4 ECTS credits
100 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1015501CNR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (C) Bachelor - specialised level.

Semester
2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Enrollment Requirements
Inschrijvingsvereiste voor 'Form-active structures':geslaagd zijn voor 'Mechanica van materialen,vloeistoffen en constructies' en ingeschreven of geslaagd zijn voor 'Analyse van constructies,inleiding stabiliteit' of ingeschreven in Master in Civil Engineering of Master in de ingenieurswetenschappen: bouwkunde of Master in Architectural Engineering.
Taught in
English
Partnership Agreement
Under agreement for exchange of courses
Faculty
Faculteit Ingenieurswetenschappen
Department
Architectural Engineering
Educational team
Lars De Laet (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
12 contact hours Lecture
36 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
Course Content

This course focusses on the structural design of form-active structures in general and membrane structures and cable nets in specific. The interaction between geometry and internal forces of structures is first explained by means of 'graphic statics'. These insights are then applied to the design, analysis and calculation of cable nets and membrane structures. In addition, the different shapes, the technical details and the applied materials for these lightweight constructions are explained. In the final task, the student designs and analyses a form-active structure.

Course material
Digital course material (Required) : Hand-outs, Canvas
Additional info

- The communication platform Canvas is used to provide hand-outs. The manuals and assignments are made available on this platform.
- Attendance at the exercise sessions is not compulsory, but the tasks must be handed in via Canvas within the set time frame. The result, the working method as well as and the progress of the student are evaluated.
- For more information about the concrete set-up and planning of the course: see Canvas.
- A mix of online classes and on-campus classes are possible, both for the lectures as for the exercise sessions.

Learning Outcomes

Algemene competenties

- The student can design and calculate a construction in equilibrium by applying graphic statics.
- The student can explain the structural behaviour of a form-active construction and a truss by means of graphic statics.
- The student knows the principles and methods for the design of cable nets and membrane structures.
- The student has a thorough insight in the structural behaviour of double curved membrane structures.
- The student can explore and analyse form-active structures through three-dimensional computer models under different load cases.
- The student can specify the dimensions of the structural components and choose the appropriate materialization.
- The student can develop details that incorporate architectonic and constructive elements.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 35% of the final mark.
PRAC Report determines 25% of the final mark.
Other determines 40% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • oral exam with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 35% of the final mark.

    Note: At the oral examination the answers with respect to the posed theoretical questions are graded for 35%. The following competences are checked: [baK&I-MATERIAL], [baK&I-CONSTRUCTIONS], [baK&I-SIMULATION], [baK&I-CONCEPTUAL DESIGN]

Within the PRAC Report category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • reports of exercices with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 25% of the final mark.

    Note: Reports of the exercises are handed in (on the dropbox of pointcarre.vub.ac.be) at the end of the session or at least the day before the next session. Exercises are graded and count for 25%. The following competences are evaluated: [baAK&I-PROBLEM SOLVING], [baCOM-WRITTEN], [baLS-TEAMWORK], [baCOM-LANGUAGES]

Within the Other category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • analysis of project with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 40% of the final mark.

    Note: The following competences are verified: [baAK&I-ANALYSIS], [baAK&I-CONSTRUCTIONS], [baEJ-EVALUATION], [baEJ-ANALYSIS], [baCOM-WRITTEN]. This includes: he originality of the proposed solution within the given conditions, the appropriateness and consistency of the arguments for the different design decisions, the correctness of the calculations and the obtained structural efficiency.

Additional info regarding evaluation

During the oral exam, theoretical questions are asked and the final task is discussed. The answers with respect to the posed theoretical questions are graded for 35%. The final task report is explained and discussed at the oral examination and is graded for 40%.


The final task consists of the design and analysis of a membrane construction. The chosen form and the structural system have to be clarified by a brief description of the project, the formfinding process, a physical or virtual model, the numerical formfinding, and the structural analysis.

The intermediate reports, made during the semester, are graded for 25%. Attendance at the exercise sessions is not compulsory, but the tasks must be handed in via Canvas within the set time frame.

For more information about the concrete set-up and timing of the course: see Canvas.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Architectural Engineering: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Architectural Engineering: Verkort traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Architectural Engineering: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Architectural Engineering: default