SPACE FRAMES

span= 20 m
Ht = more than 10 m
Definition
Types of space frames
1 case study
Connections/support/joinery
material
What are Space Frames? History of Space Frames
• Space frames are essentially three dimensional trusses
able to span in two directions. They may be flat for use as
roofs, walls or inclined walls, or may be curved to form
continuous barrel type roof geometries. Flat frames used
as roofs sometimes have slight cambers to direct water to
appropriate roof outlets. Space frames allow for easy
service distribution within their depth and can provide
light elegant structural solutions.
• Depth: Span/40
• Typical maximum length: 100 m
• Independently developed by Alexander graham
bell around 1900 and Buckminster fuller in the
1950s Buckminster fuller's focus
was architectural structures.
• It was developed in California during the 1960s
and introduced to the South African market in
1982, specifically developed for unstable soil
conditions, the panels form a monolithic structure
offering superior wall strength in which no
cracking will occur
GRAHAMBELL
BUCKMINISTERFULLER
SPACE FRAME
GEODESIC DOME
DESIGN
Applications
• Steel space frame structures is used for commercial and
industrial buildings, auditoriums, airport hangers, sport
stadium, sky lights, mosque, lighting towers, petrol pumps,
canopies, exhibition hall, atrium, Toll Plaza 
• Factory Sheds, Hotels, Vehicle Stand, Community Halls,
Poultry Sheds, Dairy Farm Structures Etc. 
•  Malls, Transport Terminals, Schools, Pools, Arenas,
Entertainment, Hospitals, Hotels, Corporate & Commercial
Buildings, Convention Centers

Types of Space Frames

According to Curvature
1. Flat covers
2. Spherical domes
3. Barrel vaults

(c)

(a)

Fig (a) Flat cover ; (b) Spherical (b)

dome ; (c) Barrel vault
 According to grid layer
Design Method
• Single Layer -All elements are located on the • Designed using a rigidity matrix.
surface to be approximated. • The special characteristic of
• Double Layer - The elements are organized in the stiffness matrix in an architectural
two parallel layers with each other at a certain space frame is the independence of the
distance apart. The diagonal bars connecting angular factors.
the nodes of both layers in different directions • If the joints are sufficiently rigid, the
in space. angular deflections can be neglected,
• Triple layer -Elements are placed in three simplifying the calculations. TETRAHEDRON
parallel layers, linked by the diagonals. They
are almost always flat. This solution is to
decreaseA the diagonal
space frame members length. of :
is strong because
• The inherent rigidity of the triangle;
• Flexing loads (bending moments) are
LOAD
transmitted as tension and compression loads DISTRIBUTION
along the length of each strut.

(a) (b) (c)

Fig (a) Single layer ; (b) Double layer; (c) Triple layer
Types of Connections Design Methods
• Nodus connector
• Triodetic connector
• Tuball node connector
• Hemispherical dome connector
Types of tubes

1. Nodus connector:
It can accept both rectangular and
circular hollow sections and that the
cladding can be fixed directly to the
WELDED BOLTED THREADED chords. Chord connectors have to be
CONNECTION CONNECTIO CONNECTION welded to the ends of the hollow
N members on site.
2. Triodetic connector:
3. Tuball node connector:
Consists of a hub, usually an
aluminum extrusion, with slots or Hollow sphere made of spheroid graphite.
key ways. End of the circular hollow section member to be
connected is fitted at its ends by welding connection
from inside the cup is done using bolt and nut.

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. Two types
of joint: Pentagonal joint and Hexagonal joint.
Space Frames Methods of Erection
The method chosen for
erection of a space frame LIFT UP METHOD
depends on:
• The whole space frame is assembled at ground level so that most of the
• Its behavior of load
work can be done before hoisting. This will result in increased efficiency
transmission
and better quality. For short and medium spans, the space frame can be
•Constructional details
hoisted up by several cranes.
•Scale of the structure,
• For long-span space frame, temporary posts are used as the support and
method of jointing, and
electric winches as the lifting power. The whole space frame can be
strength and rigidity of the
translated or rotated in the air and then seated on its final position. This
space frame
SCAFFOLD METHOD method can be employed to all types of double-layer grids.

• Individual elements are assembled in BLOCK ASSEMBLY METHOD

place at actual elevations, members and
joints or prefabricated subassembly
elements are assembled directly on their
final position.
• Full scaffoldings are usually required for
this type of erection. Sometimes only
partial scaffoldings are used if cantilever
erection of space frame can be executed.
The elements are fabricated at the shop
and transported to the construction site,
and no heavy lifting equipment is
• The space frame is divided on its plan into individual strips or
blocks. These units are fabricated on the ground level, then
hoisted up into its final position and assembled on the temporary
supports.
• With more work being done on the ground, the amount of
assembling work at high elevation is reduced. This method is
suitable for those double layer grids where the stiffness and
load-resisting behavior will not change considerably after
dividing into strips or blocks, such as two-way orthogonal
latticed grids, orthogonal square pyramid space grids, and the
those with openings. The size of each unit will depend on the
Case Study (Example) Fixing Arrangement
The fixing arrangement consists of:
Types Bolted Arrangement
Vashi railwaySpaceframes
station, navi from mumbaiMcCoy are available in various
Screwed Arrangement
types: Clamped Arrangement
Horizontal
Pyramid
Inclined
Geodesic (Dome)
Vault
Ridge
Spaceframes are available in options of double or
tripled layered grid:
Square-on-square grid
Triangle-on-triangle grid
Rectangle-on-rectangle grid Fixing arrangement
Project By: McCoy Architectural Systems McCoy uses nodes of high quality and
precision forged components.
Cladding
Transportation Infrastructure The different cladding materials used by
Features
Carries loads along both axis. McCoy for Spaceframes are:
High aesthetic appeal. Metal Sheet
Enormous spanning capacity.
High resale value. Glass
Additional services like lightings, ducting can be easily Safety Glass
incorporated.
Pre-fabricated structure reduces site activities. High performance Insulated Safety Glass
Fabric
PVC Polyester
Glass PTFE
Polycarbonate Solid Sheet
Polycarbonate Multi-Walled Sheets
Insulated Puff Panels
Case Study (Example)

Space Frame support is located at

Panel points
 ADVANTAGES

Light -Minimum structure weight

Elegant & Economical
Carry load by three dimensional action
High Inherent Stiffness
Easy to construct
Save Construction Time & Cost
Services (such as lighting and air conditioning) can be integrated with space frames.
Offers the architect unrestricted freedom in locating supports and planning the
subdivision of the covered space.
Simple modification or dis-assembly for re-use
Space Frame can be a feature without ceiling
Accommodates concentrated loads
Suit irregular support or plan geometry
Variable depth for roof drainage is built-in
Minimum structure weight
Long clear spans & cantilevers
 DISADVANTAGES

• One major disadvantage is that they can be difficult to engineer.

• It's not straightforward to determine how forces will distribute throughout
a structure that has a lot of redundant pieces.
San Siro Stadium Zaha Hadid’s Heydar Aliyev
Milan, Italy Cultural Centre
HALL OF NATION

Designed as space frame in reinforced

concrete; the 'Hall of Nations' provides
an uninterrupted exhibition area of
approximately 6,700 sq m in a 82m x
82m x 27m high truncated pyramid
supported on eight points.
THANKYOU