{"schema":"https://ver.cy/schemas/card/1.0.0","id":"vr.tr.structural-system","code":"thing-q2448108","url":"https://ver.cy/models/thing/q2448108/","name":"structural system","alternateNames":["concrete construction","precast prestressed concrete structure","lift-slab construction","bundwerk","A-frame","braced frame"],"kind":"thing","status":"published","version":"0.2.0-wave.2","language":"en","classifiers":{"family":"Thing Registry","category":"Physical world and living systems","entryKind":"thing","plane":"PHY","domain":["PHY.BLT"],"industry":[],"navPath":"","tags":[],"facets":{}},"whatItIs":"The load-bearing arrangement of a building or structure that carries gravity, wind and seismic loads to the ground, such as braced or moment frames, load-bearing walls, A-frames, trusses, shells, precast or prestressed concrete systems, lift-slab construction and traditional timber systems such as Bundwerk; the structural system is chosen in design to suit spans, loads, materials and architecture.","purpose":"Let an agent explain structural systems and how they carry loads, help compare systems for a design, identify the system of an existing building, and describe standards and failure lessons.","scope":{"in":[],"out":[],"boundaries":[]},"distinguishingFeatures":["Load-bearing","Material-specific","Span and height dependent","Code-governed"],"structure":{"bundles":[{"id":"identify","name":"Identify","description":"Which system.","layers":[{"id":"recognise","name":"Recognise","description":"Recognising a system.","findings":[{"id":"recognise-finding","name":"Recognise","description":"Recognition.","questions":[{"text":"What structural system does this building use, judging by its visible elements and era?","kind":"definition"},{"text":"Where does its load path run?","kind":"definition"}]}]},{"id":"assess","name":"Assess","description":"Assessing condition.","findings":[{"id":"assess-finding","name":"Assess","description":"Assessment.","questions":[{"text":"How is the condition of a structural system assessed, and when is an engineer needed?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Are there signs of structural distress needing urgent action?","kind":"boundary"}]}]}]},{"id":"design","name":"Design","description":"Choosing a system.","layers":[{"id":"compare","name":"Compare","description":"Comparing systems.","findings":[{"id":"compare-finding","name":"Compare","description":"Comparison.","questions":[{"text":"Which structural systems suit this span, height, loads, site and material preference?","kind":"action"},{"text":"What are the trade-offs in cost, speed and carbon?","kind":"boundary"}]}]},{"id":"codes","name":"Codes","description":"Codes and analysis.","findings":[{"id":"codes-finding","name":"Codes","description":"Codes.","questions":[{"text":"Which codes and analysis methods govern the design of this system here?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"How are seismic and wind loads addressed?","kind":"provenance"}]}]}]},{"id":"systems","name":"Systems","description":"How systems work.","layers":[{"id":"frames","name":"Frames","description":"Frames and walls.","findings":[{"id":"frames-finding","name":"Frames","description":"Frames and walls.","questions":[{"text":"How do braced frames, moment frames and shear walls resist lateral loads?","kind":"definition"},{"text":"How do load-bearing walls differ from frames?","kind":"definition"}]}]},{"id":"concrete","name":"Concrete","description":"Concrete and timber systems.","findings":[{"id":"concrete-finding","name":"Concrete","description":"Concrete and timber.","questions":[{"text":"How do precast, prestressed and lift-slab concrete systems work, and what are A-frames and Bundwerk?","kind":"definition"},{"text":"Which entry fits a specific system?","kind":"action"}]}]}]},{"id":"learn","name":"Learn","description":"Failures and history.","layers":[{"id":"failures","name":"Failures","description":"Structural failures.","findings":[{"id":"failures-finding","name":"Failures","description":"Failures.","questions":[{"text":"Which structural failures taught lessons about this system type, according to investigations?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"What changed in codes as a result?","kind":"provenance"}]}]},{"id":"history","name":"History","description":"History of systems.","findings":[{"id":"history-finding","name":"History","description":"History.","questions":[{"text":"How did structural systems evolve from masonry and timber to steel, concrete and composites?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which buildings were milestones?","kind":"provenance"}]}]}]}]},"agentConduct":{"may":["Describe a building's structural system from design documents and inspection records it is authorized to read.","Explain how different structural systems carry loads, citing engineering sources."],"mustNot":["Advise removing or altering walls, braces, columns or ties without a qualified engineer's assessment.","Present a structure as sound when inspection findings show damage or overload.","Recommend use, loading or occupancy beyond what the design allows.","Hide defects found during construction, such as in temporary works or lift-slab stages."],"requiresHuman":["Approving structural changes, repairs or change of use.","Deciding whether a building is safe to occupy after an earthquake, fire or collapse warning."]},"ethics":{"considerations":["Structural failure kills occupants and passers-by; safety must not give way to cost or speed.","Traditional systems are also heritage, and alteration can destroy what makes them valuable."],"affectedParties":["Occupants","Construction workers","People nearby"]},"owners":{"steward":"The building owner; the designing engineer answers for the design and the building control authority for approval.","roles":[],"masterSystems":["Building control and permit records"]},"relations":[{"target":"Q2362312","type":"parent","note":"registry parent class"},{"target":"Q811430","type":"parent","note":"registry parent class"},{"target":"subsystem","type":"related","note":"category"},{"target":"fixed construction","type":"related","note":"category"},{"target":"building","type":"related","note":"the whole"},{"target":"structural engineering","type":"related","note":"design field"}],"interaction":{"identity":{"applicability":"required","items":["Vercy registry: vr.tr.structural-system","Wikidata: Q2448108 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2448108)"]},"properties":{"applicability":"required","items":["Structural span:  m - Measured between supports for the member or assembly being assessed.","Load resistance:  kN - Determined for a specified loading pattern and failure criterion through structural analysis or testing.","Lateral displacement:  mm - Measured or calculated at a specified location under a defined lateral load.","Fundamental vibration period:  s - Determined through modal analysis or measurements of structural vibration."]},"recognition":{"applicability":"required","items":["Load path to ground","Frames, walls, shells or trusses","Cladding and partitions are non-structural","Frames, walls, columns, beams, trusses or shells, often hidden behind finishes."]},"capabilities":{"applicability":"required","items":["explain structural system types","compare systems for a design","identify the system of a building","describe codes and failure lessons"]},"hazards":{"applicability":"required","items":["Progressive collapse","Seismic failure of unbraced systems","Construction-stage failures such as in lift-slab"]},"interfaces":{"applicability":"required","items":["Building codes and structural Eurocodes or equivalents","Seismic design standards","Material standards for concrete, steel and timber"]},"context":{"applicability":"required","items":["Carrying loads in buildings and structures.","frame systems including braced and moment frames","wall systems including load-bearing masonry and shear walls","concrete systems including precast, prestressed and lift-slab","timber systems including A-frames and Bundwerk","long-span systems such as trusses, shells and cables"]}},"sources":[{"title":"Wikidata item Q2448108: structural system","url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2448108","note":"identity and sense of the item"},{"title":"Wikipedia: Structural system","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structural_system","note":"general description of the item"}],"openQuestions":["Should each system type be a separate entry?","How should codes be linked?","How should failure case studies be linked?"],"resources":{"spec":"/models/things/publications/thing-q2448108/spec.json"},"provenance":{"origin":"thing registry research (pass 2)","builtFrom":["models/things/publications/thing-q2448108/spec.json"],"providers":["Claude"],"researchStatus":"unreviewed","generatedAt":"2026-09-11T21:25:36Z","builder":"tools/build_cards.py@1.0.0"},"completeness":{"sections":{"classifiers":"filled","whatItIs":"filled","purpose":"filled","distinguishingFeatures":"filled","structure":"filled","agentConduct":"filled","ethics":"filled","owners":"filled","relations":"filled","interaction.identity":"filled","interaction.properties":"filled","interaction.recognition":"filled","interaction.capabilities":"filled","interaction.hazards":"filled","interaction.interfaces":"filled","interaction.context":"filled","sources":"filled"},"notes":{"_gate":"Published through the thing publication gate 1.0 on 2026-10-07T10:10:29+00:00: completeness 1.00; sense: Wikidata description; 2 live sources; review by codex: pass"},"score":1.0}}