Structural System Design Report: Cost-Effective Analysis of School

This report focuses on determining the most cost-effective structural design for a school project. It begins by defining cost-effectiveness and the factors that influence it, such as lifespan, intended purpose, and overall costs. The report then outlines a step-by-step process, including value engineering analysis to estimate costs, evaluation of design alternatives through economic analysis, consideration of aesthetics and historical preservation, and certification of basic structural requirements like stability and serviceability. The report also emphasizes the importance of structural analysis, considering structural behavior and dynamics, and finally, general cost analysis to optimize the design. The design of structural system, membrane structures server’s best since it involves thin structures with thin flexible membranes that primarily support loads through tensile stresses. They are of two types; tensile structure and pneumatic structure. Binary walls that support loads of the roof above them, these walls are designed with the capability of handling both dead load of floor and roofs together with live load of students. The report references key publications and standards to support the analysis and design decisions, ensuring the structural integrity of the building.

Running Heading: STRUCTURAL SYSTEM DESIGN 1
Structural System Design
Name of Student
Institution Affiliation

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The Process of determining the most cost effective structural design.
Overview.
It’s by logic that every structural designer, construction engineers and even clients will always
strive to have the most cost effective structures that are buildings. Though the phrase, cost
effective in itself is subjective to various factors depending on social status, location and
interests. These are the question that forms the basis of this argument:
1. Will the structure have the longest life span?
2. Is the structure most appropriate for its intended purpose?
3. What is the overall cost of design and implementation of the structure?
4. If the design has the least operating and maintenance costs?
For the cost, practical projects will typically have two or more of the above attributes and it
proves quite impractical to ascertain cost-effectiveness of any structure by only one parameter.
The structure is only considered cost effective if it serves the same functions same as alternative
designs and still has the least whole life cost in terms of its establishment and this demands the
evaluation of its economic benefits compared to its economic life.( Vanker & Lastowski, 2017)
Steps to determine the most cost effective structural design
Value Engineering Analysis
The first step is to estimate the value engineering and overall cost of implementing the structure
and any associated costs throughout its life cycle. This will enhance the value estimation of the
project starting from groundbreaking expenses to the operation and maintenance of the structure.

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The funding of this school is always without any consideration of raising the initial budget once
its construction is started thus it requires the designers to evaluate the cost of its life cycle. Most
importantly is to estimate the cost management of the structure right from design process to
development process, this will facilitate in constant of its viability of any assumptions arrived at
during its design. The application of value engineering techniques that enables systematic
evaluation and analysis of physical functions and processes that facilitates the achievement of
required objectives with the least cost of ownership, (Malik & Malik, 2019).
Evaluation of design alternatives through economic analysis
This is achieved by considering the life cycle cost analysis that enables the estimation of the total
cost in the entire life cycle regarding present costs. It’s essential that at the start of any project,
project and establish any system replacements that might occur in the future through the
establishment of economic models of the structure. (Zavadskas et al., 2018)
Consideration of aesthetics and historical preservations
The project involves the structural design of a school; with the set-up of the individual with
historical background hence it’s much prudent to provide a structure they will most identify
themselves with such that there exists a coherency between community and the structure. To
attain the cost effective aspect of structures in regards to historic preservation, it requires having
a dollar value analysis in every stage of design stages to generate full conclusive findings on
value estimation. The principal object is to determine costs and design benefits that are essential
in decision making. The need to incorporate cost management practice scope, design, planning
and construction of classrooms is essential in determination of how the module is cost effective
compared to other available alternatives. (Zavadskas et al., 2018)

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Certification of basic structural requirements
In the design of any structure, there is fundamental requirement that has to be met in the through
from design to implementation and construction. These basic requirements are; stability of the
structure, serviceability and stability of the structure (Hu, 2016). Designing a structure with
adequate stability in bearing all stress and load weights through its beams and columns is
necessary if cost effect is anything to go by, this project demands that structure, be stable
enough to sustain daily activities involved in a school set up to avoid buckling of structures
under the exploit of loads, sliding or overturning (Malik & Malik, 2019).. Strength to sustain
activities of the school, student’s movements and weight considering tensile stress to columns
effects of bending moments on structural members, by analysing these it provide surety on safety
of the structure. Structures just like other mechanical items require maintenance and services in
order to maintain relevancy to their intended purpose, and thus in design of these structures, it is
essential to ensure that there is satisfactory performance when subjected to service load
conditions. These demands for determination of adequate reinforcements and stiffness that can
sufficiently sustain deflections, vibrations and crack widths and assures impermeability, (Bayles,
2016)
Consideration of structural analysis and behavior.
Through structural analysis, we are able to obtain the exact force limit that defines the structure
conditions and informs the design process while structural behavior gives a clear idea on the
deformations of the structure when subjected to extreme external forces. Through analysis we

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obtained values of forces used to determine buckling loads, bending moments, deflections and
buckling. Structural dynamics could not be ignored having in mind the consideration of the
occurrence of natural processes such as earthquakes. Hence it is of great importance to determine
natural motions and natural frequencies of the structure.
General cost analysis
Lastly, Optimisation of the design to have the best of all other alternatives in construction is best
determined in terms of financial requirements. After determining load specifications on each
member, column spacing and other structural parameters, it is worth noting to understand the
pricing of various materials used in construction of these members or parts. Considering research
done previously, it was established that different techniques of structural construction have its
own costings on the price of slabs and columns. (Bayles, 2016)
The design of structural system, membrane structures server’s best since it involves thin
structures with thin flexible membranes that primarily support loads through tensile stresses.
They are of two types; tensile structure and pneumatic structure. Binary walls that support loads
of the roof above them, these walls are designed with the capability of handling both dead load
of floor and roofs together with live load of students
These with other parameters guided the decision on the form and type of structural design to be
used in the construction of the school (Malik & Malik, 2019).

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REFERENCES
Malik, A., & Malik, A. (2019). Analysis of Diagrid Structural System. International Journal, 6, 5-8.
Zavadskas, E. K., Antucheviciene, J., Vilutiene, T., & Adeli, H. (2018). Sustainable decision-making in civil
engineering, construction and building technology. Sustainability, 10(1), 14.
Vanker, J. L., & Lastowski, M. J. (2017). U.S. Patent No. 9,677,272. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office.
Hu, J. W. (2016). Advanced Materials and Structural Engineering: Proceedings of the International
Conference on Advanced Materials and Engineering Structural Technology (ICAMEST 2015), April 25-26,
2015, Qingdao, China. CRC Press.
Bayles, K. (2016). The Structural Design of Laramie County Community College Student Services Center.