Stepped profile

A stepped profile describes the edge of something that has a series of defined steps.[1] It has applications in architecture, construction, engineering, and geology.

A water tank with a stepped profile at Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India

Applications

Architecture and construction

In building design a stepped profile is used to reduce the visual impact of, or airborne noise around a building.[2][3][4] A stepped profile is also used to calculate seismic and wind loads in multi-story building design.[5]

The spillway from a dam can have a stepped profile, which dissipates energy from the released water.[6]

Engineering

In engineering, a stepped profile may be used on a bearing surface to reduce friction between the moving parts.[7]

Geology

A mountain with a stepped profile has a number of denudation terraces caused by erosion.[8]

A river with a stepped profile has a step-like variation in its gradient along its length.[9] This may be caused by changes in the height of the underlying bedrock.[10]

Notable examples

See also

References
  1. Cowan, James J. (2006). Advances in holographic replication with the Aztec structure (PDF). 7th International Symposium on Display Holography.
  2. Edwards, Brian (2004). The Modern Airport Terminal: New Approaches to Airport Architecture. Taylor & Francis. p. 63. ISBN 9781134537648.
  3. Johnson, Stuart (1993). Greener Buildings: Environmental Impact of Property. Macmillan Education. p. 62. ISBN 9781349227525.
  4. The Making of an African Building: The Mpumalanga Provincial Government Complex. MPTS Architectural Library. 2001. p. 32. ISBN 9780620282949.
  5. Shapiro, Ian M. (2016). Energy Audits and Improvements for Commercial Buildings. Wiley. p. 54. ISBN 9781119084167.
  6. Chanson, H. (1995). "History of stepped channels and spillways: a rediscovery of the "wheel"" (PDF). Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering. 22 (2): 247–259. doi:10.1139/l95-034.
  7. Wróblewski, E.; Iskra, A.; & Babiak, M (2017). "Geometrical structures of the stepped profile bearing surface of the piston". Procedia Engineering. Elsevier. 192: 965–970. doi:10.1016/j.proeng.2017.06.166.
  8. Alexander Stahr; Ewald Langenscheidt (2014). Landforms of High Mountains. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 64. ISBN 9783642537158.
  9. Luna Bergere Leopold (1994). A view of the river. Harvard University Press. p. 79. ISBN 9780674937321.
  10. Gary J. Brierley; Kirstie A. Fryirs (2013). Geomorphology and River Management: Applications of the River Styles Framework. Wiley. p. 409. ISBN 9781118685303.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.