Q. Explain in detail (with neat sketches and reference) – RCC Folded Plates.

Ans: Folded structures are three-dimensional structures - spatial structures formed by the
elements in the plane, different in form and materialization and they belong to the structural systems.
Folded structures differ in: geometric form, the form of a base over which they are performed, the
manner of performance, methods of forming stiffness, function and position in the building, and the
material they are made of. The term folded structure defines a folded form of construction, including
structures derived from elements which form a folded structure by their mutual relationship in space.

For very long time this type of construction has been realized in practice only in of reinforced concrete
and made on site, which conditioned the use of a very complicated shell. Development of
prefabricated building led to improvements of this type of construction so that the folded structures
could be derived by assembly of prefabricated elements and their relationship – monolithization on
site.

Interest in folded plates first developed for folded plates of reinforced concrete as it had for concrete
shells because of the ease with which concrete can be adapted.

The folded-plate concept offers an almost unlimited range of possible cross-sectional arrangements
for structures. The simplest form consists of inclined plates in a series of connected V-shapes.
However, this cross-section has one disadvantage in that the area of concrete may be inadequate to
resist the longitudinal compressive flexural force or to permit placement of reinforcing steel to resist
longitudinal tension.

Formwork for folded plates is far simpler than that for curved thin shells. Pre-casting has also been a
simpler process to save formwork, permit mass-production construction, and achieve sharp lines for
exposed top corners (vees cast upside down) to satisfy aesthetic requirements. For very long spans,
posttensioned, draped tendons have been used to reduce the total depth, deflection, and reinforcing-
steel requirements. The tendons may be placed in the inclined plates or, more conveniently, in small
thickened edge beams. For cast-in-place, folded-plate construction, double forming can usually be
avoided if the slopes are less than 35 to 40°.

General Specifications

• On site during the formation of folded it is necessary to connect joints of plates.

• Thickness affects the way of monolithization in such a way that thin plates have more
complicated monolithization of the joints as a result of a lack of space for their mutual
connection.

• Folded structures can also be formed if we get one plane of the folds by joining several smaller
elements, including a larger number of compounds by monolithization. In some cases, in
addition to monolithization of the compounds, it is also necessary to pre-stress.

• For all concrete folded plates, the slope angle is

usually 45° or less in order to facilitate the
placing of the concrete without top forms.

• In general, the thickness of individual plates

should be kept at the minimum as governed by
the criteria for steel reinforcement protection. In
turn, this will affect the width of the plate, which
is generally not over 10 to 12 feet wide.
Construction Details of Folded structures made of reinforced concrete

ROCKER JOINT