GB2119825A

GB2119825A - Erecting folded-plate structure

Info

Publication number: GB2119825A
Application number: GB08206474A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dr Gurdev Singh; Michael Archibald Nkansah
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-03-05
Filing date: 1982-03-05
Publication date: 1983-11-23
Also published as: GB2119825B

Abstract

Plates, e.g. triangular or curved, are assembled or cast on or above ground. The joints of adjacent elements are connected to form hinges. The assembly is then lifted up from certain points to give the desired configuration. Points which bear directly or indirectly on the ground are fixed in position and the joints are locked. Alternatively a small repeating unit of the structure can be constructed as above and more plates joined on to form the complete structure. The plates can also be assembled in fully folded state, pressed together, transported and simply opened out where required. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A new technique of constructing folded-plate (or hipped-plate) structures made-up of triangular plate elements A folded-plate structure is a three-dimensional assembly of plates or slabs which are arranged so as to produce a stable construction capable of carrying loads. The essential feature of such a structure is that the individual component elements are flat not curved. Folded-plate structures are frequently used for covering large areas where their ability to span large areas without requiring intermediate supports makes them very attractive to the designer.

In a folded-plate structure, if only two plates intersect at a junction or 'hip' the structure is termed a 'simple' folded-plate structure. If more than two plates intersect at a junction, the structure is termed a 'multiple' folded-plate structure. The degree of multiplicity is M=S-1, where S is the number of plates intersecting at a junction. The fundamental components of a folded-plate structure are thus the plates and the junctions formed by them. A very important design and construction principle for such structures is the fact that a junction or hip takes the place of a beam, provided that the angular change of slope between the adjacent plates is not too small. This affects a saving in construction materials and thus leads to economy.

Intensive research has revealed that the triangle is the strongest simple geometric shape in nature. It has been used to create many efficient and functional structures such as geodesic domes.

This invention uses this efficient shape of the triangle to create a folded plate structure which is attractive, cheap and quick to erect.

The principle of the construction is as follows: The triangular plates of predetermined shape or size (these are usually in the form of isoceles triangles) are assembled or cast flat on the ground as shown in Figure A (a). The joints of adjacent elements are connected together so as to form hinges which can fold up along the continuous lines and fold down along the broken lines. The material forming the joint is either of metal or plastic.

The assembled triangular plates can next be lifted up from the ground at points B1, B2, B3, B4, C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, D1, D2, D3, D4, El, E2, E3, E4, E5, F1, F2, F3, F4 by any means to form the folded-plate structure shown in Figure A (a)$(b) Figure A (b) shows the plates assembled on the ground (thin line), an intermediate configuration of the structure as it is being raised (broken line) and the final configuration of the folded-plate structure (heavy line). Once the required configuration has been obtained points Al, A3, A5, A7, A9, G1, G3, G5, G7 and G9 which bear directly on the ground are fixed in position and a very stable structure is obtained. All that is required now is to lock the joints to create a rigid structure.

The final configuration in Figure A (b) depends upon the angle between the plates which is in turn influenced by the size of the area to be covered and either the headroom required or the ceiling height. The angle between the plates can vary from 1 800, when all the plates are flat on the ground, to nearly zero, when the plates are all vertical and lie fiat against each other.

An alternative method of constructing the same structure is to assemble together enough plates to form one repeating unit of the structure.

The assembly is raised into position from points B1, C1, C/, D1, El, E2 and F2 as shown in Figure A (c) to form the first unit of the structure. The remaining plates can simply be connected to the basic unit to form the complete structure.

For smaller units it is more convenient and faster to assemble the plates in fully folded state, the plates being simply pressed together into the shape shown in Figure A (e). On site the 'frame' is raised into the upright position by means of a crane and the plates simply opened up to give the Figure A (f) folded-plate structure. The points of support are fixed in position and the joints locked.

(Figure A (d) shows the front elevation of the frame of Figure A (e).

The invention covers different shapes of folded-plate structures depending on any ratio a/b and number of panels in either direction. Any material that can be made into triangular plates and can withstand both in-plane and out-of-plane stresses would be suitable for making the folded plate structure. For example the plates can be made of ferrocement.

Claims (filed on 2nd March 83) 1. A novel method of construction whereby an assembly, on or above ground, of flat or curved plates, made of suitable material, connected along their edges so that the connections act as hinges, can be lifted up from suitable points to form a folded plate structure which is rendered stable by fixing certain points to the ground directly, or through any other structural component, and followed by locking of the aforestated hinges.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein only enough plates are assembled to form one repeating unit of the structure, with the remaining plates subsequently connected to the basic unit to form the complete structure.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein no points are fixed on the ground in the first instance and the joints are not locked after raising the assembled plates into the right configuration but instead the plates are pressed together as far as necessary and/or possible to form a compact assembly which can be transferred to where

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A new technique of constructing folded-plate (or hipped-plate) structures made-up of triangular plate elements A folded-plate structure is a three-dimensional assembly of plates or slabs which are arranged so as to produce a stable construction capable of carrying loads. The essential feature of such a structure is that the individual component elements are flat not curved. Folded-plate structures are frequently used for covering large areas where their ability to span large areas without requiring intermediate supports makes them very attractive to the designer. In a folded-plate structure, if only two plates intersect at a junction or 'hip' the structure is termed a 'simple' folded-plate structure. If more than two plates intersect at a junction, the structure is termed a 'multiple' folded-plate structure. The degree of multiplicity is M=S-1, where S is the number of plates intersecting at a junction. The fundamental components of a folded-plate structure are thus the plates and the junctions formed by them. A very important design and construction principle for such structures is the fact that a junction or hip takes the place of a beam, provided that the angular change of slope between the adjacent plates is not too small. This affects a saving in construction materials and thus leads to economy. Intensive research has revealed that the triangle is the strongest simple geometric shape in nature. It has been used to create many efficient and functional structures such as geodesic domes. This invention uses this efficient shape of the triangle to create a folded plate structure which is attractive, cheap and quick to erect. The principle of the construction is as follows: The triangular plates of predetermined shape or size (these are usually in the form of isoceles triangles) are assembled or cast flat on the ground as shown in Figure A (a). The joints of adjacent elements are connected together so as to form hinges which can fold up along the continuous lines and fold down along the broken lines. The material forming the joint is either of metal or plastic. The assembled triangular plates can next be lifted up from the ground at points B1, B2, B3, B4, C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, D1, D2, D3, D4, El, E2, E3, E4, E5, F1, F2, F3, F4 by any means to form the folded-plate structure shown in Figure A (a)$(b) Figure A (b) shows the plates assembled on the ground (thin line), an intermediate configuration of the structure as it is being raised (broken line) and the final configuration of the folded-plate structure (heavy line). Once the required configuration has been obtained points Al, A3, A5, A7, A9, G1, G3, G5, G7 and G9 which bear directly on the ground are fixed in position and a very stable structure is obtained. All that is required now is to lock the joints to create a rigid structure. The final configuration in Figure A (b) depends upon the angle between the plates which is in turn influenced by the size of the area to be covered and either the headroom required or the ceiling height. The angle between the plates can vary from 1 800, when all the plates are flat on the ground, to nearly zero, when the plates are all vertical and lie fiat against each other. An alternative method of constructing the same structure is to assemble together enough plates to form one repeating unit of the structure. The assembly is raised into position from points B1, C1, C/, D1, El, E2 and F2 as shown in Figure A (c) to form the first unit of the structure. The remaining plates can simply be connected to the basic unit to form the complete structure. For smaller units it is more convenient and faster to assemble the plates in fully folded state, the plates being simply pressed together into the shape shown in Figure A (e). On site the 'frame' is raised into the upright position by means of a crane and the plates simply opened up to give the Figure A (f) folded-plate structure. The points of support are fixed in position and the joints locked. (Figure A (d) shows the front elevation of the frame of Figure A (e). The invention covers different shapes of folded-plate structures depending on any ratio a/b and number of panels in either direction. Any material that can be made into triangular plates and can withstand both in-plane and out-of-plane stresses would be suitable for making the folded plate structure. For example the plates can be made of ferrocement. Claims (filed on 2nd March 83)

1. A novel method of construction whereby an assembly, on or above ground, of flat or curved plates, made of suitable material, connected along their edges so that the connections act as hinges, can be lifted up from suitable points to form a folded plate structure which is rendered stable by fixing certain points to the ground directly, or through any other structural component, and followed by locking of the aforestated hinges.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein no points are fixed on the ground in the first instance and the joints are not locked after raising the assembled plates into the right configuration but instead the plates are pressed together as far as necessary and/or possible to form a compact assembly which can be transferred to where required and opened up, after which certain points are fixed on to the ground or another structural component and the joints locked to create a stable folded plate structure.