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Folded Plate Structures

Folded plate structures are assemblies of flat plates rigidly connected along their edges such that they can carry loads without additional supporting beams. The structural behavior depends on factors like the folding pattern, geometry, materials, and connections. Forces are transferred through the elements to the bearings. Advantages include lighter construction that allows longer spans, while disadvantages include more difficult shuttering and accuracy needed in formwork. The Yokohama International Passenger Terminal example uses a steel framed, column-less design with undulating folded plate roofing to provide arched structural support and continuous access across levels.

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Juhili Sawant
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65 views

Folded Plate Structures

Folded plate structures are assemblies of flat plates rigidly connected along their edges such that they can carry loads without additional supporting beams. The structural behavior depends on factors like the folding pattern, geometry, materials, and connections. Forces are transferred through the elements to the bearings. Advantages include lighter construction that allows longer spans, while disadvantages include more difficult shuttering and accuracy needed in formwork. The Yokohama International Passenger Terminal example uses a steel framed, column-less design with undulating folded plate roofing to provide arched structural support and continuous access across levels.

Uploaded by

Juhili Sawant
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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[FOLDED PLATE STRUCTURES]

Folded plates are assemblies of flat plates rigidly connected together along their edges in such
a way that the structural system capable of carrying loads without the need for additional
supporting beams along mutual edges.

THE PRINCIPAL OF FOLDING: The structural characteristics of folding structures depend on:

 The pattern of the folding.


 Their geometrical basic shape.
 Its material.
 The connection of the different folding planes.
 The design of the bearings.
 Movable form work can be employed.
 Form work required is relatively simpler.
 Design involves simpler calculations. The Concept Of Stiffness Generation

STRUCTURAL BEHAVIOR OF FOLDING Structural


Condition of Folding Structures Load Distribution
process:

 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.

Classification of folded structures based on the


material they are made of:

• Folded structures made of reinforced


concrete • Metal folded structures • Folded
structures of wood • Folded structures of glass •
Folded structures of plastic materials • Folded
constructions made in combination of different
materials
TYPES OF FOLDED STRUCTURE Based
on geometric shape folded structures
can be divided into:

 Folded plate surfaces


structures
 Folded plate frames structures
 Spatial folded plate structures

Structural Behaviour of Folding Structural Condition of Folding Structures. Load Distribution


process:

 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.

The Principle of Folding the structural characteristics of folding structures depend on-

 The pattern of the folding.


 Their geometrical basic shape.
 Its material.
 The connection of the different folding planes.
 The design of the bearings.

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.
EXAMPLE: Yokohama international passenger terminal

Architect: Alejandro Zaera-Polo & Farshid Moussavi

Floor Area: 34,732 m2, Length: 430m, Height: 15m, Width: 70m

1. The building is steel framed, consisting of main beams (girders) on the two sides and a
triangular pyramid (folded plates) system to support the roof and floors.

2. These results in a massive column-less interior space, with external walls all made with
tempered glass. In short, wood, steel and glass are what constitute the Terminal.
3. The strength of the materials minimizes the need for vertical supports and allows for a mostly
open floor plan, while the height of the structure allows for a spectacular variety of ceiling
conditions in the interior spaces.

PURPOSE OF CREATING UNDULATIONS: 1. one of the most distinctive characteristics of the


Yokohama Terminal is that continuous curved surfaces connect and divide levels and spaces
instead of traditional walls, floor and ceilings. These undulations, or curves, carry many
functions.

2. Structurally, they provide curved arches which enable the steel structure to span long
distances both along the width and along the length of the terminal. They also provide
continuity between the various levels of the terminal because, rather than being divided by
flights of stairs, the levels slope into one another in a way which makes all levels of the terminal
equally accessible to everyone and comfortable for passengers with luggage, wheelchairs or
prams.

3. Designing the structure as a continuous steel surface meant that the structure could not be
built through conventional ways of building from the ground and layering levels on top of one
another in a horizontal order. In other words, the structure of the terminal could not be broken
down into floors and walls and ceilings as these, in this case, were one and the same thing.
Therefore the building envelope had to be conceived as three dimensional large pieces that
were bridging across levels and across spaces. These would be brought to site in large chunks
with very large cranes and assembled together.

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