TRIANGULATION
A triangle is a very strong structural form. The triangle is used in structural designs to reinforce and support weight. All structures on this page rely on the strength of the triangle. In some cases you may not see the triangle shape (as with the buttress examples shown below), but the structure relies on the strength of the triangle as the forces work in a triangular direction.
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| The roof trusses (top) and floor beams (bottom) at Shelly & Sons show repeated use of triangulation for building materials. | These swings at West Rockhill Elementary School use triangulation in the support structures. | A camera tripod features three collapsible legs for strong support. |
BUTTRESS
A buttress is a thickening of a wall or an outside walls at right angles used to make a wall stronger. Buttresses counteract the outward force of a heavy roof or wall. Buttresses are often used to hold a heavy roof or tower.
This concept can be illustrated with a tent . When a tent is leaning in because the walls are not strong enough, one puts posts in the middle to hold it up; these posts work as a buttress.
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| Trinity Lutheran Church has a large clock and bell tower supported by buttresses. | The church also uses buttresses to support the tall walls in the main part of the church. | |
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| A staircase at the rear of Fonthill in Doylestown, PA provides support against the wall and works as a buttress. | This barn at 520 E. Creamery Road is a bank barn. The earth piled to make a ramp to the second level of the barn also works as a buttress or support for the wall. | |
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| Buttresses on this barn in Hilltown Township, PA provide support for the side walls. | This barn is located at 1027 Rickert Road. |
A flying buttress has a non-structural part removed making it look lighter and more graceful. The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France is a very famous building with flying buttresses.
TRUSS
A truss is a system of support elements that are held rigid. This structure does not tend to collapse with additional weight. A truss is usually a series of triangles. The Eiffel Tower is a well known truss construction.
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The truss structure seen on the left is part of the old Bethlehem Steel plant in Bethlehem, PA. This bridge-like structure was used to lift and move steel | |
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| This bridge over the railroad in Sellersville, PA uses triangular truss construction. | This communications tower at Route 563 and Route 113 in East Rockhill Township uses truss construction. |
PYRAMID
A pyramid is a series of triangles combined together. Though the most famous pyramids are found in Egypt and Mexico, many examples of pyramids can be found in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
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| A pyramid structure in Nockamixon Township is built of stone. | The top of this building structure is a pyramid. This building is located on West Creamery Road across from the Hilltown Township Building. | |
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| In Philadelphia, PA both old and new buildings use pyramid structures on top of these buildings. The building with the flag is part of Philadelphia City Hall and the light blue building on the right is Liberty Place. | Many roofs at Moravian Tile Works in Doylestown, PA are pyramidal in their design. |
