Single Stage Well Points | Building Construction

Single Stage Well Points | Civil Engineering

A well point is a perforated pipe about 1m long and 5cm in diameter. The perforations are covered with a screen to prevent clogging. A jetting nozzle is provided at its lower end. A conical steel drive point is fixed to the lower end of the well point to facilitate installation.

A ball valve is also provided near the lower end which permits flow of water only in the downward direction during installation.

The well point is connected to the bottom of the riser pipe of the same diameter. Risers of different well points are connected to a horizontal pipe of 15 to 30cm diameter, known as header.

The header is connected to a specially designed pumping unit. The spacing of the well points depends upon the type of soil and the depth of water. Generally, it varies between 1 to 3m.

Well points can be installed in a drilled hole, but generally these are installed by jetting. Water is pumped through the riser pipe in the downward direction. As it discharges through the nozzle, it displaces the soil below the tip.

Jetting is continued till the required penetration of the tip is achieved. The advantage of installation by jetting is that the water under pressure washes away soil fines near the tip and leaves a relatively coarse material. It forms a natural filter around the tip. The hole formed near the tip is filled with coarse sand.

After the well points have been installed around the area to be dewatered, pumping is started. Each well point lowers the water table around it and forms a small cone of depression and a common drawdown curve is obtained. The water table is thus lowered.

Well points are suitable for lowering the water table by 5 to 6m in soils with a coefficient of permeability between 1 x 10^-4 to 1 x 10^-6m/sec. The screen normally provided with the well points can prevent medium sand and coarse sand from entering the well point. If the stratum to be dewatered consists of finer soils, a sand filter has to be provided around the well point.

It is essential to continue pumping once it has been started until the excavation is complete. If it is stopped in between, it may prove to be disastrous.

Inceptor Ditches | Civil Engineering

Inceptor Ditches

Inceptor ditches are used for excavation of limited depth made in a coarse soil. These ditches are constructed around the area to be dewatered. The ditches must penetrate deeper than the level of the work area.

At suitable locations, sump pits are constructed along the ditch for installation of the pump to remove the water collected.

If the soil is fine sand of low permeability, boiling may occur in sumps and ditches. This may be prevented by placing filter layers on the sides and at the bottom of the ditches and sumps.

Interceptor ditches are most economical for carrying away the water which emerges on the slopes and near the bottom of the foundation pit.

The method can be effectively used for formation, gravel and coarse sand. In fine sands and silts. There may be sloughing, erosion or quick conditions. For such soils, the method is confined to a depth of 1m to 2m.

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Drainage, Dewatering | Building Construction
Conduits
Types of Underground Conduits
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Architecture as Poetry of Construction and Frozen Music

History and Importance of Architecture

In our previous articles, we have discussed the following points:

Inspiration

Record of Past History

Architecture as a Fine Art

Architecture as Mother of all Arts

Now we will move on with our discussion on Importance of architecture with respect to "Architecture as Poetry of Construction and Frozen music".

Architecture is based on building construction and poetry is based on prose. But architecture is not mere art of building construction so also poetry is not mere prose.

Prose converts into poetry with the introduction of verses, metres, and fine flow of language etc. and there is enjoyment over the artistic representation in poetry.

So also in music, there is a combination of harmonious sounds arranged in a systematic way so as to arouse excitement and enjoyment.

Similarly, the building converts into fine piece of architecture when it is composed of elements which are systematically as well as aesthetically arranged so as to serve a utilitarian purpose and in addition to have emotional appeal.

And we enjoy at the loo of such building which strikes deep and solemn chords in the human heart. In words of Goethe “architecture is ‘poetry of construction’ and frozen music”.

With this article, we come to the end of the discussion on "Importance of Architecture".


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Architecture Student

Architecture as Mother of all Arts

Importance of Architecture w.r.t to Architecture as Mother of all Arts

In our previous articles regarding "Importance of architecture", we have covered the following points:

Inspiration

Record of Past History

Architecture as a Fine Art

Now we will move on with our discussion on "Architecture as Mother of all Arts".

We can look at a thing in three different ways.

First, we may look at a thing considering its practical goodness and usefulness. We may be pleased, only because the thing is useful and hence it may be considered as suitable.

Such kinds of arts are called “Technique Arts ” where utility alone is important.

For example: cooking, fishing etc.

Secondly, we may look at a thing in a speculatively thoughtful way, which is different from appreciation utility. The scientific happiness derived from ‘truth’ will be the result of art. Such arts are called “Phonetic Arts”. For example, drama, eloquence etc.

The third way of looking at a thing is not from point of view of goodness, truth but at its appearance, shape and colour. What it looks like is more important than what it is!

Here we search for beauty in a thing rather than its practical utility. Such arts, which involve beauty are called ‘Aesthetic Arts’.

For example: Sculpture, Fresco etc.

Technique arts stand for ‘Goodness’, Phonetic arts for expression of ‘Truth’ and aesthetic arts for ‘Beauty’. But architecture stands for ‘Goodness, Truth and Beauty’ which are its three main principles. In short, architecture can thus be said as “Mother of all Arts”.

In our next article, we will discuss Importance of Architecture with respect to "Architecture as Poetry of Construction and Frozen Music".

Architecture as Fine Arts

Importance of Architecture | History of Architecture

In our previous article, we discussed "Importance of Architecture" with respect to "Inspiration" and "Record of Past History".

Now we will continue our discussion on "Importance of Architecture with respect to Architecture as a Fine Art".

Architecture as a Fine Art

Any human activity where there is skill directed towards production of beauty is considered as an ‘Art’.

Art is both static and dynamic. The static art delights in order and proportion. It deals with space and result in fine architecture and planning. The dynamic art delights in movements and rythm. It deals with time and results in music, poetry and dancing. The painting and dancing appeal to the eye, whereas music appeals to the ear and poetry to the mind.

Architecture is the most comprehensive of all visual arts and has a right to claim superiority over other arts, since it assimilates and translates all these faculties and beauties into an elegant building.

We would further discuss the next point "Architecture as Mother of all Arts" and "Architecture as Poetry of Construction and Frozen Music" in our succeeding article.

History of Architecture

Importance of Architecture

In this article, we will discuss the Importance of Architecture with reference to the following points:

• Inspiration
• Record of Past History
• Architecture as Fine Arts
• Architecture as Mother of all Arts
• Architecture as Poetry of Construction and Frozen Music

Let us now start with our discussion with Inspiration...

Inspiration

Some of the monumental works erected to commemorate some important event or in memory of great national leaders arouse inspiration in the minds of the people for all the times.

For example:

The tower of Victory built by Rana of Chittor and Indian war Memorial at Delhi inspire the feelings of patriotism.

Record of the past history

Architecture is the most powerful record of the past history of any country. It throws light on the social, religious customes and manners and development of the country. The development of the civilization of any country is reproduced in the development of architecture.

Architecture is therefore considered as the printing press of all ages and gives history of state of society in which it was erected.

Thus Egyptian architecture reflects the absolute power of the Pharaohs and slavery of the people. Greek architecture that we so admire was the product of the democratic belief of the Greek Civilization. It had rich beauty which reached highest perfection. The majestic buildings of Rome clearly show the great skill and constructive ability and expression of “Roman Imperial Power”, but royal palaces and thermae speak of their luxury.

Basilican churches reflect religious enthusiasm. Gothic reflects the condition of passionate energy. French Renaissance shows the pompous life of the Monarchs, in their palaces and the Indian architecture clearly shows its spiritual content and represents in numerous religious buildings which are characterized by the treatment of wall surfaces containing the high or low relief of noble ‘God of Indian Mythology’.

Now temples and churches are becoming less and less in 20^th century, whereas we come across libraries, museums, markets, hospitals, town-halls, institutions, swimming pools, theatres etc which are the indices of social forces at work. Architecture is more than a history of form and style, it is a product of cultural and environmental factors and expression of the way of life of the people for whom it is built. Architecture is therefore sometimes called as “matrix of civilisation”.

In our next article, we will discuss Importance of Architecture with respect to "Architecture as Fine arts".

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Development of Architecture

Thumb rules for RCC Structures

Standards for the design of Structural Components of RCC Structures

Designing structural Components has to be done in a systematic and calculated way. I am writing this article for civil engineering and Architecture students to help them understand and know the minimum standard dimensions of different structural components in a building.

It is very important for any Civil Engineer and an Architect to know these few basic standards in the design of Structural Components.

In this article, we will discuss the minimum standard dimensions for different Structural Components of the building such as Columns, beams, slab and foundation.

We would also discuss the basic minimum reinforcement details that are to be kept in mind while designing.

Read the rest of the article >>>