.
- Linear Actuator - ST11-5
Provides a linear deflection to the structure at any grid point, complete
with sensor to measure the force (load) generated by the actuator to
reach the requested deflection.
- Interface Module - ST11-6
Provides the interface between the sensors and computer by a standard
USB2 interface. It also includes a universal input power supply and
interconnecting
cables.
The sensors and actuators are connected to the interface unit and to each other using linking cables in a chain configuration. They can be connected anywhere on the chain and multiple components of the same type can be configured in the same system. Additional sensors and actuators can be bought individually and added at a later date if required.
4. Analysis Software
Armfield supply software models for all the predefined structures, which can be analysed in a freely available demonstration version of a professional modelling software package. Armfield also supply the demon-stration version of this package.
From this starting point, users can analyse their own models and structures, either using the Armfield components, or using the software. The software enables any beam material, size, thickness, strength etc. to be defined and analysed.
A second analysis software package (QSE Space planeframe) is also available with the supplied textbook, Understanding Structural Analysis.
(Note that for support of both these analysis software packages the suppliers should be contacted directly.)
Scope of supply
This is a highly modular system with almost an infinite range of possibilities. To simplify purchasing, the components are available in a number of kits depending on requirements.
ST10 Understanding Structural Behaviour
Comprises:
• Backboard
• Set of beams, supports and joints for the above
range of structures to be implemented (Many others can also be implemented)
• 32" High
definition display with HDMI interface
• Display and visualisation software
• RISA 2D models
• Book "Understanding Structural Analysis" by David Brohn
- Includes demo version of QSE Analysis software
• Storage facility for all components
Typical exercise set-up, utilising both the ST10 and ST11 systems
enlarge
ST11 Instrumentation Package (for use with ST10)
Comprises:
• Deflection sensor
• Linear actuator
• Three component rigid support sensor
• Two component pinned support sensor
• Simple support sensor
• Interface unit plus power supply and interconnecting
cables
• Software for control and instrumentation functions is supplied with
ST10
Note: Additional sensors and actuators can be added later.
REQUIREMENTS
ST10
Requires: Windows computer with 1920 x 1080 graphics capability and HDMI
interface. (Computer not supplied by Armfield)
ST11
Requires: ST10 Understanding Structural Behaviour.
Shipping specifications
| Volume (m³) | TBC |
| Gross weight(kg) | TBC |
Overall dimensions
| Height | 0.84m |
| Width | 0.77m |
| Depth | 0.33m |
Armfield have teamed up with author of "Understanding Structural
Analysis",
Dr David Brohn, to develop a range of hardware and software
specifically to address the issue of Understanding Structural Behaviour.
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