Calculations for design of reciprocal frame roof

Spreadsheet prepared by Robert Alcock, www.abrazohouse.org

Based on formulae at http://www.mts.net/~sabanski/pavilion/pavilion_design.htm
For interpretation of variables, see diagram at http://www.mts.net/~sabanski/pavilion/images/geometric_parameters.jpg

1. General case: building is not round, all beams have different lengths

Variables name units value Bold indicates independent variables (selected by the user)
No of beams n - 12
sector angle theta ° 30
Inner circle radius ri m 0.700
Height at roof peak Hrp m 1.400 From a reference level (e.g. the loft floor)

6 = Reference beam for which the overhang width and height are set
Beam number N - 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1
Radius at mid wall* rw m 2.080 2.300 2.440 2.520 2.660 2.800 2.900 1.470
Overhang width* Woh m 0.750 0.750 0.750 0.750 0.750 0.750 0.750 0.750
Height at overhang* Hoh m 0.290 0.204 0.150 0.119 0.065 0.011 -0.028 0.530

Direction (North=0) theta-N ° 210 240 270 300 330 0 30 60

Radius at overhang ro m 2.830 3.050 3.190 3.270 3.410 3.550 3.650 2.220
Rise (overhang to peak) H m 1.110 1.196 1.250 1.281 1.335 1.389 1.428 0.870

Plan length 2 x2 m 0.362 0.362 0.362 0.362 0.362 0.362 0.362 0.362
Plan length 1 x1 m 2.567 2.793 2.936 3.018 3.161 3.304 3.406 1.933
Total plan length x m 2.929 3.155 3.299 3.381 3.523 3.666 3.768 2.296
Rise to first intersection h1 m 0.973 1.058 1.113 1.144 1.198 1.252 1.291 0.733

Beam length L m 3.132 3.374 3.528 3.615 3.768 3.921 4.029 2.455
Vertical spacing* h2 m 0.137 0.137 0.137 0.137 0.137 0.137 0.137 0.137

Height at mid wall Hmw m 0.681 0.586 0.526 0.493 0.434 0.376 0.335 0.959
Roof pitch pitch ° 27.5 27.0 26.7 26.5 26.2 26.0 25.8 29.8
Step in tie beam dHmw m 0.095 0.059 0.034 0.058 0.058 0.041 0.062
 eometric_parameters.jpg

elected by the user)

dth and height are set

2 3 4 5
1.600 1.800 1.880 1.980 * These dimensions are for a spiral building, but could be applied to any shape of building, w
0.750 0.750 0.750 0.750 * In this case overhang width is uniform but it need not be. In any case this does not affect t
0.478 0.400 0.368 0.329 * Height of overhang calculated depending on radius at mid wall

90 120 150 180

2.350 2.550 2.630 2.730
0.922 1.000 1.032 1.071

0.362 0.362 0.362 0.362

2.069 2.278 2.360 2.464
2.432 2.640 2.723 2.826
0.784 0.863 0.894 0.934

2.601 2.823 2.912 3.022

0.137 0.137 0.137 0.137 * Design maintains vertical spacing constant by varying height at mid wall.

0.897 0.805 0.769 0.725

29.2 28.4 28.1 27.8
0.092 0.036 0.044 0.044 0.057
e applied to any shape of building, within reason.
e. In any case this does not affect the calculations, except for beam length.

height at mid wall.

 Specific case
Calculations for design of reciprocal frame roof
Spreadsheet prepared by Robert Alcock, www.abrazohouse.org
Based on formulae at http://www.mts.net/~sabanski/pavilion/pavilion_design.htm
For interpretation of variables, see diagram at http://www.mts.net/~sabanski/pavilion/images/geometric_parameters.jpg

2. Specific case: Building is round, so all beams are the same length

Variables name units value Bold = variable selected by user

No of beams n - 3
sector angle theta ° 120 horizontal angle between beams
Inner radius ri m 1.000 radius of inner circle
Outer radius ro m 4.000 radius of outer wall
Height at roof peak H m 1.500 relative to top of outer wall

Plan length 2 x2 m 1.732 between intersections in inner circle

Plan length 1 x1 m 3.103 between inner circle and outer wall
Total plan length x m 4.835
Rise to first intersection h1 m 0.963
Beam length L m 5.062 length of each beam (excluding overhang)
Vertical spacing h2 m 0.537 height of each beam (at intersections)
Roof pitch pitch ° 26.6

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 Specific case

geometric_parameters.jpg

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