Materials Materials are very important during the design stage, as they must align with the purpose of the structure. The properties, or characteristics of the materials must be considered.
Joints Structures are often weakest where they are joined together. Builders and designers must find the best way to join materials together in a structure to ensure they are strong and of good quality.
Moveable (Mobile) Joints
Mobile joints allow for mobility (this means that the 2 parts of the structure can move. These materials may require lubrication in order to prevent them from breaking or wearing down.
Fixed (Rigid) Joints
Rigid joints attach pieces together and hold them firmly. There are hundreds, if not thousands of individual parts that must be joined together in structures.
Designing With Forces
When building structures, you must consider what forces will be exerted on them at any given point in time, and you must design with this in mind.
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