Discover the most important supporting systems, materials and construction methods. One building often combines several construction types.
What do we mean by a construction type?
A structure can be classified according to load-bearing effect, material, construction method or application. For example, a steel structure describes the material; a portal describes the design of the support system. One prefab concrete skeleton combines all three: concrete as a material, a skeleton as a supporting structure and prefabrication as a construction method. These classifications are not mutually exclusive alternatives. By naming them separately, it becomes clear which choice you discuss with the designer.
Walls, skeletons and portals
With load-bearing walls, floors and roofs rest on continuous wall surfaces. With a skeleton, beams and columns carry the main loads and many dividing walls can have a different function. A portal consists of beams and columns working together; the connections partly determine how the system responds. Large facade openings or column-free spaces can be a reason to combine load-bearing walls and portals in one design. The stability must always remain demonstrable.
Trusses, arches and cable constructions
Een truss construction consists of an assembly of bars and nodes. A bow is possible load transfer to its support points via pressure. Cables work in tension and require a suitable shape, anchoring and support. These types of systems are often found at larger spans. The final effect depends on the geometry and details. For example, an arc-shaped part is not automatically a pure compression arc and a drawn triangle does not yet constitute a completely designed truss.
Plates, disks, shells and spatial systems
Floor slabs carry loads to their edges or supports. A floor can also be used as: disk transmit horizontal forces to stability walls or connections. Shells and folding structures use their spatial form for the load-bearing effect. Space frames distribute forces in multiple directions. These terms describe different functions: the same floor can have both a vertical slab effect and a horizontal one diaphragm action have.
Materials and combinations
Commonly used construction materials are steel, wood, concrete and masonry. Aluminum, structural glass and fiber-reinforced composites are also used. A hybrid building combines materials into separate parts. In a collaborative steel-concrete system, steel and concrete are designed to bear weight together. Timber frame construction, CLT and laminated timber are different applications within timber construction. The material not only determines strength; connections, deformation, fire and durability also count.
Construction method and use
Cast-in-place, prefab, modular and temporary structures have different requirements for transport, assembly and connections. A bridge, house, hall or scaffolding can partly use the same materials, but have different usage loads. Therefore, start with the desired function and free space. Then have the construction method and the supporting system coordinated, including the foundation and temporary situation. The table below is an overview of main families, not a finite list of all possible variants.
Your preparation in four steps
- Describe use and desired free space
- Choose material and construction method with the designer
- Visualize carrying distance and stability
- Coordinate foundation, connections and installation
Frequently asked questions on this topic
Is a skeleton always made of steel?
No. For example, a skeleton can be made of steel, concrete, wood or a combination.
What is the difference between hybrid and collaborative?
Hybrid refers to a combination of materials. Constructive cooperation means that the joint supporting effect has been explicitly designed.
Are prefab structures always stronger?
No. Prefab describes where parts are made. The performance results from design, material, connections and execution.
View the associated structural calculation, create your preparation list or take the guides and checklists along to the consultation.
Carrier systems next to each other
| Family | Examples | Important point of attention |
|---|---|---|
| Wall construction | Load-bearing masonry, concrete walls, CLT walls | Openings and continuous carrying path |
| Skeleton | Beam-column system in steel, wood or concrete | Nodes and stability |
| Structural frame | Rigid or braced frames | Connections and horizontal forces |
| Truss | Roof truss, bridge girder, lattice mast | Bars, buttons and lateral support |
| Bow | Brick, steel or wooden arch | Support points and horizontal reactions |
| Plate and disc | Floor plate, roof disc, stability wall | Bearings and load transfer |
| Peel and fold | Dome, curved roof, folded plate | Spatial form and boundary conditions |
| Cable and membrane | Hanging roof, cable net, tensioned canopy | Pretension, anchorage and shape |
| Space truss | Spatial rod net for large roofs | Multi-directional collaboration |
| Cantilever | Balcony, awning, cantilevered floor | Clamp connection and counter construction |
| Earth barrier | Retaining wall, sheet pile wall, cellar wall | Ground and water pressure |
| Temporary construction | Scaffolding, formwork, auxiliary steel | Each implementation phase separately |
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