FOLDED PLATES
STRUCTURE
REPORT
NAME - ADYOT. A. SAIGAONKAR
ROLL-32 CLASS-5TH B
INTRODUCTION
▪ Folded plate 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 beams along mutual edges. This technique
originated in Germany in the 1920s and became popular in
Russia and the United States during the 1930s
to construct roofs for industrial warehouses and public
buildings.
▪ Modern folded plate structures are typically made of cast in
situ or precast reinforced concrete, or steel plate.
▪ They can provide a multitude of shapes and overall forms:
• Prismatic: Rectangular plates.
• Pyramidal: Non-rectangular plates.Prismoidal: Triangular or
trapezoidal plates.
▪ There are several benefits of folded plate construction. They
are simpler to manufacture than other shells such as
cylindrical shells, with relatively simple formwork required,
and usually use less material. However, folded plates
require more materials than curved shells since there is
normally more bending involved.
▪ Folded plate structures have an intrinsic rigidity and high
load-carrying capacity which makes them economical over
long spans that need to be free of internal columns and
other obstructions.
TYPOLOGY
THE SHAPE OF FOLDED STRUCTURE AFFECTS THE
TRANSMISSION OF LOADS AND DIRECTION OF
RELYING OF FOLDED PLATE STRUCTURES. Based of
these parameters we can divide it in.
1. Linear folded plate structure
2. Radial folded plate structure
3. Spatial folded plate structure
TYPES OF DOMES IN FOLDED PLATE STRUCTURE
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF FOLDED-PLATE STRUCTURE
Advantages: Disadvantages:
• Very light form of construction. To span 30 m shell thickness required is 60 • Shuttering is difficult.
mm only. • Greater accuracy in
• The use of concrete as a building material reduces both materials cost and formwork is required.
a construction cost. • Good labor and
• Longer span can be provided. supervision necessary.
• Flat shapes by choosing certain arched shapes. • Rise of roof may be a
• Aesthetically it looks good over other forms of construction. disadvantage.
APPLICATIONS
Folded structures have found the 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
constructions. In engineering structures,
bridges and retaining walls, various structural
elements can be constructed on the principle of
folded structures. The principle of greater
stiffness of individual constructive element, by
the introduction of folded form, has found
application in many consumer products.
Case study 1 – Usafa Cadet Chapel
Case study 2 – The Library
Architect - Leah Cabrera
Status: School Project
Location: Guatemala City, GT
The project started from the design of a constructive system of variable
components through the use of digital design tools and fabrication. The
design began from the detail culminating in a highly complex project.
Prototypes were generated in order to study how these could be
assembled and create a constructive solution. The component had to
have the ability to grow and repeat itself to form spaces or architectural
elements. The first step of the design process was mainly explored by
the use of models.
The second phase was the design of a library using the component
previously designed. There was a generative process in which the
component was analyzed to see its potential uses and readjustments
in order to house the program.
