ABSTRACT
Structures are one of mankind’s basic needs next to food and clothing, and are a hallmark of civilization. Man’s structural endeavours to protect himself from the elements and from his own kind, to bridge streams, to enhance a ruling class and for religious purposes go back to the dawn of mankind. Fundamentally, structures are needed for the following purposes:
• to enclose space for environmental control; • to support people, equipment, materials etc. at required locations in space; • to contain and retain materials; • to span land gaps for transport of people, equipment etc.
