PRSS 2020 - Large Span Structures - PRSS PDF

PRSS 2020 - LARGE SPAN
STRUCTURES
Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

ARCHITECT & INTERIOR ARCHITECT, MADURAI.
I am trying to present here to you
this topic in a way which is easy
for you to understand – without
going too technical – just enough
to make you understand
structural systems to come out
with large span buildings.
To achieve this, I have done
drawings as well as 3D models of
some structures. Rest are images
from the internet. And I have few
live examples of projects done by
me too.
When we talk about large span
structures here, we are
considering structures which have
an aesthetic appeal too. We have
to look at it from an Architect’s
Perspective.

These structural systems could be:
A. RCC Structures:
1) Barrel Vaults resting on long span beams
2) Barrel Vaults merged with the long beams
3) Folded Plates – long spans longitudinally
4) Paraboloids
5) Hyperboloids
6) Domes
7) Shells, Etc.
B. Steel Structures:
1) Long span portal trusses & simply

supported trusses

2) Curved / Arch shaped trusses
3) Plate Girder Trusses
4) Space Frames etc.
C: Tensile Structures with Membrane

(fabric).
These could be designed in interesting shapes.

Let us first see simpler structures but
yet interesting ones: Barrel Vaults &
Folded Plates and mid range span
structures like Flat slab systems.

BARREL VAULT – TYPE-1
BARREL VAULT – TYPE-2
LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF BARREL
VAULT HALL.

Barrel Vault Hall – View-001



Barrel Vault Hall – Aerial View
Folded Plates in RCC – do not require beams
but require periphery beams only – Notice the
thickness of the slab.
These folded plates too could be in
arch shape longitudinally, i.e. along
the length of the span.
It is to be noted that both barrel

vaults and folded plates could have
arch shapes longitudinally or just
straight ones. They cannot have S -
type bends etc.

A Flat Slab system structure hall is set inside a
barrel vault hall. Creating 2 floors in an
interesting way.
Let us see Post Tensioned Structures:
The process of post tensioning beams

or slabs makes the beams smaller in
size and the slabs thinner – all for
large spans. Comparatively much
thinner & smaller than conventional
beams & slabs – making them more
economical.

Here, in this process, either the
beams could be post tensioned or the
slabs could be post tensioned, but not
both because of other technical
problems.
If the beam span is much larger, then

the beam should be made into PT
beam.

It is possible to have, say, a large hall
of size 30M x 30M with peripheral
beams alone and the entire slab post
tensioned without any intermediate
beams.
But the slab thickness will be about

450 mm thick (about 1’-6” thick). But
still it is economical if one needed a
hall without any beams.
A Large Hall with peripheral beams only – no
intermediate beams and no columns inside.
A Large Hall with Post tensioned beams and
simply supported regular slabs – notice the
slab & beam projection outside.
As you would have seen, with PT
Beams / PT slabs, flamboyant roofs
are not practical. They have to be
straightforward. Only in plans, one
could have any shape.
But the advantage is that one could

have any number of floors with PT
beams/ slabs with large spans.

Now let us see other type of structures
with pictures from the internet.
You will see complex and flamboyant

roofs too in these. You will have to
understand how to support these roofs.
We shall see some steel structures & then
go on to other forms of RCC structures.

This is a steel portal frame. A portal frame is
one where the roof & columns act in unison.
Here, this is a plate truss.
This is curved steel lattice structure with
skylights. Normally the roof covering are metal
sheets.
A combination of steel & wood are used here.
The same could be done with steel itself.
This is a steel tubular structure- notice the
exposed open ducting system for air
conditioning.
Again with steel girder systems. These are
extremely high grade steel which has much
higher strength than normal steel.
A mid range span steel structure –
architecturally very interesting – tubular
mushroom type columns.
This is a Grid Beam & slab system – RCC –
with plywood covering the beams.

A very flamboyant structure with flexible high
grade, high tensile strength plywood material.
Notice the stiffener steel cable inserts
Notice the shape of the steel trusses and also
the decorative covering below the sheet roof –
a false ceiling above the trusses.
Arch plate girder trusses with ribbed metal
sheet roof.
Truss less curved metal sheet roof structure. What you see here is not
economical. This should have a minimum of 3 or more spans. Let me
explain why.
This is a ribbed RCC Shell Roof – notice different
spans in supports on each side.
This is the top view of the same previously shown roof
Flamboyant shell roof. Notice the supporting pillars and
roof structure merged.
Another flamboyant shell roof. Again the supporting pillars
and roof structure merged.
A Dome roof with Pylon supports and with wedge shaped
cantilever beam supports.
This structure is in the same principle of flat slab system.
Pillar & capital are fancifully done – ribbed rcc roof.
Drawings of Cable structures – covering will have to be
with tensile membrane fabric.
Drawings of Tensile fabric structures with steel framing

Tensile fabric structures with steel framing

Tensile fabric structures with steel framing

Tensile fabric structures with steel framing & steel inclined
supports Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.
Tensile fabric structures with steel framing Vertical
supports are merged with the roof

A Hyperboloid – These will have straight lines twisted to
make curves.

A Hyperboloid – These will have straight lines twisted to
make curves.

A Paraboloid with light weight roof – Just showing you
how unusual roofs could be.

At this time, I would like to mention
that I am not showing you structures
by Zaha Hadid, etc. as you’d be quite
familiar with those. I am not showing
them here because, such structures
call for very high end 3d parametric
computer applications to be used to
generate the architectural free form
shapes – which are not in your scope
at the moment.
Shells, Paraboloids, Hyperboloids,
Domes, etc. if properly designed
structurally, very big savings in terms
of reduction in thickness of concrete
etc. are achieved.
When doing paraboloids and

hyperboloids one should understand
that strict geometry suitable for that
structure has to be followed.
When these type of structures are
considered, right from the beginning,
full interaction with structural
consultant becomes mandatory. I am
talking about what happens in real
world construction. You as students,
with a basic understanding of these,
you could do these to come up with
interesting architecture.

Steel Space Frames

A steel space frame – these could be covered with light
weight screed concrete as roof covering. Steel sheets too
could be used
A steel space frame – covered with metal roof

There are much larger steel space
frames too.
I shall show you such a large one

from my Abu Dhabi Trip at Ferrari
World

At Ferrari World
At Ferrari World
At Ferrari World
At Ferrari World – Notice the curved space frame
At Ferrari World
At Ferrari World
At Ferrari World – Notice the huge support too like a
space frame Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.
At Ferrari World – Notice the huge support too like a
space frame Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.
At Ferrari World – See the curvilinear form here
At Ferrari World – See the curvilinear form here
At Ferrari World – Notice the support at ground level
At Ferrari World
TWA Terminal Airport – By Ar. Ero Saarinen



Palais de Labor – by Pierre Luigi Nervi
by Pierre Luigi Nervi
by Pierre Luigi Nervi
A steel lattice framed structure
Another steel structure covered with difeerent
material Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.
This is in the same principle of Flat Slab system but a
variation from it. Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.
I have covered quite a lot on large
span roofs. Now you know what we
consider as large span structures –
these are certainly not industrial type
of run of the mill dumb structures.
You too could see more on the

internet by Google search. I suggest
that you see some more by yourself.

THANK YOU


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PRSS 2020 - LARGE SPAN

Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

1) Barrel Vaults resting on long span beams

2) Barrel Vaults merged with the long beams

3) Folded Plates – long spans longitudinally

1) Long span portal trusses & simply

Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

3) Plate Girder Trusses

4) Space Frames etc.

C: Tensile Structures with Membrane

Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

It is to be noted that both barrel

Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

The process of post tensioning beams

Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

If the beam span is much larger, then

Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

But the slab thickness will be about

But the advantage is that one could

Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

You will see complex and flamboyant

Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

When doing paraboloids and

Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

I shall show you such a large one

Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

You too could see more on the

Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

Presentation by P.R.S. Sivakumar, B.ARCH., F.I.I.A., F.I.V.

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