Successfull Workshop Conducted on - "Arches,Vaults and Domes" -
Report on AVD workshop
Building Technology Department of BNCA had organized a 3 day workshop on Arches, Vaults and Domes for FY and SY students. Workshop was conducted on 19th, 20th and 21st of Feb. 2008.
Building Technology Department and Gangotri Architects and Designers Pvt. Ltd. conducted this workshop.
Aim and Objective of Workshop:
Building Technology Department at BNCA is focusing at imparting students practical knowledge through site visits, presentations and demonstrations by various experts, manufacturing companies and through hands on experience. AVD workshop was part of this programme. Creating affinity among the students towards the subject of Building Technology and understanding building construction for application in Architectural Design are the main objectives of these kinds of workshops.
'Arches' is topic from first year syllabus whereas masonry vaults and domes are part of second year syllabus. Since understanding of Vaults and Domes technology is the continuation of understanding of Arches, this workshop was designed for both the years. Establishing vertical and lateral interaction among FY and SY students was another objective of having mixed groups of students.
Methodology:
After initial discussion with Ar. Rahul Rawat, the types of arches, vaults and domes were finalized that could be constructed by students on site. Templates in mild steel were designed and fabricated at Samsthas workshop. Material was purchased according to the work that could be executed by students in 2 1/2 days assuming 20 no. of groups of students containing 10 students in each groups.
On 19th of February lectures were conducted for theoretical study on the topicos such origin, terminology, forces acting in Arches, Vaults and domes etc. followed by some presentations on case studies. After the Lectures students started with hands on experience at Samstha's ground.
About 20 mixed groups of F.Y. B.Arch. and S. Y. B. Arch.were prepared containing about 10 students in each group. At a time 10 groups were working simultaneously and rest of students were observers. After Arches being built by first set of students, formwork was taken out and groups were rotated to have different experience of building other types of arches. For construction of Vaults and domes, construction was continued on 2nd and 3rd day.
Semicircular arch, bucket arch, segmental arch, pointed arch, catenary arch, corbelled arch, dry arch, without mortar, segmental vault, semicircular Vault, nubian vault, conical vault, segmental dome, semicircular dome, square based dome - Suinch type square base dome - corbelling method were constructed by students. Domes with openings, with skylight were also construed.
After the construction activity was over, stability studies were carried out. For arches, first load carrying capacity of arch was tested by supporting haunch with bricks. After that, haunch support was reduced equally from both the sides and crown was loaded with bricks. The load transfer and sequence of failure of an arch was observed by students.
Stability studies for vaults and domes were also taken. Studies with regards to Load transfer, failure, shape of dome at failure were done.
Feedback from students was taken after the workshop was over with regards to:
1. Whether students liked this workshop?
2. What did they like?
3. What did they dislike?
4. What did they have learn through this workshop?
5. Will the understanding of the topic help them in application of building technology in design process?
6. What kind of changes they would like to have in such workshops?
7. Would they like learn subject of building Technology through such kinds of workshop?
8. Which topics students would prefer to learn through hands on experience?
Observations:
Students enjoy hands on experience.
Students learn to co-ordinate among each other during the preparation and process of workshop.
There is better interaction among students during such workshops.
Understanding of the subject is better achieved though hands on experience than teaching the subject theoretically in classes.