FOLDED PLATE STRUCTURE

Structural Analysis

SUBMITTED BY :

28. Prachi Kansara

11. Anjali Jariwala
20. Maitri Panchal
27. Shivangini Patel
Introduction:

Folded structures are assemblies of flat plates or slabs, inclined in different directions and joined along their
longitudinal edges. In this way the structural system is capable of carrying loads without the need for
additional supporting beam along mutual edges

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.Folded Plate Roofs are a type of folded
plate structure that is chosen for their durability and high weight-bearing capacity.

Folded plate in nature -

Leaf of palm tree Sea shell

History / Origin Of Structural Technique:

Design and construction of folded structure occurs at the beginning of the twentieth century and is
associated with the development of reinforced concrete.the basic idea of creating this type of construction is
striving to achieve more construction height and greater rigidity and reduce the net weight of structural
element.the strength and stiffness of folded construction is achieved primarily by proper design of structure
and to a lesser extent,by thickness and dimension of the elements that form it.This solution was possible to
realize due to the development of structural system and the use of reinforced concrete.

Engineer Eudene Freyssinet designed the first folding structure roof in 1923 as an aviation hangar at Orly
airport in Paris. This technique originated in Germany in the 1920s when it was used as an aircraft hangar at
the Orly Airport in Paris and became popular in Russia and United States during the 1930s to construct roofs
for industrial warehouses and public buildings

Modern Folded plate structures are typically made of cast in suitor precast reinforced concrete or steel plate.
Importance of the Folded Plate Structure :

Folded Plate Structure the structural system does not need additional supporting beams along mutual edges
and is capable of carrying loads without supporting beams.

Nowadays Folded Plate Structure is generally made up of Cast in Situ, precast reinforced concrete, or steel
plates.

Folded Plate Structure has many benefits for construction purposes -

● Firstly, the plates or slabs that are used in Folded Plate Structures are simpler to manufacture than
other shells like cylindrical shells.
● Secondly, the framework requirement for Folded Plate Structures is relatively simpler than other
structures.
● Thirdly, fewer materials are required for the construction purpose of Folded Plate Structures;
however they take more materials than curved shells if there are more bending requirements involved
in the construction.
● Finally, Folded Plate Structures are economical over long spans that need to be free of internal
columns as Folded Plate Structures have an intrinsic rigidity and high load-carrying capacity than
other structures.

Basic Principles of Folding plate structure:

Folding system represent one category of plane structural surfaces,alongside with plates and slabs.their
special structural behavior is due to their structural subdivision arrangement in pairs which correlate with
each other and so they are connected through a shear connection.The structural characteristics of folding
structure depend on the shape of the folding (longitudinal or pyramidal), on their geometrical basic shape
(plane,hoppit,cupola,free-form),on its material (concrete,timber,metal,synthetics),on the connection of the
different folding plane and on the design of the bearing.the characteristics of the folding structure are
interactive related to each other.

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
● Movable formwork can be employed
● Form-work required is relatively simpler
● Design involves simpler calculations
Folded Plates With different Joint:

When the folded plate is with a simple joint , which means that no more than 2 elements are connected to the
joint.

But when more than 2 elements are connected to the joint, it can be named as multiple joints. The width of
any plate should not be larger than 0.25 its length to be considered to act as a beam.

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.

Note: The main problem of folded plates is the analysis, not the design.

Structural Behavior:

Load Distribution Process-

At first, the external forces are transferred to the shorter edge of one folding element.
Then, the reaction as an axial force is divided between the adjacent elements.
Then the forces transferred to the bearings.

Their folded arrangement improves the structural stiffness and load carrying capacity. Hence, adjacent
folded plates in series can show similar load carrying capacity and structural stability.When heavy loads are
on these plates, to resist the flattening of the folded plates, the ends can be supported using a wall or a beam
or a column. The supports are provided along the direction of the span.
As shown in the figure below, the folded structures are aligned in a uniform zig zag form. The loads that are
coming on the structure are transferred to the shorter side of the single element. The resulting axial force is
divided between the adjacent elements. This is then transferred to the bearings. Hence, the traverse loads
coming on the structure is resisted using plate and slab action

Here, the load results in traverse bending of the folded plate elements, and the bending moment is maximum
at the center of the folded plate slab. The loads that act normal to each plate results in traverse bending
between the junction of the plates. This is called slab action.The longitudinal bending of the plates in their
own plane is called "Plate Action".

Bending in folded plate structures causes the top portion to be in compression and bottom in tension. The
folded plates can get flattened under gravity load, which can be prevented using frames or walls. There are
chances for end buckling which can be resisted using edge beams.

What are the basic concepts of folded plates?

First, precast and prestressed folded plate roof elements are placed on a flat surface with hinges between
each panel.
Next, the elements are transported flat. They’re opened to the desired angles at the construction site.
Finally, the joints will be connected and cast in place. This helps unify the structure
Application:

Folded Plate Roofs are easy to assemble as they consist of flat slabs or plates that are inclined in different
directions and they are joined along their edges at the top.In Germany in the 1920s the first Folded Plate
Roofs were used in construction of mainly very large factory buildings such as coal bunkers.In United States
in the 1930s the technology of Folded Plate Roofs were used in the construction of warehouses and it
quickly became the preferred roofing solution for really large commercial and industrial buildings.

Folded plate structures have found application in architectural buildings and engineering structures.Based on
the position in the architectural structure,this type of construction can be divided into:roof,floor and wall
folded construction. In engineering structures, bridges and retaining walls,various structural elements can be
constructed on the principle of folded structure.
The principle of greater stiffness of individual construction elements,by the introduction of folded form has
found application in many consumer products
Roof structure Floor structure

Wall structure
Analysis of Folded Plates:

The basic assumptions while analyzing folded plates are:

● The structure is monolithic with rigid joints.

● The material is homogeneous, isotropic and elastic.
● The length of each plate is more than twice its width.
● Plane section before bending remains plane after bending.

Typology of Folded Plate Structures:

Folded plate structure is classified primarily based

on the shape of the final structure. This affects the
load transfer mechanism as well as the direction
of relying on folded structure. Based on this,
folded plate structure can be classified into:

1. Linear Folded Plate Structure

2. Radial Folded Plate Structure
3. Spatial Folded Plate Structure

Based on shape-

1.V-shaped Plate:

These v-shaped plates are commonly used for short spans; it does not provide enough area for concrete, the
top, and bottom to resist compressive stresses.

2.Butterfly-shaped folding plates:

Butterfly-shaped folding plates are commonly used to cover factory roof and petrol pump roof, it also makes
provisions for windows.

3.Trough shaped folding plates:

Trough-shaped folding plates are used for a long time and provide sufficient area for concrete at the top as
well as to resist compressive stresses at the bottom.

4.Tapered folded plates:

Tapered folded plates are used for aesthetic purposes, Z-shaped folding plates are used exclusively for
factory construction as it provides a north-light roof.
5.Hyped folding plates:

Hyped folding plates are used exclusively for tent-shed roofs and cooling towers in thermal power stations.

Two types of reinforcement have been provided in these plate structures i.e. transverse reinforcement &
longitudinal reinforcement.

With cross-sections of folding plates, transverse reinforcement should be provided so that transverse
moment can be resisted.In individual slabs, the longitudinal reinforcement should be able to withstand
longitudinal stresses in tension.Expansion joints should not be provided for large span but must be provided
in ridge slabs.

Based on material

Reinforced concrete-
Folded plate structures consist of flat plates that are interconnected at some random angles.
Most widely used folded plate structures are made of cast-in-situ or precast RCC.
These structures are used as roofs for industrial and public buildings.
The main advantage of folded plates over other shell structures is the simplicity of manufacturing.

Sardar patel stadium, Ahmedabad Tempodrom, Berlin

Metal-

A unique structural system made of folded steel plates and concrete girders supports the building. The
strength of the materials minimizes the need for vertical supports and allows for a mostly open floor plan,
while the height of the structure allows for a spectacular variety of ceiling conditions in the interior spaces.

Yokohama International Passenger Terminal /

Foreign Office Architects (FOA)

Wood-

The Folded Plate Hut is one of the many temporary structures conceived by Ryuichi Ashizawa Architects
and located at Nakanoshima Park in Osaka. The origami-inspired hut which hosted concerts and theatrical
events, consists of folded wood panels with a dramatically-cantilevering roof, and is perched at the edge of
the waterfront

Glass-
Plastic-

Combination of different material-

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 the roof may be a disadvantage.
Case study

1. International case study

2. Case study in indian context

AIR FORCE ACADEMY CHAPEL, USA

Architect : Walter Netsch of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
Length : 280 ft, Height : 150 ft, Width:84 ft
Completion Year: 1962

The United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel, Completed in 1962, is the distinguishing feature of the
Cadet Area at the United States Air force academy north of Colorado Springs.

Originally controversial in its design, the Cadet Chapel has became a classic and highly regarded example of
modernist architecture.

Architectural construction-

The most striking aspect of the Chapel is its row of 17 spires. The original design called for 21 spires, but
this number was reduced due to budget issues.

The Cadet Chapel itself is 150 ft (46 m) high, 280 ft (85 m) long, and 84 ft (26 m) wide. The front facade, on
the south, has a wide granite stairway with steel railings capped by Aluminum handrails leading up one story
to a landing.
Construction stages-

● The structure is a tubular steel frame of 100 identical tetrahedrons, each 75 feet(23 m) long,
weighing 5 tons, have a structural skeleton of steel pipe and are clad with aluminum sheet outside,
while their interior finish is plaster on precast panels held in aluminum surrounds.
● The primary members are 6-inch pipe, secondary cross-brasses are 4-inch pipe.
● Pipes were mitered at intersections, welded into units off the site and shipped by rail and truck.
● Cranes lifted the tetrahedron units into places; Bolting was used for field erection; the structural
assembly was then welded.
● Steel angle frames support the skin; aluminum frames carry the interior finish.
● The weather leakage at the joints is being resolved by providing double glazing.
● The tetrahedrons are spaced a foot apart, creating gaps in the framework that are filled with 1 inch
thick (25mm) mosaic of colored glass in an Aluminum frame.
Photo Gallery:
TAGORE HALL, AHMEDABAD
Built in 1961
Architect- B.V.Doshi
Structure engineer-Mahendra raj
location-Ahmedabad

A series of rigid frames in reinforced concrete folded plates provide the outer shell to this hall. Vertical folds
are 17m high, increasing in depth from 1.15m at the base to 2.4m at the top with a constant plate thickness
of 15cm. Horizontal folds are 2.4m deep and span 33.5m with a plate thickness of 10cm increasing to 15cm
near the supports.

Inside the hall, a 'seating bowl' with a capacity of 700 is supported on an independent structure. Sculptural
columns and cantilevers of this bowl dominate the lobby area. The hall, located on the banks of Sabarmati
River, is supported on individual and strip footings resting on a sandy strata.

A large entrance with its transparent foyer reveals details of the voluminous concrete structure and enables
both informal and formal interactions among performers, critics and the public. The detached bowl-shaped
seating sans balcony adds greater intimacy to artists despite the exposed concrete structure and the floating
acoustical clouds. The folded plate roof of 110ft span, incorporates the services.

TYPICAL FLOOR PLAN

FIRST FLOOR PLAN SECOND FLOOR PLAN

Photo Gallery:
Assembly hall , University of Illinois, US
Ar. Max Abramovitz

One of the largest thin shell concrete dome

Completed : 1963
Material : Reinforced concrete dome (folded)
Major supports : 48 buttresses
Capacity : 16000 permanent seats, 2000 temporary seats
No interior supports

The construction of State Farm Center, originally known as the Assembly Hall, at the University of
Illinois at Urbana–Champaign consisted of building a huge indoor arena with a 400-foot-diameter (120 m)
concrete dome whose center height is 125 feet (38 m) above the center floor, and which weighs 10 million
pounds.[1] The building is considered an engineering marvel because of the unique method used to build the
concrete roof.

Plan
Architectural construction

The Assembly Hall became known as an engineering marvel because of the unique method used to construct
its roof. At its opening, and for the next few years, it was the largest dome structure in North America, a title
that was retained until the Houston Astrodome opened in 1965.

Foundation, walls and supports

According to the article "To Cover This Assembly Bowl: A 400 ft (120 m) Prestressed Saucer" by
Engineering News-Record, the total weight of Assembly Hall is carried by 48 massive buttresses to a 16 feet
(4.9 m) wide and 3.5 feet (1.1 m) thick concrete ring foundation, with a 109 feet (33 m) radius. The
construction crews first dug down 15 feet (4.6 m) from ground level and poured the concrete ring on
high-density, hard grey clay. The centre floor of the stadium is 24 feet (7.3 m) below ground level.However
the contractors decided not to excavate all of the dirt before the roof was constructed. This decision gave the
construction crews more surface area to work on, and decreased the height of scaffolding used when forming
the concrete roof. After the roof was completed and the scaffolding was removed, the rest of the soil was
excavated through the building's entrances. By building the structure into the ground, the top row is only 36
feet (11 m) above the ground line. The construction of Assembly Hall required excavation of 60,000 cu yd
of soil.
Construction of the dome roof

Construction of the roof started with pouring the concrete. After the concrete finished curing, construction
crews post-tensioned the concrete roof to its final strength.
Process of pouring concrete

After the buttresses were completed, the construction crews could then begin building the falsework on
which the concrete would harden. While the concrete was drying, the roof was supported by a central steel
tower, the buttresses around the periphery, a circular timber tower about 135 feet (41 m) from the center, and
two movable timber scaffolds at the midpoints of 120 feet (37 m) and 60-foot (18 m)-span joists. These
supports totaled at 800,000 square feet (74,000 m2) of wooden scaffolding. To aid in construction of the
roof, a temporary steel tower was erected in the center of the stadium. As mentioned in the foundation
section, the contractors decided not to fully excavate the interior of the building in order to reduce the
required height of the steel tower and allow more surface area for construction crews. This decision
decreased the tower height to only 100 feet (30 m) thus decreased cost.
According to the article "To Cover this Assembly Bowl: A 400-ft Prestressed Saucer, the roof was cast in 24
segments of 15° each. Each segment of the roof is 52 feet wide at the rim, and 6.5 feet wide at the center.
The central ring beam, or very center of the dome, is a heavily reinforced 4 feet thick concrete slab that
contains 170 cubic yards of lightweight concrete. The entire roof used 2,880 cubic yards of light weight
concrete that weighed only 105 pounds per cubic feet."
Once the concrete had finished curing and dried, the top of the roof was painted with three applications of
plastic material for water and weatherproofing.
Post-tensioning the concrete

In order to post-tension the concrete roof, the construction crews used the wrapping machine to wrap the
edge of the roof in miles of steel wire and pull the wires extremely tight. The effect is similar to a rubber
band. The rubber band (the steel wire) wants to constrict into a smaller circle, while the roof of Assembly
Hall pushes radially outward. The two forces are designed to cancel each other out. In order to create the
required stress, the wire was pulled through a steel die that reduced its diameter. The first 75% of steel wire
was pulled through a 0.211-in.-dia die to create a 130,000-psi stress. The last 25% of steel wire was pulled
through a 0.214-in.-dia dies to create a 120,000-psi stress.The wrapping machine was propelled by a 200-hp
motor, along an endless chain 1,260 feet (380 m) long around the circumference of the dome. Average speed
of the machine was 8 mph.
As the wrapping machine traveled around the dome 2,467 times, the wires were placed in 44 vertical rows
and each row decreased from 77 wires on the innermost row to 37 wires for the outer row. Each row was
separated by a 11⁄8 in. wide and 1⁄8 in. thick steel bar.These spacers were used in order allow each wire to be
fully encased in grout, thus creating a permanent bond.
After all the post-tensioning was completed the 85 sq. in. The total cross-sectional area of wrapped steel was
fully encased in 200 cu yd of grout, creating a permanent bond.The post-tensioning of the concrete worked
so well that the 10 million pound roof was raised 2 in. off of the center tower by the wire structure when
tensioning was finished.
References:
https://issuu.com/farhansaifee/docs/folded_plates_structure

https://www.slideshare.net/RohanNarvekar2/folded-plates

https://www.prodyogi.com/2021/02/what-are-folded-plate-structures.html

https://constructionor.com/folded-plate-structures/

https://www.northernarchitecture.us/glass-structures/the-safe-design-of-glass-structures-loaded-in-compression.html

https://architexturez.net/doc/az-cf-168251

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Farm_Center