Lecture on Structural Design [Topic 4: Structures and Design with Iron and Steel] Lecture 1: From Experience to Science

This is (part of) the teaching material for the lecture "Architectural Structural Design" at the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Tokyo University of Science.

• Return to Table of Contents

• Topic 4: Structures with Ancient Stone and Wood

• Lecture 1: From Experience to Science (Here)

• Lecture 2: The Advent and Practice of Steel Materials

• Lecture 3: Delicacy and Design of Steel Structures

• Lecture 4: Long-Span Structures and Design

• Lecture 5: Eiffel, the Magician of Iron

• Lecture 6: Development of Long-Span Structures

The Encounter Between Architectural Design and Science

Structure and Design Brought by the Renaissance

Since ancient times, humanity has used surrounding objects (natural materials) to conceive structures and build buildings.
On the other hand, ancient buildings lacked sufficient structure and mechanics, repeating a history of collapse and destruction under the threat of natural disasters.
The breakthrough in structure through the understanding of mechanics and construction technology at the Pantheon was sublimated at the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in medieval Florence.
Later, at St. Peter's Basilica by Michelangelo, a scientific approach to collapse was introduced, increasing trust in natural science.

Leonardo da Vinci, the Genius of All Things

The universal genius, Leonardo da Vinci, left behind notes with transcendental and innovative ideas for helicopters, airplanes, machine tools, and buildings and civil engineering structures.

In relation to architecture, structure, mechanics, and mathematics, he utilized and applied basic mechanical problems such as the concept of moment of force, composition of forces, arch thrust, beam strength, and the principle of virtual work, as well as principles leading to construction technology such as levers, pulleys, inclined planes and friction, wedges, and screws.
It can be said that he mastered physics by understanding the providence and phenomena of nature and practicing them himself.
He was described as "there was nothing his hands touched that did not turn into eternal beauty," and he left behind many works of art that have become cultural assets of humanity.

Galileo Galilei, the Father of Strength of Materials

Galileo Galilei, also known as the father of strength of materials, taught as a professor at the University of Pisa and is said to have experimented with falling motion at the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Also, at the age of 17, when he was a medical student, he observed the movement of a lamp hanging from the ceiling and discovered that the period of a pendulum is determined by the length of the string.

He achieved great success in mechanics and astronomy, establishing the laws of falling motion, the principle of inertia, and the concept of work.
Believing in scientific truth, he pushed forward with a scientific approach based on strong conviction, and through his astronomical achievements, he came to advocate the heliocentric theory.
However, he was put on trial by the Inquisition of the Holy See.

In his later years, he compiled his publications on materials science, and in 1638, 'Discourses and Mathematical Demonstrations Relating to Two New Sciences' was published.
It records the square-cube law, the load-bearing capacity of cantilever beams, and the theory of beam bending.

With the subsequent Industrial Revolution, the era that emphasized past experience and in which religion and the church held immense power came to an end, and the world changed significantly as it entered the age of science.

The paradigm shift in architectural space brought about by natural science

As the world achieved rapid development through the Industrial Revolution, the field of architecture also entered a major period of transformation, with numerous materials and technologies blossoming and being put into practical use.
Among them, two major revolutions were the emergence and practical application of steel materials and modern concrete.

In particular, natural science contributed greatly to the development and evolution of steel structures, as they have a high affinity with linear elasticity and elastic mechanics, making them the only structures that can be solved mathematically and mechanically.
The maturation of natural science and the emergence of steel materials had a fateful encounter.

By the way, in Japanese architecture departments, design and engineering are studied, but in Western countries, education is developed in different departments.
In Europe, in particular, structural designers are active in the field of civil engineering, and prominent structural designers are also active in the field of architecture.
This trend can be understood from the history in which the foundations of structure, mechanics, and design for large spans and massive buildings have been highly established, integrated, and practiced.

The existence of the church and religion, from the Middle Ages to ancient times, when the church played a central role in culture and civilization, is imagined to have been more dignified, awe-inspiring, and a source of spiritual support than we can imagine today.
It is considered to be different from the feeling that modern people have when visiting as tourists.
In such a context, the development of learning, the spread of education, and the advancement of natural and human sciences brought about changes in social norms and lifestyles.
With the Industrial Revolution, the paradigm shift became definitive, and it is imagined that the impact on people was immense.

Considering such historical background and transition, it is easy to imagine that the development, sophistication, and industrialization of architectural technology brought about by the Industrial Revolution were welcomed with great surprise, moving from the expression of magnificent large spaces like cathedrals and churches to luxurious, delicate, and highly transparent spatial expressions using steel and glass, and the emergence of organic curved structures using RC.

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Teaching Materials for Steel Structures (E-book)

This is an e-book used in the Steel Structures class at Tokyo University of Science.
Anyone can use it.　→Explanation Page
(Please click the pdf icon in the middle of the linked page)