SHELL & FOLDED PLATE STRUCTURES

SUBJECT : THEORY OF STRUCTURES

ASSIGNMENT 3
SUBMITTED BY :
KASHAF SAYED
16100
Assignment 3: Shell and folded plate structures

Q 1) Explain classification of folded plate structures. How the load

transfer take place in a folded plate structure?
Ans.
Folded plate structures are assemblies of flat plates, or slabs, inclined in different directions
and joined along their longitudinal edges. In this way the structural system is capable of
carrying loads without the need for additional supporting beams along mutual edges.
BASIC ELEMENTS OF FOLDED PLATES:
• The Inclined Plates.
• Edge plates which must be used to stiffen the wide plates
• Stiffeners to carry the loads to the supports and to hold the plates in line.
• Columns to support the structure in the air.
TYPES OF FOLDED STRUCTURE
Based on geometric shape folded structures can be divided into:
1. Folded plate surfaces structures
 Prismatic: Rectangular plates.
 Pyramidal: Non-rectangular plates.
 Prismoidal: Triangular or trapezoidal plates
TAPERED FOLDED PLATES:
 Folded plate structures may be built with tapered elements and only one of the many
possible combinations is shown here.
 The height of the shells at the centre of the span is the critical dimension for bending
strength. Therefore, the structure is not very efficient and not suitable for long spans
because of the excess height required for the large ends.
 Another weak element in this design is the transfer of shear from the small end of
the triangular plate to the large end. If a large number of units are used in each span,
the transfer of loads may be difficult.
 A folded plate may be used for walls as a thin structural element by casting each
plate flat on the floor and grouting the joints full of concrete. a wall of this type can
be made much thinner than a flat wall.

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FOLDED PLATE TRUSS:

 The term "folded plate truss" is intended to indicate the structural action of this
structure.
 There are horizontal ties across the width only at the ends of the building.
 The thrusts from the triangular crossed arches are carried lengthwise to the ends.
 The top chord of the inclined truss is formed by the ridge member.
 The bottom chords are the ties at the base of the side gables and the diagonals
are formed by the sloping valleys at the intersection of the gables and the
triangular plates. This is truly a space structure and its structural action is as
shown and, therefore, the architectural appearance is more subtle that the usual
shell structure.

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FOLDED PLATE RIGID FRAME:

 An arch with straight segments is sometimes called a Rigid Frame.
 It is not as efficient as the curved arch because the bending moments are greater.
 Ties across the plates are required at the knees and at the crown in order to
distribute the forces at the ends of each segment.

EDGE SUPPORTED FOLDED PLATES:

 The usual upturned edge plate can be eliminated and the roof structure can be made
to appear very thin if the edge plate is replaced by a series of columns.
 The slab between columns must be designed as a beam and it may be convenient to
extend the main roof slab as a Cantilever Canopy.
 The beam element that carries the load of the roof between columns will then be
wider and windows under the slab will have the same function as in the previous
examples of folded plates.
 Note the vertical columns in the end walls at the crown of the gable. These take the
reactions of the plates and the horizontal ties may be eliminated. Wind loads are
taken by rigid frame action in the Columns and Stiffeners

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THREE SEGMENT FOLDED PLATE:
 The end stiffeners are rigid frames rather than deep Girders as in the last example.
 The forces from the reactions of the sloping plates on these rigid frames will be quire
large and at an outside column they will not be balanced by thrusts from the adjacent
plates.
 The size of the frames may be reduced by using a steel tie between the tops of the
columns which can be concealed in the fenestration. The dimensions of the plates
are dependent on both the width of the barrel and on the span.
 The depth of the shell should be about 0.10 times the span and the maximum slope
of a plate should not be greater than 40 degrees

Load Distribution in Folded Plates structure

 At first, the external forces are transferred to the shorter edge of one folding
element.
 There, the reaction as an axial force is divided between the adjacent elements.
 Then the forces transferred to the bearings.

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Q2) Advantages and disadvantages of folded plate structures

Ans.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF FOLDED-PLATE STRUCTURE
Advantages:
• Very light form of construction. To span 30 m shell thickness required is 60 mm only.
• The use of concrete as a building material reduces both materials cost and a construction
cost.
• Longer span can be provided.
• Flat shapes by choosing certain arched shapes.
• Aesthetically it looks good over other forms of construction.
Disadvantages:
• Shuttering is difficult.
• Greater accuracy in formwork is required.
• Good labour and supervision necessary.
• Rise of roof may be a disadvantage

Q 3) Explain about Kielsteg products (an engineered wood) used for

floor structure.
Ans
 KIELSTEG elements are lightweight and strong wooden construction elements
without cross-lamination, with an internal structure running in one direction.
 They use strips of timber to form top and bottom flanges, which are connected by
curved webs of plywood or OSB.
 The characteristic curve of the webs, which resembles the keel of a boat, gives the
Kielsteg its name.
 Kielsteg elements are usually used in buildings with large clear spans, to create roofs
or structural floors.

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 The internal structure of this element is mostly repeating cellular structure with
upper and lower flanges of spruce timber connected by webs off plywood or OSBt
Aus.
 The material used is spruce wood.
 It is available in three types the industrial quality surface, the visible quality surface,
the planed surface and the untreated surface type.
 The width can be can be ranging from 1200 mm and 1165 mm, thickness from
228mm to 800mm and length ranges from 5 meter to 35 meters.
 The ability to bridge large spans maximizes the flexibility of how the enclosed space is
used. This meets the important architectural demand to be able to rearrange interior
layouts throughout the lifetime of a building.

Comfort in the interior of buildings is a function of surface textures, temperatures, colours,

light, design, odour, acoustics and noise transmission from other rooms.
 The quality of a space for living or working can be very easily impaired by unwanted
noise. This means that the quality of interior floors/ceilings has a lot to do with their
ability to insulate against airborne and impact noise.

 Acoustic insulation of floors always a matter of achieving the right mass, separating
layers and decoupling the margins of the floor from the structure.
Recommended floor layup
 As intermediate floors in buildings, they can easily reach applicable acoustics
standards for residential and similar use by means of conventional, proven floor
layups – using loose fill, acoustic insulation board, screed and soft perimeter seals.

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Assignment 3: Shell and folded plate structures
 As a rule, floors with good attenuation of airborne noise also insulate well against
impact noise.
ADVANTAGES
 Economically efficient structural floors and roofs from 5 to 27 meters clear span.
 The wide clear spans ensure flexible use of the building.
 Aesthetically attractive underside makes suspended ceilings unnecessary.
 Fire resistance class up to REI 60 without additional constructive measures.
 High degree of prefabrication, therefore quick construction.
 Cantilevered projecting roofs up to 10 meters.
 Environmentally friendly, sustainable, carbon-negative building method.
 A personal contribution towards the use of natural resources and responsibility for
the coming generations.

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Q 4) Explain about types of vaults, barrel vault. What are the

Materials used for the construction of barrel vaults? Explain about
Groin vaults.
Ans.
VAULT
 An arched structure, usually of masonry, used as ceiling or canopy or as a support for
the roof.
 Masonry walls are composed of wedge shaped pieces called voussiors, which are
held in place by the pressure of the neighbouring pieces.
 A temporary supporting structure must be erected within the vaulted area during the
construction
BARREL VAULT
 A barrel vault is a continuous arched shape that may approximate a semi-cylinder
in form, resembling the roof of a tunnel, or may be pointed at its apex.
 It is typically formed by a series of arches or vaults placed side by side or by a
continuous shell.
 Barrel vaults are first thought to have been developed by the by the Sumerians, and
were subsequently used by the Egyptians. They were used extensively in Ancient
Rome for stone structures such as cisterns and aqueducts and as part of
major buildings such as the Colosseum.

 Barrel vaults must be able to withstand the outward pressure on the lower parts of
the vault imposed by the structure above.
 If the barrel vault is underground, the pressure might be resisted by the ‘fill’
surrounding it.
 If it is above ground, the outward pressure can be resisted by thick supporting walls,
although this becomes less practicable as the size of the vault increases. Additional

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strength can be provided in the form of supporting columns, stiffening
diaphragm beams, side anchors or parallel walls that can distribute stress.
Groin Vaults
Groin vaults The word “groin” refers to the edge between the intersecting vaults.
 A Groin vault is created by two barrel vaults intersecting at right angles.
 The arches of vaults are rounded or pointed. A Groin vault also known as a Double
Barrel vault.
 Renaissance groin vault loggia at the Palladio’s Palazzo della Ragione, Vicenza. Santa
Maria Maggiore at Guardiagrele in Abruzzo

 Characteristics of Groin vault

a) Sometime the arches of groin vaults are pointed instead of round.
b) The groin vault required great skills in cutting stone to from a neat arris.
c) Difficult to construct neatly because of the geometry of cross groins.
d) In comparison with a barrel vault, a groin vault provides good economies of material
and labour.
e) The construction of groin vault can be understood most simply by visualizing two
barrel vault section at right angles merging to form a squares unit.
RIB VAULTS
• Ribbed vault is defined as the intersection of two or three barrel vaults.
• Rib vaults is reinforced by masonry ribs.

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Types of Rib vault: There are two types of rib vault.
1. Quadripartite rib vault: When two masonry ribs dividing into 4 sections.
2. Sexpartite rib vault: When three masonry ribs dividing into 6 sections.
Characteristics of Rib vault
a) When the Ribbed vault are edged with an armature of piped masonry often
carved in decorative patterns.
b) Some ribbed vaults even have six section in each bay.
c) It is best for roofing purpose.
d) In eleventh centaury there was a new technique introduced as Let a, which
became an example of choir side aisles at Durham cathedral.
FAN VAULT
Definition:- A fan vault is a form of vault used in the
Gothic style, in which the ribs are all of the same curve
and spaced equidistantly, in a manner resembling a fan.
Structure:
1. The ribs of a fan vault are of equal curvature and
rotated at equal distances around a central
(vertical) axis, forming the conoid shape which gives rise to the name.
2. In between sequences of conoids, flat central spandrels fill the space.

Materials
 Bricks, stone, timber , wood, RCC are used generally.
 In stone barrel vault due to the problem of fenestration, they provide a small window
which restricts the more light.
 Bricks are installed vertically (not radially) and are leaning at an angle.
 Its construction doesn’t require cantering.
.

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COMPARISION BETWEEN MODERN AND TRADITIONAL VALUT
Traditional vault
Vault is arch shaped structure, its usually
a masonry used for ceiling and other
enclosed space. Masonry vaults are
usually composed of wedge-shaped
pieces called voussoirs
Mostly barrel, some groin
Arch type- Rounded Arches
Elevation - Horizontal Modest, Height
Exterior- Plan Little decoration, Solid
Mood- Dark, Gloomy
KASHAF SAYED (16100)
Modern vaults
20th century found great advances in
reinforced concrete design .the advent of
the construction and better mathematical
understanding of hyperbolic paraboloids
allowed very thin strong vaults to be
constructed with previously unseen shape
GROIN – Vaulted
Arch type- Pointed Arches
Elevation -Vertical, Soaring
Exterior -More realistic proportions and
individualized features
Mood-Tall, Light-filled
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Q5. Explain about different types of domes and sketch?

Ans.
DOMES
 Domes are prominent features of Persian, Roman, Byzantine, Islamic, and Italian
Renaissance design.
 The ‘Building Construction Handbook’ describes domes as: ‘Double curvature shells
which can be rotationally formed by any curved geometrical plane figure rotating
about a central vertical axis.’
 In its simplest form, a dome is a hollow hemispherical structural element.
 A dome is typically an element of architecture that resembles the upper half of a
sphere. Domes are curved structures -- they have no angles and no corners -- and
they enclose an enormous amount of space with the minimum of materials as they
don’t require interior supports. Despite their thinness, domes are some of the
strongest and stiffest structures in existence today.

Different types of domes

TYPES OF DOMES:
1.Onion Domes

An onion dome is a dome whose shape resembles an onion and is

usually associated with Russian architectural style. Such domes are
often larger in diameter than the base upon which they sit, and their
height usually exceeds their width. These bulbous structures taper
smoothly to a point.

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2. Geodesic domes
Generally speaking, a geodesic structure is a
spherical structure which is constructed out of
interconnecting lines rather than out of curved
surfaces. The play dome itself resembles a half-
sphere, but it is constructed out of straight lines.
Therefore, a geodesic structure uses a series of
short, interconnected straight lines to
approximate a spherical or rounded surface. The
advantages of a geodesic dome are that it is lightweight, easy to construct out of
component parts, is resistant to wind and shocks, and can be built in almost any size, from a
small jungle gym to an enormous hangar for housing airplanes.
3. Oval and saucer domes

An oval dome may be defined as a dome whose plan or

profile (or both) has an oval form. The geometry is
defined as using combinations of circular arcs that
transition at tangential points The geometry was
eventually defined using combinations of circular arcs, transitioning at points of tangency.

4. A saucer dome
Also called segmental domes, or calottes, these
have profiles of less than half a circle. Because
they reduce the portion of the dome in tension,
these domes are strong but have increased
radial thrust. Many of the largest existing
domes are of this shape.
Masonry saucer domes, because they exist entirely in compression, can be built much
thinner than other dome shapes without becoming unstable. The trade-off between the
proportionately increased horizontal thrust at their abutments and their decreased weight
and quantity of materials may make them more economical, but they are more vulnerable
to damage from movement in their supports.

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5. Sail domes

This type can be thought of as pendentives that,

rather than merely touching each other to form a
circular base for a drum or compound dome, smoothly
continue their curvature to form the dome itself. The
dome gives the impression of a square sail pinned
down at each corner and billowing upward. These can
also be thought of as saucer domes upon
pendentives. Sail domes are based upon the shape of
a hemisphere and are not to be confused with elliptic parabolic vaults, which appear similar
but have different characteristics. In addition to semicircular sail vaults there are variations
in geometry such as a low rise to span ratio or covering a rectangular plan. Sail vaults of all
types have a variety of thrust conditions along their borders, which can cause problems, but
have been widely used from at least the sixteenth century.
6.Umbrella domes

Also known as a ‘ribbed’, ‘parachute’ or ‘scalloped’ dome. These

are divided into curved segments that follow
the elevation’s curve. Radial lines of structure that act as
the dome ribs extend down the springing from the apex

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