OPTIMIZATION OF ROOF SLABS FOR SINGLE SPAN CONFIGURATION

Abstract

Architecture has for many centuries been considered primarily an art- a precedent orientcd art. Towards the end of last century and more noticeably in 1920's the concept of architecture fulfilling other than purely artistic purpose was established. Today architecture is conceived of as both an art and a science. Architecture is concerned with much more than the physical entities which are its products. It is very much concerned with the relationships between these entities and human being. The contemporary architect perhaps the last humanist of this industrialized era should be conversant with aesthetics, engineering, sociology, economics, ecology and generally' with planning. But because of the traditional background (artistic in nature), the education he receives is famous for its paucityoinumeracy. On the other hand influence of structural Engineering, on modern architecture, because of the rapid development in construction techhiques based on the use of new materials, and use of computer methOds for the analysis has become so prevalent that some architects wonder whether the engineer may not eventually take over the field of architect-ural design (See R1.1. The growing importance of technical services and of structures suggest such danger, e.g. The world's tallest structure Sear's tower; the whole system of the building is dominated by the enclosed space..................