Force Flow in Structures

Force transfer mechanisms
Force flow bears a natural resemblance with "water flow", transferring loads from acting points to
foundation via the shortest and smoothest geometric path. This can easily be explained by the principle
of least action. Since the force flow produces strain in material and corresponding strain energy aswell,
the structure, when functioning in a normal, balanced and stable way, whould have a minimum amount
of strain energy. Extra length and redundant turns of the path will inevitably increase the strain energy
reserved, which render the design not the optimum one. In light of this, in preliminary design, the task
engineers who undertake should design or plan the direction of force flow and find out the shortest and
smoothest path. This is the basic concept of elevation arrangement in structural design.
Hence, conceptual analysis regarding elevation arrangement could be conducted through the spatial
path and the intensity of the force flow. In the early stage of design, designers, with reference to the
functions of the strucutre, should plan for shortest path that the force flow will take, to ensure that the
force will be smoothly transferred to the foundation. At the same time, being aware of the force flow,
variable cross sections could be used to increase the load-bearing efficiency. Several structural systems
with different force flow patterns are summarised as follows.
1. vertical load-transferring structure
Typical vertical load-transferring structure is high-rise structure. Under the action of wind or seismic
load, vertical deadweight and liver loads, high-rise structures vertically transfer these loads downwards
to the foundtaions. The intensity of the force flow increase with the accumulation of stories. Thus, there
are different force flow intensities within such vertical structure. For instance, due to that the upper
columns bears less force than bottom columns, the upper columns could be designed to be have less
reinforcements than bottom columns.
Vertical load transferring structure
2.
Lateral load transferring structure
Typical lateral load-transferring structure comes to beams and slabs. As shown, a beam could transfer
vertical loads via the internal force flow to supports. From the figure, we know that tensile
reinforcements shoudl be allocated in major tensile direction at the lower part of the member as
marked out with solid lines. While the concrete in major compressive stress as marked out by dotted
lines, it aligns with the direction of force flow.
3 Broken-line-typed load transferring structure

Typical broken-line-typed load-transfeering structures go to all truss structures. External loads are
transferred through members of truss structure in the manner of a broken line to the support.
4 Streamline load-transferring structure
The feature of a streamlined load-transferring structure is that the force flow takes its own streamlined
path and directly goes to supports. There are plane and spatial streamlined load-transferring structure.
Figure shows us the force flow of a deck arch bridge, in which the loads on the deck are transferred to
the main arch via the vertical bars and then to supports. If the structure has a curved surface, the loads
will be transferred through the curved surface and then to supports.
Streamlined load-transferring structure show the convergence of the force flow in a clear way and
therefore nables the design of a variable section and reduces material in accordance with the change of
intensity of a force flow. Take the arch as shown for example. The intensity of the force flow at the top
of the arch is low and correspondingly the section of the arch can be comparatively small; the intensity
of the force flow at the foot is the highest, and the cross section area should be accordingly the largest.
The design of a variable section should agree with the intensity change of the force flow.
In sum, when it comes to the selection of elevation arrangement and sectional area of major members,
designers can refer to the least action principle and find a smoothest path for the force flow, as long as
the functional requirements are met. Meanwhile, the design of a variable section could be conducted in
accordance with the intensity change of the force flow, which reduces the material usage to the
optimum.
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Force Flow in Structures

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Force Flow in Structures

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Force transfer mechanisms

1. vertical load-transferring structure

Lateral load transferring structure

3 Broken-line-typed load transferring structure

4 Streamline load-transferring structure

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