Space Frame Design
Space Frame Design
Space Frame Design
Abstract: Space frame are used commonly to cover large span areas such as stadium, aircraft hangars.
Three types of elements shapes are used to analyzed the roof with different parameters ( structural
modeling frame or truss, span of frame, element shape, element size, element depth ) to obtain the
maximum deflection and the weight of steel required to construct the roof. STAAD PRO software is used
to analysis and design the structure. This research aims to conclude a practical relationship between
element size and depth of element for any space frame span, in addition, to establish another statistical
relationship between all studied parameters to show the significant of each parameter on the design of the
structure expressed in form of histograms.
Key words: Roofing system; Space frame; Steel structures; Large span trusses.
1. INTRODUCTION
A growing interest in space frame structures has been witnessed worldwide over the last half
century. The search for new structural forms to accommodate large unobstructed areas has
always been the main objective of architects and engineers. With the advent of new building
techniques and construction materials, space frames frequently provide the right answer and
satisfy the requirements for lightness, economy, and speedy construction. Significant progress
has been made in the process of the development of the space frame. A large amount of
theoretical and experimental research programs was carried out by many universities and
research institutions in various countries. As a result, a great deal of useful information has been
disseminated and fruitful results have been put into practice. In the past few decades, the
proliferation of the space frame was mainly due to its great structural potential and visual beauty.
New and imaginative application so space frames are being demonstrated in the total range of
building types, such as sports arenas, exhibition pavilions, assembly halls, transportation
terminals, airplane hangars, workshops, and warehouses. They have been used not only on long-
span roofs, but also on mid- and short-span enclosures as roofs, floors, exterior walls, and
canopies. Many interesting projects have been designed and constructed all over the world using
a variety of configurations. Some important factors that influence the rapid development of the
space frame can be cited as follows:
First, the search for large indoor space has always been the focus of human activities.
Consequently, sports tournaments, cultural performances, mass assemblies, and exhibitions can
be held under one roof. The modern production and the needs of greater operational efficiency
also created demand for large space with a minimum interference from internal supports. The
space frame provides the benefit that the interior space can be used in a variety of ways and thus
is ideally suited for such requirements. Space frames are highly statically indeterminate and their
analysis leads to extremely tedious computation if by hand. The difficulty of the complicated
analysis of such systems contributed to their limited use. The introduction of electronic
computers has radically changed the whole approach to the analysis of space frames. By using
computer programs, it is possible to analyze very complex space structures with great accuracy
and less time involved. Lastly, the space frame also has the problem of connecting a large
number of members (sometimes up to 20) in space through different angles at a single point. The
emergence of several connecting methods of proprietary systems has made great improvement in
the construction of the space frame, which offered simple and efficient means for making
connection of members. The exact tolerances required by these jointing systems can be achieved
in the fabrication of the members and joints .
3. RESEARCH LAYOUT
Space frames can behave as hinged skeletons (i.e., space truss), or as rigid space frames, both of
them are studied here for three spans in each case. Three types of models (elements) with
different sizes have been studied:
Figure (1) explains the shape of these elements, while table (1) shows the element’s dimensions
studied.
a: which represent length of element , D : represent Depth of element.
a
a
a
D D
D
The structural analysis for the structure has been carried considering the structure as space frame
and space truss for three spans (30.0 m, 60.0 m, 120.0 m) as shown in fig. (2) below using
STAAD PRO2006 software for structural analysis to obtain the maximum expected deflection for
the structure and to design the structure for all cases using the facility of (Group command) in the
software for top chord member, bottom chord member and web to obtain the optimum weight of
the structure.
The Un standardized Coefficients of column (6) table (2) can expressed in form of equations as
shown below:
For Truss:
For Frame:
(b) : structural analysis as space frame. (b) : structural analysis as space frame.
(c) : structural analysis as space frame & space truss. (c) : structural analysis as space frame & space truss.
Fig.(4) : Statistical analysis for the results obtained Fig.(3) : Statistical analysis for the results
from structural analysis of structure to show obtained from structural analysis of structure to
significant of each variable on Steel weight. show significant of each variable on deflection.
R Square = 0.896 R Square = 0.874
(d) : Space Truss - Span 120 m. (a) : Space Frame- Span 120 m.
For Truss:
Span 30.0 m:
Z =646.303-104.833*X-386.078*Y+35.5*X*X-7.0*X*Y+81.778*Y*Y …(7)
Span 60.0 m:
Z =513.325-9.793*X-59.513*Y+0.887*X*X-0.696*X*Y+2.658*Y*Y …(8)
Span 120.0 m:
Z =1380.744-24.99*X-72.271*Y+0.77*X*X-0.539*X*Y+1.742*Y*Y …(9)
For Frame:
Span 30.0 m:
Z =463.006-100.7*X-222.289*Y+33.333*X*X-4.933*X*Y+43.111*Y*Y …(10)
Span 60.0 m:
Z =513.325-9.793*X-59.513*Y+0.887*X*X-0.696*X*Y+2.658*Y*Y …(11)
Span 120.0 m:
Z =1395.366-25.397*X-76.423*Y+0.733*X*X-0.491*X*Y+1.828*Y*Y …(12)
5. REFERENCES
1. Tien T. Lan, 1999. “Structure engineering handbook”. Boca Raton: CRC Press LLC.
2. Schueller Wolfgang, 1982. “Horizontal-Span Building Structures”. John wiley & sons,
New York.
3. STAAD PRO2006 software manual, http://www.reiworld.com.
4. Adrian Gheorghiu and Virgil Dragomir, 1978. “Geometry of structural forms”. applied
science publishers LTD , London.