Post-and-lintel By Annabella Behrens, Alexandra Valladares y Valeria Valladares

1. Post-and-lintelBy Annabella Behrens, Alexandra Valladares y Valeria Valladares

2. Introduction • In ancient times, people who wanted to use stone to construct, had to develop new building methods to take account of the different properties of stone, particularly its weight. Apart from devising ways of cutting and transporting the material, they needed new strategies to create covered areas in heavy stone.   The simplest method was the post-and-lintel or trabeated system of building, which is clearly present, for example, in the Stonehenge monument.

3. Post-and-lintel • Post and lintel (synonimous with Post and beam and also called an Architrave) is a simple construction technique where a horizontal member (the lintel or header) is supported by two vertical posts at either end. This very simple form is commonly used to support the weight of the structure located above the openings in a bearing wall created by windows and doors.

4. Post-and-lintel • Is a simple, rectilinear arch design. The posts are upright supports and the lintel is the top crossbeam

5. How does it work? • There are two main forces acting upon the post and lintel: compression and tension, The underside of the lintel is under tension, while the topside is under compression.

6. How does it work? • The purpose of the lintel is to bear the loads that rest on it (and its own load) without deforming or breaking. • The purpose of the posts is to support the lintel and its loads without crushing or buckling.

7. Nowadays • Nowadays, this very simple form is commonly used to support the weight of the structure located above the openings in a bearing wall created by windows and doors. • Post-and-Lintels may be made of wood, stone, steel or reinforced or pre tensioned concrete.

8. Nowadays

9. Advantages • This is a strong support when the structure is level and gravity pulls down evenly on the structure. • It is also a great way for constructing an opening.

10. Disadvantages • The biggest disadvantages to this type of construction is the limited weight that can be held up, and the small distances required between the posts. Roman developments of the arch allowed for much larger structures to be constructed.

11. Examples • Stonehenge : It is thought that Stonehenge dates back thousands of years, to approximately 2800 BC.

12. Examples • Parthenon, in Atenas, Greece

13. Erechtheion, in Athens, Greece

14. Machu-Pichu, Perú

15. Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society Museum

16. Conclusion Post-and-lintel constructionis an architectural construction method that relies on the effect of gravity and spanning a short distance between two upright supports. It is one of the oldest methods of construction and Stonehenge uses this type of construction method. Nowadays post-and-lintels may be made of different materials and used in modern buildings.