FOLDED PLATES

WHAT ARE FOLDED PLATES?

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

THE PRINCIPLE OF FOLDING

The structural characteristics of folding structures depend on the
 The pattern of folding
 Their geometrical basic shape
 It’s material
 The connection of the different folding planes
 The design of the bearings
 Moveable form work can be employed
 Formwork required is relatively simpler
 Design involves simpler calculations
STRUCTURAL BEHAVIOUR OF FOLDING
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

CLASSIFICATIONS 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 structure of glass
 Folded structure of plastic materials
 Folded construction made in combination of different materials
TYPES OF FOLDED STRUCTURE
Based on geometric shape, folded structures can be divided into:
 Folded plate surface structures
1. Prism attic: rectangular plates
2. Pyramidal: non rectangular plates
3. Prismoidal: triangular or trapezoidal plates
 Folded plate framed structures
 Spatial folded plate structures

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 plate in line
 Columns to support the structure in air

TAPERED FOLDED PLATES

 Folded plates structures may be built with tapered elements and only one of
many possible combinations is shown here
 The height of the shells at the centre of span is the critical dimension for
bending strength, therefore the structure is not very efficient and not suitable
for long spans because of excess height required for the large ends.
  Another weak element in this design is the transfer of shear from the small
ends of the triangular plates to the large end. If a large number of units are
used in each span, the transfer of loads may be difficult.
 Folded plate maybe 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.

FOLDED PLATE TRUSS:

 The term “folded plate truss” is intended to indicate the structural action of
this structure
 These are horizontal ties across the width only at the ends of the buildings
 The thrusts from the triangular crossed arches are carried length wise to the
ends
 The bottom chords are the ties at the base of the site 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 subtler than the usual shell structure.

FOLDED PLATE RIGID FRAME

 An arch with straight segments is sometimes called a rigid frame.
 It is not as efficient as the covered arch because the bending movements 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
previous examples of folded plates.
 The vertical columns in the end walls at the crown of the gable, these take the
reactions of plates and the horizontal ties may be eliminated. the wind loads
are taken by rigid frame action in the columns are stiffeners.

THREE SEGMENT FOLDED PLATE

 The end stiffeners are rigid frames rather than deep girders
  He forces from the reactions of the sloping plates and on these rigid frames
will be quite large and an outstanding column, they will not be blamed by
thrust from the adjacent planes.
 The size of the frames mat be reduced by using a steel tie between the tops of
the columns which can be concealed in the fenestration. The dimensions of the
plate 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 plate should not be greater than 40 degrees.
For example, assume for the above structure that the span is 60’ and bay width
is 24’, the depth of shell should be about 6’ and the horizontal width of each
plate with a 3 segment plate should be about 8’.

ADVANTAGES OF FOLDED PLATE STRUCTURE

 Very light form of construction. To span 30-meter shell thickness required is
60 mm only
 The use of concrete as a building material reduces both material 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 OF FOLDED PLATE STRUCTURE

 Shuttering is difficult
 Greater accuracy in formwork is required
 Good labour and supervision necessary
 Rise of roof may be a disadvantage
APPLICATIONS OF FOLDED STRUCTURES