Structural support

Supports can be either at the end or at any intermediate point along a structural member or a constituent part of a building and they are referred to as connections, joints or restraints.

[1] Building support structures, no matter what materials are used, have to give accurate and safe results.

The support connection type has effects on the load bearing capacity of each element, which makes up a structural system.

Building Structure Elements include Line (beams, columns, cables, frames or arches, space frames, surface elements (walls, slab or shells) and Freeform.

Other factors such as the availability of materials, foundation conditions, the aesthetic requirements and economic limitations also play important roles in establishing the structural form.

[6] A little deflection or play is required for a structure to protect other surrounding materials from those forces.

It can be rubber bearings, rocker or a set of gears allowing a limited amount of lateral movement.

A pinned support attaches the only web of a beam to a girder called a shear connection.

Rigid or fixed supports maintain the angular relationship between the joined elements and provide both force and moment resistance.

These supports’ reaction forces are horizontal and vertical components of a linear resultant; a moment.