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 structural system capable of
carrying loads without the need for additional supporting beams along
mutual edges.
• Folded plate roofs are roofing systems chosen for their high weight-
bearing capacity and their durability. They can be best described as
assemblies that consist of flat slabs or plates that are inclined in different
directions and are joined along their edges at the top.
• The first folded plate roofs were used in Germany in the 1920’s, mainly
for very large factory buildings such as coal bunkers. The technology was
first used in the U.S. in the 1930’s on warehouses and it quickly became
the preferred roofing solution for really large commercial and industrial
buildings
FOLDED PLATE BEHAVIORS:
Each plate is assumed to act as a beam in its own plane, this assumption is
justified when the ratio of the span "length" of the plate to its height "width" is
large enough. But when this ratio is small, the plate behaves as a deep beam.
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.
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.
• Movable form work can be employed.
• Form work required is relatively simpler.
• Design involves simpler calculations.
ACTIONS OF FOLDED PLATE DUE TO LOADS
1-Slab action: loads are transmitted to ridges by the bending of plates normal to
their planes.
2-Beam action: Loads are transmitted through plates in their planes to
diaphragms.
ASSUMPTIONS FOR THE ANALYSIS OF FOLDED PLATES:
1-Material is homogenous, elastic, isotropic, Hook's Law is valid, thickness
of plate is small when compared to plate dimensions.
2-Problem will be treated as one-dimension if plate is assumed to behave
in beam action, but in two dimensions if based on the theory of elasticity.
3-Joints are assumed to be rigid enough
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
Material
TYPES OF FOLDED PLATES:
1-Prismatic: if they consist of rectangular plates.
2-Pyramidal: when non-rectangular plates are used.
3-Prismoidal, triangular or trapezoidal. On the other hand,
Folded plates can be classified as:
1-single.
2-Multiple.
3-Symmetrical.
4-Unsymmetrical.
5-Simple.
6-Continuous.
7-Folded plates with simple joints.
8-Folded plates with multiple joints.
9-Folded plates with opened cross sectional.
10-Folded plates with closed cross sectional.
FOLDED PLATE TRUSS:
• The term "folded plate truss" is intended to indicate the structural action of this
structure.
• There are horizontal ties across the width only at the ends of the building.
• The thrusts from the triangular crossed arches are carried lengthwise to the
ends.
• The top chord of the inclined
truss is formed by the ridge
member.
• The bottom chords are the
ties at the base of the side
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 more subtle that 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 curved arch because the
bending moments 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 the
previous examples of
folded plates.
• Note the vertical columns in the end walls at the crown of the gable. these take
the reactions of the plates and the horizontal ties may be eliminated. wind loads
are taken by rigid frame action in the Columns and Stiffeners.
WALLS CONTINUOUS WITH SHELL:
• In this structure the walls are of tilt-up concrete construction; concrete is cast
flat on the floor and raised into place by cranes.
• The walls are designed to be continuous with the roof plates. Tilt-up walls
usually are joined by poured-in-place columns. in this design, columns are not
necessary at the junction of the individual side wall panels because the walls are
braced at the top.
• Only a simple
grouted key slot is
provided. The tilt-
up panels can
serve as their own
foundation walls
so only a
continuous footing
pad is used with a
notch to receive
the tilt-up panel.
• Dock height interior floors can be constructed by filling the interior of the
building up with dirt to the required height.
• The tilt-up walls can be designed for this lateral load because they are held at
the top by the shell and act as vertical beams rather than as Cantilever
Retaining.
THREE SEGMENT FOLDED PLATE:
• The end stiffeners are rigid frames rather than deep Girders as in the last
example.
• The forces from the reactions of the sloping plates on these rigid frames will
be quite large and at an outside column they will not be balanced by thrusts
from the adjacent plates.
• The size of the frames may be reduced by using a steel tie between the tops of
the columns which can
be concealed in the
fenestration. The
dimensions of the plates
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 a
plate should not be greater than 40 degrees.
• For example, assume for the above structure that the span is 60 feet and the
bay width is 24 feet. the depth of the shell should be about 6 feet and the
horizontal width of each plate with a three-segment plate should be about 8 feet.
• 6 the slope of the plates is 6/8, which is about 37 degrees and is satisfactory.
the thickness of the plates could be about 3 ½ inches.
THE APPLICATION OF FOLDED STRUCTURES
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 labor and supervision necessary.
• Rise of roof may be a disadvantage.
Materials and Manufacture of V-Plate Elements
The prestressed V -plate elements are designed based on using the following
specified materials:
Prestressing tendons: 7-wire strand modulus of elasticity. Concrete: 28-day
compressive strength, in both joints and panels; strength at transfer of the
prestress.
Reinforcing bars: yield strength,
Precasting is done in 4.2 x 40 m (13.75 x 131.2 ft) self-stressing steel forms
with a bearing capacity of 150 tons
. The basic steps in the manufacturing sequence are:
• Application of release agent to the forms.
• Laying the prestressing tendons.
• Adjusting lateral forms to proper plate widths.
• Placing welded wire mesh fabric.
• Tensioning of the tendons.
• Placing of the concrete. Surface vibration is used to consolidate the concrete
and a smooth finish is provided.
Transportation and Assembly
In Honduras the principal land transportation is on highways, and so trucks are
used to carry the V-plate elements. A steel rig is used to transport pairs of V -
plates fastened together Projects have been built in the cities of Ceiba and
Tegucigalpa, as far as 250 km (155 mi) from the precasting plant in San Pedro
Sula. The erection procedure is very important for successful construction of the
V -plate roofs. The geometric configuration as designed must be provided for
exactly in the field, and this requires accuracy in erection. Several conditions
must be considered before and during erection:
(a) Convenience in opening the V-plate from the flat handling and
transportation position to the correct angular spread in the roof.
(b) Ensuring proper balance and symmetry of both flat elements during the
opening procedure.
(c) Stabilizing the V -plate once it is in place.
(d) Maintaining uniform width and shape in the lower joint.
(e) Correctly connecting the upper joints of adjoining V -plates once they
have been opened.
CASE STUDY
A Church Building: The Good Shepherd Catholic Church
• This church building, under construction at the time of writing, also located in
the city of San Pedro Sula, is cross-shaped in plan, is divided into five main
areas focusing around an 8 x 10 m (26 x 33 ft) double height altar area.
• Three fan shaped roofs cover the main gathering areas, and two rectangular
areas complete the plan. Seven different groups of V-plates were provided to
make the roof for this project. The fan-shaped roof for this church demonstrates
the inherent flexibility of the precast prestressed V -plate system.
• A seemingly complex as-built configuration was achieved simply by tapering
the plates during fabrication in the plant. Sixteen different types of elements
comprising a total of 37 elements are used to cover a total area of 835 m2 (8976
sq. ft).
• Since each V -plate is precast in a flat position, tapering uniformly throughout
its length, the various valley widths take form in the course of the erection at the
job site. The actual erection of the V -plate for the tapering elements is the same
as for a regular shaped V-plate.
• This concept can readily be adapted to other projects since various plan shapes
can be easily achieved with tapered V -plates. shows some of the possibilities.
VENTILATION AND WATERPROOFING OF V-PLATE ROOFS
Honduras is in a tropical climate zone where two well-defined seasons occur - a
dry season and a rainy one.
The ambient temperatures vary between 16 to C and 40 o C (61 o F and 104 o
F). Heavy rains fall almost daily during the rainy season. This must be
considered when designing ventilation of a V -plate building, as well as when
providing waterproofing for the V -plate roofs.
Ventilation for V-Plate Buildings Nearly all buildings in the tropics require a
design for natural ventilation except for buildings equipped with an air
conditioning system. Natural ventilation can be provided by making an opening
in the V -plate roof where a skylight-type window can be installed. For
example, the 60 x 20 m (197 x 66 ft) Utility Building in La Ceiba, Honduras,
has two skylight windows each 6 x 6 m (19.7 x 19.7 ft). Both natural light and
ventilation were achieved with interior atrium type gardens.
A strip skylight window in the longitudinal direction has been adopted for two-
span or multi span buildings. In the skylight area, two supporting roof beams
span a central axis of columns with double corbels. This concept was used in a
project built in the city of Tegucigalpa. The two-span roof consisting of 12 m
(39.4 ft) V-plates incorporates a 2 m (6.6 ft) double longitudinal skylight
window A four-span roof with 20 m (65.6 ft) V -plates planned for San Pedro
Sula uses an open strip skylight window along the two central longitudinal axes
in the V -plate roof. To enhance the effects of lighting and ventilation, the top
ends of the Y -shaped columns were set at two different elevations, creating a 5
percent inclination of the V -plate roof and discharging water onto channels
supported by the Y-shaped columns.
By setting different sections of the roof at different elevations, space is made
available for natural ventilation and light, as in the church building described
previously. Fig. 28 shows three different versions of the V -plate roof using
skylight windows. These three types were studied in China 10 years ago, and
they have been widely used
there. They offer several
advantages:
• Skylight windows may
be placed anywhere in
the roof.
• Light and ventilation can be
adjusted in the interior.
• The overall V -plate
structural system is not
changed.
• Prefabrication and
construction are simple and
convenient.
These three types of skylight
windows and other similar
ones are being adopted for
new projects in Honduras.
WATERPROOFING OF V-PLATE ROOFS
Waterproofing is just as important for V -plate roofs as for any other system,
particularly in the tropics. Since the V -plates are plant precast and the joints are
cast in place, waterproofing extends to the entire process of construction. High
quality concrete is a good waterproofing material if rainwater is discharged
rapidly. To ensure the density of the concrete, good vibration is required with
two to three smooth finishing passes after vibration. Addition of more water or
cement to the mix during casting and finishing is not permitted. During erection,
the on-site casting of concrete at the joints is of prime importance. Density is
achieved by vibration. Concreting of the upper joints must be done with
particular care. Fig. 30 shows typical joint details of the V plate system.
Waterproofness of V-plate roofs in the tropics will be ensured if a high-quality
concrete has been used for both the precast elements and the joints. Field
investigations after heavy rains have shown that there were only a few
permeable spots in the V-plate theater roof, none of which showed leakage.
Some of the V -plate roofs in Honduras have been given a waterproof coating of
two or three applications of oil-based paint. The roof surface must be clean and
dry for proper results.
