STRUCTURAL GLASS FACADES - USC School of Architecture

Question 4
What structure type would likely be best on a renovation project where the client is looking for
high transparency
flat cable net.
double-curved cable net.
simple truss system.
cable truss.
I don’t know.
This question was answered incorrectly 55% and 70% of the time on the 1 st and 2 nd test
respectively by Group A, and 42% and 67% of the time on the 1 st and 2 nd test respectively by
Group B. The incorrect answers split between the first and fourth response. This issue of a
renovation project was not specifically discussed in the program presentation, but is included
in the handout. The final part of the presentation is intended to be a short problem-solving
session where this issue would be more directly addressed, but there was inadequate time
to do this at both presentations. Question 4 did not have a high percentage of “don’t know”
responses in the 1 st test; most participants appear to have believed they knew the answer on
the 1 st test and their mind was not changed by either the program presentation or the tutorial
handout. The “simple” in the simple truss response would seem to be a clue to the correct
answer, but apparently not. Perhaps the problem of applying new loading conditions to an
as-built structure is not readily perceived as a problem. This aspect of a renovation could
easily be added to the program.
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