Determining Factors of Complexity in Structures

Abstract

This thesis analyzes the effective factors that determine the buildings with complex structural systems and the relationship between the details and this complexity. Complexity is determined by hierarchy, geometry, integration and new details. When more than one structural system in one building is recognized, then possibly that building is a complex one. Because it certainly involves integration of the structures, hierarchical production (built) process and new details. Complex systems, since they can be developed and formed by both truss and cable systems and likewise by shells such as grid shell and lattice shell, they all are reviewed and analyzed. The example of these systems are divided into different categories and for each category graph samples are produced. Transparency combines inside and outside of the space. In order to enable maximum transparency, minumum use of material is needed. The more glass surfaces are used, the more maximum transparent surfaces are created. Hypothesis, which is: new detail which covers new members, new organizations and new point details is the major factor which determines complexity. The method of this thesis is conceptual model. During the study of this thesis, various information has been derived from books, previous researches, reports, and some information was received from firms that produce such systems. Twenty examples have been analysed, different categories have been determined and their individual graph tables have been drawn using other examples. Different categories were compared with each other both from technical and structural aspects with the help of a model, and from the aspects of application and form; the relationship between the detail features and elements of structural features has been interpreted and conclusions were drawn. In the light of the derived information, it became clear that the systems should not be evaluated only as structural icons with maximum transperancy, but should be percieved as structures, which can be changed according to the features of the whole building. It is stressed that for the new complex buildings to come into existence, new details have to be generated. In addition, the attention was drawn to the application process of these details and to the importance of their relation to structural geometry. The complexity of appearance in the complex buildings, in fact, is the reflection of the details on. Complex buildings were designed to target the inner and outer spaces simultaneously. However, complex buildings were proved to be complex entities during the application process with the preparation of necessary details, sometimes with the unification of more than one detail and form.