What will I learn about: the two primary forces of structural engineering, compression and tension, and how ancient builders intuitively channeled them to erect the very first structures?

Understand the two primary forces of structural engineering, compression and tension, and how ancient builders intuitively channeled them to erect the very first structures.

What will I learn about: how modern architecture relies on four fundamental components—columns, beams, braces, and trusses—to form stable frameworks much like giant LEGO sets?

Discover how modern architecture relies on four fundamental components—columns, beams, braces, and trusses—to form stable frameworks much like giant LEGO sets.

What will I learn about: Learn how engineers protect massive skyscrapers from toppling over by designing incredibly strong central spines called cores or external braced frames known as diagrids?

Learn how engineers protect massive skyscrapers from toppling over by designing incredibly strong central spines called cores or external braced frames known as diagrids.

What will I learn about: how towering structures like the Taipei 101 survive extreme winds using tuned mass dampers, which are gigantic internal pendulums designed to counteract dangerous sway?

Find out how towering structures like the Taipei 101 survive extreme winds using tuned mass dampers, which are gigantic internal pendulums designed to counteract dangerous sway.

What will I learn about: Explore the ingenious methods used to earthquake-proof buildings, such as avoiding a structure's natural resonance frequency and mounting columns on large rubber bearings?

Explore the ingenious methods used to earthquake-proof buildings, such as avoiding a structure's natural resonance frequency and mounting columns on large rubber bearings.

Built

The Hidden Stories Behind Our Structures

Roma Agrawal

★ 4.7 / 5(18 ratings)

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Technology & the Future

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

💡Have you ever wondered what invisible forces keep the world’s tallest skyscrapers from toppling over during a storm?
💡What’s the secret to how ancient civilizations managed to build massive structures that still stand today without any modern technology?
💡Did you know that the most critical components of our massive bridges and tunnels are often the ones completely hidden from the naked eye?

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Key Takeaways from Built

✓Understand the two primary forces of structural engineering, compression and tension, and how ancient builders intuitively channeled them to erect the very first structures.
✓Discover how modern architecture relies on four fundamental components—columns, beams, braces, and trusses—to form stable frameworks much like giant LEGO sets.
✓Learn how engineers protect massive skyscrapers from toppling over by designing incredibly strong central spines called cores or external braced frames known as diagrids.
✓Find out how towering structures like the Taipei 101 survive extreme winds using tuned mass dampers, which are gigantic internal pendulums designed to counteract dangerous sway.
✓Explore the ingenious methods used to earthquake-proof buildings, such as avoiding a structure's natural resonance frequency and mounting columns on large rubber bearings.

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from Built

Mind Map

Built

Forces & Components+

Counteracting Nature+

Lessons from Disasters+

Evolution of Materials+

Infrastructure & Heights+

Pioneers & Future+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 11

What are the two primary forces that put stress on structures, and how do they function?

A. Compression pushes down on an object, while tension pulls or hangs from an object.
B. Compression pulls objects apart, while tension pushes them together.
C. Compression is a horizontal force, while tension is a vertical force.
D. Compression relies on external weather, while tension relies on gravity.

Question 2 of 11

Why are trusses often utilized in the construction of large spaces or bridges?

A. They rely entirely on compression without needing to account for tension.
B. Their triangular shape is inherently stable, and their components are easily transportable and assembled on-site.
C. They act as an external core to absorb high-speed wind forces.
D. They are made exclusively of reinforced concrete, preventing any swaying.

Question 3 of 11

How does a tuned mass damper protect skyscrapers, such as the Taipei 101, from severe winds?

A. It uses a network of hydraulic shock absorbers at the base to absorb ground vibrations.
B. It acts as a giant pendulum that swings in the opposite direction of the building's sway to cancel out wind force.
C. It stiffens the external diagrid to prevent the building from flexing.
D. It alters the building's aerodynamic profile by automatically opening wind vents.

Question 4 of 11

What crucial engineering lesson was learned from the 1968 gas explosion in Canning Town, London?

A. Concrete should never be used in high-rise residential buildings.
B. Buildings must feature an external steel diagrid to prevent collapse.
C. Structures must be designed to avoid a single point of failure, known as the disproportionate effect.
D. Internal boilers must be encased in an isolated, reinforced concrete core.

Question 5 of 11

What major flaw of concrete did Joseph Monier solve, and how did he do it?

A. It was too brittle under compression; he solved this by adding limestone and clay.
B. It was weak at resisting tension; he solved this by embedding a metal wire lattice into it.
C. It dissolved in water over time; he solved this by adding sticky rice to the mixture.
D. It took too long to dry; he solved this by firing it in high-temperature kilns.

Question 6 of 11

What was Henry Bessemer's major contribution to the construction industry in the 19th century?

A. He invented a lime mortar that grew stronger as it dried.
B. He designed the first kilns used to harden clay bricks for arch-building.
C. He developed a practical method using warm air to incinerate impurities in iron, enabling the mass production of steel.
D. He created a reliable method for 3D printing metal components on construction sites.

Question 7 of 11

Why was Elisha Otis's invention crucial for the development of modern skyscrapers?

A. He invented the first steam-powered crane capable of lifting heavy steel beams.
B. He designed a safety elevator with a spring mechanism that locked into place if the lifting cable broke.
C. He created a system of counterweights that allowed elevators to travel much faster than previous models.
D. He introduced hydraulic technology that eliminated the need for elevator cables entirely.

Question 8 of 11

How did engineers correct the severe tilt of the Metropolitan Cathedral in Mexico City?

A. By lifting the sunken side of the foundation with 96 hydraulic shock absorbers.
B. By building a massive new raft foundation beneath the original one.
C. By drilling access shafts and extracting soil from beneath the cathedral to simulate and even out the sinking.
D. By draining the underground waterways that were eroding the clay beneath the cathedral.

Question 9 of 11

What forward-thinking decision did Joseph Bazalgette make when designing London's sewer system following the 'Great Stink'?

A. He designed the system to process and sell the waste as fertilizer to local farmers.
B. He built the tunnels large enough to accommodate the waste of twice the city's population at the time.
C. He routed the sewers to flow directly into the Thames to utilize the river's natural current.
D. He used a new type of flexible mortar to ensure the tunnels wouldn't crack during ground shifts.

Question 10 of 11

How did Emily Warren Roebling contribute to the field of structural engineering?

A. She was the original architect who won the design competition for the Brooklyn Bridge.
B. She invented the pressurized watertight chambers used for building underwater foundations.
C. She assumed the role of chief engineer by proxy to complete the Brooklyn Bridge after her husband fell ill.
D. She secured funding from the city by mathematically proving the bridge's load-bearing capabilities.

Question 11 of 11

How is the concept of biomimicry being applied to modern structural engineering?

A. By using genetically modified plants to naturally reinforce building foundations.
B. By modeling structures and tools after biological forms, such as a hall inspired by a sea urchin or robots that act like white blood cells.
C. By replacing concrete with organic materials that decompose safely over time.
D. By training animals to assist in navigating tight spaces during the construction of underground kariz.

Built — Full Chapter Overview

1Recommendation
21 — An engineer’s role is to build structures that withstand nature’s forces.
32 — Modern buildings use many of the same components as early construction.
43 — Structural engineers must account for wind, earthquakes, and other natural forces.
54 — Disasters can teach us a great deal about better building practices.
65 — Modern structural engineering materials have a long history.
76 — Concrete is more interesting than you might think.
87 — Modern structures are reaching for the sky.
98 — A structure’s fate can depend on the ground it rests on.
109 — Innovative construction can bring water to dry regions.
1110 — The history of human waste is also the history of civilization.
1211 — Trailblazing women have challenged gender inequality in engineering.
1312 — Structural engineering has a bright future.
1413 — Final summary

Built Summary & Overview

Built (2018) tells the story of some of society’s unsung heroes: structural engineers. Sadly, structural engineering tends only to enter the news when something goes wrong, like when a building falls or a bridge collapses. In Built, Agrawal gives a fuller picture of what it means to be an engineer, offering a range of stories and engaging tidbits about the structures of our world and the people who built them.

Who Should Listen to Built?

People curious about how buildings are made
Aspiring structural engineers
Students interested in the history of engineering

About the Author: Roma Agrawal

Roma Agrawal, a London-based structural engineer, worked on the Shard in London, currently the tallest building in western Europe. She is also famous for her initiatives to get people – especially women – interested in the field of engineering.

Built

If You're Curious About These Questions...

Listen to Built — Free Audiobook

Key Takeaways from Built

Learning Tools

Mind Map

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Built — Full Chapter Overview

Built Summary & Overview

Who Should Listen to Built?

About the Author: Roma Agrawal

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