INTRODUCTION

Folded plates are assemblies of flat

fl at 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 structures are spatial structures formed by the elements
el ements in the
plane, different in form and materialization. The straight elements
forming a folded construction can be of various shapes:
rectangular, trapezoidal or triangular.
By combining these elements we get different forms resulting in a
variety of shapes and remarkable architectural expression.

Tempodrom, Berlin

Folded plates in NATURE Folded plates in EVERYDAY OBJECTS

Sea shells Huge Leaves Origami Lamps Window blinds Hand fans
Basics of FOLDING

The structural characteristics of folding structures depends upon

• The pattern of folding

• Their geometrical basic shape: rectangular, trapezoidal or

triangular

• Material

• Connection of different folding plates

• The design of the bearing

Structural behavior of FOLDED PLATES

• External forces are transferred to the

shorted edge of one folding element
• The reaction as an axial force is
i s divided
between the adjacent elements
• Then the force is transferred to the
bearings

• Bending in folded plates causes top

compression and bottom tension
• Folded plates also tend to flatten out
under gravity load, which may be
Vertical load gets
prevented by walls or frames at end
distributed
supports
• Tendency of end panel buckling can be
resisted by edge beams Stabilized
buckling atagainst
top and
bottom by adjoining
plates
 FOLDED PLATE
STRUCTURE SYSTEMS
Folded Plate Structures Folded Plate Frames

Linear Additions
Folded Plate Domes Continuous

Pyramidal

Linear Additions Two Hinged

Polyhedral

Radial Additions Three Hinged

Combination

Combination
of additions Barrell - Cylindrical
Barre Cylindrical
 TYPOLOGY

Shape
Shap e of fold
folded
ed st
stru
ruct
ctur
ure
e affe
affect
ctss the
the tran
transm
smis
issi
sion
on of load
load and
and dire
direct
ctio
ion
n of rely
relyin
ing
g of fold
folded
ed stru
struct
ctur
ures
es..
Base
Based
d on th
thes
esee para
paramemete
ters
rs we can
can di
diff
ffer
eren
enti
tiat
ate e th
the
e fold
folded
ed stru
struct
ctur
ures
es unde
under:r:

1. Lin
Linea
earr Fold
Folded
ed Pla
Plate
te Str
Struc
uctu
ture
re 2. Rad
Radia
iall Fold
Folded
ed Pla
Plate
te Str
Struc
uctu
ture
re 3. Spa
Spati
tial
al Fold
Folded
ed Pla
Plate
te Str
Struc
uctu
ture
re

Basic
Basic El
Elem
emen
ents
ts of Fold
Folded
ed Plat
Plate
e Stru
Struct
ctur
ures
es::

1. In
Inc
clilin
ned Plat
lates
2. Edge Platlates use
used to stif
stiffe
fen
n the wid
ide
e pl
plat
atees
3. Stiff
iffeners to carr
carry
y th
the
e loa
load to the su
supp
ppo orte
rters and to hold
old pla
lattes in posi
posittion
ion
4. Colum
lumns to su
sup
ppor
port the st
strruct
ucture
ure
 TYPOLOGY: TAPERED FOLDED PLATE

• Heigh
ight at the cen entter of the spspa an is
a crit
ritica
ical dimen
imenssion
ion to calc
calcu ulalatte
bend
bendin ingg st
stre
reng
ngth
th.. Du
Duee to th
this
is,, th
thee
stru
ruct
ctu ure is not veverry eff
efficie
icien nt and
T not
not sui
suitatable
ble for large
large spa
spans
ns..

• Another weak element is the

tran
ransfer
fer of sh
shea
earr frfro
om the sm smaallller
er
en
end d of the platlate to the larg
larger
er end.
If a lar
large number of un unit
itss are used
sed
in each
each sp span
an,, the
the tr tran
ansf
sfer
er of load
loadss
C may
ma y get diffic
difficult
ult..
T
C • A folded plate may be used for
walls
lls as a thin stru
ruct
ctu
ural
ral elem
lemenentt.
A wall of this type can be made
C much
mu ch thin
thinne
nerr than
than a flat
flat wa
wall.
ll.
TYPOLOGY: FOLDED PLATE TRUSS

• Th
Ther
ere
e are hor
orizizo
ontal ties
ies acros
ross
th
the
e wi
widt
dth
h of st
stru
ruct
ctur
ure
e on
only
ly at th
the
e
ends of the form. The loa load from
the trian
iangular
lar crossed arches
are
are carr
carried
ied towa
toward
rdss th
the
e en
ends
ds..
• The top chord of the inclined
truss is formed by a ridge
memb
me mber
er.. Th
The
e bo
bott
ttom
om ch
chor
ords
ds are
are
T the ties at the base of the side
T gables.

T • Th
Thisis is tr
tru
uly a sp
spac
ace e st
stru
ruct
ctur
ure
e and
and
its
its st
stru
ruct
ctu
ural
ral actio
ctionn is as sh
shoown,
therefore, the architectural
appe
appear aran
ance
ce is mo
morere su
subt
btle
le than
than
th
the e us
usua
uall shell
shell st
struc
ructu
ture.
re.
C
TYPOLOGY: FOLDED PLATE RIGID FRAME

• An ar
arch
ch with
with st
stra
raig
ight
ht se
segm
gmen
ents
ts is
T so
somet
metime
imess cal
called
led a Rig
Rigid
id Fra
Frame.
me.
T
• It is not as effi
effici
cien
entt as the
the cu
curv
rved
ed
C arch because the bending
moments
mom ents are greater.
greater.

• Ties across the plates are

C re
requ
quir
ired
ed at th
the
e kn
knee
eess and
and at th
the
e
crown in order to disisttribute the
forces at the ends of each
segment.
TYPOLOGY: EDGE SUPPORTED FOLDED PLATE

T
• Roof structure can be made to
appe
appear ar very
very thin
thin if the
the edge
edge plat
plate
e
is re
repl
plac
aced
ed by a se
serie
riess of colu
column
mns.
s.

• The
The slab
lab betw
etween
een colu
colum
mns must
be designed as a beam and it
may
ma y be conv
conven
enie
ient
nt to ex
exte
tend
nd th
the
e
main
ma in ro
roof
of slab
slab as a Ca
Cant
ntile
ileve
ver.
r.

•
Ver
erttica
ical colum
lumns at the cro
crown of
C C C the gable take the reactions of
the platlates and the hororiz
izo
ontal ties
ies
may
ma y be elim
elimina
inated
ted..
TYPOLOGY: WALLS CONTINUOUS WITH SHELL

• In this structure the walls are of tiltilt-up

conc
concret
rete
e con
const
struc
ructio
tion;
n; con
concre
crete
te is cast
cast
flat
lat on the floo
loor and raisise
ed int
into plac
lace
by cra
cranes
nes..

• The walls are designed to be

continu
inuous withith the roo
roof plat
lates.
es. In this
des
esig
ignn, colu
colummns are not necesecesssar
ary
y at
the ju
junnctio
ction
n of the ind
individ
ividuual side
ide wall
panels becau cause the wallslls are brarace
cedd
T at th
thee top.
top.
T
• The tilt-up panels can serve as their
own foundation walls so only a
continuous footing pad is used with a
no
notc
tch
h to re
rece
ceiv
ive
e the
the tilt
tilt-u
-up
p pa
pane
nel.
l.
C
C • The tilt
ilt-up walls are held at the top by
the shell and act as vertical beams
rat
rather
her th
than
an as Cant
Cantilev
ilever
er Ret
Retain
aining
ing..
TYPOLOGY: THREE SEGMENT FOLDED PLATE

• Th
Thee foforrces
ces fr
fro
om the re rea
actio
ctionns of the
slop
loping
ing plat
lates on thes ese
e rig
rigid fra
frames
will
ill be quiteite larg
large e an
andd at an outside
ide
colu
column mn they
they wi
willll not
not be ba
balalanc
nced
ed by
th
thru
rusts
sts from
from th
the
e adjac
adjacent
ent pla
plate
tes.
s.
• The size of the frames may be
reduced by using a steel tie
between the tops of the columns
C which can be concealed in the
fenes
enesttration
ion. Th
The
e dimen
imenssion
ions of the
T
T plat
la
wi te
widt
dthhsof
arthe
eedbarr
th eprrel
ba eel
ndand
endt on
an onthbeosp
the th an.
spanth.e

• The depth of the shell should be

about 0.1 times the span and the
maxi
ma ximu
mum
m slop
slope
e of a plat
plate
e sh
shou
ould
ld no
nott
C be grea
greate
terr than
than 40 degr
degree
ees.
s.
 APPLICATIONS
Folded structures have found the application in architectural buildings and engineering structures. Based on the position in the
architectural structure,
structure, this type of construct
construction
ion can be di
divided
vided into: roof, floor and wall folded constructions

AS ROOF STRUCTURE
STRUCTURESS : The largest number of examples of folded structures are roof structures. The need for acquiring the larger
range and more cost effective structure led to the emergence of this type of structure. The development of spatia
spatiall structures led
to the exceptional formal solutions which directly influenced the aesthetics and visual identity of the building.

Folding a flat surface increases its strength it can be demonstrated when

you compare the strength of flat paper and folded paper
- Folde
Foldedd ro
roofs
ofs are usua
usually
lly m
made
ade up o off rein
reinforc
forced
ed c
concre
oncrete
te
- Flat roofs
roofs ca
cann be built
built with minim
minimumum thickness
thickness with spa
span
n upto
upto 20 m

Wexler folded plate roof houses

AS FLOORS : Floor structures can be performed by using folded structures. This type of construction is carried out by using
different materials: reinforced concrete, steel sheets, wood.

• Mezzanine ceiling can be executed as a wooden folded construc

construction
tion and it
represents a parallel "V" crease with elements of veneer or OSB composite,
placed between the horizontal elements of cut solid wood. This type of ceiling
is called "Kielsteg"

• These metal sheets can also be used for flooring As the folded structure inside the
plates provides the Strength
AS WALL STRUCTURES :Walls can be designed and carried out as
folded structures, since by folding we get a solid construction that
can accept large vertical and horizontal impacts
impacts,, which enables
exceptional height of the wall fabric. This type of folded structures,
due to their geometry, provides an economical solution and the
rational use of material when compared to the height of the building.
Walls made as folded structures can be materialized in reinforced
rei nforced
concrete

Notre Dame,
Dame, Royan, France

AS STEEL SHEET PILES:

PILES: Securing of founda
foundation
tion pits, especially if th
the
e ground is
under water, is more frequently performed by using profiled steel sheet piles
and this way of security also represents the application of folded.
By using this piles the foundation pits of
great depth can be secured. Joints are
constructed to allow certain rotation, and
thus the opportunity to carry out the walls
of steel sheet piles in the bends as well. This
type of security of the foundation pits
represents a vertical folded structure of
steel and this type of pile is called Larsen
planks
 MATERIALS OF FOLDED SLABS

Folded structures made of reinforced concrete : Concrete is the most

commonly
common ly applied material for creases. A large number of authors
define folded construction as the construction made only from
reinforced concrete. The reason for this statement is the fact that most
of the folded structures are made of this material.

Metal folded structures : Metal folded structures can be derived from

trapezoidal sheet or truss. Folded constructions made of metal, steel or
aluminum, consist of belts and diagonal bars of infilling. The construction of
such folded structures does not require formwork or powerful pumps.
Deformation and stability in the design of metal truss structures are of great
importance. Height of trapezoidal plate affects the size of a range that can
also handle its load capacity.

Folded structures of wood : Folded structures made of wood are easy to transport, handle and assembly. This type of prefabricated
folds on the basis of the primary supporting structure of a fold segment can be divided into: panel and truss.
Panel folded constructions of wood :
Folded constructions of wood are usually formed as a panel

Folded
Elementsconstruction of wooden
of folded structure trusses
could :
be formed of wooden trusses. By combining the trusses we can get different forms of folded
structures. Connection of trusses is done on site
OTHER MATERIALS : Other than these many different materials can be used for folded slabs like
glass, plastic and combination of different materials . And all these will hav
havee different pros and
cons and their strengths will vary
A D V A N T A G E S A N D D I S A D V A N T A G E S OF FOLDED-PLATE STRUCTURE

Advantages:
-Very light
light form of construction.
construction. To
To span 30 m shell thickness
thickness required
required is 60mm only
-The use of concrete as a building material reduces both materials cost and construction
cost.
-Longer span can be provided.
-Flat shapes by choosing certain arched shapes.
-Aesthetically it looks good over other forms of construction
construction

Disadvantages:
-Shuttering is difficult.
-Greater accuracy in formwork is required.
-Good labour and supervision necessary
-Rise of roof may be a disadvantage.
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY CADET CHAPEL

IT IS DESIGNED BY WALTER NETSCH OF SKIDMORE OWINGS AND MERRILL ,

BUILT IN COLORADO UNITED STATES IN 1962. THE BUILDING HAS STEEL FOLDED
PLATE AND TRUSS STRUCTURE COMPOSED OF 100 IDENTICAL TETRAHEDRON
FORMING 17 SPIKES. EACH TETRAHEDRON IS CLADDED WITH ALIMUNIUM
PANELS WORKING TOGETER WITH TRUSSES TO DISTRIBUTE LOADS THE BUILDING
HAS A RECTANGULAR PLAN WHICH HAS LENGTH OF 85 METERS A WIDTH OF T
26 METERS AND A HEIGHT OF 45.72 METERS.
THE CREASE PATTERN OF THE BUILDING IS DIAMOND PATTERN.
THE STRUCTURE IS A TUBULAR STEEL FRAME CONSISTING OF 100 IDENTICAL
TETRAHEDRONS, EACH 23M LONG AND WEIGHING 5TN, COATED ALUMINUM
PANELS. TETRAHEDRONS 0,30CM ARE SPACED FROM ONE ANOTHER,
CREATING HOLES IN THE FRAME ARE FILLED WITH STAINED GLASS 25MM C

THICK.
 YOKOHAMA INTERNATIONAL PORT TERMINAL
T
IT IS BUILT IN OSANBASHI JAPAN , IN 2002.IN HIS BOOKS MOUSS
MOUSSAVI
AVI
DEFINES THIS STRUCTURE AS FOLDED PLATE AND TRUSS AND GRIDER
WHERE THE STEEL PLATE AND TRUSS FOLDED SURFACE SPANS TWO STEEL T

GRIDER
THE BRIDGES SYSTEM.
STRUCTURAL THAT TOGETHER DEFINES
THE BUILDING HASTHE
A LONGITUDINAL
RECTANGULA
RECTANGULARR SPINE
PLAN OF
THAT EXPANDS AND COMPRESS ALONG THE CENTRAL LONGITUDINAL C
AXIS. THE BUILDING
BUILDIN G HAS LENGTH OF 430 METERS AND A WIDTH OF 70 C
METERS AND A HEIGHT OF 15 METERS
THE BUILDING HAS THREE FLOORS INCLUDING THE BASEMENT. THE
FOLDED PLATE APPEARS ON FIRST AND SECOND FOORS CEILING
Structural Elements

● The building is steel framed, consisting of main beams (girders)

on the two sides and a triangular pyramid (folded
(folded plates)
system to support the roof and floors.

● These results in a massive column-less interior space, with

external walls all made with tempered glass. In short, wood,
steel and glass are what constitute the Terminal.

● 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.
VIDY THEATRE
IT IS BUILT BY ATELIER CUBE , YVES WEINLAMD ARCHITECTS
IN LUSANNE SWITZERLAND.THE STRUCTURE IS DOUBLE
LAYERED TIMBER FOLDED STRUCTURE.
STRUCTURE . THE PLYWOOD

BOARDS
BETWEENARETWO40FOLDED
MM THICK AND
PLATE THERETHE
LAYERS. IS APLYWOOD
25 CM SPACE
BOARDS ARE CONNECTED WITH EACH OTHER BY AN
INTERLOCKING CHAMFERED DOUBLE THROUGH TENON
JOINTS . THE BUILDING AS RECTANGULAR PLAN , LENGTH 28
METERS WIDTH 21 METERS AND A HEIGHT OF 21 METRES AN INTERLOCKING -CHAMFERED
THE PATTERN IS COMBINATION OF QUADILATERAL
QUADILATERAL AND DOUBLE THROUGH TENON JOINTS .
TRIANGULAR UNITS THUS CREATING A MIXED PATTERN.
MULIMATT SPORT CENTRE
IT IS BUILT BY STUDIO VACCHINI
VACCHINI IN ARGAU SWITZAERLAND, THE
STRUCTURE IS PRECAST CONCRETE FOLDED PLATE STRUCTURE
COMPOSED OF 27 FRAMES UNITS CREATING A RECTANGULR PLAN
AND A BOX LIKE FORM.
FORM. THE BUILDING HAS LENGTH OF 80 METERS
WIDTH OF 52 METERS AND HEIGHT OF 11 METERS.
THE PATTERN USED IN THIS STRUCTURE IS A MIXTURE OF
QUADILATERAL AND DIAMOND SHAPED UNITS THE FOLDED PLATE
STRUCTURE CONSISTS OF LINEARLY TRANSLATED 27 ROWS.