ADVANCE CONSTRUCTION

& MATERIALS
TOPIC: SPACE TRUSS
DEFINATION:
 A three-dimensional structures.
 The assembled linear elements are arranged to transfer the load.
 Take a form of a flat surface or curve surface.
 Designed with no intermediate columns to create large open area.

TYPES OF SPACE FRAME:

1) TWO AND THREE-WAY GRIDS:
 Characterized as two way or three way
2) SINGLE, DOUBLE AND TRIPLE LAYERED:
 Single layer frame has to be singly or doubly curved.
 Commonly used space frames are double layered and flat.
 Triple layered is practically used for a large span building:
HISTORY OF SPACE FRAMES:
1900:
 Space frames were independently
developed by Alexander Graham Bell
around 1900 .
 Bell's interest was primarily in using
them to make rigid frames for nautical
and aeronautical engineering, with the BUCKMINISTERFULLER
tetrahedral truss being one of his GEODESIC DOME
inventions, however few of his designs
were realized.
1950:
 Buckminster Fuller in the 1950’s
developed frames independently,
fuller's focus was architectural
structures and his work had greater
influence.
GRAHAMBELL SPACE
FRAME DESIGN
COMPONENTS OF SPACE FRAME:
 Consists of axial members i.e., Tube
TUBES:
 Circular Hollow Sections
 Rectangular Hollow Sections

CONNECTORS:
1) NODUS CONNECTOR:
 It can accept both rectangular and circular
 hollow sections and that the cladding can
be fixed directly to the chords.
 Chord connectors have to be welded to
the ends of the hollow members on site.
2) TUBALL NODE CONNECTOR:
 A hollow sphere made of spheroidal
graphite
 The end of the circular hollow section
member to be connected is fitted at its
ends by welding.
 Connection from inside the cup is
using bolt and nut.

3) TRIODETIC CONNECTOR:
 It consists of a hub, usually an
aluminum extrusion, that has slots or
key ways, which the ends of members
are pressed or coined to match the
slots.
4) HEMISPHERICAL DOME CONNECTOR:
 Usually use for double layer domes.
 Has a span more than 40m.
 More economical for long span.
 The jointing is connect by slitting the end of the
tube or rod with the joint fin.
 There are 2 types of joint, pentagonal joint and
hexagonal joint.
ADVANTAGES:
LIGHTWEIGHT:
 This is mainly due to the fact that material is distributed spatially in such a
way that the load transfer mechanism is primarily axial; tension or
compression. consequently, all material in any given element is utilized to
its full extent. furthermore, most space frames are now constructed with
aluminum, which decreases considerably their self-weight.
MASS PRODUCTIVITY:
 Space frames can be built from simple prefabricated units,which are often
of standard size and shape. such units can be easily transported and
rapidly assembled on site by semi-skilled labor consequently,space frames
can be built at a lower cost.
STIFFNESS:
 A space frame is usually sufficiently stiff in spite of its lightness. this is due
to its three- dimensional character and to the full participation of its
constituent elements.
VERSATILITY:
 Space frames possess a versatility of shape and form and can utilize a
standard module to generate various flat space grids, latticed shell, or
even free-form shapes. architects appreciate the visual beauty and the
impressive simplicity of lines in space frames
STRUCTURAL BACKGROUNDS:
 A space frames along-spanning three-dimensional plate structure based
on the rigidity of the triangle and composed of linear elements subject
only to axial tension or compression, even in the case of connection by
comparatively rigid joints, the influence of bending or torsional moment is
insignificant.

CLASSIFICATION

ACCORDING TO CURVATURE: ACCORDING TO NUMBER OF GRID LAYERS:

• Flatcovers • Single-layer
• Barrelvaults • Double-layer
• Spherical Domes: • Triple-layer
FLATCOVERS BARRELVAULTS

SPHERICAL DOMES
SINGLE LAYER DOUBLE LAYER TRIPLE LAYER