Abstract:

The aim of this article is to explain a method of teaching we have developed in which the student learn how to design lightened slabs, using the classical methods, the buildings rules and software programmes that show the graphical results of structural models, which are always available in the internet. Once they get the results, the students can compare and contrast them, and obtain the rate structural security of lightened slabs.

The innovation of this work is based on training students with an specific methodology of comparison’s criteria between different methods of analysis and also with visual comparison if possible.

In building’s structures, the floor and columns are the most important elements to think about in a project. The horizontal elements can be solid or lightened slabs. The lightened ones are used because of the economy of materials. At the university, the structural analysis’ subjects have to transmit this knowledge to students, so that they can develop their own structural projects. Legislation about the slabs’ projects is everywhere, so that the learning of the student is based on two important issues: the traditional methods of theoretical analysis and rules to apply to building structures.

The main aspects to enhance are: Comparison between methods. The student enjoys seeing the graphical results of each one of the methods and practising in the real or virtual laboratory. Self learning, if very important in this method because the students obtain their own conclusions, learning of their own mistakes; the teachers guide the process of the correction of mistakes, real o virtual, using the new tools of the internet.

The student will take practices in the laboratory, with manual calculations and computer models that emphasize the visual results. These applications are available at any moment for the student in the Internet, which is the reason they are allowed to work with a very flexible schedule. Through the graphical possibilities, the student observes the parts of the structure that are the most loaded. In addition, they can play with the variations of the habitual elements of rupture (interruption of joists, discontinuities, hollows, inclinations,…) which are not covered by the classic methods or by the regulations, allowing them to visualize the results.

Keywords:

teaching, structural analysis, structural security, slabs, floor framing, lightened slabs.