OBJ 4.2

Question 1

Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)

Answer 1

This is a soil classification system that categorizes soils by grain size and texture.

Question 2

Catchment Area

Answer 2

Used in human geography to define an area from which a service, institution, or program attracts a population of people who use its services (e.g., students who attend an elementary school).

Question 3

Bearing Capacity

Answer 3

Bearing Capacity The maximum pressure a soil can withstand without high levels of movement or settlement: bedrock = 10,000 psf

well-graded gravel and sand = 3,000 psf

compacted soil and sand = 2,000 psf

clay or silt = 1,000 psf.

Question 4

Hot and Dry vs. Hot and Humid Climate Design

Answer 4

Hot and dry: Minimize sun exposure, use small windows and shading, utilize thermal mass for temperature swings, and cluster buildings together to aid in shading.

Hot and humid: Minimize sun exposure but utilize natural ventilation, space buildings far apart to aid in ventilation, and use lightweight construction to reduce heat radiation.

Question 5

Temperate vs. Cold Climate Design

Answer 5

Temperate: Maximize solar gain in the winter, minimize solar gain in the summer, maximize summer breezes, and minimize winter wind. Cold: Install south-facing windows to maximize solar gains; building openings should be small and placed where they are protected from wind to avoid heat loss.

Question 6

Name the four components of programming:

Answer 6

1. Function: Objects and needs 2. Form: Site, structure, configuration, etc. 3. Economy: Budget allowance for building and operation 4. Time: Amount of time needed to complete the work

Question 7

Environmental Impact Statement

Answer 7

The Environmental Policy Act of 1969 requires that, for every major federal action that may significantly affect the quality of the human environment, the responsible official must prepare a detailed statement discussing the environmental impact of the proposed action, and describe any adverse effects that cannot be avoided, as well as any irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources that would be involved.

Question 8

Boring Log

Answer 8

Removal of undisturbed samples of soil at regular intervals; usually a minimum of four borings are taken.

Question 9

Test Pit

Answer 9

10-foot trenches dug at a job site that allow visual inspection of the soil strata and direct collection of undisturbed samples; soil below 10 feet cannot be directly examined.

Question 10

Proctor Test

Answer 10

Named after the engineer Ralph R. Proctor, the test is used by geotechnical engineers to determine the optimum moisture content at which a given soil type will become most dense and achieve its maximum dry density.

Question 11

What is the orientation criteria for Cold Climates?

Answer 11

• Optimum orientation angle : 12°
• Compact form with smallest surface area possible relative to the volume
• South : Large windows
• East & West : Small windows
• North : minimal or no windows
• Interior Materials : high thermal mass
• Summer shading for glazed areas
• Use dark or medium-dark colors for the building’s exterior
• Square or cube for houses/small buildings,
• Square multistory

Question 12

What is the design critera for temperate climate?

Answer 12

• Optimum Orientation angle : 17.5°
• Rectangular building with the long direction oriented generally along the E-W axis and facing slightly the east
• South facing openings to capture winter light
• use the cooling effect of the wind in the summer, block it in the winter
• Shade glazing in the summer, allow the sun to fall on glazing and the building in the summer
• Use medium colors for the building’s exterior

Question 13

What is the design criteria for Hot-Humid Climate?

Answer 13

• Optimum Orientation Angle : 25°
• Provide shade for all openings
• Maximize natural ventilation using large openings, high ceilings, and cross ventilation
• Construct buildings using light materials; minimixe thermal mass
• Use light colors for the building exterior
• elongated ratio of 3-4:1, 3-4 being long side

Question 14

What is the design criteria for Hot-Arid climates?

Answer 14

• Optimum orientation angle : 5°
• Compact form with smallest surface area possible relative to the volume
• Minimize opening sizes
• Provide shade for openings
• Maximize thermal mass
• Use light colors for the building exterior
• courtyards for external load dominated, houses and small buildings

Question 15

Which facade needs horizontal shading?

Answer 15

South

Question 16

Which facade needs vertical shading?

Answer 16

East and West

Question 17

GP

Answer 17

Poorly graded gravels, or gravel-sand mixtures

Question 18

GM

Answer 18

Silty gravels, gravel-sand and silt mixtures

Question 19

SP

Answer 19

Poorly graded sands or gravelly sand mixtures

Question 20

SM

Answer 20

silty sand, sand-silt mixtures

Question 21

SC

Answer 21

clayey sand, sand-clay mixtures

Question 22

ML

Answer 22

Inorganic silt with low to medium plasticity

Question 23

CL

Answer 23

Inorganic clay with low to medium plasticity

Question 24

What are some passive solar design strategies?

Answer 24

Direct gain systems, indirect gain systems, trombe wall, greenhouse, roof pond, convective loop system (thermosipons)

Question 25

Describe the Direct Gain system

Answer 25

Collects heat through south-facing glass and then store this heat in high-mass materials such as oncrete floors, masonry walls, tile, stone and terrazzo. During nighttime hours, the high-mass materials slowly release the heat they captured during the day. It is only effective if the glass is low-e glazing. The mass areas should be dark colored and free of rugs, wall hangings, and other materials that would interere with the storage and release of heat.

Question 26

Trombe Wall (thermal storage wall), what is it?

Answer 26

High-mass wall placed directly behind a south-facing glass wall. High-mass wall collects solar energy during the day for release at night, as a form of direct gain system. Most thermal storage walls are vented, which allows cool air to circulate in the space between the glass and wall, become heated, and travel by convection up and over the wall and back into the space.

Question 27

Greenhouse design

Answer 27

Large glazed area on the south side of the building, with a heavy thermal mass wall separating the greenhouse from the rest of the structure. A rock bed or high thermal mass floor is built in the greenhouse. While the greenhouse often overheats and is subject to heat loss at night, the stored heat circulates into the rest of the building at night.