SPACE FRAME STRUCTURE

Space frame as a three dimensional structure. Assembled linear elements are arranged to transfer the load, take a form of a flat surface or curved surface, and designed with no intermediate columns to create large open area.

History of Space frame

Space frames were independently developed by alexander graham bell around 1900 and buckminster fuller in the 1950s buckminster fuller’s focus was architectural structures; His work had greater influence. It was developed in california during the 1960s and introduced to the south african market in 1982, Specifically developed for unstable soil conditions, The panels form a monolithic structure offering superior wall strength in which no cracking will occur.

Design method

space frames are typically designed using a rigidity matrix. The special characteristic of the stiffness matrix in an architectural space frame is the independence of the angular factors. If the joints are sufficiently rigid, The angular deflections can be neglected, Simplifying the calculations.