📢 ALE EXAM ALERT: The Architect Licensure Examination (ALE) in Philippines is scheduled for January 20 & 22, 2026 and June 8 & 10, 2026. Prepare early to secure your “Ar.” title!
For many architecture students, the “Structural” portion of the ALE is the most intimidating. However, the Board of Architecture doesn’t expect you to be a Civil Engineer. They expect you to conceptualize—to understand how a building breathes, leans, and stands.
This guide breaks down the Theory of Structures into intuitive concepts you can master without a complex engineering degree.
1. Conceptualization vs. Calculation
In the ALE, the focus is on behavior over math. While an engineer calculates the exact number of 16mm rebars needed, the architect must decide:
- What structural system fits this design?
- Where should the columns be placed to avoid disrupting the floor plan?
- How will this building react to an earthquake or a typhoon?
2. The Language of Forces: What is Happening to the Material?
Every structural failure begins with a force that the material couldn’t handle. You must visualize these five basic stresses:
- Tension: The “pulling” force. Think of a rubber band or the cables on a suspension bridge.
- Compression: The “pushing” or “crushing” force. This is what happens to your columns and the soil beneath the footings.
- Bending: a combination of tension (on the bottom) and compression (on the top). This is the primary stress in beams.
- Shear: The “sliding” force. Imagine two parallel surfaces sliding in opposite directions (like scissors cutting paper). This often happens at the connection between a beam and a column.
- Torsion: The “twisting” force. This occurs in eccentric loadings or when a building has an irregular shape during an earthquake.
3. The Load Path: “Where Does the Weight Go?”
One of the most frequent questions in the ALE involves the Load Path. You must be able to trace a single Newton of force from the roof down to the earth.
- Slab: The primary surface that catches “Live Loads” (people, furniture).
- Beams/Girders: These catch the load from the slabs and “carry” it to the vertical supports.
- Columns: The primary vertical members that resist compression.
- Footings: These distribute the concentrated weight of the column over a larger area of soil.
- Soil: The ultimate support. If the soil fails (liquefaction), the whole path breaks.
4. Common Structural Systems to Know
The ALE often uses diagrams and asks you to identify the system or a specific member.
A. The Truss System
Trusses use triangulation to achieve stability. Every member in a perfect truss is either in pure tension or pure compression—never bending.
- Pro-Tip: Look for “King Posts,” “Pratt,” or “Howe” trusses in your review materials.
B. Rigid Frames (Post-and-Lintel)
This is the most common system in Philippine construction (concrete columns and beams). Its stability depends on the “rigidity” of the joints.
C. Space Frames and Shells
Used for large spans like stadiums or terminals. These systems distribute loads in three dimensions, allowing for massive open spaces without interior columns.
5. ALE Survival Tips for Area 3 (Structural)
- Identify the Stress: If a question shows a diagram of a truss and asks about a specific member, ask yourself: “Is it being squished (compression) or stretched (tension)?”
- Rule of Thumb: Memorize basic ratios. For example, a typical RC beam depth is often around to of its span. This helps you “eye-ball” if a design is feasible during the Day 2 Design exam.
- Focus on Joints: Understand the difference between a Fixed (no movement), Hinged (allows rotation), and Roller (allows horizontal movement) support.
The Architect’s Structural Mindset
At the end of the day, structural conceptualization isn’t about memorizing formulas; it’s about developing an intuition for stability. As an architect, your role is to ensure that your creative vision is grounded in physical reality. By mastering these principles, you move from simply “drawing boxes” to designing structures that are both aesthetically profound and inherently safe.
Remember: A great architect doesn’t just design the skin of the building—they understand the bones that make it stand. Focus on the logic of the load path and the behavior of materials, and you’ll find the structural section of the ALE far more manageable.