Structures

Structures

1. All physical bodies or objects have a structure. The groves on a plastic cups is an example of structures. A structure is the set of elements in a body that are made to resist the effects of the forces that act on it. A structure prevents a body form breacking or deforming.

   • Types of structures
     • Natural structures
       • They are not made by man. They are living begins in their composition, or the result of a geological procces, for example, the shell of a crab,.
     • Man-made structures
       • They are made by people to satisfy a need. Some examples are the legs of a table or the case of a camera.
   • Forces and loads
     • A force is anything that can deform a body (static effect) or make it move or stop (dynamic effect).
     • A load is a force that acts on a structure. Loads produce stress on the structure. The same loads acn cause different effects.
       • Fixed or permanent loads. They don't vary over time.
       • Variable loads. They vary over time.