Kgale Primary School Technology-

Grade 7

Structures

What is a structure?

Structures are objects that are built, made or created. Structures are produced when different
parts are joined together.

The purpose of structures

It is easy to identify a structure through its purpose or function. Most structures do one or more of
the following functions:

• Contain or protect things.

• Carry things or support loads.
• Span (to cover the length of an object from end to end) a gap.

Containing or protecting things

Structures are designed to enclose animals,

people or objects. For example, the purpose of
the snail shell is to protect the soft body of the
snail and to hide it from enemies.

Carry things or support loads.

A structure must be strong enough to support its

own weight as well as the load it has to carry.
For example, a crane must be able to carry
heavy loads while supporting its own
framework.

Span a gap.

A bridge is a structure built to span a gap such as

a river. The purpose of this structure is to provide
a safe way across the river.

Classification of structures

There are many types of structures. Some people are made by people (man-made) while others
are found in nature (natural).

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Natural structures

Natural structures are found in the environment or created by nature.

Examples:
_____________________________________________________________________.

Man-made structures

These are created by people using their hands or machines. Another word that is used to explain
what man-made means is manufactured.

Examples:
_____________________________________________________________________.

Types of structures

Shell structures
A shell structure is a hard casing or outer covering made of a thin material shaped into one piece.
The shell provides strength and firmness to the structure. The
function of the shell is to enclose, hold, contain or protect its
contents.

Frame structures
A frame structure is made up of parts joined together in a specific way. Another name for it is a
framework. In some structures the parts are clearly visible, for example, a pylon. Humans have an
endoskeleton which is not visible.

Solid
structures
A solid structure is made almost entirely of matter. Matter is another that is used for material.
Solid structures are also called mass structures. A solid structure is made up of almost that same
material throughout and the material is formed into a solid shape. Mountains are natural solid
structures and bricks are manufactured solid structures.

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Other structures
Other structures can be a combination of a shell, frame or solid structures. See the examples
below:

What type of structure is it?

Tick the correct column.

Structure Natural Man-made Shell Frame Solid

Container

Apple

Crane

Snail shell

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A brick

Cell phone tower

Spider web

Investigate a cell phone tower - a frame structure.

Investigating frame structures

A frame structure is made up of parts, called members, joined together in a specific way to form a
framework. In most frame structures, the parts are clearly visible.

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The parts joined form a lattice (a structure of crossed wooden or metal strips usually
arranged to form a diagonal pattern of open spaces between the strips) of criss-crossing
pieces joined to form a framework. The structures rely on the strength of the triangle patterns.

Investigate a cell phone tower.

Guyed tower

A guyed tower is a straight tower supported by guy wires to the ground which anchor the tower.
Guy towers are cheaper to build but it requires a bigger area to anchor the guy wires.

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Guyed towers

Lattice towers

Lattice towers are usually three-sided and have a triangular base. There are also four-sided lattice
towers. They are made up of criss-crossing parts of metal joined to form a framework. This
structure relied on the strength of the triangle. Triangular reinforcement is one of the most familiar
ways of adding strength to a frame structure. This is known as triangulation.

Lattice towers Triangulation

Advantages and disadvantages of telephone systems- write down some advantages and
disadvantages of landlines and cellphones.

Phone system Landline Cell phone

Advantages

Disadvantages

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Action research: Stiffen materials and structures.

A well-designed structure must be able to withstand forces, support or carry loads. Sometimes
structures fail or collapse because of improper construction, poor design, material failure or
applying a force or load that is too heavy.

Tubing

Tubes are very good at resisting forces or loads.

Tubing makes a structure strong and light because less
solid material is used.

Activity – Make tubes.

1. Use cardboard and make tubes of any of the shapes shown below.

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2. Test each column by placing a weight on top of it.

3. Which shape is the strongest?

Folding

Thin sheet materials are flexible. A sheet of paper or cardboard will bend easily when a force
(weight) is placed on it. One way of stiffening thin sheet material is to change the shape of the
material. This can be done by folding or bending the material.

Piece of paper with a load Folded paper with a load

Triangulation

Triangulation is using triangles in frame structures in order to strengthen the structures. A

structure forced out shape quite easily is non-rigid (not firm or stiff).

A structure that cannot be forced out of shape is rigid (firm and stiff).

Investigating design issues

Cell phone towers are tall, large and heavy structures. They must be properly designed to resist
forces and loads caused by the wind, water and earthquakes. A force or load is a push or pull on
the tower which can result in it breaking apart, falling over or become deformed (lose its original
shape). A cell phone tower can also fail or break as a result of poor design, material failure or
applying a force or load that is too heavy.

This is a guy type cell phone tower. This tower is tall, thin and not very stable.
It can easily be blown over by the wind. To increase stability and wind
resistance, additional support is necessary for this structure. The guys are
what holds the tower in place. A guy is a structural element made from flexible

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material such as ropes, cable or chains that are used to hold a structure in
place.

Beams and columns

Another type of cell phone tower is called a lattice tower. It is

made up of criss-crossing parts.

The frame consists of a series of columns and beams that are

welded or bolted.

together. The column is the part of the structure that is vertical

(upright). A beam is the part of the structure that is horizontal
(sideways). A beam is used to span a gap and it is supported
by columns at either end.

Reinforcing techniques

The strength of a frame structure can be achieved by adding

cross-bracing or stiffening at the corner joints. This can also be
done by using gusset plates, special connectors or welding
fillets.

Cross-bracing

Cross-bracing is a form of
triangulation. Cross- bracing
increases the stability and wind-
resistance of a cell phone tower.
A brace is used to reinforce and
strengthen a structure by adding
diagonal pieces into rectangular
areas. It prevents the structure
from being pushed out of shape.

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Gusset plates and special connectors

A gusset plate can be used instead of cross-bracing. A gusset is a strong piece of material, used
to connect, join and reinforce the different elements in a structure. Gusset plates can be made in a
variety of shapes (often flat and triangular) and material (steel or plywood). Gussets can be bolted,
riveted or welded.

Fillets

A fillet is a strip of material used to reinforce the corner where two surfaces meet. In steel
structures, it is called a welded fillet.

Design issues

One of the aspects a designer must take into consideration is the impact a designer will have on
people and the environment.

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Visual pollution
Cell phone towers are popping up all over our towns and cities. Many people believe cell phone
towers are huge, tall and ugly structures. This is known as visual pollution, and it refers to those
elements of a landscape or townscape that a community finds unattractive.

Stability, base size and center of gravity

A structure is stable when it will not fall over easily. Many structures around the home depend on
the principles of stability.

Both of the structures on the right are stable. If you pull structure A with some
force , it will topple or fall over. Structure A is unstable. If you pull structure B,
it will tilt slightly but will fall back to its original position. Structure B is stable.

The foundation of a cell phone tower is an important part that contributes to

its stability. The foundation is usually below ground and transfers loads of
structure onto the ground. If the foundation is not laid properly or is not strong enough it will
become unstable, and the cell phone tower may collapse or fall over.

Centre of gravity
The center of gravity is a specific point where all the weight of an object is evenly balanced. The
force of gravity acts on all the parts of the object. If all the parts are evenly balanced around the
center of gravity, then the structure is considered to be stable.

Base size
The guy tower needs cables to and ropes to keep it in an upright position. The lattice tower is
more stable because it has a wider base size. The base size is the bottom or footing. A structures
base should be as wide as possible, and the top must be narrower than the base. The weight on
top should be less than the weight at the bottom.

Needs of society versus the impact on society and the environment

People need products that will improve their lives. The cell phone was designed to make
communication much easier. As the demand for cell phones increased the need for other functions
such as being able to take photos, using text messaging, searching the internet etc. has increased.
Designers are constantly making new cellphones as the demand for better cell phone technology
increases.

Impact of cell phones on society and the environment

Impact on society Impact on the environment
Positive

Negative
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